p.1 #3 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
Without new cameras and more resoltution of the sensor, I'm not finding it too compelling. Maybe with a flippable 1.4x TC inserted somewhere, but not shown in the image?
p.1 #4 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
"We haven't had any sort of update on new RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm f/4L IS USM lenses with built-in teleconverters."
When it comes to rumors who knows what all is future reality. Though at the bottom of the link it sounds like TCs are on the menu, just not this particular dish.
p.1 #5 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
EB-1 wrote:
Without new cameras and more resoltution of the sensor, I'm not finding it too compelling. Maybe with a flippable 1.4x TC inserted somewhere, but not shown in the image?
EBH
I believe new cameras are also coming in September, so it should be interesting to see what Canon finally has up their sleeve.
Jim
p.1 #7 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
p_g_c_ wrote:
Excited to see what kind of dimensions it clocks in at going 5.6 vs variable.
I believe early on, it was proposed as a 4.0 to 5.6, but apparently the lens Gods decided to just make it a 5.6.
Jim
Jul 31, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #8 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
EB-1 wrote:
Without new cameras and more resoltution of the sensor, I'm not finding it too compelling. Maybe with a flippable 1.4x TC inserted somewhere, but not shown in the image?
EBH
This is the lens I was hoping they would make. Personally I probably won't get it for 8 to 10 years, but it is exactly the step up over the 100-500L that I was looking for. I hope it works well with a 1.4X TC, but for me that isn't needed--if I need reach I will add the TC and go with the 420-840 f/8 lens, but when I need the faster aperture more than the reach the bare lens would do well and I don't see myself switching back and forth very much.
Now let's talk size and price, which will be crucial. For size it has a similar exit pupil (which control the size of the front element) to the 100-300 f/2.8 (both have an exit pupil of 107mm). This lens will have to be longer at least in use as it is a longer focal length so will have to be a bit heavier. The 100-300 f/2.8L weighs about 2,600g, so I would guess this will weigh something like 2,800g, but lighter would be welcome and perhaps they will innovate to keep it a little lighter.
For price I am hoping they will keep it below $8,000 to be competitive with the Sony 300 f/2.8 GM prime ($6,800) and the Nikon 600 f/6.3 PF ($5,100). It is a zoom, however, which should be seen as a bonus and it is spec'd in some ways above these lenses. So, I don't expect it to be much if any less than $8,000 and would not be surprised to see it cross into 5 digits in price.
It will also be interesting if they keep it smaller by making it an extending zoom or got with an internally focusing design which will be bigger, but more robust. I am betting this one like the 100-300 f/2.8L will be an internal focusing zoom.
Jul 31, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #9 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
jgoetz4 wrote:
I believe early on, it was proposed as a 4.0 to 5.6, but apparently the lens Gods decided to just make it a 5.6.
Jim
I think such a lens would have been even bigger and more expensive and this one is already challenged on both those fronts, so I think a constant f/5.6 is a good choice.
p.1 #10 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
I'm by no means an engineer of any sort. Though the physics rules of these are fairly straightforward and there's often various historical examples as baselines. It's just so tough to make a "reasonably" (everyone is different) sized and weight x-600 zoom with f4-f5.6. And thats before price...
p.1 #11 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
That's an interesting combination of focal length and aperture. Not really long, and not really fast. Besides surf photography, who's it for? Definitely not sports professionals who need f/2.8 for night games. I guess wildlife, but you lose a stop of light vs the 500/4 or 600/4 and it's likely massive and expensive compared to a 100-500.
p.1 #13 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
Mike_5D wrote:
That's an interesting combination of focal length and aperture. Not really long, and not really fast. Besides surf photography, who's it for? Definitely not sports professionals who need f/2.8 for night games. I guess wildlife, but you lose a stop of light vs the 500/4 or 600/4 and it's likely massive and expensive compared to a 100-500.
Sports professionals who only cover sunny, daylight games
Jim
p.1 #15 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
Excited to see imagine quality vs the hand wavy, non S / GM badged, peers.
(Nikon z 180-600 f5.6/6.3 ~2k
Sony fe 200-600 f5.5/6.3 ~2k)
Jul 31, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #16 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
p_g_c_ wrote:
Excited to see imagine quality vs the hand wavy, non S / GM badged, peers.
(Nikon z 180-600 f5.6/6.3 ~2k
Sony fe 200-600 f5.5/6.3 ~2k)
That is a good point, but the RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 is really Canon's answer to those lenses and it is a pretty good answer having competitive IQ. I expect this lens just like the 100-500L to be clearly better than that lens, but will cost a lot more. I hope $5,00 to $7,000 is right on the price and that does make it competitive with Sony and Nikon top level primes with a similar capability, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a more premium price for this lens at least in the beginning.
p.1 #19 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
Steve Spencer wrote:
This is the lens I was hoping they would make. Personally I probably won't get it for 8 to 10 years, but it is exactly the step up over the 100-500L that I was looking for. I hope it works well with a 1.4X TC, but for me that isn't needed--if I need reach I will add the TC and go with the 420-840 f/8 lens, but when I need the faster aperture more than the reach the bare lens would do well and I don't see myself switching back and forth very much.
Now let's talk size and price, which will be crucial. For size it has a similar exit pupil (which control the size of the front element) to the 100-300 f/2.8 (both have an exit pupil of 107mm). This lens will have to be longer at least in use as it is a longer focal length so will have to be a bit heavier. The 100-300 f/2.8L weighs about 2,600g, so I would guess this will weigh something like 2,800g, but lighter would be welcome and perhaps they will innovate to keep it a little lighter.
For price I am hoping they will keep it below $8,000 to be competitive with the Sony 300 f/2.8 GM prime ($6,800) and the Nikon 600 f/6.3 PF ($5,100). It is a zoom, however, which should be seen as a bonus and it is spec'd in some ways above these lenses. So, I don't expect it to be much if any less than $8,000 and would not be surprised to see it cross into 5 digits in price.
It will also be interesting if they keep it smaller by making it an extending zoom or got with an internally focusing design which will be bigger, but more robust. I am betting this one like the 100-300 f/2.8L will be an internal focusing zoom. ...Show more →
I'm too old to be using such a lens in 8-10 years. I really don't like primes unless necessary like the 600/4. Primes end up creating images that require cropping far too often or being too tight sometimes.
p.1 #20 · A new super telephoto zoom will arrive in September
Steve Spencer wrote:
That is a good point, but the RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 is really Canon's answer to those lenses and it is a pretty good answer having competitive IQ. I expect this lens just like the 100-500L to be clearly better than that lens, but will cost a lot more. I hope $5,00 to $7,000 is right on the price and that does make it competitive with Sony and Nikon top level primes with a similar capability, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a more premium price for this lens at least in the beginning.
I don't know if it is possible to make a good 200-800/9 lens, but the Canon is weak and slow. The 300-600/5.6 would have to be better with a 1.4x than that.
