Why has Canon Abandoned F/2.8?

DavidNJ100 wrote:

Steve W wrote:

rrccad wrote:

DavidNJ100 wrote:

A basic set of lenses consists of three zooms. For Nikon those were 12-24, 24-70, and 70-200 F2.8 zooms. For Canon they have been a 16-35, 24-70, and 70-200 F2.8 zooms. In both cases only the 70-200 have IS. Tamron and Sigma have 24-70 and 70-200 F2.8 zooms. Tamron has a 15-30 zoom coming out early next year.

Canon introduced the 70-200 in 2010 and the 24-70 in 2012

both lenses are best in class - the 24-70 II and the 70-200 II.

the only lens that needs an update from the 2.8 lens lineup is the 16-35mm.

I'm not convinced the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II needs an update. If you have the new 16-35mm f/4L IS and 11-24mm f/4L and agree those are targeted at the landscape/ (architecture ?) shooter then the f/2.8L II is a great lens for the event/photojournalist and doesn't need an update. That's how I view it. I'm really curious about when Nikon photographers use the f/2.8 aperture on their 14-24mm? I know a dozen or so an most use it at f/5.6 and above but I'll ask them again. Then again I know a few that won't even travel with it because they can't protect it with a filter. Its their most expensive lens and they baby it.

With four zooms between 11-35, and the 14L II, TS-E 17L and the TS-E 24L I think Canon has the landscape covered now with lenses that perform well. Sure I love the Zeiss 15mm and 21mm and the Nikon 14-24 is supposed to be a great lens but I don't think we have much to complain about.

Canon's strength is its lenses. The 16-35/2.8 is a good lens...but were you expecting to new F4 lenses rather than an update for the 2.8?

wise money was on that yes. the 17-40L was releaed in 2003. the 16-38 2.8 II was released in 2007. see the difference? it's really not that hard. I would not expect a 16-35 for another year to three years. they may escalate that if they release a high resolution camera body, but there's no urgency. this is why people feel that canon L lenses hold their value. because canon just doesn't on a whim and spaghetti hitting the wall decide to slew foot them out.

what other manufacturers release and when has no bearing on what canon does. L lenses don't get refreshed frequently unless there's big problem or a huge demand for it.

there's only so many lenses and so many resouces available to develop lenses. it takes YEARS and YEARS of R&D for a lens. they don't make these out of their mom's basement overnight. canon produces around 5 to 7 new lenses per year. there's a TON of lenses that need to be refreshed before a 16-35 III comes out - and that's now across three different mounts peculiarities even (EF-M, EF-S and EF)

Also consider that Canon optical both manufacturing (and fluorite crystal plant) and R&D was hit somewhat hard with the earthquake three years ago.