Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM and 70-200mm f/4L IS Now Available in RF Lineup
Canon has announced the 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM and the 50mm f/1.8 STM lenses for the RF mount, making for a now rather robust 19 native lens options for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system.
“As Canon began to further build out the company’s RF lens portfolio, the goal in mind was to create advanced lenses, for a variety of experience levels, that also featured a sense of familiarity for longtime Canon users,” said Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group.
Creatives love using a 50mm lens because that focal length is similar to the natural viewpoint of the human field of vision. This perspective allows for the lens to be used in a wide variety of shooting situations, including portraits, landscapes and food photography. What’s more, Canon 50mm f/1.8 lenses have long been a popular tool for both photographers and creators due to their budget-friendly price point, extremely compact and lightweight form factor, and versatility.
The tradition continues with the RF50mm F1.8 STM that, in many ways, is improved over its EF counterpart. The first visually noticeable improvement is the customizable control ring that has become synonymous with RF lenses. The control ring allows photographers to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture, or ISO and with a flip of the side switch can adjust focus. The inclusion of a PMO aspherical lens helps to reduce chromatic aberration and provides high-image-quality even at the periphery of the image. Additionally, the combination of the lens shape and Super Spectra Coating (SSC) helps to minimize ghosting and flaring.
Here some sample pictures from Canon:
Additional features of the Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM lens include:
- Six lens elements in five groups
- 12-pin communication system
- Minimum focusing distance of 0.98ft and a maximum magnification of 0.25x
- Up to 7 stops of Shake Correction with EOS R Series cameras with In-Body Image Stabilizer
The Canon RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM lens is ideal for photography enthusiasts ranging from advanced amateur to professional skill levels. The compact and lightweight nature of the lens makes it Canon’s shortest and lightest 70-200mm F4 zoom lens to date. This RF lens is approximately 32 percent shorter and 11 percent lighter than its EF counterpart with a large portion of the lens element arrangement closer to the camera body. This arrangement is designed to provide photographers with a more balanced feel and experience even at the zoom range’s telephoto end. Additionally, the shorter and lighter design allows the lens to more easily be stowed away in a camera bag when not in use.
The RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM features two independent Nano USM motors, providing an even greater level of high-speed autofocus for still image shooting as well as quiet and smooth autofocus for video shooting. The lens also incorporates a floating focus control that drives the two lens groups individually while using the two aforementioned Nano USM motors. The floating focus lens element shortens the focusing distance and helps reduce breathing, providing users with fast, consistent and reliable performance.
Here some sample pictures from Canon:
Additional features of the Canon RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM lens include:
- 16 lens elements in 11 groups, including four UD lenses, that help to reduce chromatic aberration
- Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5 Stops of shake correction
- Up to 7.5 stops of shake correction with coordinated control of Optical Image Stabilizer and In-Body Image Stabilizer
- Three stabilizer modes
- Customizable control ring that allows photographers to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture, or ISO
- 12-pin communication system
- L-Series dust and weather-resistant build with a fluorine coating
- Minimum focusing distance of 1.97 feet and a maximum magnification of 0.28x
- Air Sphere Coating (ASC) that helps minimize lens flare and ghosting
The Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens will retail for $1,599 USD and it should be shipping soon.
The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens retails for $199 USD and it will also be available soon.
More info on Canon’s website.