New Canon EF Lenses

Rumours and News about Canon Lenses

• 29th A burst of long lens update rumours at [CR] 100-400 (a 1998 lens) and 800/5.6
  • I'd just note that I've seen 100-400 update rumours and dates since 2006 so it will be right one day ;-)

• 16th B&H has an extra offer for Canon lenses in the US
  • Canon EF 8-15 f/4L Fisheye $1279
  • Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L II $1429
  • Canon EF 35 f/1.4L $1259
  • Canon EF 50 f/1.2L $1369
  • Canon EF 85 f/1.2L II $1949
  • Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II $2099
  • Canon EF 100 f/2.8L IS Macro $869
• 14th New US rebate programme - assorted lenses and cameras utntil the 27th of April
• Details on main rumours page.
• New 400/4 diffractive optics patent from Canon [EG]
• 
  • Seems like Canon don't want to give up on the DO technology yet...
• 4th A new 35mm cine lens from Canon - "currently expected to officially launch sometime this year"
• Also, new firmware and software support for the C300/C500 [CR]

March

• 29th A new 50/1.4 (and 1.2) patent from Canon [EG] aimed at their cinema lenses, but EF is possible
• All are retrofocus designs, but really pushing for reduction of large aperture aberrations.
• 
• 28th Jeff Ascough talks about using the new EF24-70 for weddings at CPN
• 27th A suggestion that an updated 100-400 from Canon will appear with the 7D mk2 later this year [CR]
  • Well, it has been rumoured for a very long time...
• 21st As expected, the new 18-55 lens is announced with the 100D and 700D
• Lens specs on the 700D page
• 20th A list of what's due on Friday includes the new 18-55mm
• A new lens appeared in our 'expected this year' inbox, a 19mm f2.8L - the nearest current lens would be the 1992 vintage 20/2.8, which I'd expect to see appear as a EF20mm f/2.8 IS USM, much like the new 24 and 28mm lenses from last year.
• That said, Canon has 24mm and 14mm L primes, and a really good 19mm would be interesting (but do note the TS-E17, which IMHO, should be included in the L primes list).
• 19th The new small Canon DSLR will arrive with a new kit lens
• [via DCI]
  • "Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens specifications:
  • Aspherical element
    Maximum magnification ratio: 0.36x
    Image Stabilizer
    Price: 33,000 yen
    Release date: late April"
• Canon's 35/1.4L has been in the 'update due' category for quite some time (it's a 1998 lens). Some new DxOMark tests show just how far it is behind the new Sigma 35/1.4 - much sharper and much cheaper.
• Given the likely cost of a 35/1.4L II, it had better be pretty good...
  • If you're curious about lens options, Amazon have produced a lens selector widget for browsing what lenses are available for your camera [note - this is an affiliate link - we prefer to point this out for visitors]
• 14th We're told [thanks] that the replacements for TS-E45mm and 90mm will be announced later this year along with the long awaited Canon answer to the Nikon 14-24mm.
  • The tilt-shift lenses were mentioned last year with another 'special' lens - a super wide zoom would be interesting but not quite what was suggested (the comparison was made to the MP-E65 as a unique lens).
• Meanwhile, at the long end, there is a suggestion [CR] of replacements in the offing for the 200/2 and 800/5.6, but not until the eventual official announcement of the 200-400 (remember that? ;-)
• 7th There is a Canon patent for an improved SWC coating for the 14/2.8 at Egami [Google xlt]
• Several lenses included in a UK cashback scheme [see main rumours page for list]
• 3rd Two new Zeiss lenses on the way? [CR] 28 f/1.4 and updated Planar 85 f/1.4 - see also the Zeiss interview by MP at photokina
• 2nd A Canon patent at Egami [Google xlt] to lock the focus ring and other parts of a lens when not mounted. Never a problem for me, but then again I have long fingers... :-)
• 
• The feature is compatible with the EF mount, so could appear on future lenses - probably more likely with small lenses for the EF-M mount

