*UPDATE*
I addressed Tilt-Shift, Macro and Teleconverters, I didn't copy/paste that stuff over. Sorry about that.
Be sure to scroll down for part 1
I think there are far more people eager to see what lenses Canon has coming down the pipeline. I know I am.
I think this is going to be the year of the lens from Canon. I truly expect a lot of upgrades and a couple of new lenses.
Without further ado…….
I could see these three announced February 9, 2010.
14-24 f/2.8L
– An ultra wide for full frame that finally makes Canon users happy.
24-70 f/2.8L IS
– Upgraded coating, build and the much desired image stabilization. I personally think Nikon royally dropped the ball not VRing their 24-70.
70-200 f/2.8L IS II
– The current model is very good, but I wouldn't call it great (don't flame me too hard for saying that, I do own one) . The lens will get an upgraded IS and better optical performance, especially at 200mm. Lighter weight would be a welcomed bonus.
World Cup & Big White Lenses
I think we could definitely see updated big white lenses f0r the World Cup. I think 3 lenses will get upgraded.
– 300 f/2.8L IS II
– 400 f/2.8L IS II
– 500 f/4L IS II
No 600 f/4L IS upgrade for the time being. We've seen the patent for the 600 f/4 DO, I think that would be an amazing seller for Canon and will be an addition to the lineup. A new 600 f/4L IS in 2011.
New pair of fisheyes
– If Canon is serious about keeping APS-C around, they need an EF-S fisheye. I think the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye is too expensive for a crop lens. I could see the following 2 fisheyes.
– EF-S 10mm f/4 Fisheye
– EF 15mm f/2.8L II Fisheye
What about regular primes?
The following 2 lenses are due for an upgrade, I'll predict one will get it.
EF 50 f/1.4 II
– The current 50 f/1.4 is one very old lens and among Canon's most unreliable as far as build goes. The USM is dated and the AF motor isn't the most reliable. The Sigma 50 f/1.4 is a much better lens (if you get a good copy). This should be upgraded and this might be the year.
EF 35 f/1.4L II
– The 14, 24, 50 , 85 & 200 are on a version 2. It's time for the 35 to join them. I think we'll see such a lens launched with the 1Ds Mark IV.
New Lenses?
Some kind of f/2 zoom will enter the lineup I think. I can't even contemplate what the focal length would be, but something unique must be coming.
Teleconverters
I wouldn't be shocked to see the 1.4 & 2.0 TC's getting an update. Howabout adding a 1.7 like the Nikonians have?
Tilt-Shifts
I don't think we'll see a new TS-E 45 or TS-E 90 this year. There are bigger fish to fry at the moment, even as far as niche lenses go.
Macro Lenses
There is a patent for the EF-S 60 f/2.8 IS Macro. Could we see that in 2010? I'd wager it being a 2011 lens.
What won't get upgraded?
I think the following lenses will stick around through 2010.
EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS
– Why bother? It's head and shoulders better than the Nikkor 80-400 (slowest lens ever) and sells very well. Optically it's great. The IS is very dated, but I don't think the lens requires an upgrade over some other stuff.
EF 17-40 f/4L
– I want this lens upgraded, I want to see better corners. I love the size and weight of the current lens… and the price! Canon sells so many of these things as it sits, it must be low on the list to upgrade.
EF 135 f/2L
– This lens is marvelous as it is and really isn't a “status” lens. The big white lenses don't really need upgrades, but they're definitely hype builders.
I have predicted 11 new lenses. My brain tells me that's probably 3 too many. The big white lenses and fisheye lenses won't be massive volume sellers, so I can see those produced alongside the volume lenses.
So the bold prediction? This will be the year of the lenses!
Part 3
I will focus on PowerShot and accessories!
cr
123 Comments
don’t see the 400/5.6L on the site anymore… perhaps a 500/5.6L is on the way? Maybe even with IS… id pay 2k+ for that :)
Not to be redundant, but I too would love to see the 50 1.4 updated. I need a new 50 that is usable wide open. The Sigma looks great, but I keep reading about the lousy AF, which is keeping me from buying it. IS in a prime would be sweet, but I won’t hold my breath for that one.
EF-S primes would be nice, but think I would avoid them unless they’re optically amazing for the cost.
So much for my comments that this lens doesn’t need an update. It just got updated today.
Well, there are primes with IS, so why not a 50mm f/1,4 IS? Wuld be great, in my opinion =)
These rumours of a Canon f2 zoom have reminded me of a lens I used a few times years ago, but never owned. In pre-AF days Tokina briefly had an unique ATX 60-120/2.8 zoom – excellent for portraits, and perhaps surprisingly, an excellent landscape trekking lens used with a couple of prime wideangles.
Something like this would be possible as a full frame f2 lens, or as an EFS equivalent, but neither 60-120/2 or 40-80/2 sound like Canon lenses – they rarely go for anything away from the accepted norm.
An f2 wideangle zoom seems impossible, a standard zoom would be nice, but probably quite limited in range, which leaves telephoto, 70-200/2 would be huge and ultra expensive and cut across other models.
But as the 7D is primarily an action camera, how about an EFS telephoto zoom? Say 45-130/2 or similar, which wouldn’t have to be massive and could use 72 or 77mm filters. I know Canon have seemed ruluctant to develop EFS lenses, but the 7D is supposed to be a new category – perhaps it heralds more emphasis on quality EFS optics…maybe…