Canon officially announces the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III & EF 600mm f/4L IS III. The worlds lightest lenses of their kind

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MELVILLE, N.Y., September 5, 2018 – Most professional photographers need to carry multiple lenses in their camera bags. Helping to lighten their load, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, introduces two new super-telephoto lenses, the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM. Both lenses possess a dramatic weight reduction and high-image quality, making it ideal for shooters to easily transport and capture images during action-driven scenarios, such as sports and wildlife. Both lenses now hold the title of world’s lightest in their respective focal length*. The weight of the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lenses has been reduced by 2.2 lbs. (more than 25 percent) and 1.9 lbs. (more than 20 percent) respectively.

“When developing updates to some of Canon’s most popular legacy lenses, one common question that is asked by photographers was ‘can they be lighter,’” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer...

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This is what I've been waiting for. The Canon R is great, but wildlife photographers will rejoice at the news that the mighty 400 and 600 have been improved rather then merely refreshed. I can't wait to read the reviews of these lens because they are definitely on the must-buy list. I've used both the II versions and they were already great so I can only imagine how much better the III will be.
 
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MartinF.

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I see theese two big-white lenses as a marketing commitment to the EF-mount. To tell all that EF-mount will stay around for years to come. However I do not expect many new EF lenses from 2019 and on. And probably just a few new DSLR EF-mount bodies ex an 1D a 5D and a combined 80D/7D/6D replacement. Three DSLR EF-bodies and maby one entry-level Kiss/Rebel like model. No more EF-S lenses either.
The future of Canon belongs to R-series and RF-mount - whether you like it or not. (personally I am a bit frustrated...)
Of course that is just a guess.
 
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I see theese two big-white lenses as a marketing commitment to the EF-mount. To tell all that EF-mount will stay around for years to come. However I do not expect many new EF lenses from 2019 and on. And probably just a few new DSLR EF-mount bodies ex an 1D a 5D and a combined 80D/7D/6D replacement. Three DSLR EF-bodies and maby one entry-level Kiss/Rebel like model. No more EF-S lenses either.
The future of Canon belongs to R-series and RF-mount - whether you like it or not. (personally I am a bit frustrated...)
Of course that is just a guess.

This was what I was wondering as well. Will Canon ever make a RF 400mm f/2.8 L and also RF 600mm f/4 L ?
If the RF mount can indeed lead to faster lens then I assume the next mirrorless generation of big-whites will be even faster?

Is a RF 400 f/2.0 even possible? How about a RF 500mm f/2.8?

Or are am I dreaming a decade or two ahead in time till light weight materials can be developed that would bring the weight of these potential behemoths down to manageable levels.
 
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I'm now even more excited about the EF 300mm f/2.8 III and the 500mm f/4 III which should come in the next 6 months. Both the II versions of these lens are excellent and also quite reasonable to handhold. The version III with 15-20% weight saving will make them a very enticing proposition to wildlife and action photographers who have to deal with a lot of heavy lens when they go into the field. The important thing though is how much better the IQ will be. That I feel will be the deciding factor because all of Canons big whites are top notch as it is (with the exception of the 800 which is a little long in the tooth).
 
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Apr 25, 2011
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This was what I was wondering as well. Will Canon ever make a RF 400mm f/2.8 L and also RF 600mm f/4 L ?
Just add an adapter.

If the RF mount can indeed lead to faster lens then I assume the next mirrorless generation of big-whites will be even faster?
The speed of telephoto lenses is limited not by the mount, but by the size (and weight) of the front element.
 
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Just add an adapter.

Wait so they will have an adapter to take a RF lens (made for mirrorless system) and use it on a DSLR? Is that even possible? I thought the adapter only works to make a EF lens work on a EOS R system... (slightly confused -- does it go both ways? Can a new R lens work on my 1dx mark ii with the adapter? )

The speed of telephoto lenses is limited not by the mount, but by the size (and weight) of the front element.

Ok, but they claim the RF lens will provide faster lens with better optical quality. So...does that mean the next generation of big whites will be on the RF mount to achieve those results? Is this in fact the last batch of great EF lens from Canon?
 
