Canon Rapidly Discontinuing DSLR Lenses

Guess this was going to happen one day. Guess it could be worse.

 

 

 

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Rapidly would be IMO if they discontinued 20 lenses per year. Four lenses is like a tiny ripple in the water.

And nothing "discontinued" is ever really gone in the days of eBay and all.

 

I do buy new lenses directly sometimes, but the "pre-owned" (for expensive items) and the "used' (cheap ones) lenses remain in the marketplace and I've had good luck with them.

 

On reflection, I realize that (side from dribbling a lens down a marble stairs and some Meyer Domiplans) even modern electronic lenses seem to last me pretty well. Sometimes, "protection filters" do actually "protect"

Assuming its true, discontinuing the 70-200 IS F4L II is a shocker for 2 reasons. First it is a popular, relatively affordable core FF lens. Second it was introduced less than 3 years ago. Its predecessor, the Mk I, was possibly the best zoom lens I have ever used.

They discontinued the popular 85 and 70-200 zoom because they want to sell the RF versions. Obviously they don't sell many of the others so they are gone too. Canon bailed on FD users and will bail on EF as quickly as they can. Covid has certainly been a contributing factor to the pace at which this will happem. It is bad enough, for them, that all their EF lenses can be used on RF bodies. They will feed the hype that the RF lenses are vastly superior to EF.

They discontinued the popular 85 and 70-200 zoom because they want to sell the RF versions.

This may also motivate some Canon DSLR owners to see the writing on the wall, and prepare, maybe think about selling off their DSLRs while they may have some resale value before the eventual drop of repair support. For myself owning a 5D MK IV, I would want a camera body that has the Pro features and the only Canon Mirrorless fitting that bill is the R5. I better start saving up now. Maybe there will be more Canon options coming, The R5 seems to be a significant price jump from new 5D line releases. The R6 is a nice camera but lacks a few pro features that I would miss.

 

Still, our current DSLRs and lenses are great gear and even after they are no longer supported by Canon we will have options with third party and used. Sigma makes a great 85mm f/1.4 art, also a nice 70-200mm. But I have to consider if I ever plan to move to the R cameras, do I want to invest in any more DSLR lenses. Canon realizes this too.

Currently I'm shooting with a 5D Mk IV for most of my heavy lifting. I also have an EOS R for second body and as a video camera when I need one. I'll probably be a hybrid mirrored/mirrorless user for years. I just love the feel of shutter/mirror when I use my Mk IV.

This may also motivate some Canon DSLR owners to see the writing on the wall, and prepare, maybe think about selling off their DSLRs while they may have some resale value before the eventual drop of repair support.

Still, our current DSLRs and lenses are great gear and even after they are no longer supported by Canon we will have options with third party and used.

But I have to consider if I ever plan to move to the R cameras, do I want to invest in any more DSLR lenses. Canon realizes this too.

Though Nikon has so far not made similar announcements (on the contrary, there has been some talk about supporting DSLR and F-mount for a while longer), Nikon users are pretty much in the same boat. Reality may force Nikon to abandon their previous statements and plans and focus exclusively on mirrorless. Canon EF lenses can also be used quite readily on Sony mirrorless bodies (not sure about Nikon) - so Canon users have options when it comes camera selection. Adapting Nikon lenses to Sony (and others) is still in its infancy but may also become an option.

 

Whether Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina (and others) will continue producing DSLR after manufacturers have discontinued them remains to be seen - it is rather doubtful though.

No doubt their choices are based on sales. I've moved to the RF mount, but still use a couple of EF mount lenses via the adapter. FWIW, they're better on the R5 than they were on the DSLR since the focusing is spot on all the time.

Like Ken, I was startled and concerned that the 70-200 f/4 II is on the list, and for the same reasons. My generation 1 of that lens is among my most used lenses, and if it got trashed, I would have planned to by the II.

 

Like several others on this thread, I shoot primarily with a 5D IV, and I love it. I upgraded from a 5D III during last June's sale on the Mark IVs. the net cost of the upgrade (net of selling the III) was 1/3 of what it would have cost to upgrade to the R5. Since I don't do video and actually prefer a sensor in the 30 MPX range, it didn't seem worth the extra. Maybe I was shortsighted...

I see the 40mm f/2.8 is no longer available at B&H. Glad I have mine. It is such a good lense.

I see the 40mm f/2.8 is no longer available at B&H. Glad I have mine. It is such a good lense.

I'm glad I bought that lens also, after having returned a faulty one. What a bargain!

I'm glad I bought that lens also, after having returned a faulty one. What a bargain!

Agreed, these are inexpensive little gems. There may be a few out there at other camera shops. I highly recommend getting one for anyone who doesn't own one yet while there is still a chance. I'm not sure if there is a third party pancake equivalent with as good of an IQ. The pancake aspect is nice too. Makes the camera size little more than a body and lens cap. And Canon isn't making any more for DSLRs.

Canon just killed off a lot more EF & EF-S mount DSLR lenses with more going soon - DIY Photography

 

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Not exactly a bad thing. maybe the price of some of these lenses will go down on the used market. Right now, I'm pretty much sticking with DSLR's despite their flaws, not because I dislike mirror-less cameras, but because I can't afford to get a whole new set of lenses. I passed by BestBuy the other day and tried out the latest Sony Mirrorless camera, (I forget which one ?) that was on display... I got to admit that the EVF(electronic view finder) was really good, almost life-like. I was really impressed. Edited April 13, 2021 by hjoseph7

B&H still has the 70-200 F4L II in stock while the 40mm f2.8 is listed as discontinued. There is nothing official from Canon and it is certainly possible that rumor sites are jumping the gun on this (or setting out clickbait). I think, without any evidence of course, that Canon is not currently manufacturing or developing any new EF equipmentment and are solely working on the R and M systems. It is likely that Nikon is doing the same with their Z system. If and when inventories are depleted of popular DSLR items, then the manufactures will have to decide how much future support they will provide their legacy systems. The good news is that EF lenses seem to operate just fine on R and M bodys.

