The 10 Oldest Canon Lenses in Production

[Canon Rumors]

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<p><a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com" target="_blank">The-Digital-Picture</a> has written a cool little article about the 10 oldest Canon lenses currently in production.</p>
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<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12145-USA/Canon_2537A003_50mm_f_2_5_Compact_Macro.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro Lens Buy – 1987</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12142-USA/Canon_2514A002_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_8.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens Buy – 1990</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12058-USA/Canon_2518A003_Telephoto_EF_100mm_f_2_0.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM Lens Buy – 1991</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12132-USA/Canon_2536A004_TS_E_45mm_f_2_8_Normal.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Lens Buy – 1991</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12192-USA/Canon_2544A003_Telephoto_Tilt_Shift_TS_E.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Lens Buy – 1991</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12182-USA/Canon_2519A003_85mm_f_1_8_USM_Autofocus.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens Buy – 1992</a></li>
<li>Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Lens Buy – 1992</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12129-USA/Canon_2526A004_400mm_f_5_6L_USM_Autofocus.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens Buy – 1993</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12140-USA/Canon_2515A003_50mm_f_1_4_USM_Autofocus.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens Buy – 1993</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/91680-USA/Canon_2569A004_70_200mm_f_2_8L_USM_Autofocus.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank"> Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM Lens – 1995</a></li>
</ol>
<p>We’ve been hearing for a long time that the tilt-shift lenses would get the L treatment and that the 50 f/1.4 would be replaced with a slower IS version. All of which are expected in 2014.</p>
<p>The 400 f/5.6L has been often rumored for a replacement. <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/09/a-new-ef-400-f5-6l-before-photokina-cr1/" target="_blank">We recently heard about stock issues</a> with the lens, and the possibility of an IS version arriving for Photokina in 2014.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t expect a replacement for anything else on the list.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=8777" target="_blank">Read the full article</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[tianxiaozhang]

I own 3 of these.. nearly 4...

 

[RGomezPhotos]

Haha! I recently sold my Canon 28-135mm lens. I expected to see it on this list until I notice "In production". It was a fun lens.

 

[Chaitanya]

I hope that EF 50mm Macro gets replaced soon with a EF 60mm IS macro with internal focusing. I really need a 50-70mm range macro lens with IS to accompany my Sigma 150mm OS macro. Most of the macro lenses for full frame camera in that range are quite old and need replacements.

 

[Pixel]

The 100 f2 is underrated? The last one I tested had so much CA in it I could barely make out the image....ok that's slightly exaggerated but it was a LOT!

 

[cellomaster27]

I purchased the canon 20mm 2.8 for $80.. I would've kept it if it was good.. That lens needs an update if canon will renew that focal distance. I couldn't resist the price at the time. :

 

[mb66energy]

The 100 f2 is underrated? The last one I tested had so much CA in it I could barely make out the image....ok that's slightly exaggerated but it was a LOT!

The lateral CA is near zero I the longitudinal CA is well visible at f/2 if you have strong contrasts like branches of a free against a bright sky. From f/4 on it's much (!) crisper than e.g. the f/4 70-200 L lens!
But perhaps I had luck with my sample!

 

[Ricku]

I'm hoping for a 16-35 III or 17-40 II with razor sharp corners.

 

[dolina]

I expect all these lenses will become Ls or get IS.

I also expect prices to double for the updates.

 

[noncho]

I have 100/2 and 200/2.8 and they NEED replacement - 100 have horrible purple fringing, 200 needs IS.

 

[5D2-shooter]

Remarkable how long some lenses have been around.

A few errors unfortunately.

The original article is about the oldest lenses “available”, not “in production” as described on this site. These old lenses would have been produced in a batch, probably 10+ years ago, and sat in a warehouse since then. I doubt any of then are in production now.

The 200mm f2.8 II was introduced around 1996, not 1991. The 1991 introduction would have been the 200mm f2.8 which we now call the Mark 1 which hasn't been available since 1996.

The 50mm f2.5 macro is no longer officially available in my country. As it seems not to be particularly popular I suspect the B+H stock is a few leftovers.

 

[Viper28]

I have 100/2 and 200/2.8 and they NEED replacement - 100 have horrible purple fringing, 200 needs IS.

I have the 200/2.8L II and price for performance its a great lens. I agree IS would be nice but being small, light and black I can often use it in places were a 70-200L is inpractical or too noticable. It also works well with the 1.4x TC if required.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I have 100/2 and 200/2.8 and they NEED replacement - 100 have horrible purple fringing, 200 needs IS.

The 200mm f2.8 II L which I used to own was SO sharp it was possibly sharper than the 70-200 f2.8 L IS II which I replaced it with. It was a stunning optic and rediculously cheap for it's performance. A real sleeper lens!

It's funny when I look at the age of these lenses and often over looked / unloved lenses....take a look at Nikkor's lens catalogue. A lot of them are a LOT older!

 

[tomscott]

Why would Canon make a slower version of the 50mm 1.4? In that respect its not a direct replacement and because its a prime larger F numbers are kind of expected.

Personally I would rather have the wider aperture than IS for a 50mm focal length… 1.4 is a nice sweet spot between F1.2 and F2. With higher ISO being so much better now I understand that could be a reason but surely people buy this for the narrow DOF look wide open would give?

 

[Hjalmarg1]

I've owned 3 of them and fortunately replaced them. 50mm f1.8 and 1.4 and 100mm f2 replaced by 50mm f1.2L and 100mm f2.8L is.

 

[ewg963]

I love the 70-200mm 2.8L I'm not even thinking about selling it!!!!

 

[infared]

Happily...I do not own any of them!!!! ;D

 

[Albi86]

A new 85mm f/2 IS is most needed.

As for the 50mm... a f/2 IS should replace the nifty fifty. A fast 50/1.4 non-L is a must. Canon should replace the current version (as the L version) without changing FL and aperture.

 

[RomainF]

Why would Canon make a slower version of the 50mm 1.4? In that respect its not a direct replacement and because its a prime larger F numbers are kind of expected.

Bingo!

A new 20/2.8 would be interesting!

I've been praying for years for a fast ultra wide prime. 20mm f/1.8 ; 18 f/1.8 and i'll buy two of each !

 

[Sabaki]

Question: why does it seem that the apertures on proposed replacement lenses are getting smaller?

Canon EF 50 f/1.4 to Canon EF 50 f/1.8 IS &
Canon EF 85 f/1.8 to Canon EF 85 f/2.0 IS

It's as if those larger wide open apertures are undesirable but certainly the advancement in technology should make new lenses capable at those speeds?

What am I missing in this line of logic?