Canon has recently filed patents for several new camera lenses, sparking excitement among photographers. The Japanese tech giant secured patents in Japan for two wide-angle zoom lenses, a 15-28mm f/2.8 and a 17-30mm f/2.8, and three telephoto zoom lenses, a 70-300mm f/4, a 300-600mm f/2.8-4.5, and a 400-600mm f/2.8-4. These patents were officially published in late July, following submissions in January 2023 for the wide-angle designs, and a day earlier for the telephoto lenses.
The wide-angle patents describe compact zoom lenses with a constant fast aperture of f/2.8. This development suggests Canon might be aiming to bridge the gap between its existing RF 14-35mm f/4 and RF 15-35mm f/2.8 lenses, potentially offering a lighter and more affordable f/2.8 wide-angle zoom option, albeit with a slightly reduced zoom range.
The telephoto lens patents include a more conventional 70-300mm f/4, but also more innovative designs like the 300-600mm f/2.8-4.5 and 400-600mm f/2.8-4. Canon’s patents highlight a growing demand for telephoto zooms that combine bright apertures and high optical performance with a compact size. These designs hint at Canon’s continued push for innovation in telephoto optics, similar to their recent release of the unique RF 100-300mm f/2.8 lens.
The emergence of these patents follows recent comments from a Canon executive about developing RF lenses that are currently “unimaginable,” adding fuel to speculation about Canon’s future lens roadmap. If the 300-600mm and 400-600mm patents were to materialize into actual lenses, they could provide comprehensive telephoto coverage for photographers, particularly in sports and wildlife photography.
It is important to note that patents do not guarantee product releases. Many patented technologies and designs never make it to market. However, these filings offer a glimpse into Canon’s research and development directions and indicate the company’s focus on expanding its RF lens lineup with both versatile wide-angle and cutting-edge telephoto zoom options to compete in the evolving mirrorless camera market, where competitors like Nikon are also actively launching new telephoto lenses. Camera enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if these patented lens designs will eventually become available for Canon EOS R system users.
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