New Lens Talk [CR1]

Canon Rumors
1 Min Read

Prime time
Can we expect 2 new Canon L primes in the fall? According to an email this morning the 35L and 135L will both receive upgrades.

Both lenses will incorporate new build design and coatings. We should see them for the fall I’m told.

Macro
There is a new long focal range macro lens being developed with IS. “It would be in the 180mm to 200mm range.”

Big White Lenses
The same source claims no new super telelphoto primes will be launched. However, new 300mm, 400mm, 500mm & 600mm lenses will be tested in Vancouver for the 2010 games and in South Africa for the World Cup.

CR’s Take
The 35L is definately coming, I think with a 1Ds4 launch. I don’ think we’d see a 135L II at the same time.

I do find the testing of the big white lenses to be logical. I can’t see Canon launching in the fall and producing enough to meet the demand.

cr

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42 Comments
  • I recently bought a new 135L, and I don’t see much room for improvement unless IS was added. It seldom comes off the camera. It is a little difficult to get slow shutter speeds wide open, and thats about the only way I use it, indoors with very low light. I used it at my sons high school graduation last evening and some photos at 1/60 were pretty blurry. I should have forced a higher shutter speed, even if it meant ISO 6400. The usability at ISO3200 is impressive, and a sharp photo at 6400 is better than a blurred one at 3200.

    A 85mm F:/1.2 is next on my list, but that may take a while.

  • Wow, I don’t think the 135L will get any update anytime soon, that lens is as sharp as it is already, now I am expecting an updated 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200 f/2.8 IS cause out of all the 70-200 line, the 70-200 IS version is the least sharpest and heaviest and it is also one of the most owned lens by Canon users (esp. weddings), and since camera megapixels is increasing, I have a feeling an update is on the horizon, hopefully slightly lighter and optically as good or better then f/4 IS, maybe an extra stop IS as well.

  • I have been waiting for an image stabilized 180 mm macro lens for a LONG LONG time now. If Canon releases this lens, I will forever be grounded in this camp. ;)

  • Agree your comments re the super teles. The Olympics and World Cup are prime times to test these lenses.

    Any more word re the Mk IV?

  • When will Canon release a EF-S 55-125 f/2.8 to compliment the EF-S 17-55 ff/2.8?

  • Everyone says the current 34 1.4L doesn’t need improvement but a 35 1.4 II has been heavily rumored for a while now, so it’s time for it to show-up.

    I have been look at a 135 for a while, am will probably rent one to make sure. My problem is I have the 70-200 2.8 IS and I’m not sure how much more a 135 will bring. It is 1 stop faster, but no IS, lighter – that’s a given.

    So if Canon remakes the 135 2.0 then I would like to see it become a 135 1.8 IS. Now it’s 1.5 stops faster, IS will let me use it in really low light, bokeh is that much better, and I can see picking one up.

    Dave

  • I would rather see Canon concentrate on new

    35 1.4 II
    50 1.4 II (I got the Sigma 50 1.4)
    85 1.4 (Faster focusing then the 1.2)
    135 1.8 IS
    12-24 2.8 (Canon needs to answer Nikon’s 14-24 2.8, and Canons 16-35 2.8 is not very sharp)
    100-400 4-4.8 IS (a little faster than original 4.5-5.6)
    200-400 4 IS (I’m finding I would rather have a zoom in this range than a fixed 400 2.8)

    Than renew the big primes.

    Dave

  • +1 – this is the 2nd time I’ve heard this rumor regarding a new macro ~200 mm – bring it on!

  • The 135 L is my favorite lens, and possibly the sharpest DSLR lens made. I’ve used on a wide array of bodies and it doesn’t need IS, especially on a 5D2, and adding IS would make the lens bigger, heavier and more expensive when it is such a pleasure to shoot with the way it is. I don’t believe Canon is even considering a redesign on the 135L 2.0 nor can I imagine why they would.

  • Not gonna happen on the 135. The 200 2.8 could use an update. I always found it a bit soft.

  • I have both of those lenses and I pull out the 135L 98% of the time over the 85L.

  • I think 12-24 f/4 makes a better candidate than your proposed f/2.8 version. Hopefully, the former does not have a large protruding front so that filters can be attached.

