New optical designs for Canon mirrorless megazoom lenses has been spotted online, including a monster Canon RF 100-700mm.
The pair of new formulas describe the Canon RF 100-600mm f/4.5-7.1 and Canon RF 100-700mm f/4.0-8.0 – which would seem to come from the same design ethos as the recently announced Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
Indeed, the 100-600mm f/4.5-7.1 does seem to be a little too close for comfort to the 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1, so it is probably the case that this lens was ultimately replaced by the slightly shorter optic.
However, the 100-700mm f/4.0-8.0 is sufficiently different to – and arguably sufficiently more appealing than – the 100-500mm, so there may stons describe the lenses as follows:
| Focal length | 103.00 | 248.50 | 600.00 |
| F-number | 4.60 | 5.85 | 6.80 |
| Half angle of view | 11.86 | 4.98 | 2.07 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Total lens length | 241.66 | 305.61 | 331.66 |
| Back focus | 17.57 | 37.01 | 97.33 |
| Focal length | 123.00 | 293.00 | 700.00 |
| F-number | 4.60 | 5.85 | 8.00 |
| Half angle of view | 9.98 | 4.22 | 1.77 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Total lens length | 246.28 | 322.64 | 370.48 |
| Back focus | 14.01 | 44.69 | 107.78 |
So, are these just remnants of the same design phase that ultimately birthed the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L lens? Or is there still a chance that we’ll see the 100-700mm appear in some form?
It’s entirely possible that this could be a non-L lens equivalent, perhaps envisioned to be paired with the Canon EOS RP or Canon EOS R6 (much like the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM).
And, as with many Canon patents, they could just be designs that never see the light of day – though that 100-700 is something we would certainly love to see!