Reported at the end of March, Canon appears to be rapidly discontinuing popular EF-mount DSLR lenses and according to a new report, that isn’t slowing down. Canon is supposedly ceasing production of ten more lenses with at least four more planned to join the list sometime in 2021.
Canon Rumors has reported that a list of ten lenses has joined the previous list of discontinued optics bringing the total number of discontinued EF lenses to 24, according to a running list on the site.
When reached for comment the afternoon of April 8, a Canon representative told PetaPixel the morning of April 9 that it could provide no additional information at this time.
The report alleges that a huge swath of lenses will no longer be manufactured: EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, EF 14mm f/2.8L USM, EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Macro, EF-S 35mm f/2.8 IS STM Macro, EF-S 55-250mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, EF 135mm f/2L USM, and the EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro.
It also alleges that four more lenses are set to cease production by the end of the year: EF 35mm f/2 IS USM, EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM II, EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM II, and the EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II.
Not explicitly mentioned in the report but are included on the complete running list that brings the total count to 24 optics on the chopping block.
Independently verifying that these lenses have indeed been discontinued is challenging. While the initial shortlist of optics mentioned in late March included a few lenses that were showing as no longer available at major distributors, most of the lenses in this new list are still showing as in stock and ready to ship (with the exception of the 24-70mm f/4). Canon itself has not changed anything on its website indicating that these lenses have been discontinued, leaving Canon Rumors as the only source that this is actually happening. Canon being unable (or unwilling) to provide a statement is therefore particularly unfortunate.
Seeing so many popular lenses cease production may be alarming when paired with the word “discontinued,” but there are some things to keep in mind. Canon will no doubt continue service and support for these lenses for some time — Canon Rumors reports at least to December 31, 2027 — and the stock of these lenses in the market is quite high. It is not hard to purchase any Canon EF lens right now, and Canon likely is able to cease production of the lenses after gauging that the market is saturated enough with them that it can now focus on the production of RF lenses moving forward.
Since Canon’s focus is very clearly to go with mirrorless, slowing and then eventually ceasing the production of old EF-mount lenses was bound to happen. There is therefore very little reason for alarm, though noting which lenses are being phased out may indicate which optics Canon intends to replace first RF-mount equivalents.
Author: Jaron Schneider
Source: Petapixel
