The excitement to see an upcoming lens or gear is often high, with many rumors swirling around prior to its imminent release. And why should they not? After all, new equipment might just be what a photographer is waiting to complete their arsenal. Thus, it’s not surprising when people inquire or participate in discussions pertaining to Canon’s newest lens, the RF 70-200mm. For months, we have been getting breadcrumbs of information, but now, it seems that Canon has smartly begun its indirect or discreet marketing.
According to Canon Rumors‘ report, an individual spotted the much-discussed lens at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Raed Krishan shared the first glimpse, and you’d be amazed to see that it’s not what you had imagined it to be. An obvious update of the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM that was launched in 2019; the lens has a black body, unlike the usual white one. The latter color was designed by Canon to resist the absorbance of heat.
For the unversed, this is a huge deal, as the 2019 version was the first Canon to ditch its internal zoom. The controversy was aplenty, as the lens was an answer to the renowned EF trinity. As a result, this 70-200mm was incompatible with RF teleconverters. However, in our review by Editor Chris Gampat, the lens performed exceedingly well in various parameters and even earned the Editor’s Choice Award.
And now, the new lens that Krishan spotted seems to be for the company’s ‘Z’ line-up. This is a hybrid category by Canon that specifically caters to videos. The ‘Z’ stands for ‘power zoom’, as the lens is consistent with the company’s PowerZoom adapters, which is useful for smooth zoom functioning while recording a clip. Such lenses also feature a ‘clickless aperture ring’ for stepless aperture adjustment.
So far, Canon has only one lens in its new line-up: the RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z. If this report is true, we will receive the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z. As videos become a great part of our everyday lives, Canon, too, seems to ensure that its pro lenses cater to both art forms.
Now, what do we deduce from witnessing the new lens? Since the zoom is over 135mm, the lens doesn’t elongate, meaning it is likely to feature an internal zoom. However, the lens will likely feel bulkier than its other RF version counterparts. A large lens also means a bigger aperture, but we don’t know for sure whether we get F2.8 or F1.4. The latter, for certain, will make things quite thrilling.
While EF lenses were the best for many photographers, the change to RF meant one had to use the newer generation of lenses. In fact, our Editor even wrote an exciting article about which EF lenses should be adopted by the RF mount. For instance, the EF 8-15mm fisheye “could take care of so much that photographers need.” Even the 50mm F1, one of the oldest and hard-to-use lenses, could make a comeback, a competitor to Nikon’s super expensive Noct.
We have yet to see what the RF mount offers photographers with the new 70-200mm and whether it is compatible with teleconverters. Perhaps your wait will be over sooner than you think.