Canon Lens line up changes underway?

Zanotti · January 2, 2010

Canon has removed several very popular lenses from its USA web site.

http://www.canonrumors.com/ says this is often the prelude to changes in the line up.

Interesting times. The 70-200f2.8 IS lens is missing - this has to be one of Canon's most popular pieces, so a replacement must be underway.

Anyone speculate?

Z

ziggy53 · January 2, 2010

Three of the 70-200mm "L" lenses are missing:

f4L USM
f2.8L IS USM
f2.8L USM

Maybe version II models?

The 24-70mm, f2.8L USM is also missing.

I'm guessing that some models are being suspended (sadly) and some models upgraded, probably with more attention to corner and edge sharpness in FF bodies. Possibly some new IS systems?

divamum · January 2, 2010

The current list at CR seems to include almost every single popular Canon lens. Seems unlikely, surely?

LKN Dave · January 2, 2010

It has to be a mistake. I can't believe that they would announce new models to 80% of their product line. Unless they are giving up and letting Nikon have digital slrs.

Dogdots · January 2, 2010

Great --- and I just got the 70-200 2.8IS for Christmas.

Dan7312 · January 2, 2010

The 180mm Macro is gone too.

Andy · January 2, 2010

Dogdots wrote:

Great --- and I just got the 70-200 2.8IS for Christmas.

so you got one of the all-time best lenses on the planet, don't be grouchy!

Dan7312 · January 2, 2010

The full lens lineup is still on the UK http://www.canon.co.uk site.

Dogdots · January 2, 2010

Andy wrote:

so you got one of the all-time best lenses on the planet, don't be grouchy!

Not grouchy -- just wondering what I could of had instead

I see they are announcing something on Jan. 5th. and the 9th. I know nothing about this site -- just found it on a google search.

craig_d · January 2, 2010

So many lenses have been removed (well over a dozen) that I have extreme difficulty believing that Canon is going to replace them all at once. Canon always spreads out lens introductions; they have never, in the 20+ year history of the EF mount, introduced more than four lenses in one month (according to the Canon Camera Museum database), and never even a dozen in a single year.

There are absences here that kind of make sense taken individually, like the fact that of the four 70-200mm models, only the f/4 IS is still listed (I can imagine that they might discontinue the non-IS models without replacing them, and the f/2.8 IS uses an older, two-mode form of IS that would be a good candidate for upgrading to the new Hybrid IS), but then there are other absences that are harder to explain, like the removal of the 800mm f/5.6 IS, which was just introduced in 2008.

I'm not sure what's going on here, but I think it's premature to take it entirely at face value and just assume that all the missing lenses are being discontinued. Marketing 101 tells you that you don't drop a successful product just because you're planning to replace it; you wait until the new one is ready and THEN replace it. You don't throw away potential sales on an old model until you are ready to give your customers something better.

I'm sure Fake Chuck Westfall would argue that this is just more evidence that Canon Inc. is run by idiots... well, we'll see.

Ozone · January 3, 2010

I cannot imagine a BETTER replacement for both the 24-70 L 2.8 and the 70-200 L 2.8 IS. I have both and these both take such excellent images! If anything, I would think that they are only going to give them IS improvements, as the optics are already superior! Given Occam's razor I would tend to think that these are accidental omissions or at worst some kind of hardware update on the electronics. JMHO, as I am still just an average hobbyist!:D:D:D

Photoskipper · January 3, 2010

most of the lenses are still on the Japan HQ website : http://cweb.canon.jp/ef/lineup/all-products.html

no special annonucement in the Japanese main webpage.

They may launch the new marketing campaign on lenses and camera line up to counter the challenge from the close competition - Nikon and Sony.

Going to Tokyo, Japan for business next week and check what is going on there.

Zanotti · January 3, 2010

Interesting that most lenses that are missing were put in the product archive:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ArchiveAct&fcategoryid=2091

as if they were obsoleted by newer products.

My guess is a change in USM motors for the entire line. (Just a guess.)

