According to CR, Canon will announce a new macro lens, featuring a “macro design first” concept in the First Half of 2025.
However, details about what this “first” entails remain unclear.
Is it possible to create a zoom lens with 1:1 macro capabilities? Could tilt or shift functionalities be included? I suspect the lens will exceed 100mm to avoid overlapping with the current options. Additionally, is there a demand for a “Z” feature? As I’m not a macro photographer, I’m uncertain about the specific needs of macro shooters.
The new lens is expected to be “significantly more” expensive than the current RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro($999).
As we anticipate this new macro lens, we invite you to share your thoughts on the forum about what features you’d like to see in a “macro design first.”
A Brief Historical Perspective on Canon Macro Lenses:
Canon released the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro in April 2021, which was highly praised for meeting the demands of macro photographers while also serving as an excellent portrait lens.
The EF series had an impressive array of macro lenses. Notably, the EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM was Canon’s first image-stabilized macro lens, introduced in 2009.
The EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro has developed a cult following among enthusiasts, even if the 100mm was more commonly used. It was one of the less rented lenses during my time in the rental business.
Another noteworthy lens is the EF 50mm f/2.5 compact macro, which, while not widely popular among casual shooters, excelled in art reproduction—something I relied on in my previous work.
The EF-S lineup featured the outstanding 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro and the EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, which included a built-in ring light. Admittedly, I needed a reminder about the 35mm’s existence!
Additionally, the MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x manual focus macro lens was a fascinating piece of equipment, known for its surreal macro photography, especially in capturing insects. Rather than create a VR lens for such a niche, perhaps Canon could consider another lens in this unique style?
The EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM, which also featured a built-in macro light, showcased a clever design. Despite my earlier reservations about the EOS M system, I can appreciate the quality of this lens, though I didn’t utilize the ring light feature.
Read More 2024 Canon Camera Roadmap