GDU has unveiled its new armored 50mm and 16mm Canon RF lenses. Essentially they are just the original Canon lenses that have been housed in a protective 6061 billet aluminum shell with all the external controls removed.
The whole concept behind these lenses was to create something more robust for those users who want or need to work in more extreme conditions.
Now, while this a novel idea and it is bound to be of interest to some of our readers, you have to remember that the original Canon lenses that these are based on are not only extremely affordable but also very lightweight. GDU doesn’t mention anywhere how much their 16mm and 50mm lenses actually weigh.
GDU Armored RF 16mm F2.8 Autofocus Lens
The GDU RF 16mm AF lens is the standard Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM lens wrapped in what GDU claims is an almost indestructible armor machined from billet 6061 aluminum.
The lens also features an anodized red lens hood and an internal mask is cut out of metal and bolted to the housing.
GDU has removed the manual focus ring as well as all external switches so that nothing gets knocked out of place when the lens is mounted to a camera on a drone, bolted to the side of a helmet, placed on a car mount, or in a crash housing.
On RED cameras the lens can focus and change iris via RED CONTROL or the camera’s internal focus control, and on Canon RF mount cameras the lens will operate with AF and iris just like the original lens does.
The internals of the lens is exactly the same as the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM which features 9 elements with 1 Aspherical element.
On Canon cameras, this lens covers full-frame without vignetting.
On RED VV sensors including the RAPTOR and Monstro VV, the 16mm will cover up to approx 7K before vignetting.
Lens Specifications
F2.8 – F22 Electronically controlled Iris
Stainless steel metal RF Mount
5.1 in / 0.43 ft. / 0.13m minimum focus
Internal filter diameter: 43mm
This GDU RF 16mm AF lens Includes:
- 1 lens with integrated lens hood
- Front and back lens caps
- Custom-sized GDU Vegan Leather zippered lens case with velvet padded interior.
The GDU Armored RF 16mm F2.8 Autofocus Lens is now available for $599 USD. Just as a reference, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Lens is $299 USD, so you are basically paying double the cost of the original lens.
You can email GDU for same-day pickup in Hollywood. Same-day shipping orders need to be placed before 2:00pm Los Angeles time.
GDU Armored RF 50mm F1.8 Autofocus Lens
The GDU Armored RF 50mm F1.8 Autofocus Lens is based on the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens. Just like the 16mm, the GDU Armored RF 50mm F1.8 is wrapped in billet 6061 aluminum.
The lens also features an anodized red lens hood and an internal mask is cut out of metal and bolted to the housing.
Just like with the 16mm, GDU has removed the manual focus ring as well as all external switches.
On RED cameras the lens can focus and change iris via RED CONTROL or the camera’s internal focus control, and on Canon RF mount cameras the lens will operate with AF and iris just like the original lens does.
The internals of the lens is exactly the same as the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM which features 6 elements with 1 Aspherical element.
On Canon cameras, this lens covers full-frame without vignetting.
On RED cameras this lens covers all current RED sensors up to 8K including Raptor VV, Monstro VV, and all S35 and S35+ previous sensors.
The GDU Armored RF 50mm F1.8 Autofocus Lens retails for $499 USD. In comparison, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is on sale at B&H for $159 USD.
GDU Armored RF 50mm, RF 16mm + 40mm-Touch & Go BasePlate – Bundle
The GDU Armored RF 50mm, RF 16mm + 40mm-Touch & Go BasePlate – Bundle includes the following items:
GDU RF 16mm AF lens
- 1 lens with integrated lens hood
- Front and back lens caps
- Custom-sized GDU Vegan Leather zippered lens case with velvet padded interior
GDU RF 50mm AF lens
- 1 lens with integrated lens hood
- Front and back lens caps
- Custom-sized GDU Vegan Leather zippered lens case with velvet padded interior.
The bundle also includes a 40mm Touch & Go Baseplate.
The GDU Armored RF 50mm, RF 16mm + 40mm-Touch & Go BasePlate – Bundle retails for $1,249.00 USD.
