New Canon RF ultrawides coming in April - available to pre-order now!

[West Coast Birder]

RF 14mm f/1.4 L VCM for $2599.

That's an eyewatering price. Would be great for widefield astrophotography for sure.

RF 7-14mm f/2.8-3.5 L Fisheye STM for $1899!

I don't know - that's a lot of simoleons for a trick lens with a variable aperture. Wow. You can pick up a used EF 8-15 F/4 for half that price.

I guess somebody is forking out the moolah for these RF lenses at these prices.

Avaiable for pre-order now at the usual places.

 

[marcial4]

14mm it's hard to compose, I can't imagine a 7 mm in FF. The 14mm prime should be an option to me if I do astrophotography!.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Yeah, I thought a 14/2.8 was more than enough. I guess the 14/1.4 would be great for astro work.

 

[marcial4]

Yeah, I thought a 14/2.8 was more than enough. I guess the 14/1.4 would be great for astro work.

I watched the canon release video in youtube at moab desert and yes, looks great for astro work, but if I have to get one for those kind of shots I don't if I would choose the 14mm over a 24mm for example.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Thanks, Marcial! Had to go find the video.

Here’s Rudy Winston talking about the 14/1.4.

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[West Coast Birder]

And here’s one from Canon Asia about the fisheye:

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[ShipleyNW]

Well, this could be good news.

I'm kind of a fisheye fan. I've owned a couple of cheap circular fisheyes and they're fun to use, even if they're a pain in the butt. That makes it pleasantly challenging.

Just recently, in the last week or so, I got a little bug about getting an EF 8-15mm fisheye that shoots both circular and rectilinear. That lens is considered fisheye royalty. Used, on average, they run about $1000, which is way out of my budget. But you do occasionally see them for $600 or so, but even that's a little pricey for as much use as I'd get from it.

Now we have news that a new RF fisheye is out and it's getting a lot of press. Maybe EF owners will consider an upgrade to the RF version and flood the market with the older copy. That's my GAS wheelhouse. First one I see for $400 will belong to me.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Ken, have you considered the Samyang fisheye? It is not circular fisheye but pretty “fishy.” It’s manual focus which is not an issue for this kind of lens. I think it’s about $300 new. We have a thread for it in the lens archive section.

Thread 'Samyang 12mm F2.8 Ultra Wide Fisheye Official Image Thread'
https://focus-on-photography-forum....-ultra-wide-fisheye-official-image-thread.79/

 

[West Coast Birder]

Reminds me, I need to populate the Samyang fisheye thread with more photos!

 

[marcial4]

Another video about the RF 14 1.4L

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[Mr Roboto]

Seems Canon has been developing a lot of specialized (low volume?) lenses during the last few years. Many are very expensive. Most are of no interest to me.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting/hoping for updated RF versions of the 300mm f/4, 400mm f/5.6, and 180mm macro. Imagine smaller, lighter versions with IS!
I bet those would sell great! But then again, I might be a bit biased

 

[ShipleyNW]

Seems Canon has been developing a lot of specialized (low volume?) lenses during the last few years. Many are very expensive. Most are of no interest to me.

I'm with you. Since they all but banned third-party lenses, Canon should focus on rebuilding the EF line in the RF format.

Sure, they've got new RF fisheye and VR lenses, and I'm sure a $3000 periscope lens for street photography is on the way. But where's my 70-300 f/4-5.6L or an EF-S 15-85mm equivalent? Those lenses, even back when 5.6 was considered slow, were daily drivers in my EF kits. But at least now I can get an 800mm f/22, or whatever. Seems like lately I'm looking through old Spiratone catalogs, except that Spiratone stuff was cheap and, of course, illegal per Canon corporate.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Pretty much everything in the RF L line is well north of $2K. And $1900 seems like an insane price for a fisheye lens.

 

[joayne]

Sam.. do you think tariffs have some impact on pricing now?

 

[West Coast Birder]

Sam.. do you think tariffs have some impact on pricing now?

I’m sure it doesn’t help.

Also, I am going to check out the camera shops when I’m in Japan. With the strong dollar, I might be able to pick up some bargains.

 

[joayne]

Sounds like a good idea Sam!
I'd love to shop the used stuff too!

 

[ShipleyNW]

Pretty much everything in the RF L line is well north of $2K. And $1900 seems like an insane price for a fisheye lens.

Maybe that's where the money in the industry is now. Exotic lenses for the Leica class.

But you'd think volume sales would still matter. The RF 24-105/4 goes for $1400 and I bet 60% of Canon users own one, and the users who don't probably own a different version of that lens as there are both upscale and downscale options. The only people who don't own one of those are the prime-lens freaks who won't own a zoom of any kind. (And if they only own 1 zoom, it's probably a 24-105.) I can't believe there's no money to be made selling quality universal products at a reasonable price.

 

[LCPete]

Seems Canon has been developing a lot of specialized (low volume?) lenses during the last few years. Many are very expensive. Most are of no interest to me.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting/hoping for updated RF versions of the 300mm f/4, 400mm f/5.6, and 180mm macro. Imagine smaller, lighter versions with IS!
I bet those would sell great! But then again, I might be a bit biased

A 180 macro would be awesome would only need to be F5.6
I know the Canon EF 180 is a good lens but would be handy to have a modern version with fast focusing

 

[Mr Roboto]

A 180 macro would be awesome would only need to be F5.6
I know the Canon EF 180 is a good lens but would be handy to have a modern version with fast focusing

Yes! The 3 lenses I mentioned were all "L" lenses so a modern refresh with weatherproofing, lighter elements, smaller construction, faster AF, up-to-date IS... OMG those would be killer to add to any nature photographer's backpack!

It's ok to daydream...

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'll never own that 14mm, but I am just amazed at it's shape. It's long and not very big around. I was just expected something with a bigger front element.