Canon has released an innovative hybrid telezoom that is adapted for professional-level video shooting: it has internal zooming (i.e. it does not extend forward when changing the focal length), supports a servo drive for smooth control, and also allows you to adjust the aperture without clicks. The Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z also has fast autofocus, optical stabilization, and can be used with modern high-resolution cameras. The cost of the new product is $2,999.
The hybrid optics line (as Canon calls it) is designed to fill the gap between Canon’s RF photo lenses and professional CN-E cinema lenses. That’s why Canon doesn’t call the new telezoom a cinema lens.
Thus, the hybrid Canon RF cinema optics can be used equally successfully both for video shooting and for photo sessions. The new Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z can be an interesting option for shooting documentaries, commercial corporate videos, mid-budget clips and in other scenarios.
Thanks to the built-in optical stabilizer with an efficiency of 5.5 exposure steps, you can count on fairly smooth shooting (especially in combination with Canon cameras with matrix stabilization, for example, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II).
Canon’s new hybrid telephoto lens is available in both black and white.
The optical design of the new Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z lens consists of 18 elements in 15 groups and has an 11-bladed aperture . This differs from the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM lens, which has 17 elements in 13 groups.
This is how the new hybrid lens looks with the Canon EOS R5C camera:
The new Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z is longer than the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM (however, the photo lens does not have an internal zoom, so it extends when changing the focal length), but is only slightly heavier at 1100 grams. The front filter diameter is 82 mm. In a direct comparison, the two lenses look like this:
In addition to the above, the new Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z also has contacts for connecting Canon Power Zoom adapters.
There are currently two adapters: the Canon PZ-E2 and the PZ-E2B (this version includes a 20-pin port for powering the camera). They were announced and released along with the Canon RF 24-105mm F/2.8L IS Z hybrid last year.
However, in the photo below, the zoom control is operated by the motorized zoom with the left hand, which is hampered by the large base plate located at the bottom of the camera.
The Canon PZ-E2 or PZ-E2B adapters are easily attached to the side of the lens by hand using the mounting screws. No special tools are required. Canon also demonstrates a more convenient version of the servo control:
The Power Zoom PZ-E2 and PZ-E2B adapters are not included with the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z Hybrid Telephoto Lens. They can be purchased separately. The retail price of the PZ-E2 is $999 (96 thousand rubles at the current exchange rate), and the PZ-E2B is $1,299 (126 thousand rubles).
The optional Canon PZ-E2 or PZ-E2B Power Zoom adapters can be used manually or remotely using the Canon Camera Connect/EOS Utility apps, Browser Remote, or via the Canon XC protocol with compatible cameras.
The RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z lens is also compatible with Canon’s proprietary Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x teleconverters.
Key features of the Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z hybrid lens:
- Designed for full-frame cameras
- Aperture range F/2.8 to F/22
- Proprietary Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system
- 5.5-stop optical image stabilizer
- Manual, lockable aperture ring
- Two L.Fn buttons and a function ring
- Super UD, UD and aspherical elements in the optical design
- Air Sphere and Super Spectra coatings
- Fluoride coating
- Durable, weather-resistant construction
In a sense, the new Canon is a full-frame reboot of the
Canon CN-E 70-200mm T4.4 L IS KAS S Zoom cinema lens. That was a more expensive but slower-aperture telezoom, priced at $5,000. However, a servo motor was included with that lens.
The price of the new hybrid zoom Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Z is $2999 (290 thousand rubles at the current exchange rate). The full list of technical characteristics of the new product is as follows:
