Canon News has uncovered patents for two ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses for Canon's RF mount. We do believe we'll see an ultra-wide-angle lens announced some time in early 2020.
The first being a very wide RF 10-24mm f/4 which would be the RF version of the EF 11-24mm f/4L USM. Canon also has an optical formula for an RF 14-28mm f/2, which would pair nicely with the RF 28-70mm f/2L USM.
Canon RF 10-24mm f/4 specifications:
- Focal length: 10.30mm 14.94mm 23.30mm
- F-number: 4.12 4.12 4.12
- Half angle of view: 64.54° 55.38° 42.88°
- Image height: 21.64mm 21.64mm 21.64mm
- Total lens length: 156.50mm 145.83mm 144.37mm
- BF: 12.00mm 12.00mm 12.00mm
Canon RF 14-28mm f/2.0 specifications:
- Focal length: 14.42mm 19.78mm 27.16mm
- F-number: 2.06 2.06 2.06
- Half angle of view: 56.32° 47.56° 38.54°
- Image height: 21.64mm 21.64mm 21.64mm
- Total lens length: 164.32mm 150.29mm 146.47mm
- BF: 16.13mm 16.13mm 16.13mm
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Wonder if the filter attachment will still be in the rear on the 10-24?
I'd assume so, I can't see a fisheye would be a high-priority and the zoom range doesn't correspond to the EF 8-15mm fisheye. My question is whether or not the 14-28 can take a screw on front filter.
1. absolute technical minimum of hard to remove aberations (esp. Coma here)
2. light touch on easy to remove aberations, i.e. distortion, CA
3. 95% sharp wide open at both extremes at F2.0
4. on par with the best primes when stopped down to 2.8
5. compromise on weight and size
I will not be able to resist if they make it happen
I guessing weight, price and IS will be the primary differentiators. I'm not sure if the 14-28 will be able to accept front filters. I'm leaning toward "no", but Nikon's 14-30 does accept front filters but is f/4. The 15-35 is for general use, so I see the 14-28 as a more specialized lens for events like the 28-70. This is even more true if the 10-24 comes out and is the RF equivalent of the EF 11-24. So one for general use, one for events and one for ultrawide landscape/architecture.
What the 14-28 may do is to kill off the 14mm prime. With the 15-35 at f/2.8, the 14-28 at f/2, what aperture should the 14mm prime have? Possibly at least f/1.4. Sigma designed one at f/1.8, which is too close to f/2 to justify 1600 for a prime for most potential users even if the zoom is at 3000. Before the advent of the 11-24, the 14mm prime anchored the ultrawide focal length range (rectilinear), but I'm wondering if the market will even support a prime 10mm or wider.
If manual will reduce the size and price, no need to have auto focus for Canon RF 14-28 F2.
The 15-35 on its own is almost enough to get me into the R system - I'm waiting on the high resolution R as it isn't a change I need to make right away. Either way, odds are good I'd buy one of those two lenses in the next couple years!
The frustration for me is I’m ready to jump full speed into the R system and buy a swath of new lenses however, there is just not a camera I’m remotely interested in buying.
The 1DXIII proves Canon has still got the magic touch (amazing camera if you need it) but wish they weren't so tragically slow with the Pro R camera.
It's been a year since the system launched... if the Pro R cameras (assuming one for speed and one for resolution) are out by the end of next year then you're talking about launching and fleshing out a new ecosystem in 2 years, which is pretty good.
That said, Canon RF lenses are great. I'm also waiting for the next R that will obsolete my 5D4, but in the mean time, I get to play with RF lenses. The R effectively replaced my 5D3 (backup camera) but I now use it more with the 5D4 than I did with the 5D3 as a backup. If the prices on the R/RP are discounted this holiday season, it might be worth straddling the two systems before the pro R is released.