p.1 #1 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
Yes, it's just a patent and may never come to fruition, but a 500 5.6 L lens, being the same weight and length as the old EF 400 5.6 may be a welcome addition to the line up.
Jim
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p.1 #2 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
jgoetz4 wrote:
Yes, it's just a patent and may never come to fruition, but a 500 5.6 L lens, being the same weight and length as the old EF 400 5.6 may be a welcome addition to the line up.
Jim
That would be a very interesting lens to me, especially if they kept the price down, say somewhere between the Nikon 400 f/4.5S and the Nikon 600 f/6.3S PF, and would provide a compelling alternative to those lenses. I think it would be smart of Canon to offer such an alternative.
p.1 #4 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
What happened to all the other lenses CR said were coming, not to mention the R7II which never got here. At this point I think all can agree Canon Rumors is strickly a clickbait site with absoutly no credibility.
p.1 #5 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
I always liked the 400 f/5.6. It was kind of redundant when I had the 100-400 though, so I let mine go. But such a nice, lightweight, sharp handy lens.
p.1 #6 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
gkinard1952 wrote:
What happened to all the other lenses CR said were coming, not to mention the R7II which never got here. At this point I think all can agree Canon Rumors is strickly a clickbait site with absoutly no credibility.
Canon Rumors is just that. A rumor website. However, the RF 14 1.4 L VCM & the RF 7-14 L Fisheye, among others that were rumored, were actually announced by Canon.
p.1 #8 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
The Canon 600/4 RF is humoungous. It's the largest of the modern 600/4s and bulges my Gumbas gear 32L at the seams, making it over the airline length also. The EF 500/4 IS II is a lot smaller and no doubt a newer version could be even smaller yet. I suppose there is some use for the 500/5.6 w/1.4x TC, but Canon has not made a DO in a decade so I'm not expecting it to be so small.
EBH
Apr 23, 2026 at 12:16 AM
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p.1 #9 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
EB-1 wrote:
The Canon 600/4 RF is humoungous. It's the largest of the modern 600/4s and bulges my Gumbas gear 32L at the seams, making it over the airline length also. The EF 500/4 IS II is a lot smaller and no doubt a newer version could be even smaller yet. I suppose there is some use for the 500/5.6 w/1.4x TC, but Canon has not made a DO in a decade so I'm not expecting it to be so small.
EBH
Well Nikon made their new 400 f/4.5S very small without PF optics, so I think a 500 f/5.6 (which has the same size entrance pupil) can be small too even without DO optics. It would have to be a little longer, but it could still be light.
Elsewhere the Fuji XF 500 f/5.6 is just 1,335g and the version of that lens covering medium format is only 40g heavier at 1,375g, so there is no reason that Canon couldn't make a lens that is that light. This would bring it in at very close to the weight and size of the RF 100-500L. In my estimation that would be a very compelling lens.
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p.1 #10 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
Z250SA wrote:
Looks like it would take converters and be a potentially very nice 700mm f/8. Not too far from my dream lens, an 800mm f/8 L IS.
Well with a very small 1.14X crop, this lens would look just like an 800 f/9 lens with that 1.4X TC, so yes quite close to your dream lens and it would be shorter and likely a little lighter.
Apr 23, 2026 at 05:48 AM
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p.1 #11 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
gkinard1952 wrote:
What happened to all the other lenses CR said were coming, not to mention the R7II which never got here. At this point I think all can agree Canon Rumors is strickly a clickbait site with absoutly no credibility.
This is a patent announcement, not a rumor that the lens will be released. I am reasonably sure the patent actually was registered, so there isn't any reason to question CR's credibility on this one. Nevertheless, there are tons and tons of patents out there for lenses that are never made, so there is absolutely no guarantee that Canon will make this lens. Still there is a patent for pretty much every lens they do make, so they might. I for one hope they do.
p.1 #12 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
Steve Spencer wrote:
Well with a very small 1.14X crop, this lens would look just like an 800 f/9 lens with that 1.4X TC, so yes quite close to your dream lens and it would be shorter and likely a little lighter.