 

FYI, the rumor site have leaked photos of a Canon R3, a rather professional looking camera to compete with the Z9 and Sony A1

New lenses announced like the 100mm macro priced at 1689€ (the first price may not be the eventual "street price") are at such high prices that I think a lot of people will be shocked at how much this "transition to mirrorless" ends up costing to the users, if that's what's they are going to do.

 

A huge number of users will be put off by the prices, I think. Pay twice for what you already had or have half of the lenses one is used to.

Edited April 14, 2021 by ilkka_nissila

Prices have been going up on most newly announced equipment for the last few years, and the R system is not one you choose right new if you want to assemble an FF mirrorless system on the cheap. B&H will sell the new RF 100mm L macro for $1,399 when available. A bargain compared with 1689 Euros. The EF version is only $100 cheaper today at B&H. Of course any EF compatible macro lens ever produced (+ adaptor) will work on an R.

Prices have been going up on most newly announced equipment for the last few years, and the R system is not one you choose right new if you want to assemble an FF mirrorless system on the cheap. B&H will sell the new RF 100mm L macro for $1,399 when available. A bargain compared with 1689 Euros. The EF version is only $100 cheaper today at B&H. Of course any EF compatible macro lens ever produced (+ adaptor) will work on an R.

 

It does seem the R5 price has gone up a tier compared to the 5D line when they were first released. There are other expenses too if switching from Canon DSLRs, new memory cards, EF-RF adapter or buy all new lenses.

It is a big expense and for some it has been a rough year monetarily. Staying with the current DSLR makes sense. The gear works as good as it ever did.

 

There are less expensive Mirrorless options like the Sony line of Alpha 7RII or 7RIII or 7RIV and you can still use your Canon lenses with either a Metabones or Sigma adapter and still be under $3000. Options that are well over $1000 cheaper.

 

As tempting as an upgrade to an R5 is, there is no rush or need for me, I have to resist the impulse to buy it (it does look so awesome), I have good gear as is. Maybe Canon will have some new mirrorless offerings in the 5D MK ** price tier and build quality down the line when the time comes that I really need a new camera. The price tier jump certainly has not hindered demand and sales. The R5 is popular and people are willing to spend the money and Canon needed this

If you take inflation into account, the introductory prices of the R5 and 5D Mark IV are very similar.

 

The 5D mark IV was introduced in August 2016 for $3499. Using the CPI as an inflator, that's $3848 in current dollars (CPI Inflation Calculator). The R5 sells for $3899, an increase of roughly 1% in constant dollars. Just as the price of the 5D Mark IV has fallen about 30% in nominal dollars since then, I suspect the price of the R5 will too.

 

Despite this, the prices of some gear have gone up recently, and this isn't limited to new releases.I shoot with the EF 100mm L macro. For a while, the price had dropped below $1000. Now it's up to $1300. I'm guessing that supply-chain problems are at least part of the reason.

 

I'm in no rush. My Mark IV performs exactly as well as it did when it arrived last June, which is to say very, very well. However, I think the handwriting is on the wall, and if a truck runs over it, I'll probably switch to mirrorless.

 

Re using a Sony body: perhaps someone with more experience can chime in, but from what I have read, EF lenses with adapters perform flawlessly on R bodies but not always flawlessly on Sony bodies. is that correct?

Still don't get it when people switch to RF because of the weight.

The RF lenses they are releasing now are not light at all.

Canon response is that they are "optimizing" the EF line not discontinuing lenses.

Canon Is Not Discontinuing EF Lenses But Making Sort Of "Spring Clean

Sounds like typical corporate BS to me.

 

I would agree that swapping from DSLR FF to mirrorless FF is unlikely to result in significant weight savings. Only exception would the RF 70-200 F2.8 which is about 30% lighter/smaller than its EF counterpart. No idea if the shorter flange distance or some other enginining feature allowed such weight reduction .

New lenses announced like the 100mm macro priced at 1689€ (the first price may not be the eventual "street price") are at such high prices that I think a lot of people will be shocked at how much this "transition to mirrorless" ends up costing to the users, if that's what's they are going to do.

 

A huge number of users will be put off by the prices, I think. Pay twice for what you already had or have half of the lenses one is used to.

 

Not only that but Canon has quietly increased UK prices on the EF and RF lenses and RF bodies over the last few months. The 50mm TS-E which is on my want list is over around 15% more expensive than 18 months ago. Even the R5 & R6 bodies have gained £100 lately.

Hardly surprising. First, there has been a global increase in the price of many complex electronics because of supply chain problems, chip shortages, etc. This has had repercussions throughout the economy--e.g, a steep price in the cost of rental cars. (Agencies unloaded their fleets when COVID reduced demand, and now that demand is creeping up, cars are hard for them to come by because manufacturers, faced with chip shortages, have been producing fewer low-price cars.) Second, the camera market has been shrinking. Even though the ILC market has shrunk far less than the market for cheaper cameras, it's shrunk. Smaller volumes mean that fixed prices (design, testing, retooling production equipment, facilites costs, etc.) have to be spread over fewer units, and that raises prices. I think it's remarkable that at least in US prices, after taking inflation into account, Canon is selling the R5 for nearly the identical price of the 5D IV when it was introduced.

Obviously I haven't been keeping up on Canon- Just bought a 1st version 6D from KEH today to upgrade from my 14 year old 1st version 5D. Looking at 35 and 24 ef L lenses and figured maybe I ought to mosey over here...