February

• 28th Possible EF12-24 2.8L mentioned [CR]
  • There have been lots of very wide lens patents around and Canon would like something to surpass Nikon's excellent 14-24. The prospect of a zoom that could surpass my 14 2.8L II , TSE-17(non shifted) and wide end of my 24-70 would indeed be an interesting (but $$$) idea. Yup... I'd buy one ;-)
• 25th New Canon patent at Egami [Google xlt via CR] for wide lenses with fluorite elements.
• Probably indicative of new parts of lens design rather than any particular lens
• 21st New Canon patent at Egami [Google xlt] for adding more electrical contacts to a lens mount - the idea might be for video, where more power can be be needed for handling such big lenses?
• 18th The Samyang 24/3.5 tilt shift lens will be available by early March at ~$1000 [B&H]
  • If you're new to such lenses, I've written several articles about them - best to start at tilt/shift lenses
• 17th In the US there are a number of lenses (and flashes) in an 'instant rebate' program that runs to the end of March.
• I note that the TSE 45 and 90 are both in the list - these are regulars in our 'due for update' list.

• 12th Samyang hint at a 50/1.2 lens - manual focus?, that'll be fun with most DSLR focus screens (I've an Olympus Zuiko 50/1.2 and accurate focus at f/1.2 is not a quick option on my 1Ds 3)
• Several new Cine lenses suggested for NAB in April (Canon video page)
• 11th DxO review of Canon 35/2 IS
• 4th A video of the 200-400 being used is at LL

January

• 27th A suggested 'roadmap' (see general rumours page) suggests 3 DSLRs and several lenses for 2013
• Lenses... 200-400, 100-400, 35mm 1.4L II - all regulars on the rumour circuit. We've heard of something else entirely new in the 'because we can' category, but apart from the old shift lenses (45,90) no details.
• 13th A new lens and camera (70D?) next week? (15th) [CR]
• 10th Two new cine lenses announced.
  • "CN-E14mm T3.1 L F and CN-E135mm T2.2 L F single-focal-length lenses for large-format single-sensor cameras employing Super 35mm or full frame 35mm imagers. These two new lenses join with Canon’s CN-E24mm T1.5 L F, CN-E50mm T1.3 L F, and CN-E85mm T1.3 L F primes to provide a broad line of five precision-matched, competitively priced EF-mount Cinema prime lenses"
• No sign of anything for still cameras though
• Meanwhile, production of the 200-400 isn't due to start until Q2/13 [CR] and at well over $10,000
• Sigma is going to release five new lenses this spring. Three will be previewed at the CP+ Camera and Imaging Show in Yokohama, Japan from 31 Jan-2 Feb, and two more at the Asia Imaging Fair in Beijing, China from Apr. 1-3.
• 8th No new lenses sighted yet...

• 7th No sign of any Canon announcements yet...
• Sigma announce a 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM / DC MACRO HSM [Goog xlt]
• and a 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM [Goog xlt]
• ...no doubt many more things will appear in the run up to CES/PMA in Vegas this week.
• 3rd Canon Singapore is saying that the 200-400 will be available soon [CS-fb]

2012 December

• 23rd Two new lenses for early January (8th)? [CR]
• Both long expected in rumourland, the 35/1.4 L II and a 14-24 2.8L
• 20th More Canon patents at Egami [Google xlt] - how about an 800mm f5.6 Diffractive Optics 1:1 macro lens?
• 

• 400mm f/4 DO Macro 2:1
• 600mm f/4 DO Macro 1:1
• 400mm f/4 DO Macro 1:1.4
  • Any such lens has a lot of moving parts for focusing, neither fast nor cheap ;-)
• Suggestions that there may be a 24-70 2.8 L IS lens in a year or two [CR]
• Meanwhile there is a 42-105 seen on an unidentified camera in a German Canon brochure - main rumours page
  • 42mm - I though we had the only fake 42mm at the top of this page ;-)
• 16th New 50mm f1.2 lens in a collection of designs in a Canon patent [Egami - Google xlt]