Yes, it would be a very handy package for sure. I have come to love the 800mm FL. It is just about there where atmospherics really start kicking the lightrays around. The one thing I hope an L-prime would fix is the glow around the whites that many of my subjects, mostly seabirds, have , terns (first for the year yesterday, a S. hirundo), smews, razorbills, eiders, swans, all shining white with blacks. Especially if the settings happens to be in eagle-mode.
On the present FF´s the 800/11 does really well, but the 200-800 is my main lens. I would be frustrated as %#??!! trying to zoom with the prime in the heat of The Moment, of course. And I would like more light gathering than the f/11 without breaking my back or economy. I´m pretty sure a 800/8 wont happen. But it´s good to have some dreams.
p.1 #14 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
A 500mm f5.6L IS would be my perfect birding lens. I use a EF400mm f5.6L today with an SL1 and it's very light and easy to to work with. I've always wanted a bit more reach and IS would be nice.
Problem is an RF500mm is likely going to be $2500 Canadian or more.
p.1 #15 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
Steve Spencer wrote:
Well Nikon made their new 400 f/4.5S very small without PF optics, so I think a 500 f/5.6 (which has the same size entrance pupil) can be small too even without DO optics. It would have to be a little longer, but it could still be light.
Elsewhere the Fuji XF 500 f/5.6 is just 1,335g and the version of that lens covering medium format is only 40g heavier at 1,375g, so there is no reason that Canon couldn't make a lens that is that light. This would bring it in at very close to the weight and size of the RF 100-500L. In my estimation that would be a very compelling lens....Show more →
I almost considered the Sigma FE 500/5.6, but it does not take TCs. I would get one if it takes a TC and is good at the 700/8. But that lens is $3200, so I expect a genuine Canon RF lens would be $5K. In good light one would probably have the 100-500 on one body and the 500/5.6 + TC on another.
EBH
Apr 23, 2026 at 11:35 AM
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p.1 #16 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
EB-1 wrote:
I almost considered the Sigma FE 500/5.6, but it does not take TCs. I would get one if it takes a TC and is good at the 700/8. But that lens is $3200, so I expect a genuine Canon RF lens would be $5K. In good light one would probably have the 100-500 on one body and the 500/5.6 + TC on another.
EBH
I would expect it to be a little less. The Nikon 400 f/4.5S is $3,500 (but on sale right now for $3,000) and the Nikon 600 f/6.3S PF is $5,000 (but on sale for $4,000 right now). The Fuji XF 500 f/5.6 is $3,600, and the Fuji GF 500 f/5.6 is $4,000, so I would expect that Canon RF to come in not much more than $4,000 maybe $4,500.
I agree that using the 100-500L together with this 500 f/5.6 with a 1.4X TC would be a pretty great combo, at least for me and the kind of things I like to shoot for wildlife.
p.1 #17 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
They may as well do it proper and make it a 600/5.6 (or 6.3). Nikon made a 500/5.6 for the old mount but added 100mm for the Z mount. They understood that the overwhelming majority who liked 500mm would love 600mm. That 600/6.3 (or its 800/6.3 big brother) is best combo of reach, speed, weight, IQ, and price on the market today. Why Canon thinks a 500/5.6 is better is beyond me......
p.1 #19 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
I think after reading this thread I realize any chance of an _affordable_ 500mm f5.6L is out the window. Also, I had no idea how expensive those RF100-500mm lenses are. Kind of makes me appreciate my $650 Canadian dog chewed 400mm f5.6L even more.
p.1 #20 · Canon Shows off RF 500mm F5.6 L IS in Latest Patent
EB-1 wrote:
I would not buy a 600/6.3 if I could buy a zoom that goes to 600/6.3.
EBH
Well, that's a decision Canon shooters don't need to make. And Nikon shooters can buy both for around $5K. Use the prime when weight is at a premium (like walking around for birds); use the zoom when mammals are present (like in Africa).