Z

ian408 · January 3, 2010

No one noticed the Extender EF 1.4x II is in the product archive. Does that mean new lenses will have additional control that cannot be met with the existing extenders?

ziggy53 · January 3, 2010

ian408 wrote:

No one noticed the Extender EF 1.4x II is in the product archive. Does that mean new lenses will have additional control that cannot be met with the existing extenders?

The original EF 1.4x and the model II only differed in the addition of weather seals in the latter. I would not think that a new model would in any way obsolete the older models. Maybe the new model is available in white and black? (That assumes that there is indeed a new model.) Marketing departments move in mysterious ways.

divamum · January 3, 2010

It does seem awfully bizarre. Then again, maybe if all those lenses really are discontinued and new models being introduced (although it really does seem unlikely) the used market should have some yummy goodies on it soon for those of us who don't care if we have the latest-and-greatest as long as what we have does the job we need

ChatKat · January 3, 2010

Rebate
There are some hefty rebates through the end of January on several of these lenses.

holzphoto · January 3, 2010

canon rumors is not gospel. Go back and look at the specs of the 5d II. was exactly accurate.

canon probably pulled these lenses to raise the MSRP.

davev · January 3, 2010

holzphoto wrote:

canon probably pulled these lenses to raise the MSRP.

I agree.

Photoskipper · January 4, 2010

holzphoto wrote:

canon rumors is not gospel. Go back and look at the specs of the 5d II. was exactly accurate.

canon probably pulled these lenses to raise the MSRP.

That may be true. As the Yen has been weakening from 120 Yen/USD to todays 93 yen. It lost more than 20% in 2 years.

It may be good time to stock up.

Dan7312 · January 5, 2010

Lens are back with lots of new markers...

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controlleract=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=150?

mercphoto · January 5, 2010

Dan7312 wrote:

Lens are back with lots of new markers...

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controlleract=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=150?

Looks like the site is experiencing difficulties:
"The Canon USA Consumer site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. "

Dan7312 · January 5, 2010

Try just going to www.canonusa.com and drilling down to the lenses... That seems to work.

mercphoto wrote:

Looks like the site is experiencing difficulties:
"The Canon USA Consumer site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. "

craig_d · January 5, 2010

DPReview is reporting that the EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM has been announced:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10010508canon70200isii.asp

While Canon claims to have improved the internals, the outside looks largely unchanged. It even still has two IS modes (normal and panning) which surprises me a little; I had thought they might make the lens automatically detect what sort of stabilization was needed.

MFD is reduced to just under four feet, which is nice. AF is claimed to be somewhat faster and quieter, not that the old one was any slouch in that department. It still takes 77mm filters.

The lens seems (from the figures given) to be very slightly longer and thicker (by two or three mm) than the original f/2.8 IS, but at the same time, slightly lighter in weight (by 100g, about 3.5 oz).

The DPreview report does not mention a suggested retail price.

ivar · January 5, 2010

Dan7312 wrote:

Lens are back with lots of new markers...

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controlleract=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=150?

and a 70-200 2.8 IS II...

Scott_Quier · January 5, 2010

ivar wrote:

and a 70-200 2.8 IS II...

Here's a pre-review...

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10010508canon70200isii.asp

Dogdots · January 5, 2010

ivar wrote:

and a 70-200 2.8 IS II...

I just read this -- wonder how much it's going to be......

kdog · January 5, 2010

Scott_Quier wrote:

Here's a pre-review...

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10010508canon70200isii.asp

Wow, that's unexpected. I wonder if it will be even sharper than the 70-200 F4 IS now?

mercphoto · January 5, 2010

I see still no change to the 100-400 lens. That update has been speculated for so long that I thought eventually it would actually happen.

Andy · January 5, 2010

ivar wrote:

and a 70-200 2.8 IS II...

Aaaaaaand I just ordered mine, first on the list with my good friends at Tallyn's, I hope to have it in April!

Andy · January 5, 2010

Dogdots wrote:

I just read this -- wonder how much it's going to be......

I do not know for sure, but I expect it to be same (or a tiny bit less) as the current Mk I retail price.

Canon Lens line up changes underway?

Comments