This is the Canon RF lens roadmap

[dolina]

Based on the past 10 years product releases I expect 4-9 RF lenses to be announced annually.

Excluding the five tilt shift lenses, there are 25 L lenses that need a RF equivalent. It would take 3-7 years to finish the transition all 25.

I have doubts that all these EF L lenses will be transitioned to RF mount. This may be done to reduce SKUs and improve inventory of redundant focal lengths.

Tilt shifts will be the last optics to be transitioned to RF mounts. Timeline is probably after 2024. For context tilt shift macro lenses were announced in Nov 2017. All tilt shift lenses will be last as these lenses are manual focus and sells for very little volume relative to L zoom lenses or even L primes

Transition could be prioritize based on FIFO, top sellers or a combination of both

These are the EF L lenses that have yet to have an RF L lens equivalent

Year	Prime	Year	Zoom
1996	135mm f/2.0L USM	1995	70-200mm f/2.8L USM
1996	180mm f/3.5L Macro USM	1999	70-200mm f/4.0L USM
1996	200mm f/2.8L II USM	2003	17-40mm f/4.0L USM
1997	300mm f/4.0L IS USM	2004	28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
2007	14mm f/2.8L II USM	2010	8-15mm f/4L USM fisheye
2008	24mm f/1.4L II USM	2010	70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
2008	200mm f/2.0L IS USM	2013	200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Extender
2008	800mm f/5.6L IS USM	2014	16-35mm f/4L IS USM
2009	100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	2015	11-24mm f/4L USM
2010	300mm f/2.8L IS II USM		Tilt Shift
2011	500mm f/4.0L IS II USM	2009	24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift
2015	35mm f/1.4L II USM	2009	17mm f/4.0L Tilt-Shift
2017	85mm f/1.4L IS USM	2017	90mm f/2.8L MACRO Tilt-Shift
2018	400mm f/2.8L IS III USM	2017	50mm f/2.8L MACRO Tilt-Shift
2018	600mm f/4.0L IS III USM	2017	135mm f/4L MACRO Tilt-Shift

I'm neutral with the 1200mm f/8.0 lens rumor.

It would weigh around 3kg and a godsend for any photographer recording subjects as small as an inch even at f/8 but it would sell for north of $13,000. Like say between $16,300-25,000.

The list below is filtered from today's top 30 selling EF L lenses on BH that have not been updated to to RF mount. These would be my candidates for 2021 RF L lens release. Lens in LARGE FONT lines up with original poster's RF L lens list. These lenses were announced from 1996-2015.

Year	Lens	Lens Age
2009	100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	12
1996	135mm f/2.0L USM	25
2015	35mm f/1.4L II USM	6
2010	8-15mm f/4L USM fisheye	11
2014	16-35mm f/4L IS USM	7
2008	24mm f/1.4L II USM	13
2010	70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM	11
1996	200mm f/2.8L II USM	25
2015	11-24mm f/4L USM	6

Today's bottom 31-45 selling EF L lenses on BH are mostly macro, wide, super teles and tilt shifts. Super teles get updated before the Olympics or other major sporting event while tilt shift will be updated after 2024.

 

[Dragon]

In that long list of Big White's, a 300mm f/2.8 is surprisingly missing. Not that there is any thing wrong with my EF 328 Mk II

It is a rumor after all and it could be that at 45 MP and maybe soon 90 MP that 200 is the new 300 at least for a while so the lightweight zoom covers the base. By the same logic, the 100-500 is really a 100-1000+ (just not f/2.8). I do think the 1200 is interesting. At f/8, it will be the same diameter as as the 600 and if they toss in a DO element it might be about the same length.

 

[muentzer]

Excluding the five tilt shift lenses, there are 25 L lenses that need a RF equivalent.

There may be others, but a notable omission from your list is the 4/400 DO. Apart from a decent macro this is what I am missing most.

 

[dolina]

There may be others, but a notable omission from your list is the 4/400 DO. Apart from a decent macro this is what I am missing most.

DO is not L lens.

 

[muentzer]

While this is true, we all know, that the distinction between the white Ls and the white DOs is quite arbitrary.

 

[dolina]

While this is true, we all know, that the distinction between the white Ls and the white DOs is quite arbitrary.

I think the DOs will eventually get an RF mount. I just dont know when so do not comment on it.

 

[Dragon]

I think the DOs will eventually get an RF mount. I just dont know when so do not comment on it.

Given that the 600 and 800 f/11 are both DO and size and weight reduction may have priority, I wouldn't be surprised to see all the RF Supertelephotos employ DO technology. At that point, the distinction is moot.

 

[dolina]

Given that the 600 and 800 f/11 are both DO and size and weight reduction may have priority, I wouldn't be surprised to see all the RF Supertelephotos employ DO technology. At that point, the distinction is moot.

That is a surprise. I wonder why they did not market it as such.

 

[David Norris]

 

[Dragon]

That is a surprise. I wonder why they did not market it as such.

They mention it in the feature section, but no green ring and no hype. They do mention that the DO elements are used among other things to minimize CA, so my thought is that DO may replace fluorite in the super teles. That would reduce size and weight, lower cost, and increase ruggedness (fluorite is very fragile and very expensive). AFAIK, the EF400 f/4 DO does not have a fluorite element and it is quite sharp and relatively light. Canon's DO tech has come a long way since that lens was introduced and has clearly been cost reduced to have been included in the 600 and 800 f/11. Also, the EF 200mm F/2 is a reference lens, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a return to the 200 f/1.8 (with IS this time) just to give folks a reason to move off of their EF 200. 2021 should be an interesting year from Canon.

 

[Chris.Chapterten]

Who wants to predict what lens will be announced next?

 

[Bdbtoys]

Who wants to predict what lens will be announced next?

My guess is they are completing the f4 trinity...so...
Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM

 

[LeBlobe]

My guess is they are completing the f4 trinity...so...
Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM

We will see if its 14-35 or 15-35, are we sure its 14 now? would love if it was

 

[Bdbtoys]

We will see if its 14-35 or 15-35, are we sure its 14 now? would love if it was

That's the current rumor. Also, I picked the 14-35 vs the 10-24 non-IS as first f4 based on what they released for the 2.8 trinity.

 

[drhuffman87]

I would love a 400mm f/5.6L

 

[drhuffman87]

Still holding out hope for a 24-70F4 L IS!

-Brian

What would be the upside to a 24-70F4 L IS vs the 24-105F4 L IS which to me seems relatively light, extremely sharp, keeps distortion minimal and is reasonably priced?

 

[bbasiaga]

What would be the upside to a 24-70F4 L IS vs the 24-105F4 L IS which to me seems relatively light, extremely sharp, keeps distortion minimal and is reasonably priced?

SIze. The EF 24-70 F4L IS is considerably smaller than the 35-105s, mainly shorter and lighter. Optically, in theory, it could be better as they have less trade off in correction between the wide and short ends, but in practice it may not be that much different.

Brian

 

[aboudd]

TS, TS, TS ... I would love to see AF tilt-shift lenses, especially the 14MM version. Right now I have to tilt my R6 with the 15MM Laowa and bend the pixels back in PS. It works to a point, but as part of the image is lost with perspective correction, it is a less than ideal solution.

 

[cruso]

Anyone got any idea when the rf 100 L macro lens is out ? for Release

 

[Darecinema]

Continue reading...

Question: I seem to recall at least one version of the Canon roadmaps mentioning anamorphic rf lenses. Was that just completely incorrect? I know it wasn’t on this site, but was curious if you could shed some light on it.