This is an archive page of our lens rumours - pre 2008.

Current news is on the main lens rumours page

2007

December 27th According to the latest copy of EOS Magazine (in the UK) Further information on the EF 200/2 and EF 800/5.6 will be available 'early in 2008'.

15th Apart from the lenses 'in development' there are no solid rumours for PMA yet. A current DPR thread mentions the long awaited 100-400 update and a possible new 17-85 IS f/3.5-5.6 (current version is f/4-5.6)

The 100-400 is a 1998 lens and although good, is seen to be a bit long in the tooth now [see Jul 7th below]

One site I use to keep an eye on UK lens prices is Camera Price Buster where I note that the price of the 100-400 has dropped (like the 17-85) over the last few months (US visitors, have a smile at what we pay for lenses in the UK :-) If you look at the graphs, you can see which lenses are dropping in price, while others seem to be fairly steady. Probably of slightly more predictive power than looking at the tea leaves in my cup... ;-)

November 26th At least one new TS/E lens is supposedly on the way? In an update, one of our sources suggested that as well as improved optics, the new version would include also 'some autofocus'. This could well appear in time for PMA - any more comments/news appreciated

I'm using my 24 TS/E on a job tomorrow and do sometimes have image quality issues at extreme shift. This would be a definite in my list of new lenses to go with my 1Ds3 (11mm of useful shift in any direction needs an image circle of ~74mm)

16th I've had several enquiries about the EF 24-105/4L IS USM, it seems difficult to find in Sweden and in the UK several dealers are offering 'white box' or 'unboxed' new lenses (with no rebate, but cheaper). Low stock levels or a 'clear out' ahead of something new to go with a 5D Mk2 early next year?

2007 October 25th I've been told (thanks) that the minimum focusing distance for the 200/2 is 1.9 metres.

As to when you can get one, I've seen March 08 mentioned, although on FM it was suggested that Canon (CPS) in Australia were saying the end of next year is more likely.

Maybe that's just for general availability, but you can bet that Canon will have plenty available for use at the Beijing Olympics next summer ;-)

22nd A Photo of the 2 lenses at New York on Flickr

October 16th Two huge lenses from Canon are announced -- no more details on the lenses but they are supposed to be shown at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York from October 18th - 20th.

Note it only says 'showing new lenses in development'... somewhat nebulous compared to usual Canon announcements - are marketing feeling the need to cheer up the troops with promises of 'jam tomorrow' ? ;-)

"The Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM, targeting users who seek a brighter lens for portraiture and indoor sports photography, realizes a large aperture of f/2.

The EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM, expected to deliver telephoto performance surpassing the current top-of-the-line EF600mm f/4L IS USM super telephoto lens, is being developed in response to requests from users working in the fields of sports and news photography who are looking for a high-performance lens that offers a longer focal length."

12th We've had an interesting mail suggesting some updates to Canon's TS-E tilt shift lens lineup. In particular aimed at making them good for the 1Ds3.

As a regular user of the 24mm and 90mm I could certainly see the benefit of a top notch 24mm (or 21mm). The 90mm is currently one of Canon's sharper lenses, so I wouldn't expect to see new optics there. What would be a lot easier to engineer is a more versatile tilt/shift mechanism that could allow easier adjustment of the relative tilt and shift axes, without the need for a screwdriver, as when I converted my TS-E 90. Canon is including the ability to fix lens 'faults' in software, so an all new range of TS-E lenses that include tilt and shift info in the EXIF would give them an interesting bit of technology to market. Of course using TS-E lenses effectively takes a fair bit of learning, one of he reasons I built my Canon View Camera adapter.

2007 September 26th In an odd report from Finland, it seems that the 50/1.8 is 'no longer made' according to someone at Canon, discovered after someone wanting one was finding difficulty in obtaining the lens.

Not one of the lenses I'd have put high up on the 'replacement list' - or are we to get a new IS 'standard lens' for the 5D2 ;-) :-) More likely I'd have thought, was someone having an off day at Canon Finland... :-)

23rd Quite a few lenses listed in the latest European rebates from Canon ... info on the 5D2 page

September 17th As part of quite a bit of Canon related info we've received recently, there was this about Canon's directions in updating their lines of lenses:

Lens design is a very specialised discipline, with Canon historically only being able to develop no more than 3 or 4 new or upgraded lenses each year.

Canon has several distinct programs of lens upgrades it wants to pursue:

Upgrading more of the wide primes (as per the 14mm L Mark II) Lots of these are relatively old designs. These sell to FF professionals and will definitely need updating as sensors climb into the 25mp+ range. The new 1Ds3 will certainly show the age of some lenses.
Upgrading the telephotos and telephoto zooms with latest generation IS. Some of these (particularly the 100-400mm ) have 1st and second generation IS and could definitely benefit from an upgrade.
A broader range of consumer and enthusiast lenses need developing fo this expanding market. There are many areas where the new affordable analogue based IS couls be used

Canon is looking at ways to expand its lens design capabilities here using new software and expanding the engineering teams in this area.

