Canon RF-S 11-22mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM coming first half of 2023

[neuroanatomist]

The EF-M 18-150 was next to the last M lens introduced (just before the 32mm f/1.4) in 2016, so it is possible that it was designed with RF-s in mind. If so, that could mean that we might see the 32mm come across as well, but "might" is the operative word. OTOH, the EF-M 11-22 is a much larger and heavier lens than the RF-s 10-18, so the redesign may have been just a size and cost issue since small size is clearly a goal for RF-s lenses. The M lenses are tiny compared to what we were used to in SLR world, but they are all pretty much the same size. In contrast, the RF-s lenses seem to be as small as it is possible to make them even at the expense of limiting the range as with the 10-18 and 18-45. When you compare the 18-150 with an EF-s 18-135, you have to think it isn't going to get much smaller. The RF-s 55-210 is kind of the odd duck in that theory in that it doesn't seem to have either a size or performance improvement over the EF-m 55-200, but maybe being a candidate for 2 lens kits, the objective was purely cost. All clearly speculation.

Speculation similar to mine a few weeks ago…

The APS-C market is shrinking. It used to represent 90% of the ILC market, now it’s down to around 75%. if one is selling fewer units and wants to at least maintain the same profit, then the profit margin must be increased. Business 101.

The 18-150 was likely already optimized for lowest production cost with that range (it was the penultimate M lens to be released). The other RF-S lenses are all simpler designs that cost less to make, and two of them launched at the same price as their M counterparts (the 10-18 costs less than the 11-22, but is also obviously a cheaper design, e.g., no metal mount).

The other obvious factor is that while we know which M lenses we personally like, Canon knows how many of each M lens they sold. That’s most likely why, for example, the 18-150 was the seventh lens for M, but one of the first pair of lenses that launched with APS-C R.

 

[EOS 4 Life]

55-200 is just recycling the traditional EF-S 55-200 production line imo. But seriously though why would anyone get that lens when RF 100-400 is so superior

The two-lens kit is kind of a bargain and the 18-150 is not offered as a kit lens to the cheapest cameras,
Even standalone, the RF-S 55-200 is much cheaper than the RF 100-400.

 

[Dragon]

@Dragon: "...OTOH, the EF-M 11-22 is a much larger and heavier lens than the RF-s 10-18, so the redesign may have been just a size and cost issue since small size is clearly a goal for RF-s lenses.... "

Are you sure about that?

https://www.the-digital-picture.com...Images.aspx?Lens=967&LensComp2=0&LensComp=950

Yes, quite sure https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Lens-Specifications.aspx?Lens=1674&LensComp=967 . RF-s, not EF-s

 

[DhlcadR6]

The two-lens kit is kind of a bargain and the 18-150 is not offered as a kit lens to the cheapest cameras,
Even standalone, the RF-S 55-200 is much cheaper than the RF 100-400.

Other than form factor. I struggled to justify get the 55-200 instead of adapters with used Tamron 70-210 f4 or 1st gen EF 70-200 f4 non-IS

 

[EOS 4 Life]

Other than form factor. I struggled to justify get the 55-200 instead of adapters with used Tamron 70-210 f4 or 1st gen EF 70-200 f4 non-IS

There are a lot of issues with non-G2 Tamron lenses on the Canon R series cameras.

 

[shadowsports]

There are a lot of issues with non-G2 Tamron lenses on the Canon R series cameras.

Thats true. Its the same trying to use older Sigma lenses (non Global Vision series) Many do not support the faster communication standards of mirrorless, Servo AF or focus speed. Some, not all.

 

[Dragon]

Thats true. Its the same trying to use older Sigma lenses (non Global Vision series) Many do not support the faster communication standards of mirrorless, Servo AF or focus speed. Some, not all.

The ongoing issues of 3rd party lenses. Often not as good a long-term investment as expected. That said, My Tamron 150-600 (not g2) and 15-30 (also not g2) function adequately on the R5 after sending them both back to Tamron for update. Most of my older Sigmas work, but definitely do not perform as well as older Canon EF lenses, and by perform, I mean AF, aperture speed, etc. (not resolution, which is what it always was). It is a reminder that neither Sigma nor Tamron really ever had access to the full EF protocol, much less RF protocol. They were guessing, based on the interactions they could monitor and often missed some (or a lot) of the subtlety of the protocol. There is also the not-so-minor detail of the camera recognizing the attached lens and understanding its limits. I suspect this is a big part of the excellent compatibility of older EF lenses. Your R5 likely knows intimately what the limits of all Canon EF lenses are, but doesn't give 3rd party lenses any slack.

