Canon may be experiencing worldwide stock issues for its RF lenses, but it looks like the camera giant is planning to release two new ones for its mirrorless cameras soon: a wide-angle macro lens and an ultra-wide zoom lens.
According to reliable Canon rumors (opens in a new tab), we'll likely see the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro and RF 15-30mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM arrive "sometime in the next week or three."
So what kind of lenses will they be? Fortunately for everyone's bank accounts, they should be relatively affordable. This would be particularly the case with the RF 15-30mm as it would be a relatively slow lens whose aperture is variable rather than remaining constant throughout its zoom range.
If so, it would be significantly cheaper than the current RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM (€2400 / €2390 / AU$3475), which is a professional L-series lens. Instead, its price should be more in line with a lens like the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM ($400 / £480 / AU$600). For those on a budget, these two lenses will pair nicely for landscape and general photography.
The Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro is rumored to be a bit more expensive, but not by much. The closest current offering in Canon's range for its mirrorless cameras is the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro (€450 / €530 / AU$679), so we can expect around that mark or a bit more.
Like this current 35mm lens, Canon's 24mm offering would likely offer close focus for macro fans; for example, the RF 35mm f/1.8 lets you focus on subjects as close as 17cm. But it would also be a versatile lens that you could use for travel and street shots. If you're a Canon fan dreaming of more affordable lenses, both lenses will be worth looking into in the coming weeks.
Review: Canon brings balance to its range of lenses
These two so-called lenses will not delight avid photographers who have the budget for more exotic professional lenses. But they are must-have affordable options that help broaden the appeal of Canon's mirrorless cameras.
It's no coincidence that Canon has released two cameras with relatively APS-C sensors - you can read our first impressions of both in our Canon EOS R7 and Canon EOS R10 hands-on test.
Do you want the short versions? Both are becoming two of the best amateur cameras, and these so-called lenses could be good companions for them, although they shouldn't be RF-S lenses specially designed for small APS-C sensors.
The stock available for these lenses and the rest of the RF lens range is another matter. Like all camera manufacturers and technology companies, Canon still suffers from supply chain problems. At their UK Canon store, for example, only 16 of their 26 RF lenses are listed as "in stock".
Still, hopefully these issues will subside as we head into 2023, and at this point it looks like Canon will also have created a mirrorless photography range that is finally suited to photographers of all ages, as well as professionals.