CANON ADDS TWO NEW OPTICS TO ITS RF LINEUP

Diminutive compact telephoto is joined by a very affordable ‘nifty fifty’

The new Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, left, and RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Canon has announced a pair of highly tempting new RF lenses for cameras like the Canon EOS R5, including what it claims it the “world’s shortest and lightest” 70-200mm f/4 telephoto.

The Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM was announced alongside an impressively affordable RF 50mm f/1.8, which is a stalwart prime lens commonly referred to as a ‘nifty fifty’. The two lenses will help widen the appeal of Canon’s mirrorless system, which was initially skewed towards more well-heeled pros.

The RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is, like its counterpart the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, a variable-length optic that extends as you zoom to its full 200mm focal length. At its full extension, it’s about the same length as the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM – the brilliant 2018 DSLR lens that this new mirrorless optic effectively replaces.