What about that EF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6 IS from Canon?

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It took but a few minutes to get my first inquiry about Canon’s plans for an EF 200-600mm lens once the announcement of the Sony FE 200-600 F5.6-6.3 G OSS for their mirrorless line.
We know Canon has been working on such a lens in the past, based off of some rumors and patents we’ve seen over the years. However, nothing has come to fruition as of yet.
As we sit here, I have doubts that we’re ever going to see such a lens for the EF mount. The RF mount? That is probably more likely. However, I doubt the EF design would translate well over to the RF in a way that Canon would be happy with, so it could be a case of starting from square one with the design of an RF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6 IS.
The image above is for the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

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Very interesting focal length range - thinking about some 1.4/1.8 50mm RF IS lens with 1:2 macro + f/4 70 200 (e.g. existing one with adapter + 200-600 (EDIT) as a good, flexible combo for someone who is not able to make valuable photos with wide angle lenses :)

But if it will be f/5.6 @ 600mm it will be as expensive as the 2.8 300: While aperture diameter is the same lenses lens elements are maybe a little bit thinner (less glass) and this glass can be used to make some other lenses for the zoom.
 
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im really curious for the sharpness tests for the sony 200-600.
i really like the internal zoom.

from what ive seen it didnt seem very sharp at all:
I photograph on aps-c (not full frame like the testers) and and at 600mm with my sigma sports my photos are way sharper.
but the testers mostly photographed with very bad conditions: high iso and high heat = heat waves

i hope cannon does it better someday.
 
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unfocused

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I doubt there was ever a 200-600 f5.6 under serious consideration. Too expensive and huge. A 200-500 f5.6 is more likely.

An RF mount would have the advantage that it could be f6.3. A 200-600 f6.3 R "L" lens from Canon at $2,500 to $3,000 would make sense.

Personally, I would prefer a 200-500 f5.6 that is sharp and fast and in the $2,000 to $3,000 range, as opposed to a compromised 200-600. There are already plenty of decent, but not stellar 600mm zooms to choose from.

Fantasy world: APS-C R body in the 7D mold, 150-500 f5.6 R lens, 2x R converter. Potential for a 1600 equivalent focal length at f11.
 
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AlanF

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I doubt there was ever a 200-600 f5.6 under serious consideration. Too expensive and huge. A 200-500 f5.6 is more likely.

An RF mount would have the advantage that it could be f6.3. A 200-600 f6.3 R "L" lens from Canon at $2,500 to $3,000 would make sense.

Personally, I would prefer a 200-500 f5.6 that is sharp and fast and in the $2,000 to $3,000 range, as opposed to a compromised 200-600. There are already plenty of decent, but not stellar 600mm zooms to choose from.

Fantasy world: APS-C R body in the 7D mold, 150-500 f5.6 R lens, 2x R converter. Potential for a 1600 equivalent focal length at f11.
The diffraction limited aperture of the 80D is f/6, and a new higher resolution sensor would have even lower DLA so f/11 would be twice the DLA. A 2xTC on an f/6.3 or f/5.6 lens ln such a body would give little increase in resolution because of diffraction and lowered IQ (mtfs take at least a 20% hit with a 2xTC), weaken AF, and make the camera far more difficult to handle because of the very narrow field of view and higher propensity to shake.
 
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unfocused

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The diffraction limited aperture of the 80D is f/6, and a new higher resolution sensor would have even lower DLA so f/11 would be twice the DLA. A 2xTC on an f/6.3 or f/5.6 lens ln such a body would give little increase in resolution because of diffraction and lowered IQ (mtfs take at least a 20% hit with a 2xTC), weaken AF, and make the camera far more difficult to handle because of the very narrow field of view and higher propensity to shake.

Valid concerns that the individual would have to take into consideration. But not something that would bar Canon or any other manufacturer from giving consumers the option.

The point is that with the R series offering autofocus at f11, Canon is keen to give their customers the option to use that feature. They are already highlighting the ability to autofocus using a 2x converter with the 100-400 L on the R series.

I am very skeptical that we will ever see an APS-C sensor in an R, but there are certainly rumors to that effect. I am more confident that we will see a high megapixel full frame R camera and that Canon will continue to promote the ability to add extenders and autofocus at f11 with such a body.
 
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After waiting patiently for over two years (since the first rumors of a canon super zoom) I finally decided on the Tamron 150-600. It's a good enough lens that I've also decided maybe Tamron would be a good choice for other focal lengths - the 70-200 f2.8 in particular. Nearly equal optics at 50% of the Canon price is a powerful motivator.
 
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Architect1776

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200-600mm is interesting.
If starting over for RF then do the 150-600mm as it will tie in far better with the 24-105mm (Make it a 24-120mm is even better) then you have a great all purpose telephoto zoom. Also give it the same incredible close focus that the 100-400mm MII has and you have a competition destroyer.
 
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Technically Canon already has a 200-560 f/4-5.6 lens with IS. It just isn't cheap or 'soft'.

I am being amused, especially with Sony's announcement, that MILC mount lenses just are not any smaller than EF mount lenses. It is almost like there is something called physics blocking the path.

Yes, and yes. And as for your latter point, the ergonomics of the 1D/5D/7D make hand-holding big lenses comfortable, while the ergonomics of Sony's bodies SUCK with big lenses mounted.
 
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AlanF

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Valid concerns that the individual would have to take into consideration. But not something that would bar Canon or any other manufacturer from giving consumers the option.

The point is that with the R series offering autofocus at f11, Canon is keen to give their customers the option to use that feature. They are already highlighting the ability to autofocus using a 2x converter with the 100-400 L on the R series.

I am very skeptical that we will ever see an APS-C sensor in an R, but there are certainly rumors to that effect. I am more confident that we will see a high megapixel full frame R camera and that Canon will continue to promote the ability to add extenders and autofocus at f11 with such a body.
Some years ago I tried out the 2xTC on a 100-400mm II and a 7DII using liveview to focus at f/11. The images were actually quite good, and could be useful to some people on occasion, extracting a little more detail than with the 1.4xTC.
 
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The lens is f/6.3 at the long end, which Canon has not yet done. Its possible with mirrorless cameras, since they do focus with smaller apertures.

Sony has falling into producing less complex designs which results in the need for correction using in camera software. Its a different design philosophy in at least 2 ways.

I suppose that Lens Rentals will eventually get them in stock and can test them to see just how much in camera correction is needed.
 
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LSXPhotog

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Slim chance for an affordable zoom with 600mm f/5.6 aperture. The 200-400 1.4ex lens would probably be a tough sell on many professionals...and that lens costs $11,000. It does have a fixed f/4 aperture, but it also shares the benefits of utility with added complexity of a built in teleconverter.

That said, depending on the size of such a lens, I would absolutely want to buy it immediately. I've been a proud owner of the current 100-400 since 2015 and it has been my most used lens, period. If this lens could match or even exceed the image quality of that lens, I would have no choice but to add it to the bag and possibly part ways with the 100-400.

I don't see Canon launching such a lens around $2000, though. I could easily see this being a $3,000 to even as high as $10,000. It's mostly a pipe dream unless it is a 200-500 f/5.6...then I could see it happening.

Your move, Canon.
 
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