Will the long-awaited RF 35mm L make its appearance soon?

[West Coast Birder]

So much chatter earlier in the year of the RF 35L being released before the end of 2023 but it looks pretty unlikely now. Since Photokina is no more and the Olympics being an unlikely occasion for a 35mm lens, I wonder when this long-awaited missing element in Canon's RF lineup going to show up. And the key question - will it be F/1.2?

But seriously, as fast as Canon has been filling out the RF lens portfolio, it is a bit light at the low end as far as L glass is concerned. Of course, we have plenty of good non-L options at the low end but as photography enthusiasts with a divine right to spend our hard-earned cash, the red ring is where it's at. Below is the full list of Canon's RF offerings (leaving out the oddball dual fisheye):

Primes:
RF50mm F1.2 L USM
RF85mm F1.2 L USM
RF85mm F1.2 L USM DS
RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM
RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM
RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF600mm F4 L IS USM
RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM Lens
RF1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens

Zooms:
RF10-20mm F4 L IS STM (EF 11-24 F4
RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
RF15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM
RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z
RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM
RF70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

As far as primes are concerned, compared to the EF lineup, we are missing the RF equivalent to the EF 14/2.8 and the big whites in the 300mm and 500mm focal lengths. On the zoom front, things are looking pretty good. Pretty much the entire range is covered except for the fisheye range. The 200-500, when it is available, gets honorable mention even though it isn't L glass, and should nicely supplement the lineup and be a wildlife favorite. With the 14-35mm F/4 available and at 540g, considerably lighter than the EF 16-35 F/4, an RF 14/2.8 is probably not very high on Canon's priorities as it probably appeals mostly to relatively niche applications like widefield astro photography.

But the 35mm is a true benchmark. It is one of the holy trinity of primes and its absence is truly significant. Surely, Canon sees this and I think that this is probably one of Canon's top priorities. What do you guys think?

 

[Tats]

I was waiting on this, as my latest way to burn money was to upgrade my EF 35 1.4L from back in 2012. Still thinking about options if this doesn't get announced soon.

 

[i-G12]

So I need the 35L for the 1.4 of 1.2?

I’m still trying to process needing the 14-35 F/4

 

[theague]

So I need the 35L for the 1.4 of 1.2?

I’m still trying to process needing the 14-35 F/4

I'm assuming the f/4 makes it cheaper than the 15-35 f/2.8? So it is a cheaper lense for people that don't need the speed. Similar to the EF 17-40 vs the faster 16-35.

 

[96whiteknight]

1.2 pretty much confirmed, it sounds like!

https://www.canonrumors.com/canon-rf-35mm-f-1-2l-usm-confirmed-for-2024-cr3/

 

[theague]

weird the patent info says 34mm. Is that a typo or do I not understand how lenses work? lol

 

[gmcphotographics]

It’s 155mm long!?!

 

[96whiteknight]

weird the patent info says 34mm. Is that a typo or do I not understand how lenses work? lol

The new RF 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM patent says it's actually going to be a 72.12mm-194.03mm with a max aperture of 2.9. They always round to the nearest better number. Ha!

 

[theague]

The new RF 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM patent says it's actually going to be a 72.12mm-194.03mm with a max aperture of 2.9. They always round to the nearest better number. Ha!

I was referring to this info you linked to:

 

[milo]

there is no info on the actual product ... the information shown is a past patent from canon

 

[West Coast Birder]

there is no info on the actual product ... the information shown is a past patent from canon

There is no official word yet from Canon on an RF 35 L. All we have are hopes and wishes at the moment.

 

[96whiteknight]

I was referring to this info you linked to:

Yes, I know. Key phrase was, "They always round to the nearest better number". lol

 

[theague]

Yes, I know. Key phrase was, "They always round to the nearest better number". lol

i totally missed that lol, 35 is a way better number than 34 lol

 

[strobemonkey]

So, will there be anRF35L soon?

 

[West Coast Birder]

So, will there be anRF35L soon?

Soon? Who knows. We hope there will be something in 2024. But there has not been any official word from Canon.