    With Canon’s new coating, it will hopefully have the same AWESOME optical quality as the newly released 17 TSE.

  • agreed – the 135 is one of those lenses that will maintain it’s value. amongst prime shooters it has a magical rep that is well deserved. The lens is truly amazing….

  • I doubt the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS will get an update. Like you said, it is one of the most owned lenses by Canon users (esp. weddings). Why would Canon update when it’s already one of the most owned lenses?

    I would like to see the 50mm f/1.4 get an update though.

  • There are a few times when I want a look from the 85L, it’s just a bit soft wide open and creates a dreamy look with the right lighting. But I’m not sure I’d spring for the 85L again if I had it to do over.

  • Well, the non-IS 70-200 2.8 is sharper than it’s IS counterpart so I could understand an upgrade of that lens. I dont like the non-IS because it’s not as well sealed for dust/water, but optically its better.

  • One release for part of the CANON is 24-70 f/2.8 IS! Expected for any years…

  • I’d buy one immediately, if reasonably priced (i.e. in the same ballpark of the 17-55/2.8, which I really love).

    A EF-S 50-150/2.8 IS would be even better though.

  • What is reasonably priced? I suspect something like that might be 75% to 85% of the price of the 70-200/2.8 IS.

  • uhh… I agree about a 14-24 counter necessary, but I think the answer is a 14-24, rather than a 12-24. simply put, no one has ever managed to make a FF lens wider than 13mm, which was a prime, with any kind of optical quality at all. Also wide-angle lenses are Canon’s weak spot, they are much better at telephoto lenses. I would rather Canon stay conservative (match the nikon 14-24 rather than try to beat it) than overreach and fail to deliver proper quality

  • yup, you got that right and the f/4 IS is sharper at f/4 then the 70-200 f/2.8 IS at f/4!

    Well there is a logic about this; Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS though cause Nikon is for sure going to update its 70-200 to perform better with FF cause now the Nikkor 70-200 is sharper in DX then FX!

    Oh, and since it is the most owned lens, I heard some report stated that the 70-200 f/2.8 IS sales has finally reduce, so maybe end of this year or something we will hear the replacement cause if its better then the current f/2.8 IS and hopefully as good or better optically then the f/4 IS, I bet many wedding photographers will start selling their current f/2.8 IS and get the new one :).

  • yup, don’t think its going to happen, Canon wants it users to own the lens with the red alphabet; L on it :d

  • yup, totally agree with you, I don’t see this lens getting any updates for at least a couple of years more, its sharpness will just hurt our eyes, LOL

  • That 100-400L lens needs an update bigtime, hope they lose the push-pull design and add weather sealing and I would put it back in my collection.

  • why not trying the Tokina 50-150mm instead of waiting for Canon?? I love it!! With my 17-55 f2.8 I am complete!

  • I would like it if Canon updated there 28-200 and made a 24-200 3.5-4.5L IS. With the current 5D2 it would be an extreamly usfull lens, especially for Wedding Photography.

  • looking back at Northern Lights’ article about Canon’s mid term plans :
    http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/cameras/Canon_60D.html

    “Canon do not currently have many plans for the non L series primes, with most consumers in that market going for zooms or aspiring to a L series zoom. Given the need to do so much with the rest of the lens range over the next 3-4 years, don’t hold your breath waiting for a a new 50/1.4 or the like.”

  • I’d really like to have a fixed focal length lens with IS. I have little use for the variable focal length of a telephoto zoom, and I don’t want to carry such a heavy 70-200/2.8 beast.

  • he said “any kind of optical quality” – the sigma is awful. For a company that can make some really nice primes it amazes me that they never seem to really hit the nail on the head

  • I use macro lenses most of the time. I agree that a 180mm or 200mm macro with image stabilization would be a revolutionary lens. Can you imagine how great it would be photograph in the field without having to tote and set up a tripod for every butterfly landing? I think I would pay just about anything for such a weatherproof macro lens.

  • “The 135 L is my favorite lens, and possibly the sharpest DSLR lens made.”

    Then you haven’t been paying attention to what the Zeiss 135/1.8 for Sony is doing. There _is_ room for improvement. Not that they’re a world apart, but the Zeiss is better (and a bit faster with 1.8).

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