New rumor of Supertelephoto DO’s and the R1 [CR2]

[Blue Zurich]

When Canon had the 1D and 1Ds both of them were 1 series, not a flagship - and most certainly came out quickly and without such care. Also, Canon released 1 series of cameras when they basically were able to - sans the 1D that were usually in Olympic years. Historically it's only been the "sports or performance" that had any sort of timetable.

A Canon R1 isn't replacing anything directly, neither the R3 nor the 1DX Mark III. The closest historically to what we have now is when there was a 1DS and 1D line.

Also, Canon in the past has never had two strong competitors each with their "flagship" Z 9 and A1 and Canon without one at all, outside of the 1DX Mark III that doesn't really count in this discussion.

IMO, there's about the same chance in hades freezing over it's going to be less than 45MP. not with the A1 and Z9 both shooting 8K.

Canon hasn't broken all of its old molds but it has gone in some directions most of us would never have thought.
I think the timetables of yesteryear are over.

 

[tron]

...
Quad pixel or similar autofocus that works more like a DSLR.
...

This is for me the only reason to buy a mirrorless Canon again. R5 seems like years behind DSLRs in BIF. OK it may be just me and/or my R5 - I know Alan takes great BIF pictures with the same combo - but the things I do - without being an expert, pro, etc - with my D500 or D850 and 500PF in BIF I cannot do with R5 and 100-500. Even 5DsR has taken some very nice BIF pictures.

On the other hand R5 combined with the RF wide angles and mid-range zooms and fixed lenses is quite a power horse for precision focusing and low light photography.

 

[Pixel]

Canon has done pro body releases around the Super Bowl too, it's not ALWAYS the Olympics.


And I'd totally be all over an RF 500 f4.5 DO

 

[fox40phil]

I really miss the old "400 mm f5.6 L" days where we could have a GREAT tele Canon lens around $1200. Never was replaced!

I was thinking about a NEW 400 f5.6L today... with modern build quality... if it could maybe around 400-500g?!

 

[GoldWing]

Just my speculation, but I'm not expecting an R1 this year because it's been 15 years since Canon released a flagship sooner than 4 years after the previous one. Of course, doing the first mirrorless version could make this exceptional. And I'm frequently wrong.

They really like to target the early spring prior to a summer olympics, which would put it 2 years out. If this comes to pass, and if it is indeed a <30mp camera (pretty good odds, made more likely with the non-optimized MTF performance of its newly-announced big white superteles), there will be some teeth gnashing, but this would be most consistent with precedent.

A lot of people must agree with you. The orders for the Z9 are unprecedented. No one is waiting 2 years for a 24MP, R1.

 

[tron]

I think between EF and RF lenses I am ... (more than) full and I am not going to buy a new lens (OK if some friends read this they will laugh!).

But: having many lenses which by the way cannot get used very often and cover a big range (14-500) I believe may save me many thousands:

EF500II is super sharp and combined with 2XIII gives a super decent quality 1000mm f/8 even from the 5DsR days.

400mm DO II can be used with 1.4XIII or 2XIII and R5 to give a 560 f/5.6 or a 800 f/8.

I used to combine 400 with 1.4III with my 7D2 and I had very good results once (although the last trip disappointed me it may be due to hot air and not due to 7D2). Anyway 7D2 is sold and 90D is not the same. Better sensor less capabilities which - for me - somehow killed it for BIF.

R5/100-500 is super sharp and versatile for nature/wildlife/static birds.

If I wanted to have it all and be reasonably portable I would get D850 or D500 with 500PF and R5/100-500 with TCs for these extreme far away shots because it makes a fantastic portable 1000mm combo.

So no reason for me to get a new big white. Low weight would tempt me but that's what Nikon's 500mm PF is for.

 

[Czardoom]

I sold my Nikon PF 500 f/5.6 because the RF 100-500mm is frankly indistinguishably sharp at 500mm, has all the advantages of a zoom, can focus much closer up, all for the cost of 2/3rds of a stop at the same weight and cheaper. A 500 f/5 is a stop faster than a 500 f/7.1, and would that be enough to make it worthwhile?

I think this thread is a great example of "the grass is always greener..." If only Canon had something like the Nikon 500mm PF!

Maybe Canon has something better. I, too, would choose the Canon RF 100-500 over the Nikon 500 PF for the reasons stated above - especially the convenience of a zoom versus a prime, especially for locating your subject.

 

[LSXPhotog]

I hope we do see the R1 this year. That would be pretty incredible, but I am pretty concerned we're going to see a $7500-8000 camera.

 

[CanonGrunt]

Does IBIS give any appreciable stabilisation with it?

Definitely helps. Also why my 180mm f/3.5 macro is used way more now. Love that one the most. But i use the 400mm a lot more often now too.

