Canon EOS R6 Mark III & RF 45 F1.2 STM November 6

I'm still hoping for some interesting "L" lenses, like TS, 24-70 II, 180 macro, 70-150, 400, 35 f/1,2 etc...
The last ones were (for me) a bit boring, except the 70-200 Z and 100-300.
Nothing against cheaper lenses, but it's time for some new halo lenses, not only for Sony and Sigma ones.
You know which one I am waiting for... :sneaky:
Like your good self, I have been underwhelmed by Canon's lens offerings in recent times... :censored:
 
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While SONY is completing its f/2 trinity with a wide angle f/2 lens in record time Canon is about to release a 45mm f/1.2 lens, a lens claimed to be better than the almost 19 year old —and not known for being good— EF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens. YAY! So exciting!
Well, to be fair: it took Sony six years to after Canon released a f2 zoom to come up with one. While Sony released them, Canon released 20/24/35/50/85mm F1.4 VCM which is also a great accomplishment.
 
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Well, maybe the "special one" will accommodate your wishes. I´d like to the TS at some point just because we've been talking about it forever on this forum. For my personal use, I´d wish for a 70-135/xxx F2 to be released and/ or a 28-70mm F2 on a diet. Sony is about to release its third f2 zoom, so Canon should really up their game.
I agree we need some more "halo" offerings
As I´ve stated several times: I believe the 35mm F1.2 will come, but it will be built differently compared to 50/ 85mm F1.2. I´m guessing it'll use Vcm motors and will be built lighter, have better focus breathing and maybe even an aperture ring. It'll pave the way for 50/85mm F1.2 mkii´s.
Disagree: at least I wish the 35 1.2 will sway more towards the "least optical compromises" path. We already have a VCM 35 1.4 which is compact and light and needs digital corrections to achieve those qualities - what would differentiate the current 1.4 from the 1.2 you describe?
I would love a 35 1.2 more in the mold of the current 50 and 85 1.2
 
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Well, to be fair: it took Sony six years to after Canon released a f2 zoom to come up with one. While Sony released them, Canon released 20/24/35/50/85mm F1.4 VCM which is also a great accomplishment.

I'd never dare to say that a line of shamelessly optically uncorrected lenses with extreme vignetting is 'a great accomplishment'. I don't even think the VCM line is worth of the red ring. At that price tag the least I expect is the lenses to be optically corrected.

VCM.jpeg
 
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Disagree: at least I wish the 35 1.2 will sway more towards the "least optical compromises" path. We already have a VCM 35 1.4 which is compact and light and needs digital corrections to achieve those qualities - what would differentiate the current 1.4 from the 1.2 you describe?
I would love a 35 1.2 more in the mold of the current 50 and 85 1.2
I agree and I'm totally expecting such kind of fully photo-oriented lenses to keep being released.

Canon has been describing the VCMs as hybrids since the beginning. My interpretation of that is simple: hybrid implies sacrifices on both ends.

The VCM lenses:
  • are not the budget options (the silver ring lenses are)
  • are not Cine lenses (so they don't go all out on video)
  • and they don't go all out on photo either because, for most of them, either Canon or their opponents have made better already

We have:
20mm f/1.4 VCM
24mm f/1.4 VCM
35mm f/1.4 VCM
50mm f/1.4 VCM
85mm f/1.4 VCM

Rumored:
14mm f/2 VCM

Canon, or their opponents, have:
14mm f/1.8 (EDIT: I forgot there’s a 14mm f/1.4)
Many 20mm f/1.4
Many 24mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.2
50mm f/1.2
85mm f/1.2

So, for every single one of the VCM lenses, I expect Canon to release a higher grade photo-oriented option within, say, 5 years from the first VCM release (50 and 85 are already available, obviously).
 
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I'd never dare to say that a line of shamelessly optically uncorrected lenses with extreme vignetting is 'a great accomplishment'. I don't even think the VCM line is worth of the red ring. At that price tag the least I expect is the lenses to be optically corrected.

View attachment 226634
Hmmm, funnily afaik, Sonys 28-70mm F2 (among other lenses) relies on digital correction as well. Sony even stated they were only able to built these lenses so lightweight because they relied on dc for vignetting and distortion. So, if you despise Canon for dc, please don't praise Sony lenses for it.

I really don´t mind digitally corrected lenses. In fact, I´d like to see some kind of proof which states optical corrected lenses are in fact better. Furthermore, I love the weight savings DC provides. Yes, I mean the VCM line-up. But one should also compare Canons optical corrected 28-70mm F2 (1.427 kg) and Sonys offering (0,918 kg): a difference of 500gr is huge! I don't how much DC does account for, but given the choice I´d go for a lighter DC anytime.
 
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I've been able to make all my Canon RF acquisitions with I'd say 20 to 50% discounts. It takes a lot of patience, but I've made deals good enough to be able to sell some of that gear with profit even to MPB.
Last year I got, for instance, the RF 135mm for about 1250€ (sold for profit), and my 28-70mm f/2 for about 1950€ (kept it).
Sometimes it’s brand new gear, sometimes it’s returned items, but at least I know they haven’t been used for long, and I get three years warranty (standard in my country).
This year I also sold three or four R100s with profit, for instance.
Well, so you're my competitor ahahah that's what I do too, buy cheap and resell for profit. My last RF "investment" acquisition is the RF 28 STM for 160€ shipped, which is pretty amazing bargain. I still have it, is so cheap I'll probably keep it anyway even if I don't use it; as I said, a M5 is coming, but if I can find a R100 body only for 200€ or less (very hard), then I'm probably going to keep it, resell the M5, and the 28 STM could became the pocket solution for R100 when I want to be super light and have a standard FoV. I already had R100 and resold it, it's pretty stupid camera, has so few point of controls that I would myself too gladly enable the touch screen for it...but it hasn't!