• The patent also includes a 50/2 design for a full frame mirrorless (22 mm backfocus [BF] distance).
• The text suggests the likelihood of a full frame mirrorless - this is not easy to read - please do let me know if you can make sense of it?
• The design is different to the current EF50 f/1.2L (from 2006)
• Meanwhile - there are lots of 400mm lenses predicted for next year.
• EF 400 f/5.6L IS
  EF 400 f/4L IS
  EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS
  EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x [CR]
  • OK, the 200-400 actually exisits, but the others have been regularly predicted for years ;-)
• 14th Suggestions of the long awaited Canon 14-24 zoom, by the end of next year at CR
• 13th Some experiments (right) with more big lenses from my junk box ;-)
• 12th As part of Canon's revamp of their prime lens range, expect a replacement for the (1993) 50/1.4, with added image stabilisation next year.
  • The existing 50/1.4 is actually not a bad lens, and at f/1.4 any replacement would be Canon's fastest IS lens. I have one I use for panoramic shots - the giant 14m long 20GB print I created earlier this year was captured using the 50/1.4.
  • I had thought it more likely that the (1990) 50/1.8 II would get the new prime treatment first, but that's really a lens built to a price and the f/1.4 market might better take the likely price increase.
• 2012 December 7th I'm told [thanks] that the two remaining TS-E lenses are slated for replacement next year (TS-E45 and TS-E90 both from 1991), with the fully adjustable movements seen in the TS-E17 and TS-E24, along with bigger image circles and improved performance.

• • As someone who makes extensive use of these lenses, I'm keen to see what Canon can do to the 90mm, which is already of extremely high quality. I don't have the 45mm, and was toying with getting a copy (there is a good 2nd hand market for TS-E lenses - people buy them and then perhaps never learn to really understand how they can be of such use). I may still get the 45mm, since even if a new one gets announced next year, recent new lens shipping delays suggests that I wouldn't see anything in my hand until maybe 2014. As to the 'special' lens, I'm not sure - the 17mm was only ever mentioned briefly to me, in this cryptic manner, the year before it came out. Since the 17mm has become one of the key lenses in my lineup for architectural use, I'm more than curious as to what might appear...
• There are suggestions of new lightweight long lenses on the way [CR] and that the built in 1.4TC may become more widespread.

Canon Digital EOS Timeline

EF Lens chronology

Current EF lens

Current EF-S lens

'retired' EF lens

'retired' EF-S lens

Current EF-M lens

Canon Lenses since 1987 (as of Jun. 2012) The year next to each lens links to Canon specs for the lens - a link from the lens name goes to a review or article on this site.

Do note that some lenses may have been discontinued, but are still in stock at some dealers.

