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Canon launches the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 & 85mm f/1.2 DS

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Canon has officially launched the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.2 DS lenses. Both lenses were originally revealed months ago.

We saw both of these lenses way back at CP+ 2019 at the start of the year.

RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

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The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM is short and compact in comparison to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens. The RF version is 1 lb lighter and 2″ shorter when fully retracted.

Due to the small flange distance on the EOS RF mount, Canon has been able to keep the size of the lens to a minimum.

What you do need to keep in mind is this lens extends.

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EOS R and RP owners are sure to be excited about this lens because it now means there are now three f/2.8 IS USM zooms available.

The lens incorporates Optical Image Stabilization rated for up to 5 stops of correction. It also supports IS Mode 3, which only activates the system when the shutter button is fully depressed.

Autofocus is claimed to be speedy and quiet, as the lens utilizes Dual Nano USM. The lens can a close focus ability of 2.3′ which is considerably better than the 3.94′ of the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM.

There is a rubberized focusing ring to help when manual focusing is required, and a programmable control ring for changing select settings. The lens is dust and water resistant and has a Fluorine coating.

The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM will retail for $2,699.00 USD. This is considerably more money than the $1,899.00 USD that the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM costs.

RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS

The new RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS looks almost identical to the standard RF 85mm f/1.2L USM. The key difference is the “DS” suffix. DS in canon language , means “Defocus Smoothing”. This is claimed to help users create more pleasing bokeh. Now, this DH tech does have a caveat, in the form of light loss. If you have it activated you will lose 1 1/3 stops of light when shooting at f/1.2.

The lens uses one of Canon’s latest optical formulas and it features advanced elements for sharp, aberration-free images.

This lens uses Canon’s Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) to keep aberrations to a minimum. Also, it has fast, quiet focusing down to a minimum distance of 2.8′. It features heavy-duty construction with dust and water resistance and a Fluorine coating. And, just like all other RF lenses, the 85mm f/1.2L DS has a programmable control ring.

The lens retails for $2,999.00 USD. Again, this is more than $1,0000 USD more expensive than the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM.

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