Canon Releases RF 50mm f/1.8 and 70-200mm f/4 Lenses and PIXMA PRO-200 Printer

Canon is appealing to serious everyday photographers with the launch of two compact and versatile lenses for its full-frame mirrorless system, along with a new 13" inkjet photo printer. The RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM and RF 50mm f/1.8 STM lenses both represent smaller and lighter-weight alternatives to the top-of-the-line lenses and prioritize sleeker designs for all-day handheld use. And for high-end photo printing from home, the PIXMA PRO-200 is the newest-generation inkjet printer featuring an updated 8-color ink system and a more intuitive interface.

RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Characterized by its sleeker design and fine-tuned optics, the RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is a fresh take on a popular telephoto zoom. It’s slower than the f/2.8 version, sure, but this f/4 makes up for it with an impressively lightweight and compact design, weighing just 1.5 lb and measuring less than 5" long. Its constant f/4 maximum aperture also contributes to the svelte design, and a 5-stop effective Optical Image Stabilizer helps to control camera shake. Additionally, this 70-200mm still retains its L-series designation and is weather sealed for use in harsh conditions.

The 70-200mm lens is a popular choice for events, portraiture, and even sports shooting, and it covers an incredibly useful range of telephoto focal lengths for various circumstances. Optically, this 70-200mm doesn’t skimp on specialized glass; featuring four ultra-low-dispersion (UD) elements, chromatic aberrations and color fringing are well controlled for high clarity and color accuracy. An Air Sphere Coating has been applied, too, to suppress flare for greater contrast when working in strong light. Complementing the optics, this zoom also sports a Dual Nano USM focusing system, which promotes fast and quiet focusing performance for photo and video needs.

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RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

An essential if ever there was one, the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is Canon’s latest take on the compact and versatile “nifty fifty” lens. Updated for the full-frame mirrorless system, this new normal-length prime features a revised optical design and optimized coatings for high sharpness, clarity, and accurate rendering. An STM autofocus system also promotes fast and quiet performance to suit multimedia needs.

The compact 50mm lens has long been one of those go-to lenses for a variety of shooting needs. Its normal focal length suits everything from street shooting to landscape to portraiture, and the f/1.8 maximum aperture strikes an ideal balance between a compact design and being bright enough for available light shooting. Even if you’re primarily a zoom shooter, the 50mm f/1.8 has a place in every bag as the sleeker alternative for fun walkaround photography.

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PIXMA PRO-200

Perfect for the home office or studio, Canon has also released the next-generation PIXMA PRO-200, an update to the immensely popular 13" wireless inkjet photo printer. The PRO-200 utilizes a new 8-color dye-based ink system for rich, vibrant, and accurate color handling that is suitable for fine art printing applications. Borderless printing is possible from 3.5 x 3.5" up to 13 x 19", and custom-size printing up to 13 x 39" is possible for panoramic output. The printer also supports both wired connections, using either Ethernet or USB, or wireless printing over Wi-Fi for easy integration into your home workspace.

As a printer designed for at-home use, its small footprint is suitable for desktop placement, and an intuitive 3.0" color LCD is featured on the front of the printer for quickly checking ink levels and printer status messages. Beyond improved quality, the PRO-200 also received a speed boost, and is now capable of outputting bordered 8 x 10" prints in just 53 seconds or bordered A3+ prints in 90 seconds. Also, it’s compatible with Canon’s Professional Print & Layout Software for a seamless printing workflow.

What are your thoughts on Canon’s newest releases? Are you looking forward to this new 70-200mm f/4 or are you more of a nifty fifty shooter? And let us know what you think about the new PIXMA PRO-200 inkjet and at-home printing in general, in the Comments section, below.