 

[stochasticmotions]

Current prices of diffractive optics lenses - Canon 400 DO II is around $6900USD and the Nikon 500 f/5.6 pf is $3600 USD. A Canon 500 at f/4.5 or 5 you would think would come in higher than the Nikon and likely close to the Canon. Although with the prices of new lenses from Canon recently I could be highly underestimating what one of these might go for.

I would love to see an f/5 version come in around $5000, light weight and close to the sharpness of the current 400 DO and I would likely replace my 500 f/4. Would be nice to have something I could carry more easily on the long hikes.

 

[Deleted member 387325]

Current prices of diffractive optics lenses - Canon 400 DO II is around $6900USD and the Nikon 500 f/5.6 pf is $3600 USD. A Canon 500 at f/4.5 or 5 you would think would come in higher than the Nikon and likely close to the Canon. Although with the prices of new lenses from Canon recently I could be highly underestimating what one of these might go for.

I would love to see an f/5 version come in around $5000, light weight and close to the sharpness of the current 400 DO and I would likely replace my 500 f/4. Would be nice to have something I could carry more easily on the long hikes.

I agree on pricing. Let’s not let Canon run away with prices here just because they’re setting them there. If Nikon keeps putting out PF glass of the 500 variety at those prices—even slightly higher for inflation—then I’ll be shifting some of my budget to them if Canon continues their hikes. Canon’s DO lenses at higher prices will lose them business. Especially if they play it safe with quality to avoid cannibalizing the larger glass.

 

[Chig]

Those are really interesting aperture ranges. Looks like Canon is experimenting a lot in where they can push things on the RF mount.

What would be different about a long telephoto lens design on the RF mount ?
The difference in flange distance is insignificant for long teles , so can't see any design advantages or am I missing something ?

 

[AlanF]

0.4 stops is a useful amount both for reduced shutter times, reduced gain, and increased bokeh.

You could make this same attack against literally every lens ever made.

You're certainly ready some lenses won't be optimal for some users, but that's hardly a novelty! What lens IS perfect for everyone?

It’s not an attack, it’s bringing up pros and cons. 0.4 stops is of course a pro for some features but it comes at a cost of size, weight and cost, and so you have to balance that up in what is the best compromise for you.

 

[Chaitanya]

Canon has done pro body releases around the Super Bowl too, it's not ALWAYS the Olympics.


And I'd totally be all over an RF 500 f4.5 DO

also once around Football world cup.

 

[jeffa4444]

Canon has released an advisory about delayed deliveries particularly for the R3 and the new RF 800mm L and 1200mm L. This sums up my earlier point and is often negative publicity for a company after hyping the products at launch.
Strange times we live in.

 

[stillviking]

I was thinking about a NEW 400 f5.6L today... with modern build quality... if it could maybe around 400-500g?!

This would be my dream... can't wait for it!

 

[lawny13]

With delivery issues for the R3 and many of the existing lenses Canon are not really in a position to add another high end camera with yet more back orders and exotic lenses in the same position. The other elephant in the room is what are they going to do about the crop Rebel / xxD / xxxD series cameras that they have generated new customers many of which have moved up as they become more affluent.
In many ways Canon should have launched the R1 first and then the R3 then they would have had less pressure the same could be said about the R5C. A R7 for instance to replace the EOS 7D MKII which they launched in September 2014 would I’m sure have a huge following if it’s a crop sensor with at least 32MP.

I think that the camera manufacturing and lens manufacturing are separate. Only thing they kind of have in comment would be things like flex prints and the fact that they both use chips. But those chips are no the same. Choosing to not make lenses or not make cameras would not effect the other.

And what do you mean with “what are they going to do about the crop Rebel / xxD / xxxD series cameras that they have generated new customers many of which have moved up as they become more affluent”? It isn’t clear what your point here is.

 

[mpmark]

I don’t agree that an “R1” is coming this year. As you mentioned, for starters, no Olympics. And yes Canon did say the R3 isn’t their flagship, but technically it was and it was suppose to be the R1, but they realized what Sony did and I believe rebranded it to save embarrassment. The R3 clearly replaces the 1Dxiii. That’s very obvious with how canon operates.

So we won’t see an R1 this year, I just don’t believe it.

 

[djack41]

Seems disappointing. I have long hoped for a 600mm F4 DO. Canon had a prototype 600mm F4 DO years ago that they displayed at large Camera shows around the country.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Seems disappointing. I have long hoped for a 600mm F4 DO. Canon had a prototype 600mm F4 DO years ago that they displayed at large Camera shows around the country.

Yeah, but that was an EF prototype. No way they could easily convert that to the new RF mount.