Will Canon Replace this Super-Telephoto Prime With a Zoom Lens?

Canon has already replaced one major super-telephoto prime lens with a more versatile zoom lens, now they might be doing it again.

Canon’s new and deeply impressive RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM was placed on the market by the brand as something of a substitute for its 300 f/2.8 super-telephoto prime option. It’s also priced almost the same.

Now, according to findings from the website Canon Rumors, the iconic Canon brand might be set to do the same thing to its EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II prime lens. It will allegedly replace this with its RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x.

Canon’s existing example of this switch-over, the RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM was highly praised for its qualities, mainly because in replacing the EF 300mm f/2.8L, it offered much better zoom flexibility.

With the (still only rumored) switch from the EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II to the RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x, fans of Canon telephoto lenses might see the same thing happen again to an even greater degree.

The RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x would in fact come with a built-in teleconverter that would make this optic work as a 280-700mm f/5.6 lens.

It’s worth noting that Canon has done something similar in the past with another lens it created. This was the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x, which met with enormous respect from users.

Canon has also more generally extended the range of a number of other lenses in its lineup by changing them from its EF format to the newer RF mount.

Remember that all of the above optics, whether EF or RF, are and will continue to be expensive lenses for seriously professional shooting.

However, if you’re a wildlife, sports, or photojournalism photographer, the new RF formats might be worth considering if or when these rumors flesh themselves out more.

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