A few weeks ago we mentioned that new DO lenses were on the way, but that they would be for the RF mount and not the EF mount.
We're now receiving more information from other places suggesting that this is going to be the case. We're told that the “first true super telephoto lens for the RF mount will be a diffractive optics lens”.
The same source also mentioned that an RF 300mm f/2.8L IS was currently in development, but not anywhere close to becoming a consumer product.
While we weren't told what the focal length for the first RF mount DO lens would be, we'd wager on a 500mm lens is a good place to start for the EOS R system.
Currently, the lightest super telephoto lens for your Canon EOS R camera is the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II.
We are being flooded with a lot of RF mount lens “rumors” at the moment, so there will obviously be more to come on the topic.
I'd also wager that the patents on the increased angles on light capture with the microlenses mounted on the sensor is to accommodate more severe light angles like a DO lens.
In short, this sort of lens cannot be made for EF mount. I suspect we will see more of these.
I don't know exactly what the Canon manufacturing plant looks like, but generally speaking, there are 2 lines, one for the big expensive glass and one for the cheaper, high volume consumer glass. I don't think that you will have to wait too long before Canon starts ramping up on the affordable R lenses. But I also do believe that Canon may also be managing it's inventory pipeline, so they may be waiting for some of the EF lens stock to reduce before releasing cheaper RF lenses.
First, I would expect:
So, that is 10-13 lenses. Let's just say I expect 15 other RF announcements before a RF supertele. Assuming ~5 announcements a year, that would be 3-4 years from now.
Of course, Canon may feel that supertele's drive the market and may get a few out there first. But the lightweight EF version III's make more sense...for now.
Frankly, I can see the easy conversion of any of today's super-teles to the R mount, simply by extending the camera-end of the mount to fit the R camera. None have a problem with long backfocus - they all exhibit a long distance between the rearmost lens element and the sensor plane.
The R mount holds no advantage for super-telephoto lenses, or at least nothing significant compared to long-normal and wide angle lenses, where the reduced backfocus distance represents a huge design benefit.
If it offers something not available (or even better - not possible) on EF mount, it for sure does.
Big white + DO + RF mount => Professional R cameras are coming!!:)
From what I have seen, using the current EOS-R, a high megapixel and a high speed R should be very capable cameras.
Where do you get this general idea? Only two lens manufacturing lines? I think not. I don't know what kind of factories you've been inside. Back in the 1980's when I worked for P&G, we had 7 lines just to make Pringles.
When I worked for SCA Tissue we had more than 2 dozen manufacturing lines under one roof to make napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper.
Canon cranks out an average of 4.5 million lenses a year (140,000,000+ lenses since 1987). That isn't accomplished with only two production lines.
"generally speaking"
"I don't know exactly what the Canon manufacturing plant looks like ..."
Resurrect the APS-H please.