Lense and Flash: History

[regjones]

Does anyone have a feel on how frequent Canon releases new add-on lenses and flashes?

In other words, given Canon history when can we anticipate--for example, a new 50mm prime, a new 100-400 L, a new 420 EX, a new 550 EX etc.

I'm especially interested in the flash history.

thanks.

[lightandlife]

I do not know if Canon has any regular cycle of new releases of lenses or flashes.

Probably the decision is made every year, and every few years (5?) they will have an overview of inventories and figure out which lenses or flashes need to be updated.

As you know, Canon recently replaced 28-70mm by 24-70mm L and 70-200mm L by its IS version.
Moreover 24-70mm is specifically designed for DSLR. It follows that Canon is reviewing its lens (as well as flash) market and make changes in its line up for digital SLR. The expanding digital market requires a revised line up of lenses. It would be strange if they have not started this process already. Canon has been a leader in design changes.

[daveh]

I guess it depends on the definition of a new lens. When I started with Canon around 1972, the 50mm primes were the f1.8, f1.4 and f1.2. Of course, they changed the mount since then but I still tend to think of the f1.8 and f1.4 as essentially the same lenses even though I'm pretty sure the optical designs of each has been tweaked at least once. Likewise I replaced my old FD 85 f1.2, 135 f2.0, 200 f2.8 etc. with the EF 85 f1.2,135 f2.0 and 200 f2.8 etc. (Though I think these have all also had an optical tweak or two too.)

There's been more action in zooms. At first Canon thought zooms were beneath them but then they introduced some very high end zooms. Eventually they decided that cheap(ish) zooms wouldn't destroy the Canon reputation (not if they started marketing the better stuff under the name "L" at least ;)) and zooms have been coming out like crazy since then.

It doesn't seem to me that there's any fixed scheduling. These (relatively) new sub-35mm imagers must be causing some internal discussions - ie how long will they be around, should we design lenses specifically for them etc.

[regjones]

Does anyone know when (approx?) both the 420 EX and the 550 EX came out?

thanks.