Predicting What Canon Will Launch in 2026

[riker]

This is a good idea. I love the 70-200 f/4 for the compact size but it is often too short. I also like the 100-400 f/∞ which is great for travel and landscape but the 70-200 wins with rendering when shooting people or streets. Sometimes I need to carry both.
I'd be fine if they can do a 70-300+ lens that is f/4 up to 200mm and then it gets darker (so it would be kinda those two lenses combined, hopefully still maintaining the size and weight). But that lens would be difficult to advertise and sell.

The 70-200/2.8 Z with a 1.4X could also be considered, but then it's basically already the weight of the 100-500 and we even have the uncomfort of putting it up and taking it off all the time. At least we have 2.8 lens when it's off.
Maybe our imaginary 70-300/4 could be a non-L lens with USM, similar to the 200-800? If that makes it lighter, I'm in. 70-250/4 with builtin 1.4x? 100-300? In any case it needs to be around 1kg max (equal to 70-200/2.8), 8-900g would be a dream come true and fireworks.
Honestly, I'd also be happy with 100-400/4-5.6 if it could make it around 1kg, I'd happily sacrifice that 100mm for 200-300g.

 

[DocInfoSci]

I take my EF 24-70 f/4 everywhere, it's awesome for my general run-about with good base quality. An RF edition with full-time manual override would be a priority 1 contender for my wallet. Without full-time manual override I'd wait for my EF edition to die in about 15 more years.

 

[DocInfoSci]

Also any of the pancake lenses but with weather sealing would be very, very interesting. Especially something in the 20mm -> 28mm range. Even the janky current override would be OK. But without weather sealing where I live, meh.

 

[David - Sydney]

‘No one could have predicted the supply chain, tariffs,’
Trump put in place higher tariffs in his first term (and Biden kept most of them).
His favorite topic so no surprise for his second. The on-off nature of them (taco) was more of a surprise

 

[Richard CR]

‘No one could have predicted the supply chain, tariffs,’
Trump put in place higher tariffs in his first term (and Biden kept most of them).
His favorite topic so no surprise for his second. The on-off nature of them (taco) was more of a surprise

I wanted to say taco tariffs, but decided to keep it apolitical.

 

[HMC11]

I see this is the annual New Year's wish list time . Mine is a short list:
(a) 70-150/180 f2.8 (already mentioned by others);
(b) 24-105 f4L mark II - smaller, sharper and resolves well for high pixel density cameras such as the R7

 

[Ozarker]

I wanted to say taco tariffs, but decided to keep it apolitical.

It's the whole enchilada, that's for sure.

 

[Jamie8848]

The 70-200/2.8 Z with a 1.4X could also be considered, but then it's basically already the weight of the 100-500 and we even have the uncomfort of putting it up and taking it off all the time. At least we have 2.8 lens when it's off.
Maybe our imaginary 70-300/4 could be a non-L lens with USM, similar to the 200-800? If that makes it lighter, I'm in. 70-250/4 with builtin 1.4x? 100-300? In any case it needs to be around 1kg max (equal to 70-200/2.8), 8-900g would be a dream come true and fireworks.
Honestly, I'd also be happy with 100-400/4-5.6 if it could make it around 1kg, I'd happily sacrifice that 100mm for 200-300g.

The EF 300mm f4 was 1.2 kg and I bet Canon could make a 100-300mm f4 L at around 1 kg. I would want L for durability, bokeh and the rest.

And while dreaming, a 28-70mm f2.8 L the same dimensions as the VCM lenses. NO IS but the focus on image quality and bokeh.

 

[Del Paso]

No progress along the lines of the R50 V??? No compact milc whatsoever? That's a very dark future.

It's hard not to be an **** and start dropping whishlists, but whatever...

- The predicted 300-600/5.6 sounds great, I'm in.

- 70-300/4L (80-300 or whatever) optimized for travel (weight and size). The 100-500 is a brilliant lens and a great upgrade after the EF 100-400 II (which was already great), but still too heavy. The 70-200/4 is also brilliant but 200mm is often not enough. The 70-200/2.8 does not accept 1.4X.

- _Great_, non-L 28mm and 50mm lens. (No, the 45/1.2 does not qualify, having the usual STM motor...and I'd also choose 55mm instead of 45mm if not 50mm)

- The predicted 28-70/2 mk2. I'm in! Just make it lighter and better balanced.

- Actually, a non-L 28-70/2 (or 28-55/2 or actually anything between 28-70/2 and 30-50/2) would kick ass. For me at least.

- An awesome macro lens. Let's say 150/2 with 1.5x max magnification.

- An awesome tele zoom to match the (hopefully mk2) 28-70 and to answer Sony's 50-150/2.

- Fullframe compact milc. Come ooooon!

*In general, better AF for non-L lenses. Make that STM better or invent something new, or introduce mid-tier lenses which are non-L but incorporate nano-USM. Just do something

I promise to buy each and every piece of the above, should Canon come up with any of them.

"Great non L 28mm"?
The RF 28mm f/2,8 is already as sharp, if not sharper, than my Leica M 28mm f/2,8 Asph !
This little lens is a jewel. (Please have a look at TDP's review)

 

[riker]

The EF 300mm f4 was 1.2 kg and I bet Canon could make a 100-300mm f4 L at around 1 kg. I would want L for durability, bokeh and the rest.

And while dreaming, a 28-70mm f2.8 L the same dimensions as the VCM lenses. NO IS but the focus on image quality and bokeh.

Exactly, the 1kg 100-300/4 is what I have in mind. Maybe I'd accept 1.1kg if it can go below 100 and be 70 or 80. 100 is sometimes too much and when travelling, other than the L tele zoom, I only carry non-L 50mm and 28mm.

As for the 2.8, my current approach is, I want f/2 minimum. Not just for the bokeh but speed. It took me 2 decades to realize how huge of a difference it makes to have an f/1.8-2 lens at an event with bad lighting, a concert or any scenario really where light is lacking. And it also helps AF. The reason I use primes until I can get a usable alternative. 35/1.8 and 50/1.8 are 465g together. 28-70/2 is 1430g. Even if mk2 gets to be 1-1.1kg, it's waaay too much for street/travel. I need a 28-55/2, 600g max. I don't care about IS, I don't mind if it's not L, just IQ and AF.

 

[riker]

"Great non L 28mm"?
The RF 28mm f/2,8 is already as sharp, if not sharper, than my Leica M 28mm f/2,8 Asph !
This little lens is a jewel. (Please have a look at TDP's review)

No need for review, I have it with me right now, travelled through India, Bhutan, Djibouti and Somalia with it.
I love it for it's sharpness, size and weight. At the same time I find it lacking aperture and AF speed.
At a minimum, I wish for 28/1.8 in the format of the 24/1.8 and 35/1.8, but my dream is something one step above with better AF, but below L series.
But we kinda discussed this before

 

[Exploreshootshare]

These were meant to be comments on Craig's post?

EDIT: Ahhh, you use the same comment-thread for both posts! It's really a confusing practice you have started with these comment-threads shared by multiple posts on CR. I hate it.

Same topic, same comment-thread. I actually really like it.