 

[gmcphotographics]

So, will there be anRF35L soon?

What's wrong with the current EF 35mm f1.4 II L?
Canon's optical formula have clearly shown that the RF version will not be any smaller, lighter or sharper than the EF version with adpater already is. The rumours seem to suggest that Canon is slow to release this lens because the current EF version has very little to improve upon. The RF 85mm f1.2 L and RF 135mm F1.8 were different in that regard, clear upgraded features. It's unclear if this lens will be a F1.4 or f1.2 design. An f1.2 design is going to be larger and heavier for only 1/3rd of a stop on an optic that doesn't really need to be f1.2.
Given that some of the top tier Rf lenses have only matched (and not surpassed) their top tier EF lens counterpart's optical perfomances, one must ask if this is aworthy upgrade and worth the $2.5K spend for something that is pretty much the same thing, except that it's a native RF mount lens.
Examples of this are the RF 24-105 F4 LIS, the RF 24-70 f2.8 LIS.From a sharpness perspective and focal range, they are pretty much identical to the EF versions. Sharpness similarities between the EF 100-400mm f5.6 II L and the RF 100-500 f7.1 LIS are obvious too.
In fact some of the EF glass is actually superior to the current RF glass. Look at the MFT charts for the RF 600mm f4.0 or the RF 400mm f2.8 LIS and compare them to the EF mk II versions.
While the new RF 100-300mm f2.8 LIS looks like an amazing optic with increadible versatility, it pales next to the sharpness of the EF 300mm f2.8 II L prime.

I respectfully suggest to you that you have an illogical and unreasonable EF mount anxiety.

 

[strobemonkey]

@gmcphotographics, I don't know about the other other EF lenses you mentioned as I have not handled them. But the new RF 50 f1.2 and RF 85 f1.2, are clearly sharper than their older EF brothers. The chromatic aberrations on both EF lenses are also gone on the RF version. I know both EF 24-70L and 24-105L have chromatic aberrations too, I used to own them but never really liked them. I am patiently waiting for the RF 35L f1.2 or f1.4, doesn't matter to me. But if I find the EF at a price I can't resist, I might buy one.

 

[gmcphotographics]

@gmcphotographics, I don't know about the other other EF lenses you mentioned as I have not handled them. But the new RF 50 f1.2 and RF 85 f1.2, are clearly sharper than their older EF brothers. The chromatic aberrations on both EF lenses are also gone on the RF version. I know both EF 24-70L and 24-105L have chromatic aberrations too, I used to own them but never really liked them. I am patiently waiting for the RF 35L f1.2 or f1.4, doesn't matter to me. But if I find the EF at a price I can't resist, I might buy one.

Yes, those weren't the shaprest of lenses. The EF 50mm f1.2 L had a lot of AF issues and the point of focus would shift depending on what apaerture one uesed. The EF 85mm f1.2 II L was an amazing but very old lens. It's optical formla dates back to the dawn of AF. So they were easy items for Canon to upgrade. It's rare to hear of anyone complaining about the sharpness of the EF 135mm f2.0 L, however Canon made a heavier and larger version with IS and a 1/3rd stop of extra brightness. The EF 24mm f1.4 II L has a lot of potential for worthy upgrade, the EF version is very old and not particularly sharp wide open. But the EF 35mm f1.4 II L is one of Canon's later finest primes. it's relatively modern design with superlative optics, there's just not a lot to make better. Technology hasn't moved on much since the EF 35mm f1.4 II L pushed the curve from the mk I.
The EF 24-70mm f2.8 II L is a fine optic and gives pretty much the same performance as the newer and more expensive RF version. I prefer the quirks and charector for the older mk1 EF version, but the sharpness of the mkII is astonishing.

 

[West Coast Birder]

The drumbeats are getting louder.... maybe we'll finally see this lens this summer!

Canon’s 2024 Roadmap, and the timeline surprised us [CR3]

Things have been eerily quite in the land of Canon leading into the CP+ tradeshow later this month, and after my latest conversation with an accurate source, I think we know why. This source doesn’t…

www.canonrumors.com