topic Re: 500 mm lens in EF & RF Lenses

500 mm lens

pokokarin — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 22:54:23 GMT

Is Canon going to be making a 500 mm lens like the new Nikon 500mm PF? I have Nikon firends that are raving about the sharpness and light features of this new product. I'm still carryng a heavy huge lens around with my 1DX2.

Re: 500 mm lens

kvbarkley — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 14:12:01 GMT

We have no idea. The closest is the EF 400 DO.

I suspect that any 500mm DO will be an RF mount.

Re: 500 mm lens

ebiggs1 — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 15:06:08 GMT

"Is Canon going to be making a 500 mm lens like the new Nikon..."

I have to agree, there will not likely be any new EF lens made. Just like FD, EF time has passed like it or not. I did not like it then and I don't like it now. The difference between now and back then is, I don't have to buy RF mount lenses.

Re: 500 mm lens

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 13:44:55 GMT

Nailed it!

Canon just released some DO 600 and 800(!) mm lenses for RF!

From Ken Rockwell:

"These two are the most innovative products announced today. Many of you, especially those of you who remember DSLRs whose finders would go dark and couldn't focus with slow lenses, may not realize how incredibly well the EOS-R system works with slow lenses and even stacked teleconverters.

These two lenses are tiny for their focal lengths. They use Fresnel lenses (a.k.a. DO, Diffractive Optics) and even collapse for storage! Canon thought out of the box and gave birders and others two long lenses that will work brilliantly on the EOS-R system that never could have been done on SLRs or DSLRs. Bravo, Canon!"

Re: 500 mm lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 14:38:20 GMT

Whoopee super slow lenses.

Re: 500 mm lens

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:12:08 GMT

Which doesn't matter on an R.

If you follow the link, KR had a 100-400 f/4.5 - f/5.6, an EF converter, a 2X *and* a 1.4X teleconverter, and focused easily at f/12.6 or so.

Re: 500 mm lens

wq9nsc — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:34:42 GMT

They will focus but they push the ISO higher and cannot provide the shallow DoF of the faster glass.

It does fit the mirrorless concept of making everything lighter and less expensive. It will be a very good lens for people who don't need the low light capabilities of faster glass and who will be happy to trade off cost and weight, others will continue to use EF L series prime glass and an adapter when fast glass is needed.

Rodger

Re: 500 mm lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:48:05 GMT

"Which doesn't matter on an R."

It ALWAYS matters, slow glass is a problem unless you are just a hobbyist or amateur.

Re: 500 mm lens

kvbarkley — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:48:35 GMT

Is DOF ever an issue with an 800 mm telephoto?

Re: 500 mm lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:51:31 GMT

"...others will continue to use EF L series prime glass and an adapter when fast glass is needed."

I imagine Canon wil come out with pro level R lenses in time. But the 1DX Mk III is still the king and will be for a while a long while. This is just the Rebel and kit lens level stuff. f11, yeah, right!

Re: 500 mm lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:57:21 GMT

"Is DOF ever an issue with an 800 mm telephoto?"

I have no idea as I have never used one. But Canon is claiming these lens are great even with a 2x tel-con at f22. Probably OK if you live in a desert with major sunshine all day.

However don't let me stop you from sending in your pre-order.

Re: 500 mm lens

wq9nsc — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:16:48 GMT

DoF can be with an 800 if you want to blur a close in background and I much prefer the in camera to Photoshop version.

And unless you are shooting in excellent light, with an F11 you are getting into an area where ISO is likely to be higher than you wish when using shutter speed high enough to avoid subject motion blur of anything but a statue. My 1DX III will take what I would call usable photos at 51,200 but I would much rather have it at half that ISO and even with its excellent ISO performance being able to shoot at a lower ISO with less amplification and resultant noise the better. Going from 400 to 800 ISO doesn't bother me but given 12,800 vs 25,600 even with very good modern sensors you are still giving up a lot of quality.

Canon will be able to sell many more of these slower glass long telephotos than they could the EF L versions because they will be far less expensive, large, and heavy. This could be the emerging market strategy from Canon in trying to secure the leadership position in the market above the "good" consumer level but beneath the top end and that could be smart positioning for the future. The lower end cameras are the ones most subject to being cannibalized by digital devices and the upper end market will become smaller volume but still important as a development bed and halo product area for the camera line.

Rodger

Re: 500 mm lens

Waddizzle — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:59:32 GMT

I think the f/11 long primes will give Sigma and Tamron a major run for their money. Don't forget, these bodies have electronic viewfinders, so you should see a nice bright display.

You could almost put an eyepiece on one, and use the 800mm as a spotting scope!