Canon announces first RF macro lens, two super-telephotos, and a hint at something big

Anyone using or interested in the full-frame mirrorless RF system from Canon should be feeling the love today! The first true macro for the RF mount is slated for availability in May, to be followed by two professional super-telephoto lenses in July and an ultrapremium body “soon.” Read on for all the details, and (as always) be sure to get your pre-orders in ASAP at your local Mike’s Camera or on our website to avoid an awkward wait.

RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM

Not only is the RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM (100mm Macro for short) the first true macro lens for Canon’s mirrorless full-frame system, it can achieve a whopping 1.4x magnification, with fully-functional autofocus! You can fill the frame with subjects smaller than a dime (see sample images below). Built-in optical image stabilization will help you get clear shots, even when you’re focused that close, and the 5-stop IS rating is stackable with IBIS your camera may have. That means you can gain up to 8 stops of stabilization when using an EOS R5 or R6!

The 17-element floating-optics design and dual nano USM AF system are great features that enable the legendary quality of L-series lenses, but the real show-stopper here is an entirely new way to control your creative output. The “SA Control Ring” actually allows you to adjust spherical aberration in your image to alter the overall look and especially the character of the bokeh. It’s not often you see a whole new axis of control in photographic optics, so kudos to Canon for developing something unexpected! Watch the video above or look at the third and fourth images in the slideshow below for an idea of what SA Control can do.

Sample images

RF Super-Telephotos

Sports, wildlife, and adventure photographers: rejoice! The Big Boys have come to Canon RF. With this announcement, I suspect that when we start seeing more live events again, we’ll be seeing more R-series cameras on the sidelines. These two share numerous noteworthy features:

• Optically identical to their venerable EF counterparts (EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM & EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM)
• Nine-blade circular aperture for beautiful bokeh
• Compatible with RF 1.4x and 2x Extenders
• 5.5 stops of shake correction, with three modes of IS operation
• Super Spectra and Air Sphere Coatings minimize ghosting and flare
• Customizable electronic focus ring
• Two customizable focus presets allow for instant return to memorized distances
• Fluorine coating for easy cleaning
• Dust and water-resistant
• Support for drop-in filters

The RF 400mm’s closest focusing distance is 8.2 feet; for the RF 600mm it’s 13.78 feet. Sample images are below—I can’t get enough of that critter winking from within a tree!

RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM sample photos

RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM sample images

More to come…?

Canon also let slip a bit of a teaser—it would seem that, like Sony and Nikon, they are developing an ultra-premium full-frame mirrorless body for release “soon.” We don’t know much more than that it will be capable of capturing images at 30 fps, but we can infer from the professional body style that it will be sitting at the top of the line. Make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter so you don’t miss any further developments!