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.

[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?

[ebiggs1]

The RF 16-28mm F2.8 was designed  for Canon’s beginner and mid-range full-frame cameras I.E., the R8 level of  cameras. It is nearly a RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM clone, IMHO. The fact these level of lenses are good has nothing to do with it. The design market has everything to do with it.

This also reminds me about the discussion wayback why the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens was not given the "L" tag. It's in the same class but of course no EF-S lens got the "red ring".

[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.

[deebatman316]

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

[jrhoffman75]

That is my point. Nothing to do with full frame or crop sensor design.