Is Ring-Type USM on the Way Out?

[scyrene]

But as people have hinted, presumably each named tech has been improved over time, even if it has the same name?

 

[blackcoffee17]

Ring USM is, what, 35 years old, maybe more? It was superb back when the most important attributes of an AF motor were fast starting and fast, accurate stopping, plus quietness. No other brand could compete with Canon's Ring USM for stills on a 1990s SLR. It's kind of sad to see it go but there are so many better alternatives now.

Probably there are better alternatives now but im also sure the ring USM is not the same as 35 years ago. Probably was constantly improved. Cars were also invented 100+ years ago and yet the modern combustion engine is a spaceship compared with the original one

 

[Michael Clark]

We won't talk about the DC motor in the RF 75-300 f/4.5-5.6, as no other lens uses it and no other lens ever will.

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Well, except for the the RF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 II, then III, which will be identical to the RF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 other than with different external cosmetics, which they'll roll out every few years.

 

[Michael Clark]

I doubt any RF lens will get a Series II before 2028 or 2030. Based on EF L refresh cycle's typically every decade, dozen years or 2 decades.

Meh, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II was introduced in 2010, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS III came in 2018. Granted it was a minimal "refresh", but it was a refresh and got a new Mark number. For that matter, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS was only offered from 2001-2010.

Maybe the 70-200/2.8 lenses were such workhorses that many shooters were wearing them out in less than a decade? I've had mine 16 years, but it's been to CPS three times. Twice as a result of misalignment after a hard impact (the first time I didn't adequately document the problem and they didn't fix anything, the second time I sent example images demonstrating the severe tilt and it got fixed) and the last time in 2021 because the IS motor went crazy and started vibrating for no reason when the lens was pointed at certain angles with respect to gravity.

 

[Michael Clark]

When I attach the R1 to a 2001 EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Series I it had difficulty locking onto focus for more than 20% of the action shots.

It'd be interesting to see if the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II and III would do better in this regard, considering Roger Cicala's claim that the latter lenses measure and report the position of the focus group more precisely to the camera body than lenses before around 2010 did.

 

[Michael Clark]

USM was THE technology which tilted the majority of professional photographers shooting 135 format to switch from Nikon to Canon in the early 1990s.

Prior to the autofocus revolution in the late 1980s and early 1990s over 75% of pros (outside the Soviet Bloc) working in the 135 format shot Nikon. The rest were split between Canon, Minolta, Pentax, Leica, Contax, Konica, and a host of others. Keep in mind that much commercial and fashion work was being done with Medium and Large Format systems. But PJs and sports/action shooters were using Nikon 135 format film cameras in droves.

When Canon "abandoned" the old FD mount in 1987 and introduced the all electronic EF mount, Canon lost many of the few professional shooters they had. There was a lot of bitterness from those heavily invested in professional FD lenses that they would not be getting any improved bodies going forward. For the most part, the pro sector wasn't that excited about AF. They viewed it as a crutch for less skilled posers and amateurs. A good shooter could outperform the earliest AF systems.

Then along came the EF 300mm f/2.8 L USM in November of 1987 and the EOS 1 in 1989. With that combination, suddenly the potential of all electronic communication between camera and lens became apparent. USM was fast, accurate, and quiet. Did I mention it was fast and accurate? For the first time AF systems could outperform a seasoned pro focusing the lens shooting athletes moving erratically. And it could do it at 1.5-2 frames per second! Even faster with external Motor Drives.

Within 5 years of the introduction of the EOS 1, Canon had a majority of professional photographers working in the 135 format and then held that lead for the next three decades.

It's going to be sad to say goodbye to USM.

By God, Woodrow, It's been one hell of a party! - Augustus McCrae

Sing it Willie: ♫♪ Nothing lasts forever but old Fords and a natural stone ♪♫