Many of the L series lenses (especially the primes) sell in relatively tiny quantities – often just a couple of thousand or less in a year. This makes the return on investment pretty limited. Canon actually makes these in single production runs where they make a year’s supply in one go.

2007 August 23rd Just for interest - this is still the Canon EF page! :-)

Along with the Full Frame D3 and DX D300 Nikon announce a slew of new lenses.

The AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED measures 98~131.5mm and weighs approximately 1,000g.
The AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED measures 83~133mm and weighs approximately 900g.

Each of the new lenses comes with a flower-shaped hood and a semi-soft case. The hood of the 14-24mm is integrated, the 24-70mm removable. Guide Price to be confirmed in September. Both lenses will be available in November 2007.

Longer lenses too...

	Max diameter (mm)	Length (mm)	Minimum Focus distance (m)	Weight (g)
AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR	159.5	368	2.9	4620
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR	139.5	391	4	3880
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR	166	445	5	5080

August 20th In addition to the lenses 'announced' yesterday there is the...

"Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens
Canon strengthens its EF-S series of lenses with the launch of the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS. With an equivalent focal lengths of 88-400mm, the lens is the first in the EF-S series to incorporate a 4-stop Image Stabilizer, dramatically extending low-light performance. The lenses incorporates specialist optics to achieve exceptional image clarity with the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS benefiting from an Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) lens element."

19th A new 14mm (info via Amazon - who seem to have jumped the gun a bit with the release)

"Canon EF 14mm f2.8L II USM Lens
Designed primarily for discerning landscape and architectural photographers, the Canon EF14mm f2.8L II USM lens is ideally suited to the EOS-1Ds Mark III's full-frame capability. Measuring 3.7 inches in length and weighing in at under 23 ounces, this ultra-wide angle L-series prime lens is well corrected for rectilinear distortion, provides a 114-degree diagonal angle of view, and delivers high-speed autofocus with higher image quality overall including superior peripheral image quality, compared to its predecessor, the stalwart EF 14mm f2.8L USM lens.

While its large diameter, high-precision aspherical and UD elements, optimized lens element positioning, and flare and ghost-reducing lens coating ensure that this lens delivers the top optical performance in its professional class, Canon has added other features photographers have been asking for--improved dust and water resistance incorporated around the mount, switch panel and focusing ring, and a round aperture that creates a nice background blur and makes it easier to recognize an out-of-focus scene in less than brightly lit conditions. Furthermore, Canon has created a new lens cap specifically for the EF 14mm f2.8L II USM that is held to the lens by a stopper."

and a new EF-S 18-55 IS (also from Amazon (from Nov 15th at $199)

"EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Developed in response to consumer demand for a high-quality yet affordable optically image stabilized lens, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS standard zoom lens adds a phenomenally flexible lens to the EOS 40D SLR shooter's imaging arsenal. While it features the wide-angle to mid-range zoom flexibility of its non-IS predecessor, this new EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens offers the significant advantage of a true lens-shift image stabilization system that yields up to a full four stops of image-shake correction.

The higher performance provided by Canon's lens shift IS system (compared with the in-camera sensor shift type offered in some competitive SLRs) includes the ability to optimize the lens performance for specific shooting situations such as low-light, long-zoom, or movement while shooting (or virtually any combination of the three). What's more, the shooter can see the image stabilization effect in the viewfinder. As the image already appears steady, more accurate framing and composition is possible, the AF point can be placed more precisely, and the photographer can concentrate on the optimal shot more comfortably."

EF-S lenses to fit on next version of the 5D? - see the 5D2 page for more info.

2007 August 15th While not Canon lenses, the fact that some are made by Zeiss may interest a few people... for a really in depth bit of analysis of the few bits of info directly from Sony, have a look at PA

8th An EF 135 f/1.2L ?? There's a Canon survey doing the rounds at the moment and amongst the lenses listed is a 135/1.2L

Surely a typo? If not then I'll take one please :-)

August 6th More info on the new standard lens for the 40D ... a Canon EF-s 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS ??

However, if you look at the pictures on the 40D page, there is this lens attached...

July 16th A brief mention of a new 18-55 in the 40D rumours, but other than that, I was sent this PDF link to an interesting Canon guide to their lenses and the technology that goes into them.

7th I was browsing eBay (UK) today and noticed several cut price EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lenses - not being a regular eBay watcher I don't know if this is common?

