According to CR, Canon will announce a new macro lens, featuring a “macro design first” concept in the First Half of 2025.
Details regarding what this “first” actually entails remain ambiguous.
Is it feasible to develop a zoom lens with 1:1 macro capabilities? Could it potentially incorporate tilt or shift functions? I suspect that the lens will likely exceed 100mm to avoid overlapping with existing options. Moreover, is there a genuine demand for a “Z” feature? As I’m not a macro photographer myself, I’m unsure of the specific needs and preferences of macro enthusiasts.
The upcoming lens is anticipated to be “significantly more” expensive than the current RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro, which retails at $999.
As we look forward to this new macro lens, we encourage you to join the discussion in the forum and share your thoughts on the features you would like to see in a “macro design first.”
A Brief Historical Perspective on Canon Macro Lenses:
Canon introduced the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro in April 2021, earning high praise for its capability to meet the needs of macro photographers while also functioning exceptionally well as a portrait lens.
The EF series boasted a remarkable selection of macro lenses. Notably, the EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM ($1,099) was Canon’s inaugural image-stabilized macro lens, launched in 2009.
Though the EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro found a dedicated following among enthusiasts, the 100mm lens was more commonly favored. During my time in the rental business, it was one of the less frequently rented lenses.
Another lens worth mentioning is the EF 50mm f/2.5 compact macro, which, while not widely embraced by casual photographers, excelled in art reproduction—an aspect I relied on heavily in my previous work.
The EF-S lineup also featured standout options, including the impressive 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro, and the EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, which came equipped with a built-in ring light. Admittedly, I needed a reminder about the existence of the 35mm!
Additionally, the MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x manual focus macro lens was a captivating piece of equipment, renowned for its surreal macro photography, particularly in the realm of insect capture. Instead of developing a VR lens for such a niche application, perhaps Canon might consider creating another lens in this distinct style?
Finally, the EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM, which also featured a built-in macro light, showcased an inventive design. While I had reservations about the EOS M system in the past, I can truly appreciate the quality of this lens, even though I didn’t fully utilize the ring light feature.
Read More 2024 Canon Camera Roadmap