A wide-aperture lens can be crucial for photographers. Not only will it give you better bokeh, but work wonders if you happen to make images in low light. Canon is one company that offers multiple such lenses in the range, but it appears that they wish to push boundaries as much as they can. Per new reports, the company is adding a new f2.8 lens. which will complete the holy trinity of budget-friendly wide aperture lenses.
Will it be a 70-200mm?
According to Canon Rumors, Canon may be preparing to launch a new 70-200mm lens with an f2.8 STM aperture. The company has introduced the RF 28-70mm f2.8 IS STM and the 16-28mm f2.8 IS STM, and now, they need a telephoto lens to complete the trinity. The lenses so far have a compact body and are lightweight, a feature that is important for a mirrorless system. While there is no confirmation from sources yet, it is possible that the 70-200mm lens will be the next option, or the company may follow the Tamron approach, which means the lens may not even reach 200mm. Tamron already offers a fan favourite, the 70-180mm, which we felt was “too short” for serious photographers.
Canon already offers multiple 70-200mm lenses, but they all cost over $1000:
- RF 70–200mm f2.8L IS USM – $2500
- RF 70–200mm f2.8L IS USM Z – $3300
- RF 70–200mm f4L IS USM – ~$1500
Other than the f2.8L IS USM, the other two lenses got three stars in our review. They are like any other standard L lenses, and in the case of the f4L, it did not have the same kind of bokeh. In that regard, with the other lenses being priced well above what many enthusiasts prefer, it appears that Canon is ready to fill that gap with a standard lens that can be used by both APS-C and full-frame photographers.
Can STM Motors Power a Telephoto Zoom?
In recent years, Canon’s STM system has undergone several improvements, including enhanced speed, accuracy, and compactness. The newer lenses are said to be more impressive, and models such as the 28–70mm showcased how the company is trying to achieve higher performance. In that regard, Canon is expected to deliver reliable autofocus, along with other benefits.
In fact, there are also APS-C users who get a longer focal range. This means a 70-200mm lens can work as a 112–320mm lens, which is ideal for wildlife and sports enthusiasts. However, the price has to be around $1,000, and not any higher than this. This will be a challenge, since the 28-70mm costs around $1,100. We have to wait and see what the company has in mind. Until then, keep an eye out for more.