As we look at the holes in the RF lens lineup, it's easy to come to the conclusion that the wide angle prime lens offerings are lacking. We currently only have the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro and Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro lenses to fill the void.

We have been told that Canon will be releasing the following 4 wide angle L prime lenses in the next 12 months.

  • Canon RF 12mm f/1.8L USM
  • Canon RF 24mm f/1.4L USM
  • Canon RF 28mm f/1.4L USM
  • Canon RF 35mm f/1.2L USM (This has been rumored for an eternity)

That said, the next L lens to be announced from Canon will be the Canon RF 135mm f/1.8L USM. We're not sure if this lens will get a DS version like the RF 85mm f/1.2L DS USM. We're also not sure if it will come with image stabilization, but we feel that is a longshot.

More to come…

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358 comments

  1. There is pattern and I'm not liking it.

    Canon were king of the heap for 30 years before RF. Now they seem to only be interested in extremes - extreme fast lenses (f1.2 f1.4 etc) at stupid high prices, or extreme slow, f-****-elevens. To make sure they irritate as much people as possible, they won't let third-party lenses compete.
  2. A 12mm f1.8? That seems......odd. I would think milky way/aurora photographers would prefer a 16mm 1.8. who would the 12mm be for? Architecture perhaps?
    they seem to be releasing lenses without much logic, they make them just because they can. I am struggling to get the lenses that I really want to use.
  3. As I use wide-angle lens primarily for landscape, a good quality prime at 20mm F1.8 USM would be great. There is no need for 1.4 lenses for me. A focal length at 18, or 19mm would also be fine. Otherwise, I am quite happy with the RF 14-35L f4.
  4. they seem to be releasing lenses without much logic, they make them just because they can. I am struggling to get the lenses that I really want to use.
    Sony has a 14mm f1.8 GM which is very popular with astro landscape shooters. Perhaps this 12mm f1.8 is Canon’s response to that lens.
  5. Same old story, ridiculously wide maximum aperture exotica at what will be equally ridiculous prices

    ... or super-cheap lenses with slow-focus STM motors.

    ***SCREAM for INBETWEEN***
    Consider that you get almost the full range of these (rumored, at this point) fast L primes with an f/4 aperture, L-series build and fast focusing for probably less than what just one of them will cost, by buying the RF 14-35/4L IS.

    The L-series, in Canon's philosophy, is about extremes. The goalposts have moved as technology improves, and what was once difficult becomes easier to achieve. But I believe that L-series lenses will always try to push the optical envelope (and the wallet). Slow L-series primes in the wide to short tele range (where there are already multiple L zoom lenses with slow apertures) aren't at all likely.
  6. Sony has a 14mm f1.8 GM which is very popular with astro landscape shooters. Perhaps this 12mm f1.8 is Canon’s response to that lens.
    Yes, and if Canon ever decides to optimize a wide, fast lens to have low coma and astigmatism then maybe this 12/1.8 will actually serve that purpose. Canon seems to aggressively ignore those aberrations in their lens designs, but there's always hope that will change.
  7. Same old story, ridiculously wide maximum aperture exotica at what will be equally ridiculous prices

    ... or super-cheap lenses with slow-focus STM motors.

    ***SCREAM for INBETWEEN***
    I think that Canon is doing the right thing by catering to the extremes.
    People who want the middle can adapt EF.
  8. Consider that you get almost the full range of these (rumored, at this point) fast L primes with an f/4 aperture, L-series build and fast focusing for probably less than what just one of them will cost, by buying the RF 14-35/4L IS.

    The L-series, in Canon's philosophy, is about extremes. The goalposts have moved as technology improves, and what was once difficult becomes easier to achieve. But I believe that L-series lenses will always try to push the optical envelope (and the wallet). Slow L-series primes in the wide to short tele range (where there are already multiple L zoom lenses with slow apertures) aren't at all likely.
    I agree with all of that neuro, but it still frustrates me that there are very few mid-range, mid-price L-quality lenses with modest apertures that would result in smaller, lighter lenses.

    It's difficult to gauge how much demand there is for such optics, but I honestly believe they would sell in high enough numbers to make it worthwhile to Canon, and I also believe that the "policy of extremes" is alienating a lot of existing customers, and discouraging new customers.
  9. 1st 4 years of RF lens

    - fast inventory turnover
    - better profit margin

    Next 4 years of RF lens

    - slower inventory turnover
    - worse profit margin

    If there was not a supply shortage in the middle then I would tend to agree with you.
    It is really hard to predict anything right now.
  10. Sony has a 14mm f1.8 GM which is very popular with astro landscape shooters. Perhaps this 12mm f1.8 is Canon’s response to that lens.
    That Sony lens was a response to the popularity of the Sigma 14 f/1.8.
    Canon tends to push things a little further.
  11. Slow L-series primes in the wide to short tele range (where there are already multiple L zoom lenses with slow apertures) aren't at all likely.
    You may be right, but I think they will show up eventually.
    There is too big of a gap between L and non L lenses.
  12. I am just wondering why they are using slow STM motors in consumer lenses when they have the super-fast, quiet and tiny nano-USM.
    They even used that motor in some cheaper lenses (EF 70-300) then decided to go with the worse STM. What is that if not market segmentation?

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