Lens News

Alongside its new EOS R full frame mirrorless camera system, Canon introduced four new RF lenses using Canon’s new RF mount for the R camera. The four new RF lenses feature a 54mm diameter mount and a shorter back focus distance than Canon’s current DSLR cameras.

The four new RF lenses are the Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM, RF 50mm F1.2 L USM, RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM and RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM. According to Canon, the new RF mount creates a new optical design and lens formulation, that allows for “faster and lighter lenses with higher performing optics.”

“The design behind Canon’s new EOS R camera and RF lens system started with the concept of the optimal rear lens element diameter and shorter distance (back focus) for a Full-Frame image sensor,” Canon said.

Canon also introduced three new lens mount adapters that allow the new EOS R mirrorless camera system to work with Canon’s EF, EF-S, TS-E, and MP-E lenses. Those adapters include the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R ($99), the Control Ring Mount Adapter ($199) and the Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter ($299). The Control Ring Mount Adapter adds a customizable control ring via the adapter that gives photographers added functionality. The Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter places a circular polarizing or variable neutral density filters behind the lens.

Here’s a rundown of the four new RF lenses for the Canon EOS R mirrorless camera system, according to Canon’s press announcement:

Canon RF Series Lenses
Three of the newly announced Canon RF lenses incoprate rugged, dust and water-resistant construction. All four new RF lenses feature a customizable control ring that allows photographers to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture or ISO.

The Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM lens, the world’s first standard zoom lens with an f/2 aperture is designed for capturing landscapes, weddings and portraits with its large aperture for producing bokeh.

Designed for portrait photographers, the Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM lens features a large-diameter f/1.2 aperture and Canon’s Air Sphere Coating (ASC) technology to reduce flares and ghosting. This new lens is capable of rendering subjects life-size on the full-frame sensor with its minimum focusing distance of only 0.59 inches.

The Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens is more of an all-purpose lens. Nine percent shorter in length than the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM, this compact lens employs a CIPA standard of 5 stops of IS and is equipped with NANO USM technology, the first L-series lens with the technology. This small chip-shaped ultrasonic motor is engineered to help deliver high-speed, smooth, precise and near-silent operation, plus full-time manual focus (when using one-shot AF).

A fast, wide-angle single focus lens, the Canon RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM lens is designed as an affordable compact lens. Featuring a maximum shooting magnification of 0.5x, the lens can shoot macro photography of subjects such as flowers, food and even insects. The lens also utilizes a CIPA standard of 5 stops of IS and is compatible with Hybrid IS, compensating for both angular and shift camera shake.

New Speedlite Series
Canon is also introducing a new compact and lightweight Speedlite, the EL-100. Designed for photographers who are just beginning to use an external flash or are in need of a secondary unit, the new Speedlite delivers both soft and natural lighting reproduction. In addition, the EL-100 can rotate upwards and to the left and right enabling photographers to bounce the flash off of nearby ceilings, walls or surfaces.

Availability and Pricing
The Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM will be available in October 2018 for an estimated retail price of $2299. The Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM, RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM and RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM will all be available for purchase in December 2018 for an estimated retail price of $2999, $1099 and $499.99 respectively.

The Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R will be available for purchase in October 2018 for an estimated retail price of $99.99 and $199.99 respectively. The Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R will all be available for purchase in February 2019 for an estimated retail price of $399.99 with a variable ND filter or $299.99 with a circular polarizing filter.

The Canon Speedlite EL-100 will be available for purchase in October 2018 for an estimated retail price of $199.99.