Canon has lowered their prices on a number of lenses, thanks to a new instant rebate.
- Canon RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM for $449.00 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Canon Store
- Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM for $899.00 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Canon Store
- Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM for $499.00 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Canon Store
- Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM for $549.00 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Canon Store
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM for $899.00 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Canon Store
- Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM for $199.00 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon, Canon Store
I had a feeling the rebates would be back on those 17-40mm and 17-55mm lenses. I would think that is going to be an ongoing thing.
I really hope that Canon updates that 17-55mm at some point. It’s ancient, but still a great lens. Came out in 2006 and has only seen small fixes to issues it had (like the IS drive used to fail constantly). I would think it could have more up to date optics, the latest engineering, better IS, better design (it looks like it was made in the 80’s for crying out loud), latest ASC coating, and possibly sealing against dust and moisture (needs dust sealing bad). This would make it sharper for the new 32mp sensor 90D and M6mkII, with better performance against backlight, less CA, and more stability (probably 4 or 5 stops). Most importantly though, it needs nano-USM AF. This will make it totally viable as a video lens, something people want to use it for, while keeping it useful for sports and event shoots as well. I doubt we ever see this though…
It will be very interesting to see if Canon updates their premium ef-s zooms (17-55 & 15-85), which, as you rightly point out, are in sore need of updates. I wouldn’t be surprised though if there will be more movement on the ef-m side, as Canon in general focuses on mirrorless, ef and efs lenses maybe stuck in a holding pattern.
Thing is that new 32mp sensor is really not going to have a lot of lenses to use on it for the 90D that can benefit from it. I would think now would be a great time to update the 17-55mm. I kind of forgot about the 15-85mm, I think mostly because the 18-135mm USM pretty well replaces it in just about all ways, IMHO. An updated 15-85mm though, with the ability to resolve the 32mp sensor, that would be a reason to get excited! Especially if it used nano-USM. Even STM on that lens would be great. Still firm that the 17-55mm should have nano-USM if they do a new one.
As it is now though, I think the EF-S 60mm F2.8 and maybe the EF-S 24mm F2.8 will be just about the only EF-S lenses that will show a real difference in sharpness with the new sensor. The 17-55mm and 15-85m are just too out of date. Still going to look great, I just doubt they will be largely different from the 80D. Lets hope an update comes on EF-S. I really don’t want to go to the EF-M system. I would think an APS-C RF camera won’t be too far in the future (probably what the 7DmkIII would have been). And if they crack that egg open, I can’t even see what point the EF-M system would even have anymore. They are in a weird place right now..