There has been talk of an f/4 100-400 for some time and the current version is in the US rebate list. Might be a lens to announce with the 1Ds3 or 40D ;-)

The 100-400 has been around since 1998, and has no real weatherproofing - for a list of suggested improvements see this from DPR

5th Several mentions of a possible new EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM to be launched with the 40D. The oldest reference for this I can find, is on DPR and refers to an original Japanese posting.

2007 August 2nd Canon (Australia) are doing a special offer on the 50mm F/1.2 L if you buy one with a 1Ds2 - (info). OK, so they are clearing stocks of the 1Ds2 for a new 1Ds3 some time, but the 50mm/1.2 has only been out for a year by August, perhaps they aren't shifting that fast (not too surprising given the price ;-)

50/1.2 is very nice to use -- I use my old Zuiko 50/1.2 via an adapter, and once you get past using manual focus again, it's a great lens. However given the number of focussing related complaints I've seen about the Canon lens, perhaps MF really isn't that bad...

June 27th Very little recently on the lens rumour front, apart from the usual 'there will be new lenses'...

Canon in the US are running an 'instant rebate' scheme until July 16th

Lenses qualifying (and thus assumed by some as up for change ;-)

EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM
EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM

April 3rd details on all the Canon cashback offers in Europe are now available online at http://Canonlensacc2007.onlinerebates.com/intro.aspx

Current discounts listed are from 1st if April till 30th June:

Cashback offers Cashback amount

EOS 5D body £100
EOS 30D body £65
EOS 400D body £50
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM £130
EF100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L IS USM £50
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM £65
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM £80
EF 180 mm f/3.5L Macro USM £45
EF 24mm f/1.4L USM £100
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM £100
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM £45
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM £80
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM £30
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM £33
EF 135mm f/2.0L USM £33
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM £50
EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM £33
EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM £100
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM £33
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM £20
Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX £20
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM £13
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM £13
Extender EF 1.4x II £10
Speedlite 430EX £10

2007 March 8th No big lenses from Canon at PMA, but have a look at the Sigma 200-500 F/2.8 - that's one big lens, and it comes with a 2x teleconverter (400-1000 F/5.6)

February 22nd To go with the 1DMk3 there is indeed a 16-35L (more info on 16-35 page)

February 21st I've just been pointed to a Danish company that has the current 16-35L on special offer. Perhaps to make way for a new version?

From FM:

• "1D MkIII 10mp, 10fps, 3" LIVE LCD, the 40D 10MP, 5fps, 3"LCD
  The 1ds MkII replacement in the fall with 22 MP and the 5D next year.
  A new 16 - 35 mm F2.8 lens is coming to take care of the new 22 MP camera."

Now that -would- be interesting, since I use the current 16-35 2.8L quite a bit and was wondering how it would perform once I (eventually) get a 1Ds2 replacement.

Several serious doubts over the pricing, but not the liklihood of the actual lenses...

2007 February 20th Someone tried to order the 100-400 f4L IS lens and the final price came up as 7494 Euro --this compares with the Nikon 200-400 F4.0 VR which costs 6400 Euro (info -in German-) It also said that the lens would be ready for shiping!

Over at this Belgian site there is an EF 400 f5.6L IS listed for 1995 euros 'no stock at the moment'

They also have some 40D info

and also a:
"Embargo Canon EF 100-400mm f4L IS USM Image Stabilizer Lens Prijs EUR 2498,00"

http://www.geheugenkaart.be/Nederlands/store/viewitem.asp?idproduct=8981222

17th Still not much info on the lens side of things, although this PMA list from FM ressurects that 800/5.6...

12-24EF
17-135EF-S IS
800/5.6 IS DO

February 9th Some useful links for more EF lens information posted on the FM rumours thread

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005nXu (See Chuck Downling's EF mount pinout)
http://www.birger.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=ef232_home (A device to control an EF lens from a computer, along with a command list)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1349697 (Discussion of what is communicated over the EF connections)

8th There is a UK Dealer event on the 23rd (see main rumours page for more info) at which there may well be some new long glass announced.

From SportsShooter:
"The new long lenses are rumored to have more/new contacts/connections which make them significantly quicker and they will also be lighter... the return of the 200mm is on the cards as well but maybe as a 200/2 not 200/1.8..."

More contacts/connections? Is this the 'new lens mount' that keeps popping up in rumours - new, but backwards compatible?

2007 January 28th The pic from yesterday is widely regarded as a fake - look clearly at the tabs on the original and you can see the joins -- ho hum, this is a rumours page after all...

27th Screen shot of a page we were sent from the Canon UK site showing an all new 800mm f/5.6 DO lens ? Interestingly enough this has been discussed quite a bit on DPR with most people thinking the previous posts about this lens were fakes.

The page has since been pulled - a good lens to go with a replacement for the 1DMkIIn??

