This is a day that many will mourn. While the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro is by far the more popular lens, the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro is certainly the more unique and more revered amongst many macro photographers. Offering up to 5x magnification, it certainly stood out amongst the others on the market – for any camera system. Well now, it appears that Canon has finally discontinued it, accordin to the Canon Japan website. Unlike the 100mm f/2.8 macro, though, it looks like there may not be an RF Mount replacement for this one. There have been no announcements or hints from Canon, nor even any rumours. It was added to the Canon EF lens lineup in 1999 and I’ve had a play with one myself over the years. Even today, there is nothing else out there that really replaces it, with most “extreme” macro lenses topping out at 2x.
I think if it had ever been in Laowa’s pipeline, we’d have seen it by now. And even if they do release one, it will likely be for mirrorless cameras, so you’d have to buy one for your specific mount. Yes, the Canon one has a specific mount, too, but Canon EF can be adapted to fit pretty much every mirrorless system available today with inexpensive adapters. The demise of the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x macro was inevitable. With the death of Canon’s EF mount, it was only a matter of time, but it’s still a shame to see it go, particularly without a more modern replacement on the horizon! [via Asobinet]