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Apr 25, 2011
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Wait so they will have an adapter to take a RF lens (made for mirrorless system) and use it on a DSLR?
No, but if you glue an adapter to an EF lens, you will get an RF lens.

Ok, but they claim the RF lens will provide faster lens with better optical quality. So...does that mean the next generation of big whites will be on the RF mount to achieve those results?
No, it means that the next generation of RF lenses will be lenses that could be made faster and better optically for RF mount compared to EF mount. Which is not big whites.
 
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I really hope that they screwed these up after having invested in both 400II and 600II quite recently. ;-)

Seriously speaking I guess that such weight reduction could not be achieved without compromising some factors. And there was no plate of glass in front of the real front element to remove as in case of I -> II upgrade.

And regarding the RF mount construction and reduced flange distance - it has relatively negligble effect on the construction of long telephotos. It does make a difference in wide glass, as that retrofocus design can be avoided in some cases.

The long glass has A LOT of space behind the rear element in case of EF lenses. Canon found space for drop-in filters there, in case of 200-400 1.4x extender optics fit there as well.
 
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MartinF.

EOS 6D, 5D mkIV and some good EF lenses. DPP4 user
Feb 2, 2016
83
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Wait so they will have an adapter to take a RF lens (made for mirrorless system) and use it on a DSLR? Is that even possible? I thought the adapter only works to make a EF lens work on a EOS R system... (slightly confused -- does it go both ways? Can a new R lens work on my 1dx mark ii with the adapter? )



Ok, but they claim the RF lens will provide faster lens with better optical quality. So...does that mean the next generation of big whites will be on the RF mount to achieve those results? Is this in fact the last batch of great EF lens from Canon?
;
My quess will be that launch of new EF lenses will only be to maintain the system, as long as needed. Future is R-series and RF mount. Personally I would only by new EF lenses if I was pro, that see it as a 3-5 year production item. For enthusiast like me with an lifetime on equipment on +10 years, I will stick with my 6D and current EF line up as long a possible and then go for a 6D like R-series and a fast 2.8 / 2.0 kit zoom and then converter for my current EF lenses. I hold my money in the pocket for the next 3 years and then look around the Canon landscape.
 
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;
My quess will be that launch of new EF lenses will only be to maintain the system, as long as needed. Future is R-series and RF mount. Personally I would only by new EF lenses if I was pro, that see it as a 3-5 year production item. For enthusiast like me with an lifetime on equipment on +10 years, I will stick with my 6D and current EF line up as long a possible and then go for a 6D like R-series and a fast 2.8 / 2.0 kit zoom and then converter for my current EF lenses. I hold my money in the pocket for the next 3 years and then look around the Canon landscape.

One has to assume that Canon will support the new range of big whites for at least 7-10 years. It would be the slap in the face of anyone buying these 10k + lens if they release RF super tele-photos that are better in quality in the next 3-5 years. As someone who has held out buying the EF 400 f/2.8 ii (i did rent it often though) I think the weight improvement alone for the III's is a determining factor. Add to that it seems the balance issue of the 400 ii has been sorted in version iii so that's fantastic news. I just hope the IQ and durability hasn't been compromised (and has in fact been improved)
 
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EF 600mm f/4L IS USM II is 8.62 lbs / 3920 g Vs the III is 6.73 lbs / 3050g

EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM 8.47 lbs / 3850 g Vs the III is 6.26 lbs / 2840g

Weight reductions are just awesome

and for comparison Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens 6.4 lb / 2.9 kg

not just the weight reduction...but the additional IS improvement means the 400 f/2.8 iii will be far easier to handle (and hand hold a lot more then was possible with version ii). This is simply incredible news for wildlife photographers who aren't always in a position to always use tripods and monopod setups.
 
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Very good technological progress, but where is the 600mm F4 DO that we have been promised for years and has not arrived on the market ?

An EF 600mm f / 4L IS III of 3.1 Kg is too heavy for use without a tripod...

So, for now, I keep my EF 400mm f / 4 DO IS II USM, despite a diaphragm at F5.6 and F8 with Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III..

I hope a 600mm F4 DO will soon come out on the market with a maximum weight of 2.5 Kg.
 
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