(Pocket-lint) – On 5 September 2018, Canon introduced a serious new product to its line-up: the EOS R full-frame mirrorless. In so doing the Japanese firm created a complete new lens line-up: EOS RF.
What EOS RF lenses can be found?
Again in 2018 there have been simply 4 EOS RF lenses accessible, however because the vary has expanded significantly. All lenses on this vary are designed to cowl the R’s full-frame sensor measurement – every has a 54mm diameter and 12-pin RF mount – however do not confuse the EOS M cameras collection, which have smaller APS-C sensor sizes and use EF-M lenses.
Not like full-frame EF lenses, as utilized in Canon DSLR cameras, the corporate’s RF lenses are designed to cater for the shorter 20mm flange again distance of the EOS R mirrorless system. This opens up new imaging and determination resolve potentialities at a smaller scale than DSLR equivalents. However they arrive with typically appreciable asking costs.
Here is the present EOS RF lens line-up on the time of writing:
Primes:
- RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
- RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
- RF 85mm f/1.2L USM
- RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS
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Prime Lengthy Focal Size:
- RF 800mm f/11 STM
- RF 600mm f/11 IS STM
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Zooms:
- RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
- RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
- RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
- RF 28-70mm f/2L USM
- RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
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Macro:
- RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
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What do these acronyms imply?
There’s a complete lot of acronyms in amongst that, so this is what they stand for:
- USM = Extremely Silent Motor
- As its identify suggests, that is nice for quiet focus and/or zoom operation
- STM = Stepper Motor
- Invariably noisier than the pricier USM, as above
- IS = picture stabilisation
- Effectiveness varies per lens
- DS = Defocus Smoothing
- A lens coating for portrait lenses, which additional softens the bokeh
- L = Luxurious
- The white Canon lenses, with superior optical high quality
All EF lenses by way of adaptor
In UK and Europe, the EOS R solely ships with an EF lens adaptor included within the field. Canon’s hope right here is that present DSLR prospects can be happy all its present EF and EF-S lenses can be appropriate from the off.
We, nevertheless, learn it as a bend in confidence: if the brand new RF lenses are so nice, then why not merely provide the choice to incorporate the adaptor or not? It may be purchased individually, nevertheless, which is equally perplexing (who will want two?).
What of Canon’s future? EF-M, EF-S, EF and RF
The opposite consideration with RF is that it is pitched on the high-end; Canon already has a mirrorless vary, the EOS M, which is designed for the patron market and there isn’t any cross-over between the 2. Mirrorless does not imply direct compatibility: EF-M will not perform with RF and there isn’t any adaptor accessible.
The large query, actually, is what the EOS R meant for the way forward for Canon? Again in 2018, when the EF lens line-up was 31 years into life, the Japanese firm was eager to indicate ongoing help – even launching the world’s lightest 400mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4 lenses for EF mount. However that was little greater than a gesture, actually, as of 2020 Canon has known as time on EF lenses, confirming that its mirrorless market is its sole future intent.
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Writing by Mike Lowe. Originally published on .
