Canon launches RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS lenses

The new RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. (Source: Canon.)

The RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM completes the ‘trinity” series of RF lenses and brings the total number of lenses in the RF series to ten. Taking full advantage of the wide diameter and short back focus of Canon’s RF mount it support a constant f/2.8 aperture and covers the popular

70-200mm zoom range in just 146 mm (at its shortest length). This makes the lens approximately 27% shorter and 28% lighter than its EF equivalent. The RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is the first Canon lens to support an electronic floating focus control that drives the two lens groups individually with Dual Nano USMs delivering a high degree of quietness, power saving, and high-speed operation. Built-in image stabilisation provides 5 stops of shake correction and supports Dual Sensing IS for stills and Combination IS for movies. Three modes are available for matching the stabilisation to the subject.

The optical design of this lens consists of 17 elements in 13 groups and includes one Super UD and four UD (ultra-low dispersion) elements as well as two aspherical elements. Dust- and water-resistant construction is applied to the joins and switch panels to prevent contaminants from entering the lens. Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) helps minimize lens flare and ghosting. The fluorine coating on the surface of the front and rear elements ensure oil and water can be easily wiped off with just a dry cloth, without the use of solvents. The RF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM features Canon’s lens control ring for customisable control over aperture, shutter speed, ISO or exposure compensation. This lens measures 88.9 x 146 mm and weighs 1.107 kilograms. It accepts 77 mm diameter filters.

The new RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS portrait lens. (Source: Canon.)

The new RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS lens ushers in a new lens coating from Canon, Defocus Smoothing, which is designed to enhance the appearance of bokeh in the images captured with the lens. DS coating is a vapor-deposited coating technology that is applied to the front and rear surfaces of a specific lens element inside the lens. The coating allows off-axis flux to pass through the periphery of the lens that gradually decreases the transmittance of light, which results in images with beautifully blurred backgrounds. This lens features L-Series dust and weather resistant build with a fluorine coating on the front and rear elements.

The bright f/1.2 aperture which, along with the 85mm focal length, makes this an ideal lens for portrait photographers. Its optical design contains 13 elements in 9 groups and includes one aspherical and one UD element. Air Sphere Coating (ASC) is applied to minimise lens flare and ghosting. Autofocusing is driven by a ring USM

The RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM will be available from November Click here for more information.

The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS will be released in December. Click here for more information.