RF16-28mm lens: Why isn't it an "L"?

[kvbarkley]

Canon has just announced an RF 16 - 28mm lens

Ken Rockwell points out:

it has "Impressive durability and weather-resistant construction equivalent to an L-series lens for use in harsh environments."

and

"This lens is now the smallest, lightest RF zoom lens with image quality equivalent to a Canon L-series specification."

So why isn't it an L?

[deebatman316]

Are there any DO (Diffractive Optics) elements in it. Most if not all L lenses have that. Also all L lenses except the RF 10-20mm F/4L STM, RF 35mm F/1.4L, RF 24mm F/1.4L VCM and RF 50mm F/1.4L VCM lack USM AF motors. It seems as though USM is more of a premiere feature now. A lot of older EF lenses were equipped with the high end Ring Type USM AF motors. In the EF Mount Canon only had 3 L lenses that lacked USM AF motors. Those lenses all used Arc Form Drive AF motors instead of Micro Motor. 

[Ron888]

Wait what? Diffractive optics are used on only two RF lenses and those aren't L series.Also USM ceased being their top end focus motor some time ago.RF lenses use several different types of motor now depending on their intended usage- video or photo

[deebatman316]

I was mixing it up with UD elements. Those are mainly found in L lenses. Some non L lenses have those too. Canon has only used Ring Type USM, Nano USM, STM and VCM in the RF Mount. No other AF motors have been used. The EF Mount was a different story. They used Arc Form Drive (1987-1991) Ring Type USM (1987-Present), Micro Motor (1992-2012), STM (2012-Present), Micro Motor USM (1993-2008), Nano USM (2016-Present). 

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

I think the decision is a financial one.  Lenses are the real investment in photography.  Part of Sony's success has been their ability to provide users with high performing, constant aperture, weather sealed lenses.  They sure as heck don't make better cameras 😄. This is both attractive and compelling to a broad range of photographers.  People want affordable lenses.  They want to put three or four lenses in their bag but don't want to take out a loan to do so.  Lenses like the RF 16-28 is a way for Canon to say, "Hey, we can do that too".  Canon has all of this data and more.  They understand, consumer perception, affordability and value for your money.  I think we're going to see a lot of new lenses like this moving forward.  I'm sure there will be plenty of L series lenses too.

[deebatman316]

Pentax uses a similar approach. But there are a lot of compromises though with Pentax’s lens mount.

[justadude]

"But there are a lot of compromises though with Pentax’s lens mount."

Curious what compromises you feel there are with the Pentax K-mount?  I've loved this system since I started using it around 1980.  I also like that I can use my old vintage Pentax lenses just as seamlessly on my still used Pentax DSLRs without the need for any adapter.

[deebatman316]

The whole system of jamming 2 AF systems in 1 lens then bringing out new lenses with electronic aperture control. This makes old cameras incompatible with these new lenses. Pentax does have IBIS so no need for lens based IS. But the high level in lens AF motor failure. Then trying to keep compatibility with older cameras with fall back to screw-drive. No new 3rd Party lens options everyone has pulled out. Except for Pentax of course. So if the lens’ built in AF motor fails it won’t fall back to screw drive on a new body. But on an old body that doesn’t support in lens AF motors. It will simply only use screw drive to focus the lens. Screw drive does work but as the lens gets older the gears start wearing more and more. Leading to less accurate focus just bumping the focus ring will bring it out of focus. Pentax is very highly dependent on screw drive AF. In a world where everyone has moved to in lens AF motors. Pentax is often last to update newer technology such as electronic aperture control and in lens AF motors. Pentax got into the in lens AF motor game in 2008. Before that Minolta/ Sony A Mount SSM in 1998 then Nikon in 1992 with AF-I. Canon was of course the first in 1987 with the EF Mount. But before the EF Mount was the FD Mount. Which they also tried screw drive and in lens AF motors. 

[jrhoffman75]

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@kvbarkley wrote:

Canon has just announced an RF 16 - 28mm lens

Ken Rockwell points out:

it has "Impressive durability and weather-resistant construction equivalent to an L-series lens for use in harsh environments."

and

"This lens is now the smallest, lightest RF zoom lens with image quality equivalent to a Canon L-series specification."

So why isn't it an L?

---

Perhaps because it is in the group of lenses that are relying on in-camera optical correction?

[deebatman316]

Some of Canon’s cheaper lenses rely on lens correction or vignetting will be visible. This is the case with lower cost lenses regardless of Full Frame or APS-C.