When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. |
Canon had a interesting 2025 when it came to cameras and lenses. We got some new non-L lenses that have been requested by a lot of shooters for the RF mount along with a lot of cool and relatively affordable cameras for videographers and social media contact creators.
How did the 2025 Predictions Go?
Our predictions for 2025 were laughably wrong. I hope to do much better for 2026; I think I have learned from previous predictions that they weren’t well thought out and more of a wishlist. We’ll see if that’s true for 2026.
I am going to consider what will be logical new products I am also considering that we have 2 big global events that Canon always has a big presence at with both the Olympics and World Cup coming in 2026. I also think CP+ at the end of February will be full of product announcements, if not shortly afterwards.
New Canon Products in 2025
 | EOS R6 Mark III | |
 | Cinema EOS 50 | |
 | EOS R50 V | |
 | PowerShot V1 | |
 | ||
 | RF 20 f/1.4L VCM | |
 | RF 85 f/1.4L VCM | |
 | RF 45 f/1.2 STM | |
 | RF 16-28 f/2.8 IS STM | |
 | RF-S 14-30 f/4-6.3 IS STM PZ | |
 | RF 75-300 f/4-5.6 | |
 | Speedlight EL-1 Version 2 |
Canon EOS R Camera Predictions
We will finally see the EOS R7 Mark II in the first half of 2026. I don’t think this is a shocker and logical prediction.
Canon will announce a follow-up to the EOS R10. The R10 is one of Canon’s bestselling cameras and is likely slated for a refresh sooner than later.
A retro themed ILC camera body to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the AE-1. Yes, maybe this is wishful thinking, but Canon has addressed it with their “Canon Speak”.
A new PowerShot camera geared towards photographers. The PowerShot V1 is a cool camera, but it wasn’t well received around these parts. I don’t think we’ll see it until the second half of 2026. Canon started restarted manufacturing of both the PowerShot G7 X Mark III and PowerShot SX740 HS. It takes a while to design a new camera, so that was probably a stop gap solution to the growing demand for compact cameras once again.
A global shutter camera body. There seems to be a desire from the Canon Rumors faithful for such a camera. I’m still 50/50 on the prospect of the EOS R3 Mark II. This isn’t so much a prediction, and more of an interesting concept. Canon has stated that they’ll only do it if the image quality matches up with their current rolling shutter sensors.
Canon RF Lens Predictions
We’re finally going to see an RF 28mm f/1.4 for the VCM series of prime lenses. I will continue to try and will it into existence. My ego wants to think Canon won’t do it because I want it badly. I don’t think Canon likes this site very much judging by someone at Canon USA vocalizing “I hate Canon Rumors with every bone in my body” to one of our guest writers. I love that stuff!
Just like last year, I think we’re going to see a wide-angle Z series lens to compliment the RF 24-105 f/2.8L IS USM Z and RF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM Z.
If not the aforementioned lens, we’ll see either an ultra-wide VCM lens with a slower aperture than 1.4 or a VCM lens longer than 85mm. Could there be a VCM zoom lens of some kind? That seems like it would be technically difficult when it comes to size and weight to match up with prime lenses.
A new f/2 zoom lens. A replacement of the RF 28-70 f/2L USM seens like a logical prediction.
We’ll finally see the supertelepoto zoom lens. Canon isn’t going to make an RF 500mm f/4L IS USM prime. A 300-600mm to partner with the brilliant RF 100-300 f/2.8L IS USM also seems logical. I do know it exists in some form and it’s time to release it.
There will be at least one “crazy” lens. I have no idea what that could be, but Canon does need to release some things that fit under the “halo product” banner.
New version of the RF 400 f/2.8L IS USM and RF 600 f/4L IS USM. Will there be built-in teleconverters in either of those lenses?
Canon Cinema EOS Predictions
A new global shutter sensor camera above the C400. I don’t think we’re going to see more than one camera above the C400. Canon hasn’t fared well when it comes to “A cameras” like the C700.
An APS-C Cinema EOS camera to sit under the C50. Just EOS R, it would be wise to get people into the cinema lineup with a more affordable body for new and younger shooters on a budget. Canon needs a younger customer base. As that base gets older and has more dollars in their pocket is when the upgraded camera purchases start. Canon loves selling higher-margin cameras and lenses.
Other than those two predictions, I can’t think of anything else. As mentioned before, I am not an educated or capable video person.
do better in 2026!
I certainly hope I have thought this through better than I did last year. Predictions are always fun. I do a very poor job of doing preseason NFL predictions, so maybe I’m just not good at it. I think I have a lot of biases that I cannot overcome!
Let us know what you predict is coming in 2026. I’m sure some of your predictions will overlap with your wishes.
Have a great 2026!
The I think they're a "given" category:
1.) R7mkii
2.) Retro camera
3.) A "v" designated camera... either R8V or R10V
4.) R10mkii
The I have serious doubt about it:
4.) R3mkii
the very long shot:
5.) R8mkii in Q4
Lenses:
given:
1.) RF 70-180mm F2.8 STM
2.) RF 300-600mm L
possible and wished by many category:
3.) RF 35mm F1.2 L VCM or RF 28mm F1.4 VCM --> Canon won´t release both in one year
4.) RF-S 22mm F2 (along with the R10ii or R10V)
5.) RF 24-70mm F2 L --> yeah, they can't just copy Sony for the mkii... they gotta go up and beyond
6.) RF 70-150mm F2 L --> a double headed annoucement? In this case 28-70mm F2 would be ok.