YEAR	M	Lens	YEAR	M	Lens	YEAR	M	Lens
1987	3	EF50mm f/1.8	1988	6	EF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 II	1989	4	EF28-80mm f/2.8-4L USM
1987	3	EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5	1988	6	EF35-135mm f/3.5-4.5	1989	9	EF50mm f/1.0L USM
1987	3	EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5	1988	6	EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5L	1989	9	EF85mm f/1.2L USM
1987	3	EF100-300mm f/5.6	1988	10	EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5A	1989	9	EF80-200mm f/2.8L
1987	4	EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye	1988	11	EF24mm f/2.8	1989	10	EF20-35mm f/2.8L
1987	4	EF28mm f/2.8	1988	11	EF200mm f/1.8L USM
1987	5	EF70-210mm f/4	1988	11	EF600mm f/4L USM
1987	6	EF100-300mm f/5.6L	1988	12	EF100-200mm f/4.5A
1987	10	EF135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
1987	11	EF300mm f/2.8L USM
1987	11	EF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5
1987	12	EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
1987	12	EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5
1990	3	EF35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM	1991	3	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6	1992	3	EF500mm f/4.5L USM
1990	4	EF100mm f/2.8 Macro	1991	4	EF 400mm f/2.8L USM	1992	4	EF35-80mm f/4-5.6 USM
1990	6	EF70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM	1991	4	TS-E24mm f/3.5L	1992	6	EF20mm f/2.8 USM
1990	6	EF100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM	1991	4	TS-E45mm f/2.8	1992	6	EF85mm f/1.8 USM
1990	9	EF35-80mm f/4-5.6	1991	4	TS-E90mm f/2.8	1992	6	EF35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
1990	10	EF35mm f/2	1991	4	EF35-105mm f/4.5-5.6	1992	6	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 USM
1990	11	EF80-200mm f/4.5-5.6	1991	10	EF100mm f/2 USM	1992	6	EF80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
1990	12	EF50mm f/1.8 II	1991	10	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 USM	1992	11	EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
			1991	12	EF14mm f/2.8L USM
			1991	12	EF200mm f/2.8L USM
			1991	12	EF300mm f/4L USM
1993	1	EF35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM	1994		No lenses in 94?	1995	2	EF38-76mm f/4.5-5.6
1993	3	EF20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM				1995	3	EF35-80mm f/4-5.6 III
1993	5	EF400mm f/5.6L USM				1995	3	EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
1993	6	EF50mm f/1.4 USM				1995	3	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 II USM
1993	7	EF1200mm f/5.6L USM				1995	3	EF80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II
1993	9	EF35-80mm F4-5.6 II				1995	7	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 II
1993	10	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II USM				1995	8	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 III USM
1993	11	EF28-70mm f/2.8L USM				1995	9	EF28mm f/1.8 USM
						1995	9	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
1996	3	EF200mm f/2.8L II USM	1997	3	EF300mm f/4L IS USM	1998	2	EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
1996	3	EF400mm f/2.8L II USM	1997	12	EF24mm f/1.4L USM	1998	3	EF22-55mm f/4-5.6 USM
1996	4	EF135mm f/2L USM				1998	3	EF55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
1996	4	EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM				1998	11	EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
1996	4	EF17-35mm f/2.8L USM				1998	12	EF35mm f/1.4L USM
1996	9	EF24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
1996	9	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6
1996	9	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 IV USM
1999	4	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II	2000	3	EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM	2001	9	EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
1999	4	EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 V USM	2000	9	EF28-200mm f/3.5-5.6	2001	12	EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM
1999	4	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III	2000	9	EF28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM	2001	12	EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM
1999	4	EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM	2000	10	EF28-90mm f/4-5.6
1999	7	EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM	2000	10	EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 USM
1999	7	EF500mm f/4L IS USM	2000	10	EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM
1999	9	EF400mm f/2.8L IS USM
1999	9	EF600mm f/4L IS USM
1999	9	MP-E65mm f/2.8 Macro
1999	9	EF70-200mm f/4L USM
2002	9	EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 II USM	2003	5	EF17-40mm f/4L USM	2004	6	EF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
2002	9	EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II	2003	9	EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6	2004	6	EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
2002	9	EF28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM	2003	9	EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM	2004	9	EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
2002	9	EF90-300mm f/4-5.6 USM	2003	9	EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 II	2004	9	EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 III
2002	11	EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM	2003	9	EF55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM	2004	11	EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
			2003	9	EF90-300mm f/4.5-5.6
2005	3	EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM	2006	2	EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM	2007	2	EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
2005	3	EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II	2006	2	EF85mm f/1.2L II USM	2007	8	EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
2005	9	EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM	2006	8	EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM	2007	8	EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
2005	9	EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM	2006	8	EF50mm f/1.2L USM	2007	8	EF14mm f/2.8L II USM
2008	2	EF200mm f/2L IS USM	2009	2	TS-E 17mm f4/L	2010	1	EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
2008	2	EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM	2009	2	TS-E 24mm f3.5L II	2010	8	EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
2008	9	EF24mm f/1.4L II USM	2009	9	EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS	2010	8	EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM fisheye
2008	9	EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS	2009	9	EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM	2010	8	EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS II USM
			2009	9	EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	2010	8	EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM
2011	2	EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM	2012	2	EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
2011	2	EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM	2012	2	EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM
2011	2	EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III	2012	2	EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM
2011	3	EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II	2012	6	EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
2011	6	EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II	2012	6	EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
			2012	7	EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
			2012	7	EF-M 22mm f/2 STM

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