With its mirrorless RF system beginning to mature, Canon spent 2022 adding some more distinct optics to the lineup, as well as beginning to lay the foundation for an APS-C-specific series of lenses. The brand has reached a unique place with its mirrorless portfolio this year, and has hit the thirty-lens milestone, where the lineup feels well-rounded enough for most professional and hobbyist demands, although there are still some missing pieces for more specialized applications.
RF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM and RF 1200mm f/8 L IS USM
At the beginning of 2022, Canon addressed professional sports and wildlife photographers’ needs with a pair of super telephoto primes: the RF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM and RF 1200mm f/8 L IS USM lenses. Unquestionably long and sporting some of the most advanced optics around, these two lenses really show off what Canon is capable of when there are few to no restrictions set on price and design. Considering they’re on the extreme end of the focal-length range, these aren’t going to be the most popular lenses in the Canon RF stable, but they are aspirational options that give Canon a unique edge for photographing significant sporting events or other important occasions from great distances, as well as enabling wildlife photography in more dynamic ways.
|
|
RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
Coinciding with the release of the EOS R7 and EOS R10 cameras, the RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM are Canon’s first two RF-S lenses and the start of APS-C-specific lenses for the RF mirrorless system, in general. Looking beyond the fact that these are just two kit lenses—giving you the option of a smaller lens with a tighter zoom range or a larger lens with a longer zoom range—these zooms signal Canon’s intention to make RF mirrorless more accessible to photographers outside of advanced amateurs and professionals. These lenses prioritize compactness and versatility; they’re great single-lens solutions for travel shooters and are perfectly positioned for casual photo and video shooting in a variety of situations. Even if these specific lenses are not the most exciting, the precedent for Canon to move into APS-C-specific designs that are smaller purpose-built is noteworthy and signals there will likely be more unique options to which we can look forward.
|
|
RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
For those who wanted a compact ultrawide, like last year’s RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, but with image stabilization and close-focusing capabilities, like the RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, Canon released the enticing RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM. It’s a wonderfully versatile lens that checks off numerous boxes for different kinds of shooters: it’s wide enough for landscapes, architecture, and astrophotography, as well as perfect for vlogging; it’s fast enough for shallow depth-of-field control but is still lightweight and compact enough for handheld shooting; it’s a 1:2 macro lens, meaning close-up shooting is one of this lens’s strengths; and its image stabilization feels like the cherry on top, helping to alleviate camera shake and blurry shots when shooting in low light. Considering its ultra-wide focal length, this 24mm f/1.8 is surprisingly one of the most well-rounded primes in Canon’s RF lineup.
RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Announced alongside the 24mm f/1.8, the RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM feels sort of like Canon traded in the speed of a prime for the flexibility of a zoom. Covering a range of ultra-wide focal lengths, this lens is a great option for architectural and interior photographers who are photographing different-sized buildings or spaces on the same day—in practical terms, it could be the go-to option for travelers on a sightseeing tour who may encounter anything from the exterior of a grand monument to the interior of a quaint and historic home on the same day. It, too, has image stabilization to help steady your shots and the STM autofocus is great for those working in photo and video mediums.
Overall, for 2022, this year felt like a preparatory time in which Canon set the stage for future camera and lens developments. This year’s lens releases have been great and welcomed, but not overly surprising. In some ways, it feels like Canon has been crossing off the lenses the company needed to make, which is a welcomed strategy, considering the cameras Canon has also been releasing. On the other hand, it makes it that much more interesting to see what Canon has up its sleeve for the upcoming few years.
What are your thoughts on Canon’s 2022 lens releases? And what are you hoping to see from this brand next? Discuss it in the Comments section, below.
13 Comments
Canon should be quicker on RF Lens releases especially if they're not interested with 3rd party support at the moment. I believed that since they have released the R6 II quicker than expected they should ramp up their lens releases more so.
Fingers crossed we'll see more lenses from them in 2023. I think, especially with the releases of the R7, R10, and R6 II (cameras that are not targeting a professional user), that we're bound to see more lenses built specifically for these smaller, lighter cameras.
The compact prime lineup is taking shape really nicely… 24, 35, ___, 85… for years Canon shooters have been expecting an update to the 50mm f/1.4, and I think a 50mm f/1.4 with the sharpness, CA control, and the .5x semi-macro of the others (and a step up from the f/1.8) would be a huge seller.
I would especially appreciate an update in EF mount so I can use it on all my cameras, from film up to the R5.
Unfortunately I don't think Canon will be making too many updates to their EF lineup anymore; I believe their lens releases will be all geared toward the RF/RF-S platform going forward. The existing EF lenses will still be great options for everything from mirrorless (when adapter) to DSLR to film SLR, but the RF lenses simply don't have the flange focal distance to be usable on SLR cameras.
All good points- I agree that a strong 50mm f/1.4 that balances optics and size/weight would be a good option to round out the RF prime lineup for now. I think it'd make a great single lens option for a lot of shooters, too.
Still waiting for a basic 50 mm f/1.4 RF prime to fill the gigantic price gap between the inexpensive 50 f/1.8 and the heavy, overpriced 50 f/1.2L. Having a 1:2 "semi-macro" focussing range wouldn't hurt either. The 50mm 1.4 EF (from 1993) design dates back to it's 1971 FD roots. Time for a completely new design to match today's high-resolution sensors.
I agree with this; hopefully it's something we'll see from Canon soon. I think it's critical for them to do a good job with these staple primes, so hopefully the delay just means that whenever it does come out, it'll be the best 50mm f/1.4 from them yet.
I REALLY want to add a tilt-shift lens to my kit but I am afraid that if I pick up the EF TS-E 24mm 3.5 II, Canon will release an RF version and my EF will plummet in value. Some of the Canon rumor mongers claimed that Canon would release a 24MM T-S for mirrorless in 2022...but that seems to be a stretch now.
It is exactly what I think it may happen.
I'm also considering selling or trading my 90D & all my EF lenses, especially my EF 11-24mm which I am afraid of Canon not making a RF version of it.
While we're unsure of Canon's plans for upcoming lenses, too, I wouldn't be too worried about them eventually releasing an ultra-wide zoom along the lines of the EF 11-24mm f/4L (there is the RF 14-35mm f/4 L already that's admittedly a bit longer on the wide end). It depends on how long you could wait without it; personally, I'd hold onto your favorite lenses for the time being and adapt them to an R body with the EF-EOS R Mount Adapter until there's a suitable RF replacement for them.
"personally, I'd hold onto your favorite lens s for the time being and adapt them to an R body with the EF-EOS R Mount Adapter until there's a suitable RF replacement for them."
First of all, thanks for your meaningful response!
"On the other hand, could wait without it; personally, I'd hold onto your favorite lenses or the time being and adapt them to an R body with the EF-EOS R Mount Adapter until there's a suitable RF replacement for them."
It exactly what I did. In fact, purchased both Adapters, simply to be able to use drop in filters with it, which I always wanted to do.
I kept it, and not only that particular lens but everything, using the 90D almost exclusively to walk around shooting in Monochrome mode.
Once again thank you so very much!
Happy & healthy New Year to you and yours!
Unfortunately we don't have any information on an upcoming tilt-shift lens for RF, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see it coming sometime soon (relatively speaking). It's clear that Canon is building out their system for all sorts of professional use, and a tilt-shift lens is right up there with super-telephotos in terms of practical and needed optics for working shooters. In terms of use right now, though, a TS-E will still be a fine lens when adapted to RF; all electronic communication will be maintained and it's not like you'd be losing out on AF performance with a lens like that.