7.) RF 14mm F1.8 VCM
The I wildly guessing category:
8.) RF-S 30-80mm PZ (or something similar) zoom lenses to complement the RF-s 14-30mm/ R10V
9.) a consumer RF lenses nobody had on their radar...
10.) retrodesigned RF prime lenses (35mm F1.8?)
My personal wishlist concerning new lenses:
1.) RF 24-70mm F2 L --> yeah, they can't just copy Sony for the mkii... they gotta go up and beyond
2.) RF 70-150mm F2 L
--> I would start saving for either one of these lenses.
3.) RF 24-70mm F4 L in a very compact and light way or a RF24-130mm F4 L as a successor to the 24-105mm L
highly probable
24-70mm f/2.8L Z
35mm f/1.2L
14mm f/2L or 16mm f/1.8L
400mm f/2.8L
300-600mm f/4-5.6L
20-50mm f/4 PZ
possible
600mm f/4L
200-500mm f/4L
TS-R 24mm f/3.5L
70-150/180mm f/2.8
very unlikely
500mm f/4L
800mm f/5.6L
180mm f/3.5L macro
200mm f/2L or f/1.8L
70-150mm f/2L and 24-70 f/2L
20-135mm travel zoom
100mm f/1.8L VCM
You may pick 5-6 models from the first and second category and give up hope for the "very unlikely" lenses in 2026.
My take is 4-5 lenses from group 1 and hopefully 1-2 more lenses from group 2.
Anyways, I wish for a new version of the 24-105 f/4 L (smaller lighter maybe a bit sharper) but there is no sign and probably no need for Canon to update it (the current one still sells well), and I know, there is the 28-70 f/2.8 but that's just doesn't work for me.
Also, is an RF 24-70 f/4 L coming? Not that I want it but I expected that and I'm sure they can make it very small now.
Else, as always: give me a small fish-eye lens (size of RF 16mm).
I thought 2025 was the year of the never before seen, technological marvel, halo product Macro lens? Where did that go to? The RF 100mm is very nice but something longer, maybe zoom, would be very interesting. I’m waiting, and so is my wallet…
It's hard not to be an **** and start dropping whishlists, but whatever...
- The predicted 300-600/5.6 sounds great, I'm in.
- 70-300/4L (80-300 or whatever) optimized for travel (weight and size). The 100-500 is a brilliant lens and a great upgrade after the EF 100-400 II (which was already great), but still too heavy. The 70-200/4 is also brilliant but 200mm is often not enough. The 70-200/2.8 does not accept 1.4X.
- _Great_, non-L 28mm and 50mm lens. (No, the 45/1.2 does not qualify, having the usual STM motor...and I'd also choose 55mm instead of 45mm if not 50mm)
- The predicted 28-70/2 mk2. I'm in! Just make it lighter and better balanced.
- Actually, a non-L 28-70/2 (or 28-55/2 or actually anything between 28-70/2 and 30-50/2) would kick ass. For me at least.
- An awesome macro lens. Let's say 150/2 with 1.5x max magnification.
- An awesome tele zoom to match the (hopefully mk2) 28-70 and to answer Sony's 50-150/2.
- Fullframe compact milc. Come ooooon!
*In general, better AF for non-L lenses. Make that STM better or invent something new, or introduce mid-tier lenses which are non-L but incorporate nano-USM. Just do something 🙂
I promise to buy each and every piece of the above, should Canon come up with any of them. 🙂
From a camera body standpoint, I would love to see the "retro" AE-1 camera as my fun travel camera. I sold nearly all my Fujifilm gear to get a Nikon Zf and it's really nice...but I sorely miss Canon cameras just all around being better at basically everything - menus, AF, colors, lenses, ergonomics, etc.
An R7II is on my radar and so it an R3 if it's a global shutter, which I believe is incredibly unlikely. With the R7II, I hope we get a true 7D replacement we've been clamoring for that shares ergonomics more with the R6/R5 bodies. The R3...if they went global shutter then I would jump all over it. I shoot several gun events a year and have captured some very cool photos of frozen bullets with the R1, but there is still distortion in some of the images with higher muzzle velocities. We're renting an A9III to see how well it does. I imagine it will do a magnificent job without distortions. The R3 body is still my favorite camera body of all time, so I hope they wouldn't deviate too much from that like the R1 did.
Lenses: let's please finish the "Affordable Trinity" and get us a 70-180 or 70-200 that's smaller/lighter and cheaper than the current options. I would also like a nice lens that would compliment the 100-300, so the 300-600 sound interesting indeed. Finally, an ultra-wide Z lens is an instant purchase for me. The Z lenses have totally reshaped my kit and how I work. I think they're totally brilliant and the 24-105 is the most important professional lens Canon makes - in my opinion.
It’s also about time for 24mm and 35mm f/1.2 lenses, as well as new 50mm f/1.2 and 85mm f/1.2 versions.
If all of these come out, it’ll be a crazy expensive but awesome year.
If none of them—or maybe just one—gets released (which is also totally realistic), it might end up being the cheapest Canon year in a long time.
That's a safe bet.
ANYTHING that starts with 24mm equivalent, I hate the 28-150 focal length
a RF-S 15-85mm F2.8 would be ideal but i'll take anything starting with 15mm instead of 18mm. A F4 lens would be ok too!
They made the 50-300mm f/4.5L in the FD mount, but they never ported that focal length and constant aperture to EF.