Canon RF Supertelephoto Lenses with built-in Extenders Appear in Latest Patent

[Canon Rumors]

In this patent application (2025-028297), Canon discusses super-telephoto prime lenses with built-in teleconverters. Unlike normal teleconverters, which you add to the end of the lens and the extender attaches between the lens and the camera, these insert optical elements inside the lens itself.

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[Maximilian]

If anyone wants to get me one as a gift, I am willig to test it to the bones and write the best review about it

 

[Canon Rumors]

400 2.8 with a built-in TC? Ok... I'd be down for that.

No 500 again.

 

[docsmith]

400 f/2.8 with built in TC
600 f/4 with built in TC
200-500 f/4, maybe with a built in TC

All of these are very interesting. I suspect one of them will end up in my bag. But, Canon, I can't give you money for something you have not yet released.

 

[Loswr]

600 f/4 with built in TC

This one would end up in my bag (even though it's only 815mm with the TC).

 

[pierceography]

I'm seriously considering the RF 600mm f/4L for sports photography, but rumors like this have me thinking I should wait. Since the RF 600 is basically the EF with an RF mount slapped on it, I'm wondering if/when Canon will announce the full RF successor. Given the cost, this isn't a lens I'd want to knee jerk purchase, especially with the possibility of a replacement on the horizon......

Decisions.

 

[FISTtheVERB]

Make the 300mm a 1500 gram lens like Sony just made and they have an absolute winner on their hands! The new 100-300mm is too expensive and too heavy to be used handheld, but already duplicates a lot of the focal range that's already covered by my 70-200. In fact if you add the weight of the 70-200 and a hypothetical (Sony-esq) 1500 gram 300mm together, it's still lighter than the current 100-300mm, plus you always have to option to not bring your 70-200 for a super light handheld run and gun loadout. 300mm is the perfect for track-side motorsports photography, which is primarily what I shoot, but the current EF 300 II is still 2700 grams and gets tiring real fast without mono-pod.

 

[frankchn]

I think a 400L and 600L with a built-in TC and the same weight/build quality/IQ would be the target. Nikon has shown it can be done. Better if they can keep it at the same price, but matching the Nikons in price (i.e. a $1k increase) would not be unreasonable.

 

[P-visie]

I think a 400L and 600L with a built-in TC and the same weight/build quality/IQ would be the target. Nikon has shown it can be done. Better if they can keep it at the same price, but matching the Nikons in price (i.e. a $1k increase) would not be unreasonable.

I hope you are right about size, weight, image quality and price. I suspect that Canon’s prices will be higher than Nikon’s prices. In the Netherlands the Nikon 600 mm f4 with 1.4 TC has roughly the same price as the RF 600mm f4 (15000 €, incl. VAT).

 

[fox40phil]

Maybe I should buy finally soon a second hand 500 4.0 II -.-"... damn Canon. Upselling like this is annoying! (We don't want that you can buy nice primes < 10k€... just buy a zoom for >12-13k€

 

[R5boy]

For me it would be bad news, it may mean we'll never see the 1x to 2x "zoom" teleconverter

 

[Loswr]

For me it would be bad news, it may mean we'll never see the 1x to 2x "zoom" teleconverter

We were never going to see that anyway, when you actually read the patent on which that rumor was based you see that it's not what the rumor claims. The big initial clue is that it has 4 elements in 2 groups. The RF 1.4x has 7 elements in 4 groups, the 2x has 9 elements in 5 groups but somehow a 1x-2x extender has almost no glass in it? Especially when you consider that physics requires a '1.0x' extender to actually be a reducer (otherwise infinity focus is lost as happens with an extension tube). So no, it wasn't going to happen.

There was another patent for a 1.4x-2x extender that was actually for an extender, basically a 1.4x with optics for a second 1.4x the flip out of the way (in two groups). That one could be a real product.

 

[Deleted member 378085]

I can speak from experience, I own the RF 600 F4 for almost 2 years now, use it for wildlife and I am over the moon happy with it. I can tell you when I shot with the R5 the focus was not as fast as it was on an R3. It did not utilize both focus motors in the lens. It was quite noticeable.

I have since upgraded to the R5m2 and the af moves as fast as the full bodies (R1, R3). So a great upgrade from the original R5, for wildlife the biggest improvement is tracking with the R5m2 over the original. BIF are a breeze now. The original was definitely not using the full potential of the RF600.

I have many perched birds in very low, late light, at 1/60 of a second with the IS + IBIS on a monopod and surprised at the hit rate I get for sharpness. This lens always amazes me.

 

[Berowne]

20.000€

 

[john1970]

A second generation 400 mm f2.8 with 1.4x TC would be great. I am also eyeing the mythical 200-500 mm f4 as well. Usually, Canon announces supertelephoto lenses in the March to May timeframe so maybe 2025 will be a year for supertelephotos?

 

[Bonich]

A second generation 400 mm f2.8 with 1.4x TC would be great. I am also eyeing the mythical 200-500 mm f4 as well. Usually, Canon announces supertelephoto lenses in the March to May timeframe so maybe 2025 will be a year for supertelephotos?

There are no Olympics this year, so 2025 will not be a supertele year.

 

[Loswr]

with an inbuilt 1.4xTC, what external TCs can be added? Does the patent allow space for external TCs?

Yes, the back focus distance is plenty long enough for TCs in back of any of the patent examples.

 

[john1970]

There are no Olympics this year, so 2025 will not be a supertele year.

There were no Olympics in 2023, yet Canon released the RF 100-300 mm f2.8 on April 20, 2023. My point is you never know.

 

[H2Oplanet]

…and the RF 100-300mm is an extraordinary tool ... if the 200-500mm f4 is as sharp through the range then I will celebrate!!!

 

[NotSure700]

Make it 600mm F4.5 with built-in TC (840mm F6.3).