Canon Plans To Upgrade Their Super Telephoto Lens Lineup Between 2018 - 2020

Seeing Double on the Masai Mara, Kenya

I am back home after a rather successful East Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It will take me a little time to get back in my daily routine and updating my readers on the latest Canon rumors, and photography news in general.

This was my first photo safari of 2017 and this will be another busy season for me. The equipment I brought with me worked well. I used the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, EOS-5Ds cameras, EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II lens.

You can follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter. See my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

As reported earlier, Canon plans to 'revamp' their Super Telephoto lens in the next couple of years. The timetable is no accident. 2018 is the Winter Olympics, followed by the World Rugby Championship in Japan, sponsored by Canon and of course the Big Daddy of them all, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.

Canon intends to pull out all the stops for these 3 events and showcase their top of the line cameras and lenses. The EF 600mm f/4 DO IS is expected at the end of this year. As with the Series II Super Telephoto lens, weight reduction was a welcomed feature over the Series I. It will again be a top priority in the upgrades, together with improvements in the IS system.

Of the current Super Telephoto glass, the EF 200mm f/2L IS and EF 800mm f/5.6L IS are the oldest, having been announced back in 2008. The EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II, EF 500mm f/4L IS II and EF 600mm f/4L IS II were announced in 2011.

I expect the EF 300mm f/2.8 II, EF 400mm f/2.8 II and EF 500mm f/4 II lenses will get the upgrade first since these are the most popular speed and focal lengths for sports and wildlife photography. Keep checking back for the latest info as I get them.

Canon Patent - EF 600mm f/4 DO IS Lens

Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens

Canon is working on improving their Super Telephoto lens line with the aim of increasing image quality, focal length and decreasing weight. Their EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II is a fine example of this. I purchased the Series I model over 10 years ago but the Series II is a dramatic improvement and I expect more Diffractive Optics models will be announce in the years ahead.

The EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens made an appearance in last year's Canon EXPO in New York City. This lens will be announced some time next year, in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. I am anxious to buy this lens. The patent for the Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS is listed below.

Patent publication number 2016-200685 (Google Translated)

• Release date 2016.12.1
• Application date 2015.4.9
• Focal length 585.00
• F number 4.12
• Half angle of view (degree) 2.12
• Image height 21.64
• Lens total length 335.32
• BF 66.92

Canon has big plans for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. They will pull out all the stops and announce many exciting high and medium end cameras and lenses prior to that great occasion. Read my earlier post on Canon's roadmap for 2017 and beyond. Keep checking back for the latest information and development. You can see my Canon lens recommendation, equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com 

New Canon Patent - EF 300mm f/2.8L IS Lens

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II lens

A new patent for the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS lens has been uncovered. This may be the beginning of the Series III version of this venerable lens.

I reported recently Canon is reworking the entire line of their Super Telephoto lens with the approaching 2020 Summer Olympics Games in Tokyo in mind. The current EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II is one of the sharpest lens around and a favorite of mine for wildlife photography. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com


Patent Publication No. 2016-173439 (Translated)

• Published 2016.9.29
• Filing date 2015.3.17
• Focal length 292.46
• F-number 2.91
• Angle of view 4.23
• Image height 21.64
• Overall length of the lens 273.95
• BF 60.81