The Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM II Still Scheduled to Arrive This Year [CR3]

[Canon Rumors]

We’re told that the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM II is still scheduled to arrive this year. Keep in mind lens announcements can be bumped pretty easily, which we saw recently with the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III. That lens was initially schedule to be announced in June.</p>
<p>We can confirm that this will be the first Canon lens with an LCD display built-in, however we’re still not sure what information will be present on the digital display.</p>
<p>The lens will be equipped with Nano-USM, the latest IS and will be heavier than the current model. Expect a big optical upgrade too we’re told.</p>
<p>There’s also a <a href="http://nokiS___a-camera.blogspot.ca/2016/08/2016827.html">buzz about another DSLR body coming</a>, dubbed DS126651, as seen at a Russian certification agency. We haven’t personally heard anything about another imminent camera body.</p>
<p><em>More to come…</em></p>
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[Chaitanya]

Is that 2nd DSLR body somehow replacement to 100D ? That would certainly be useful if Canon(highly unlikely considering their tendency to castrate features) were to put same sensor from 80D and hybrid viewfinder and charge 900$ for it. I certainly would go for such a camera for lighter travelling up in Himalayas.

 

[BeenThere]

Maybe an entry level body, although I'm not sure how Canon would improve on their current rebels unless to put one out there at a lower price point.
Add: or maybe a body with some cool styling and colors to appeal to millennials.

 

[rrcphoto]

There’s also a buzz about another DSLR body coming, dubbed DS126651, as seen at a Russian certification agency. We haven’t personally heard anything about another imminent camera body.
More to come…

wasn't that about an EOS-M5? or are you now hearing it's a DSLR?

 

[AJ]

the first Canon lens with an LCD display built-in

Why? I wonder what it'll display?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

There’s also a buzz about another DSLR body coming, dubbed DS126651, as seen at a Russian certification agency. We haven’t personally heard anything about another imminent camera body.
More to come…

wasn't that about an EOS-M5? or are you now hearing it's a DSLR?

This is something different, it was registered in Taiwan. Camera Models that start with the letters DS are Digital SLR's (DSlr). It extends the use of a existing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Module to a new DSLR Model number. That could be anything, the extensions like this often happen 6 months to a year before new model announcements.

 

[ahsanford]

the first Canon lens with an LCD display built-in

Why? I wonder what it'll display?

One would think it would post the range to target and near and far limits of the DOF for the given aperture, like the recent Zeiss Batis lenses for the Sony mount shown below.

It's a fine idea that simplifies reading distance / aperture scales (would be visible in the dark as well), but I don't know why they'd do this on Canon's cheapest long zoom. This strikes me as an upgrade, not a downmarket move.

- A

 

[AJ]

the first Canon lens with an LCD display built-in

Why? I wonder what it'll display?

One would think it would post the range to target and near and far limits of the DOF for the given aperture, like the recent Zeiss Batis lenses for the Sony mount shown below.

It's a fine idea that simplifies reading distance / aperture scales (would be visible in the dark as well), but I don't know why they'd do this on Canon's cheapest long zoom. This strikes me as an upgrade, not a downmarket move.

- A

The lens communicates the focal length and focusing distance to the body, right? The body should be able to do DOF calculations. Why now show this info on the camera body's screen?

Maybe there are buttons and menus to select IS modes, focus limiting, etc, like on a shotshoe flash?

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

A Rebel SL2 would be very good, while Canon does not decide to take seriously the EOS-M.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

the first Canon lens with an LCD display built-in

Why? I wonder what it'll display?

One would think it would post the range to target and near and far limits of the DOF for the given aperture, like the recent Zeiss Batis lenses for the Sony mount shown below.

It's a fine idea that simplifies reading distance / aperture scales (would be visible in the dark as well), but I don't know why they'd do this on Canon's cheapest long zoom. This strikes me as an upgrade, not a downmarket move.

- A

My two cents: no STM lens (nor the new Nano USM powered 18-135mm) has had any kind of distance marker on the barrel. A traditional focus window won't work, because the MF ring isn't really connected to anything (other than the focus motor). An electronic readout could solve that.

I agree with the poster that mentioned the biggest threat is to undercut 70-300L sales, though I'm sure this lens won't be weathersealed or have anything close to the build quality. But if it is anything like what I saw with the 18-135mm, it will be uber fast to focus. If it also had strong optical performance, it will be a real winner.

 

[Sporgon]

Wouldn't surprise me if the 6DII goes up market and we get a "cheap" 8D FF body. So Canon will offer four FF bodies like Nikon, except I suspect the potential 8D will come in well below the Nikon D610. (Or by that time it will probably be the D630).

