Canon has beefed up its line of RF lenses for its mirrorless cameras such as the R5 and R6, with the launch of no less than three new lenses; the Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4L IS USM.
Let’s start with the RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, which Canon explains is not only Canon’s first RF lens designed specifically for macro photography, but also the world’s first medium telephoto macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1.4x.
Features on the new macro lens include the introduction of a spherical aberration (SA) control ring, which enables the SA control ring to change the character and appearance of the bokeh and obtain a softer focus effect with a simple turning of the ring along with Image Stabilisation technology that offers up to five-stops of compensation. There’s also a customisable control ring that allows photographers to adjust settings such as exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture or ISO and as a L-series lens, the RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM benefits from a dust and water resistant design.
Next up are two premium prime telephoto lenses in the shape of the RF400mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM, which Canon explains are ‘both designed to be optically identical to their EF counterparts’ and will be suitable for professional sports and wildlife photography.
Both the RF400mm and RF600mm are compatible with Canon’s 1.4x and 2x RF extenders and weigh in at 6.37 and 6.81 pounds respectively. The RF400mm features a minimum focusing distance of 8.2 feet, while the RF 600mm can offer 13.8 feet and both lenses feature Image Stabilisation Technology that affords the users up to 5.5-stops of compensation. Additional shared features on the RF400mm and RF600mm include Super Spectra Coating (SSC), and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to help minimise ghosting and flaring along with fluorite and super UD lens elements to help correct chromatic aberration.
Also present is the familiar Canon heat-reflecting white finish, two focus presets so photographers can instantly return to one of two memorised focus distances and both lenses feature a nine-blade circular aperture to create impressive bokeh.
The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, Canon RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM are scheduled to be available in July with estimated price-tags of $1,399/£1,479.99, $11,999/£12,449 and $12,999/£13,409, respectively.