Canon launches four new RF lenses – plus two RF extenders

Posted on Jul 21, 2020 by Pro Moviemaker

The new lenses bring telephoto capabilities to the RF line-up as well as additional portrait and macro photography creative possibilities

Alongside Canon’s launch of EOS R5 and EOS R6 – Canon Europe have revealed four new RF lenses and two RF extenders.

Joining the RF line-up is:

The RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM – an L-series telephoto zoom lens with a large focal length range, 5-stop IS, fast Dual Nano USMs, weather sealling and a Lens Control Ring for enhanced operation.
The RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 800mm F11 IS STM – include a focal length of 600mm and 800mm respectively. With super-telephoto focal lengths, full auto focus and image pprox.dsti capabilities, enthusiasts can take sharp imagery from afar. Paired with the new RF extenders – the Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x – the lenses can reach 1200mm (RF 600mm F11 IS STM) and 1600mm (RF 800mm F11 IS STM) optical focal length. This provides greater flexibility and whilst retaining AF. Such features makes them an ideal choice for a range of image capture – from wildlife to aviation and even moon photography.
The RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM – this wide-aperture portrait lens offers 5-stop Image Stabilisation (IS) (or 8-stops when using EOS R5/EOS R6) and macro capabilities – two unique features not seen in competitor lenses on the market.
The Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x – two high-performance and durable extenders with redesigned optics, created to expand the capabilities of the today launched RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM, RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 800mm F11 IS STM. Both extenders allow professionals to push focal length capabilities of compatible lenses, while maintaining the image quality and speed benefits of the RF Mount.

RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM

Leading the range of L-series RF telephoto zoom lenses, the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is ideal for capturing sport, wildlife and aviation. For those that want to go beyond a 100-500mm focal length range, the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is compatible with the new Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x.

With one Super UD lens and six UD lenses, the lens suppresses chromatic aberration and ghosting/flare across the entire zoom range for high-resolution, high-contrast image quality from maximum aperture. In addition to this, featuring 5-stop IS, or 6-stops when used with EOS R5 and EOS R6, the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM achieves improved and shake free images – for shooting handheld at long focal lengths or using slower shutter speeds.

Featuring Dual Nano USM AF motor technology, the telephoto zoom lens boasts accurate autofocus – for capturing wildlife and uninterrupted filming. What’s more, Canon’s floating focusing system allows for improved close focusing down to 0.9m.

As standard with the RF lenses, the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM features a programmable Lens Control Ring on the barrel, allowing photographers to change settings without taking their eye off the viewfinder. The adjustable torque zoom ring enables the zoom action to be made tighter or looser to suit the pprox.dst’s needs. Being a L-series lens, it also features Canon’s weather sealing, enabling the lens to be used in all conditions.

RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 800mm F11 IS STM

An affordable choice for enthusiast photographers, the RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 800mm F11 IS STM are new concept lenses offering super-telephoto focal lengths – allowing photographers to capture far away subjects in detail. With a minimum focusing distance of 4.5m (RF 600mm F11 IS STM) and 6m (RF 800mm F11 IS STM) enthusiasts can get close to subjects while maintaining focus.

The lenses capability to capture the action from afar with AF and IS capabilities is extended when used with the Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x. With such extenders, a number of focal lengths can be achieved – the longest being 1600m when the RF 800mm F11 IS STM is used with the Extender RF 2x.

Both lenses are equipped with an optical Image Stabiliser and also support Dual Pixel CMOS AF when paired with a Canon EOS R System mirrorless camera. This combination of features allows these super-telephoto lenses to deliver sharp images – even when shooting without a tripod or monopod – as motion blur caused by camera shake is reduced.

The lenses are examples of the possibilities of Canon’s RF Mount. Using Diffractive Optics, combined with the RF Mount and a fixed f/11 aperture, both lenses highlight Canon’s excellence in optical technology innovation. Having been re-thought and redesigned, both lenses are smaller and lighter compared to existing EF super telephoto lenses. Equipped with a retractable barrel structure, the lenses are extended in use and easily retracted to be stored neatly – ideal for travelling photographers who have minimal kitbag space.

With STM technology, both lenses offer smooth focusing – good for video recording, as the lens operation noise is kept at a minimum. Adding to its ease of use, the lens control ring on both the RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 800mm F11 IS STM gives enthusiasts direct and speedy control over Tv/exposure compensation/ISO/AF operation settings. The lens’ fixed aperture also provides a circular bokeh and their large focal length enables photographers to blur the background suffiently when photographing subjects in the distance.

RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM

For enthusiast portraiture photographers, with its 85mm focal length, the RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM is ideal for capturing shots with an attractive perspective and soft background. Coupling an f/2 aperture with full frame provides shallow depth of field – even in low-light conditions.

The RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM offers 5-stop IS (or 8-stops when using EOS R5/EOS R6) and enables enthusiasts to capture subjects at 50% life-size with its 1:2 macro shooting capability. Thanks to STM Autofocus, the RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM also achieves quick focus both in stills and video – making it a good choice for enthusiasts entering the world of mirrorless.

Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x

The Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x are for press, nature and sport photographers looking to capture subjects at great distance. Reliable and durable, these extenders match the performance of Canon’s RF lenses and, when used with compatible lenses, deliver images of uncompromised quality.

Both extenders use the high-refraction, low-dispersion glass to control curvature of field and chromatic aberration of magnification. They also feature an optimised lens coating and a three-layer combined lens to reduce ghosting. The extenders boast a heat shield coating to prevent performance deterioration in high temperatures and offer weather sealing when used with a compatible L-series RF lens. In addition to this, when used with the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, zoom range is limited to 300 to 500mm when the extender is connected to prevent the lens’s rear elements from hitting those of the extender.

Summary of key features

RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM Key Features:

100-500mm zoom range
One Super UD lens and six UD lenses
5-stops IS (CIPA standard)
Dual Nano USM
Assignable Len Control Ring
L-series weather sealing
Compatible with EXTENDER RF 1.4x / EXTENDER RF 2x (usable focal lengths, from 300 to 500mm)

RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 800mm F11 IS STM Key Features:

600mm (RF 600mm F11 IS STM) and 800mm (RF 800mm F11 IS STM) focal length
Image Stabilization (IS) up to (RF 600mm F11 IS STM: 5-stops, RF 800mm F11 IS STM: 4-stops)
STM Autofocus Technology
Lightweight (RF 600mm F11 IS STM: pprox.. 930g and RF 800mm F11 IS STM: pprox.. 1,260g)
Compact – equipped with barrel structure that extends in use and retracts when stored
Lens Control Ring – giving direct control over Tv/Exposure compensation/ISO settings
F11 aperture lens with IS with full AF when paired with a Canon EOS R camera

RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM Key Features: