Since first announcing its RF-mount system back in 2018, Canon has been hard at work developing a robust lens lineup that can satisfy photographers of all levels. While the company’s set of RF-mount lenses is still small compared to its set of EF-mount (i.e., DSLR) lenses, each new year brings a handful of additional models; in 2022 alone, Canon released seven outstanding lenses, including the RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and the RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM.
And it looks like Canon will continue to expand the lineup in 2023. According to Canon Rumors, Canon is set to unveil “a trio of RF-mount wide-angle L prime lenses,” all of which will launch “in the first half of 2023.”
What lenses can you expect?
First, CR claims that Canon will release the long-awaited RF 35mm f/1.4L or RF 35mm f/1.2L lens, which will offer enthusiasts and professionals a faster (and optically superior) alternative to Canon’s only current RF-mount 35mm lens, the RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM. The 35mm f/1.8 Macro isn’t a bad lens – far from it – but an f/1.4 or f/1.2 version will open up additional opportunities for low-light street photography, indoor event photography, and artistic portraits featuring stunning background bokeh.
Second, Canon will announce an RF 24mm f/1.4L USM, another long-awaited model that will fill a crucial gap in the RF-mount lineup. At present, Canon only offers one RF-mount 24mm lens, the 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM mentioned above; it’s a reasonably impressive product given the ($599) price tag but certainly not ideal for serious shooters seeking pro-level image quality. A 24mm f/1.4L lens could be effective in plenty of scenarios: when capturing scene-setting event photos, environmental portraits, and wide-angle street photography, to name just a few. You might even use the upcoming 24mm lens for walkaround photography, provided the design is relatively compact and lightweight.
As for the third lens: CR notes that the details are “unknown” but mentions “rumors of Canon finally releasing an L 28mm prime lens.” Canon does currently offer an EF 28mm f/1.8 lens and an EF 28mm f/2.8 lens, but they’re compact, midrange models, not pro-level glass. And given the usefulness of the 28mm focal length (in my experience, it offers a nice wide-angle field of view without going too wide), an RF 28mm f/1.4L would certainly be a welcome addition to the RF-mount lens lineup.
Unfortunately, we don’t yet know precisely when Canon plans to launch these lenses, though Canon Rumors believes they’ll be part of a single release. Be sure to keep an eye out for additional information – especially if you’ve been waiting for one (or all!) of these fast primes.
Now over to you:
What lenses would you like to see Canon release? Do you have any predictions regarding the 2023 announcement? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
