Canon announces 5 full-frame mirrorless L lenses, including an 85mm f/1.2, plus a 24-240mm superzoom
In addition to launching the Canon EOS RP, the manufacturer has doubled down on its full-frame mirrorless system by announcing six new RF mount lenses – five of which are L-series optics, providing serious firepower for the new camera and its bigger brother, the Canon EOS R.
The lenses are, with the exception of the DS and non-L lens, RF reincarnations of their existing EF mount forebears.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM
This will be a seriously desirable lens for portraiture. Like the RF 50mm f/1.2, expect it to be a piece of “glory glass” that acts as a showcase for the strengths of the system.
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS
Quite a surprise, this, as it seems Canon is releasing another soft focus lens, which is a boutique product these days. We expect that the (now-standard) control ring will act as the traditional defocus ring to control the foreground and background bokeh.
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM
An RF version of everyone’s favourite all-purpose tool, complete with an f/2.8 aperture that makes it ideal for everything from portraits to landscapes to events.
Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
Another versatile zoom that will service all your wide-angle needs from landscapes and architecture to interior photography.
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
The must-have lens for many pros, this is a formidable optic for professional portraits as well as sport and wildlife photographers. This RF version appears to be significantly shorter than the EF version, looking proportionally much closer to the EF 70-300mm lens.
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Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM
The only non L-series lens on the list, the stabilised RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM superzoom is incredibly compact – it looks about the same size as the Canon EF-S 18-135mm. Due to its size it will make an ideal travel lens, and Canon is pitching it as the perfect companion for the equally-compact EOS RP.
Canon RF lens roadmap
Canon RF lens roadmap
These new lenses bring Canon’s grand total of full-frame mirrorless lenses to ten, including last year’s RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, RF 50mm f/1.2L USM, RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM and RF 28-70mm f/2L USM.
The question is, with eight of these ten lenses being pro-grade L-series glass, when will Canon release a professional version of the EOS R that befits them? The ground is certainly being laid for a high-end version, so it’s just a matter of time…
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
