Now, if you want something weird, look at the announcement by Canon today: They started the development of a tele-zoom lens that you did not see anywhere else.
Maybe Canon was inspired by the success (and the quality) of the Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED AF-S VR II Nikkor. But obviously, Canon wanted to bring some more. We can expect exceptional glass quality, but they added an internal 1.4x extender, for free (Well! For the price, we’ll see what it will be). At the tip of your finger, you can increase the focal range up to 280-560mm (with some slightly reduced aperture as can be expected from all optical focal extenders).
The lens will also be built with weather-sealing to the highest Canon standards.
Obviously, this completely new addition to the L line of lenses at Canon will be simultaneously
- an answer to the success of the equivalent tele-zoom from Nikon,
- a good replacement to the 100-400mm f/5.6 who was becoming old (and not so wise),
- a major technological improvement to kick the competition in the back.
I expect that many a user of the 100-400mm f/5.6 will be looking at it and all will depend on the price of this big lens.
Official launch will be made in 2011 (probably relatively late) and it will be possible to see a prototype on display at CP+, in Yokohama, Japan (from Feb 9 to Feb 12).