Canon continues to ramp up their RF lens line up with two more lenses—the RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS and the 85mm F1.2 L USM DS. In addition to these lenses, Canon came out with a few video-specific accessories and kits for the 90D, G7X Mark III and M200. We will talk about each of these new products and what they have to offer.
The RF 70-200mm F2.8
Typically, a 70-200mm focal length is a great lens for portrait, wedding, wildlife and sports photographers. We are excited to see this lens added to Canon’s RF lineup and figure new Canon mirrorless users are as well. This new RF lens is Canon’s lightest and shortest 70-200 lens yet. It's only 5.7” long and weighs in at approximately 2.3lbs compared to the EF 70-200mm Mark III which is 7.8” long and 3.17lbs. Now accompanied by the mirrorless EOS RP or R camera body, this setup is compact, portable and will be less of a workout on those long days out on the job. Not only that, but it is dust and weather resistant, able to take on the harsh conditions in a professional working environment.
This new lens comes equipped with Canon’s Nano USM technology, providing high speed, smooth and quiet autofocusing. It also has optical image stabilization with up to 5 stops of shake correction. The RF 70-200mm F2.8 has a minimum focus distance of 2.3 ft compared to 3.94 ft with the latest EF version. The RF 70-200 F2.8 will be available to purchase on November 21st for $2,699.
The RF 85mm F1.2 DS
This year, Canon users will get not one but two high-performance RF 85mm F1.2 lenses. This past May, Canon announced the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM lens. Now, Canon has announced an alternate version of the lens with the 85mm F1.2 L USM DS. So, what’s the difference? Defocus Smoothing. Defocus Smoothing is a coating technology and with this coating, the DS lens provides smoother bokeh and out-of-focus highlights. Due to the extra layers of coating, it reduces light transmission by up to 1.5 stops. The Defocus Smoothing is visible the most when shooting wide open. The further your aperture is stopped down the less Defocus Smoothing is noticeable. Here’s a comparison of the new DS version compared to the original provided by Canon:
RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS
For more details on Defocus Smoothing, check out Canon’s article on it, here. The RF 85mm F1.2 DS lens will be available on December 26th for $2,999.
The Stereo Microphone & Tripod Grip
The new Directional Microphone DM-E100 helps filmmakers achieve high-quality audio when recording video using a Canon EOS digital camera with a microphone jack. Canon’s Tripod Grip HG-100TBR is compatible with EOS M and PowerShot G series cameras. With the grip, you can enjoy shake-free, clear and smooth footage. It even comes bundled with a wireless remote, to help you take images and videos from a distance.
The 90D video kit now comes bundled with the stereo microphone, a wireless remote and a 32 GB SDHC card and will be available December 12th for $1,449. The G7X Mark III kit comes with the new tripod grip, a 32 GB SDHC card and an extra battery pack. It will be available on November 21st for $899.99. Lastly, the M200 is bundled with the tripod grip and 32 GB SDHC card, available November 21st for $649.99.