Canon’s "Big White" Refresh: New RF 400mm and 600mm Lenses Rumored for May

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I figured I should address some of the new reports floating around the web about new Canon super telephoto lenses coming at the end of May ahead of June's World Cup. The consensus seems to be replacements for the RF 400 F2.8 L IS USM and RF 600 F4 L IS USM will be announced in some form in late May.

A development announcement is the likely route according to the rumor mill.

Possible May Announcement

I have suggested in the past that Canon could address Big White lenses ahead of the biggest sporting event in the world. One in which Canada needs to win their first World Cup game ever, if I can't get an RF 28 F1.4 L VCM, I'll take that as a consolation.

It is very rare that development announcements leak out ahead of time. It has happened a few times for cameras, but I can only remember it happening once for a lens, and that was the EF 200-400 F4 L IS USM 1.4x. That thing seemed to take years to come to market.

^{_{World Cup 2026 Logo // Wiki Commons}}

According to @OrdinaryFilmmaker over at YouTube, Simon's source is saying that we will get a Big White announcement in late May. He also speaks about the potential RF 300-600 that I don't want to talk about anymore.

He also talks about the likelihood of a built-in teleconverters in the new Super Telephoto prime lenses, which seems to be the biggest wish from perspective buyers.

I think Canon should have a “hold my beer” moment and put both a 1.4x and 2x teleconverter into the 600!

Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM

We'll see

If Canon does a development announcement for the Big White lenses, I think it's unlikely we'll hear about it before it happens. If we do, it'll probably be a day or two ahead as retailers may be privy to the information.

Both the RF 400 F2.8 L IS USM and RF 600 F4 L IS USM have been out of stock and somewhat hard to find at a lot of big retailers for quite some time.

B&H Photo is listing new stock coming on April 13, 2026, but those dates are rarely set in stone.

The stock levels may mean nothing. Canon could have allocated inventore to CPS programs ahead of the Winter Games. I imagine these lenses are made in batches. There's also the possibility of parts supply issues. We'll see what happens before the end of April.

A new 400 would pique my interest, especially with a built-in TC.

Go to discussion...

12 comments

A 600mm with a built in 1.4 and 2.0 would be a "hold my beer" moment and probably break the internet 🙂 Is there any lens around with such a design feature? I couldn't find one with my quick google search.

I dream of owning a big white some day. Which one depends on which sport my kid(s?!) will be doing.

An RF 600mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4×?

A 600mm with a built in 1.4 and 2.0

Highly doubtful. One set of flip-out 1.4x elements, yes. Two sets of them, no.

A 600mm with a built in 1.4 and 2.0 would be a "hold my beer" moment and probably break the internet 🙂 Is there any lens around with such a design feature? I couldn't find one with my quick google search.

I dream of owning a big white some day. Which one depends on which sport my kid(s?!) will be doing.

Not two TC, but Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S is something Canon should have made long ago.

NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S | Z mount Lenses | Nikon Consumer

Not two TC, but Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S is something Canon should have made long ago.
NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S | Z mount Lenses | Nikon Consumer

Yes, and it only took Nikon 9 years to innovate that switchable 1.4x TC, after Canon launched the EF 200-400mm with that feature in 2013. Or if you prefer, you can start counting from 1984 when Canon released a handful of FDn 1200mm f/5.6L + 1.4x lenses for the LA Olympics.

A 600mm f4 with a built in 1.4 extender would leave only a long RF macrolens on my RF lens wishlist.

A 600mm f4 with a built in 1.4 extender would leave only a long RF macrolens on my RF lens wishlist.

It would leave a TS-R 14mm lens on my wishlist. Plus whatever else Canon may come up with, I did not expect the 20/1.4 or 14/1.4 VCM lenses, but they're excellent.

A 600mm f4 with a built in 1.4 extender would leave only a long RF macrolens on my RF lens wishlist.

😢

FD 1200mm f/5.6L + 1.4x lenses for the LA Olympics.

omg, how heavy was this lens? According to google AI, it was 16,8 kg. Instead of a tripod one should have probably used a golf cart 🤣 Useful for a safari, for sure. But for which sport would one use a lens like this?

omg, how heavy was this lens? According to google AI, it was 16,8 kg. Instead of a tripod one should have probably used a golf cart 🤣 Useful for a safari, for sure. But for which sport would one use a lens like this?

Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM Lens Review

Is the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM Lens right for you? Learn all you need to know in The-Digital-Picture.com's review!

www.the-digital-picture.com

Those five FDn lenses were all converted to EF mount (with the TC removed).

😢

Don’t worry, I’ve started a new RF wishlist😉

Just to add, though Nikon didn't make a 1200/5.6 with a built-in 1.4x TC, they did come out with a basically equivalent version as a zoom lens, the 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8. They were only 6 years behind Canon for that one.

Exploreshootshare
April 7, 2026 at 2:22 pm
A 600mm with a built in 1.4 and 2.0 would be a "hold my beer" moment and probably break the internet 🙂 Is there any lens around with such a design feature? I couldn't find one with my quick google search.

I dream of owning a big white some day. Which one depends on which sport my kid(s?!) will be doing.
- Reply
- 0
neuroanatomist
April 7, 2026 at 2:23 pm
An RF 600mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4×?
- Reply
- 0
neuroanatomist
April 7, 2026 at 2:29 pm
A 600mm with a built in 1.4 and 2.0
Highly doubtful. One set of flip-out 1.4x elements, yes. Two sets of them, no.
- Reply
- 0
Canis Lupus
April 7, 2026 at 2:42 pm
A 600mm with a built in 1.4 and 2.0 would be a "hold my beer" moment and probably break the internet 🙂 Is there any lens around with such a design feature? I couldn't find one with my quick google search.

I dream of owning a big white some day. Which one depends on which sport my kid(s?!) will be doing.
Not two TC, but Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S is something Canon should have made long ago.
NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S | Z mount Lenses | Nikon Consumer
- Reply
- 0
neuroanatomist
April 7, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Not two TC, but Nikkor Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S is something Canon should have made long ago.
NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S | Z mount Lenses | Nikon Consumer
Yes, and it only took Nikon 9 years to innovate that switchable 1.4x TC, after Canon launched the EF 200-400mm with that feature in 2013. Or if you prefer, you can start counting from 1984 when Canon released a handful of FDn 1200mm f/5.6L + 1.4x lenses for the LA Olympics.
- Reply
- 0
P-visie
April 7, 2026 at 2:54 pm
A 600mm f4 with a built in 1.4 extender would leave only a long RF macrolens on my RF lens wishlist.
- Reply
- 0
neuroanatomist
April 7, 2026 at 2:56 pm
A 600mm f4 with a built in 1.4 extender would leave only a long RF macrolens on my RF lens wishlist.
It would leave a TS-R 14mm lens on my wishlist. Plus whatever else Canon may come up with, I did not expect the 20/1.4 or 14/1.4 VCM lenses, but they're excellent.
- Reply
- 0
Canon Rumors
April 7, 2026 at 3:20 pm
A 600mm f4 with a built in 1.4 extender would leave only a long RF macrolens on my RF lens wishlist.

😢
- Reply
- 0
Exploreshootshare
April 7, 2026 at 3:44 pm
FD 1200mm f/5.6L + 1.4x lenses for the LA Olympics.
omg, how heavy was this lens? According to google AI, it was 16,8 kg. Instead of a tripod one should have probably used a golf cart 🤣 Useful for a safari, for sure. But for which sport would one use a lens like this?
- Reply
- 0
neuroanatomist
April 7, 2026 at 3:50 pm
omg, how heavy was this lens? According to google AI, it was 16,8 kg. Instead of a tripod one should have probably used a golf cart 🤣 Useful for a safari, for sure. But for which sport would one use a lens like this?

Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM Lens Review
Is the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM Lens right for you? Learn all you need to know in The-Digital-Picture.com's review!
www.the-digital-picture.com

Those five FDn lenses were all converted to EF mount (with the TC removed).
- Reply
- 0
P-visie
April 7, 2026 at 3:54 pm
😢
Don’t worry, I’ve started a new RF wishlist😉
- Reply
- 0
neuroanatomist
April 7, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Just to add, though Nikon didn't make a 1200/5.6 with a built-in 1.4x TC, they did come out with a basically equivalent version as a zoom lens, the 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8. They were only 6 years behind Canon for that one.
- Reply
- 0