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Last week Canon surprised us with the announcement of the Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6, which was a surprise, though we don’t think it was good one.
The new budget lens is barely more than a remake of the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 III from 1999, which we regard as the worst zoom lens Canon ever made.
On the prime side, the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM is hard to beat as the worst prime they ever made, but there could be some debate about that.
Improvements
Canon has added a Super Spectra Coating to rude flare and improve contrast, but we’re going to be surprised if this lens is any better in other ways.
They are still using the DC autofocus motor, which we forgot existed. We’re not sure it ever needed to make a comeback.
Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 Overview
- Full-Frame | f/4-5.6 to f/32-45
- Lightweight Telephoto Zoom
- DC Autofocus Motor
- Super Spectra Coating
- 4.9′ Minimum Focus Distance
- 7-Blade Diaphragm
The RF 75-300mm features a variable f/4-5.6 maximum aperture to maintain a small relative form factor, including a filter thread diameter of just 58mm. It is also lightweight at a little over 1 lb. It uses a DC autofocus motor to capture subjects in sharp focus and has a 4.9′ minimum focus distance with a 0.25x maximum magnification for getting nice, close-up images.
Optically, the lens is optimized for sharpness and there is a Super Spectra Coating to reduce flare and improve contrast. For smooth bokeh, it has a 7-blade aperture diaphragm.
Preorder Options
- Wex Photo: Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 £289
- Foto Koch: Canon RF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 €299
Summary
There is no pricing for the US market at this time, but it is now listed at B&H Photo as coming soon, which means they have been told that it will come to the US market.
The lens is made in China and there are probably some issues with how to price the lens, there are currently tariffs that are large as you all know.
This lens will sell to budget conscience customers everywhere, so we can give it a pass in that regard, but we’d much rather you save your pennies for the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM, n lens that is amazing value, especially when it’s on sale or refurbished.
The specs are exactly the same, and it even has the ol' DC micromotor AF. The length of the lens grew by exactly the difference between the EF mount and the RF mount.
That's awful, what an terrible lens that was.
Truly astounding innovation from Canon. Bold and intrepid. What other major brand has the vision and dedication to glue a mount adapter on a cheap lens that's a quarter-century old and call it new.
Ok, in fairness although the lens is from 1999, they did add the super spectra coating that was first seen on the 24/1.4L II in 2008. Yay.So...Canon FTW? 🤔 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄Oops, I was wrong above, although I will blame Google's AI summary, which suggested that super spectra coating (SSC) was first used on the EF 24L II when more digging showed me that Google was confusing it with sub-wavelength coating (SWC). SSC was used on FD lenses. So it really is the same old EF MkIII. Go Canon!
Nah, the EF 28-200 3.5-5.6 was absolutely horribobble. Can't imagine the 75-300 was worse than that one ;-)
Reviews and IQ comparisons will tell, if this is something worth thinking about.
Or if it will be like the old EF 🤢
RF 75-300mm F4-5.6 326,99 €
at https://www.calumetphoto.de/
Looks like hands off
Anyways, there are a gazillion used 75-300s out there on the used market. It'd be cheaper to get one of those and to use a 3rd party EF-RF adapter.
Then again, I bet this lens is going to be packaged with camera bodies. I doubt if they'll sell many after market.
This one... 😒^5 (it's called "cautious" emoji, but for me it is totally a "side eye" emoji 😆 )
So in the same day we get a fuzzy but exciting rumor, and this pile of 💩💩💩
Perfect pair with the R100? 🤣
I know it will probably sell a lot of units... but thank you Canon, more savings for me... (technically cost avoidance I know)