Lenses
New Lenses from Canon and Nikon Go to the Extreme
October 12, 2023
Two new lenses — a 10-20mm Canon lens and a 600mm Nikon lens — go to the extreme with the features they deliver.
Canon RF10-20mm F4 L IS STM Full-Frame Mirrorless Lens

On the one side, we have the ultra-wide Canon RF10-20mm F4 L IS STM full-frame mirrorless. This lens and its extreme focal length have drama written all over it for fashion, portraits and weddings. Of course, it’s great for landscapes and cityscapes as well as architecture, real estate and any shoot where you need this extreme field of view.
Its “L” designation commands respect among photographers for its excellent optical quality. The lens features new image stabilization technology that not only delivers 5 stops of IS (6 stops when mounted on a camera with built-in stabilization) but also helps eliminate visual effects of camera shake at the edges of the frame.
As you’d expect from an L-series, the rectilinear RF10-20mm is dust- and water-resistant and is built with multiple, high-quality glass elements to deliver excellent image quality and minimize aberrations such as ghosting. And, for the first time in an L-series lens, Canon has used an STM focus drive motor for quiet AF—a feature especially appealing to videographers.
Thanks to its customizable lens function button, photographers have quick and easy access to features of their choice including AF setting, Zebras and Pre-Recording, to name just a few. It comes with a built-in lens hood and a case, has a built-in rear slot for gel filters, focuses down to just under 10 inches and weighs only 1.25 pounds (about half the weight of the EF 11-24MM F4 L lens). Slated to ship in November, it will set you back about $2,299.
Price: $2,299
Nikon Nikkor Z 600mm F6.3 VR S

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the new Nikon Nikkor Z 600mm F6.3 VR S. What’s notable about this lens isn’t so much its focal length but the fact that it can be handheld. (We’re aware that some people can handhold 600mm lenses but, as far as we know, they’re not the norm.) Thanks to the use of a Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element, this super-telephoto lens weighs only 3 pounds and measures about 11 inches in length so you can ditch your tripod and monopod. Better yet, if you’re shooting the Indianapolis 500 or trying to capture that rare bird in flight, you have the freedom to pan quite easily given the its size and weight.
Of course, Nikon vibration reduction (VR) helps compensate for any shake that might occur. In its Normal VR mode, the Z 600mm delivers 5.5 stops of compensation. It also features a Sport VR mode that provides a stabilized view in the display to provide easier tracking. Combined with a compatible camera that offers in-body VR and you’ll get up to 6.0 stops of stabilization with the lens’ Synchro VR.
In addition to its dust- and drip-resistant design, the Z 600mm lens also features a quiet stepping motor (STM) for quiet autofocus—a feature that is especially useful when filming. And if 600mm isn’t close enough for you, the lens is compatible with the Z TC-1.4x or TC-2.0x teleconverters without losing the benefits of the Z 600mm’s AF and VR.
On the barrel, you’ll find four lens Fn2 buttons and a single lens Fn button for customization and quick access to important features—including a memory recall of a specific focus position.
We’re happy to see Nikon expand its line of PF lenses. While the Z 600mm may be a little slow (compared to its AF-S F4E FL ED VR counterpart), but it’s a small tradeoff considering this native Z lens almost 2/3 lighter and costs a mere $4,800 vs. the AF-S’ $12,300. But, perhaps most importantly, the Z 600mm gives you the freedom to shoot handheld even with a super-telephoto lens—a feat that more than a few of us couldn’t achieve otherwise.
Price: $4,800
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