Screenshot 2025-10-28 alle 15.53.21.png
 
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I agree we need some more "halo" offerings

Disagree: at least I wish the 35 1.2 will sway more towards the "least optical compromises" path. We already have a VCM 35 1.4 which is compact and light and needs digital corrections to achieve those qualities - what would differentiate the current 1.4 from the 1.2 you describe?
I would love a 35 1.2 more in the mold of the current 50 and 85 1.2
I never said it has to be digital corrected. But at 1.2 kg the 85mm should be put on a diet. The difference between Sonys F1.2 and Canons is roughly 170 gr (778 gr to 950) so I really do think there is room for improvement in this regard. Canon really started to design lighter lenses with the arrival of the RF 100-500mm in 2021 (it had something to do with a new front element and new design approach, it was in one of the articles here on CR) and both lenses were released before that time. My theory actually fits with the rumored roadmap from 2021 which featured the 35mm f1.2, the fact it has obviously been pushed back several times and now the 24-70mm F2.8 IS VCM rumor which kind of gives a small hint what to expect of mkii´s.
 
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My last RF "investment" acquisition is the RF 28 STM for 160€ shipped, which is pretty amazing bargain.
That's a very good price, mine cost about 240€ (brand new), but I'm not buying internationally, only at national stores. All the gear is new, open box or returned, with standard warranty.
I'm not purchasing items as used unless the price is insane and I can return them if something's wrong (which has happened in the past).

Today I just sold a Sony ZV-E10 II, that I bought a few weeks ago for about 550€. Open box, pristine condition, all the plastic bags, unopened neck strap. It was probably opened to show to someone, as it didn't have a single fingerprint, dust speck, nothing.

My RP was one of those findings, it's my first camera I was not the first to unbox. 569€ with the RF 50mm f/1.8, the bundle that also comes with an extra battery and SD card. It was missing the SD card, everything else was fine. I sold the 50mm, and kept the camera and the extra battery for a little over 400€, with three years warranty as usual. If I can, I intend to keep it as my personal camera, I kind of like its slow pace.

if I can find a R100 body only for 200€ or less (very hard)
I think I got two of those for about 215€ (265 or 270€ with kit lens). It's been three months or so since the last time I snatched a R100.
 
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I'd never dare to say that a line of shamelessly optically uncorrected lenses with extreme vignetting is 'a great accomplishment'. I don't even think the VCM line is worth of the red ring. At that price tag the least I expect is the lenses to be optically corrected.

View attachment 226634
Sony relies on in body correction to fix color rendering which in my book is a much bigger no-no. Check images of many of the recent gms on E to Z or with contacts taped, very yellowy color. I'm not a big fan of many VCM lenses for their oof rendition but at least for 50 and 85 they are optically corrected pretty well.
 
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I agree we need some more "halo" offerings

Disagree: at least I wish the 35 1.2 will sway more towards the "least optical compromises" path. We already have a VCM 35 1.4 which is compact and light and needs digital corrections to achieve those qualities - what would differentiate the current 1.4 from the 1.2 you describe?
I would love a 35 1.2 more in the mold of the current 50 and 85 1.2
It's tough to create halo lenses again. Canon have done this so many times in the past, EF 50mm f1.0 and EF 85mm f1.2 are prime (soz for the pun) examples. Even Canon are shy of matching the 50mm f1.0 in a modern context. However they were the first to make a 35mm f1.4 and a 24mm f1,4 and these days all of the competition brands have similar lenses. Even independant brands like Sigma have a 85mm f1.2 these days. Canon where the first to make a 28-70mm f2.8 and then were the first to push it to 24-70/2.8. Now it's a standard that everybody is used too. Canon made the first 70-200.2.8. There were all halo lenses of yesteryear. The 28-70/f2.0 is aleap forwards but Canon haven't bothered with a sequal....a 70-135mm f2 has been long overdue. Where is out 180mm Macro replacement or 8-15mm fisheye (an astonishing little lens).
Other brands have lenses like the 35-150mm f2-2.8 from Tamron is a legend and for many a true one lens pro portrait solution. canon had their 200mm f1.8, replaced it with the f2 version and then dropped it....Sony, Nikkon and even Sigma now have one.
What of the other big whites? Even Sigma have made a 300-600mm f4. We are still wondering why Canon seem to be dragging their heels with their halo lens developement. Why didn't Canon do drop in TC's across all their white telephoto lens range? It's baffling. I love my 400mm f2.8 II L, but the amount of time I spend swapping TC's on that lens!
So yes there are less opportunities to create halo lenses, but Canon don't seem to be that interested in making them.
 
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With these specs I don't really see the point of a side grade from a R6ii. I've needed a 2nd camera since I moved my R8 on and I've been waiting on the R6iii. However, considering I can buy a R6ii for so little £££ and R6iii offers very little in the way of upgrades for a Lot more £££. I can currently buy a new R6ii via grey import for £1350. A new R6iii is going to come in around £2K, maybe more.
So instead I've just bought a S/H R5 with only 50 clicks...yes it's practically brand new for only £1650. So yes, the R6iii is going to be a tough sell for Canon until the price drops to realistic prices and is seen a cheaper alternative to a mint R5. Maybe the R7ii will offer more tech for the money?
 
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