---

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2006--Canon continues its tradition of optical excellence with two new EF lenses - the powerful EF50mm f/1.2L USM and the versatile EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lenses. Both lenses are valuable additions to the EOS arsenal for professional wedding and portrait photographers as well as advanced amateurs - expanding the range of current Canon EF lenses to more than 60 selections. "The EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens is now the fastest autofocus lens in its class*, which makes it an essential tool for many professional and advanced amateur photographers," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens delivers the legendary sharpness and clarity of the Canon 'L' series lenses in a compact and lightweight design that is easy to use for hand held photography, making it a versatile lens for any photographer." "Wedding moments unfold at the speed of life and my mission is to artfully document in real time as a lasting history of the newlyweds," said Canon Explorer of Light photographer Denis Reggie, who is known worldwide for captivating wedding and portrait photography. "Many favorite images are made under the challenges of very low light levels, but using superb, fast lenses, the reward is an unmistakable, documentary look. I love the shallow depth of Canon's remarkable 'L' series lenses to bring sharp focus and full attention to the bride's eyes... that gives me and my clients compelling images that stand out from the crowd. For my celebrity and society wedding assignments, these new Canon lenses will be prized additions to my gear bag." The EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens - Serious Glass for Serious Photographers Canon is the only camera manufacturer to provide professionals and advanced amateurs with Digital SLRs that feature full frame sensors, such as the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and EOS 5D digital SLRs. The new EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens complements full-frame cameras, while delivering beautiful results on APS-C/H sized sensor models as well. The EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens is a strong testament to Canon's heritage of optical excellence. Every aspect of this lens exudes professional quality from its wide 72mm filter diameter to its dust and moisture sealed construction. A high refraction glass molded aspherical lens element helps to minimize spherical aberration, which is crucial in order to provide fine detail and maximum image quality from corner to corner, even when the lens is used wide open. Full frame digital camera users will especially appreciate the benefits of the 50mm focal length, when shooting waist-up portraits while maintaining appropriate subject distance at a wedding. The large maximum aperture of f/1.2 allows this lens to produce shallow depth of field that softens the background and makes subjects "pop" out of a portrait. Photographers can also take advantage of higher shutter speeds to shoot in lower light and help prevent blurring caused by subject movement or camera shake. In addition to a large aperture, the new lens also has blazingly fast autofocus speed and response time, thanks in part to Canon's ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM), which quietly drives the lens. A full-time manual focus feature allows photographers to fine-tune the sharpness of their images, even when the lens is set for autofocus. Canon designed the EF50mm f/1.2L USM to deliver the best possible optical quality while being tough enough to meet the needs of demanding photographers. Eight lens elements in six groups provide high resolution, while advanced coating suppresses flare and ghosting. A glass molded (GMO) aspherical element ensures maximum image quality by reducing spherical aberration and linear distortion. Dust and moisture resistant components in the lens mount, switches, and focus ring help to protect the lens in a wide variety of shooting conditions. The EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens - Versatile and Compact New EF Lens Canon is also the only manufacturer to provide a full range of professional zoom lenses in both the high-speed f/2.8 category as well as the compact and lightweight f/4 category. Rounding out Canon's f/4L lens lineup is the new EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens. This "L" series lens is designed for professional or advanced amateur photographers seeking maximum performance and versatility. This is a lens that can handle almost any assignment, ranging from distant subjects to the demanding requirements of up-close and personal portraits as well as nature photography. The EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens stands up to the rigors of professional use The lens is sealed from dust and moisture, and is equipped with the latest generation of Canon's Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, making it an optimal everyday shooter. The image stabilization achieves three shutter speed steps of camera shake correction within 0.5 seconds after the shutter button is depressed halfway and yields correction for up to four full shutter speeds while handheld, providing a new level of performance. Users can also select two IS modes, one for stationary subjects and another for intentional panning. The EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens is the same size as the EF70-200mm f/4L USM lens that remains in the EF lens line, but the new lens adds several valuable features. In addition to enhanced weather sealing and image stabilization, the EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens incorporates a circular diaphragm to create more natural looking background blur, and distance information to aid autofocusing and automatic flash exposure. The lens also suppresses flare and ghosting with advanced coatings and optimal placement of its 20 lens elements in 15 groups. One Fluorite element and two UD (ultra low dispersion) elements thoroughly suppress chromatic aberrations for crisp photos throughout the entire focal range. A ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) provides fast and silent autofocusing, while the full-time manual focus function provides maximum control even when the lens is set for AF. The powerful and fast EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens will be available in November for an estimated selling price of $1,599**. The compact and universal EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM will also be available in November for an estimated selling price of $1,249.** About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.Canon.com. Specifications and availability subject to change without notice. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners *As of August 24, 2006 **Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.

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