Ready yet?
The excitement around the 5D Mark III, EF 24-70 f/2.8L II and 600EX-RT was on a level that I have never seen. It's going to be pretty hard to top in the future, maybe the 5D Mark IV will be able to do it.
However, there's always “what's next?” when it comes to gear in the ever advancing photography and videography world. So I may as well get right to it.
On the immediate horizon
I don't have an exact announcement date for the gear below. I do expect these items to be the next SLR related gear to be announced.
– Rebel 650D/T4i
I haven't received any specs of the camera, just proof that it exists and it's coming soon. I expect DIGIC 5, articulating LCD and new movie features.
– EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS II
A second version of this lens already? That's the word. This time it will come with a silent autofocus motor, perhaps as part of a new video AF feature in the Rebel T4i. I wouldn't expect anything revolutionary in that regard considered the 5D Mark III and 1D X didn't get anything advanced in that regard.
– EF/EF-S 40 f/2.8 Pancake
No word on the mount for this lens, but it's coming and it'll be quite inexpensive. Sub $200 I've heard.
– EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4X TC
This lens still hasn't become an officially announced product. The rumored price tag is between $11,000-$12,000 USD.
Sometime in Quarter 2 or Quarter 3 2012
There are going to be some more gear announcements heading into Photokina 2012 in Germany. I have heard between 10-13 lenses will be announced in 2012 from Canon. No word if that includes any lenses for the predicted mirrorless camera.
– EF 35 f/1.4L II
This is the next likely prime candidate to be released by Canon. No word on an announcement date, but preproduction lenses exist.
– EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS II (the current version starts at f/4.5)
I'm told this will also arrive sometime in 2012. It will be a replacement for both the 100-400 and 400 f/5.6L. If it performs like the current 400 f/5.6 prime does at 400mm, then we'll have a winner.
– Cinema EOS DSLR
I haven't heard anything more about the 4K DSLR Canon said they were developing. There is speculation that it will appear before NAB 2012 in April. Nothing can be confirmed on that front.
cr