 

[deebatman316]

The ongoing issues of 3rd party lenses. Often not as good a long-term investment as expected. That said, My Tamron 150-600 (not g2) and 15-30 (also not g2) function adequately on the R5 after sending them both back to Tamron for update. Most of my older Sigmas work, but definitely do not perform as well as older Canon EF lenses, and by perform, I mean AF, aperture speed, etc. (not resolution, which is what it always was). It is a reminder that neither Sigma nor Tamron really ever had access to the full EF protocol, much less RF protocol. They were guessing, based on the interactions they could monitor and often missed some (or a lot) of the subtlety of the protocol. There is also the not-so-minor detail of the camera recognizing the attached lens and understanding its limits. I suspect this is a big part of the excellent compatibility of older EF lenses. Your R5 likely knows intimately what the limits of all Canon EF lenses are, but doesn't give 3rd party lenses any slack.

The reason Sigma knows EF Mount communication is because Sigma's own SA Mount uses EF Mount communication. The mechanical part of the mount is different from the EF Mount and its physically closer to the Pentax K Mount (PK Mount). But its electrically the same as the EF Mount and was released a few years after the launch of the EOS system. That's why the EF Mount version of a Sigma lens is released faster than a Nikon F Mount, Sony/ Minolta A Mount or a Pentax K Mount lens. Pentax like Nikon has different generations of its mount when it comes to electronic communication. The most current version of the Pentax K Mount is the KAF4 variant which is fully electronic now. Pentax was the last manufacturer to leave screw drive AF behind not all of their cameras can AF motorized lenses. Their lenses have 2 AF systems in 1 lens now for backward compatibility. They use both both screw drive and a motor in the lens. You can't switch between which motor is used. All of Pentax's camera bodies retain a motor in the camera body for older screw drive lenses. The newer hybrid system lenses when used on a new camera body. Will not use the motor in the camera body to AF the lens instead the camera commands the AF motor in the lens to do so. When that same lens is used on a camera body that doesn't support motorized lenses. The lens falls back to screw drive motor in the camera for AF to work.

 

[Dragon]

The reason Sigma knows EF Mount communication is because Sigma's own SA Mount uses EF Mount communication. The mechanical part of the mount is different from the EF Mount and its physically closer to the Pentax K Mount (PK Mount). But its electrically the same as the EF Mount and was released a few years after the launch of the EOS system. That's why the EF Mount version of a Sigma lens is released faster than a Nikon F Mount, Sony/ Minolta A Mount or a Pentax K Mount lens. Pentax like Nikon has different generations of its mount when it comes to electronic communication. The most current version of the Pentax K Mount is the KAF4 variant which is fully electronic now. Pentax was the last manufacturer to leave screw drive AF behind not all of their cameras can AF motorized lenses. Their lenses have 2 AF systems in 1 lens now for backward compatibility. They use both both screw drive and a motor in the lens. You can't switch between which motor is used. All of Pentax's camera bodies retain a motor in the camera body for older screw drive lenses. The newer hybrid system lenses when used on a new camera body. Will not use the motor in the camera body to AF the lens instead the camera commands the AF motor in the lens to do so. When that same lens is used on a camera body that doesn't support motorized lenses. The lens falls back to screw drive motor in the camera for AF to work.

Probably safer to say that SA uses Sigma's interpretation of EF protocol. The fact that they have had to update many EF mount lenses over the years to keep up with new bodies from Canon suggests that they didn't have a complete grasp of the protocol. The addition of the USB dock for the newer lenses makes the upgrades far less painful, but the updates are still around and likely will be for the foreseeable future.

 

[deebatman316]

Probably safer to say that SA uses Sigma's interpretation of EF protocol. The fact that they have had to update many EF mount lenses over the years to keep up with new bodies from Canon suggests that they didn't have a complete grasp of the protocol. The addition of the USB dock for the newer lenses makes the upgrades far less painful, but the updates are still around and likely will be for the foreseeable future.

The core electronic communication is the same which surprised me. Canon was also the first manufacturer to use Ring Type USM and electronic focus rings on their new AF lenses. When Canon initially released Ring Type USM lenses they hadn't come up with a clutch override system yet. So all Ring Type USM lenses implemented electronic focus override. The same way an STM lens works and allows Full Time Manual Focus. The EF 300mm F/2.8L USM lens was the first lens to use Ring Type USM and have an electronic focus ring in 1987. Other lenses would also use this same electronic focus ring such as the EF 50mm F/1.0L USM lens and the original EF 85mm F/1.2L USM lens. Which was based off the 50mm F/1.0's design and the 85mm F/1.2 Mark also was based off the same design as its predecessor. Both the 85mm F/1.2 original & Mark II both utilize Ring Type USM & electronic focus rings.