 

[FECHariot]

I have a hard time understanding where a 70-300 IS USM II is marketed to. On the consumer side, you have the 55-250 STM which is close to the IQ of the 70-200/4 IS and 70-300L on its own without the build quality. Then there is the 70-200/4 IS and 70-300L. If you have gone full frame and can afford that, aren't you going to pay for better build quality of the L lenses there? It just seems a little pointless in Canon's current line up and that they could have filled bigger holes. How about some fast wide options for crop?

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

I have a hard time understanding where a 70-300 IS USM II is marketed to. On the consumer side, you have the 55-250 STM which is close to the IQ of the 70-200/4 IS and 70-300L on its own without the build quality. Then there is the 70-200/4 IS and 70-300L. If you have gone full frame and can afford that, aren't you going to pay for better build quality of the L lenses there? It just seems a little pointless in Canon's current line up and that they could have filled bigger holes. How about some fast wide options for crop?

A 70-300mm IS II will not compete with the "L" model, as this should cost around US $ 600. This updated 70-300 is intended for users of "full frame low cost" as the 6D, who will buy your first lens tele, and not content with the terrible Canon 75-300mm.

I would have also preferred new wide angle lenses, but Canon does not seem interested in offering the EF-S high end lenses.

 

[FECHariot]

I have a hard time understanding where a 70-300 IS USM II is marketed to. On the consumer side, you have the 55-250 STM which is close to the IQ of the 70-200/4 IS and 70-300L on its own without the build quality. Then there is the 70-200/4 IS and 70-300L. If you have gone full frame and can afford that, aren't you going to pay for better build quality of the L lenses there? It just seems a little pointless in Canon's current line up and that they could have filled bigger holes. How about some fast wide options for crop?

A 70-300mm IS II will not compete with the "L" model, as this should cost around US $ 600. This updated 70-300 is intended for users of "full frame low cost" as the 6D, who will buy your first lens tele, and not content with the terrible Canon 75-300mm.

I would have also preferred new wide angle lenses, but Canon does not seem interested in offering the EF-S high end lenses.

I am just saying that anyone that wants a body like a 6D or even a 7D is going to want lenses with better build than a consumer grade 70-300 aren't they? Unless you make it nice, but if you make it too nice then why not by the L instead?

 

[Tangent]

I'll weigh in with those who speculate that there will be a new entry level FF to go with the non-L 24-105 and the rumored revamped non-L 70-300. I can't see why they would be developing these lenses unless they have a body in the works to go with them.

 

[ahsanford]

+1 on the 6D users (or users of a future even cheaper new starter FF rig if the 6D moves upmarket) going after this, but I think this lens also has legs with crop users. Some may say the 55-250 IS STM is the great value in crop, but this new 70-300 should offer a fair amount of feature-value above the 55-250:

• Metal mount, generally better build quality
• For stills, USM focusing is far better if you are chasing varmits / birds / kids at distance than STM
• I presume this new version will have FTM mechanical focusing (no focus by wire like the 55-250)
• Going to EF gives you some degree of future-proofing if you decide to take the plunge to FF

Generally if you stack things up on features, items are somewhat logically price-pointed / tiered in the market. $500-600 for a new version of this lens makes a lot of sense.

- A

 

[ahsanford]

I am also curious to see if Canon will finally obsolete the 75-300 lenses that no one ever talks about. At present, Canon produces and sells:

EF 70-300 L IS USM
EF 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM
EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 USM III
EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 III

I just don't know who would slap those last two bone cheap, soft as cottonballs zooms on a $1500+ FF camera.

And I don't see those lenses having much purchase in the crop landscape either. Unlike my prior example with the 70-300 (that this thread is about) offering some value over the EF-S 55-250, in the case of the two blue lenses above, the EF-S outperforms the two 75-300s. The USM on the USM version is the only 'crop-bait' worth considering, which doesn't matter as much if the IQ is that poor.

So if it doesn't appeal to FF users and it crop people have better options, why the hell does Canon still sell these?

- A

 

[AJ]

I think the 70-300 USM is also popular among crop shooters. Those who refuse to buy crop lenses for future upgrade considerations, and also backyard birders who want that extra 50 mm over the 55-250.

 

[ahsanford]

One last question -- why lose this lens in the thunderous wake of the 5D4 and the two L zooms and release it this year?

Why not delay this release and time it with the 6D2, which would be perfectly logical to pair it with?

- A

 

[Maximilian]

...
The lens will be equipped with Nano-USM, the latest IS and will be heavier than the current model. Expect a big optical upgrade too we’re told.
...

All sounds reasonable and the "big optical upgrade" is an absolute no-brainer if you look at the optical quality of the competition already available for almost a decade. Canon must move ahead here otherwise the to be expected pricing will make it DOA.

I am also curious to see if Canon will finally obsolete the 75-300 lenses that no one ever talks about.
...

+1
Do you know if those are still in production ??? or only still on (Canon) stock and nobody wants them :