Canon Rumors

Lens Patents Everywhere

Lots of patents, how many are real products?

Patent Number: 20090180199
EF 35-70 f/2.8 IS
EF 28-70 f/2.8 IS

I posted this a few days ago and removed it because I didn’t really understand it.

Patent Number: 20090201585
EF 600 f/4 DO
EF 70-300 f/4.5-5.6
EF 28-35 f/1.6-2.1

Patent Number: 20090284847
EF 14 f/2.8
EF 24 f/2.8
EF 300 f/4 IS
EF 400 f/2.8 IS

As always with patents, I really don’t speak their language and a lot can be lost in the translation. I’ll keep this posted and let you folks dissect them.

thanks [NL]

cr

Canon Lens Patents Review *UPDATED*

*UPDATE*
I updated some confusing English on my part. :)

Patents, Patents, Patents!
We have 3 confirmed lens patents from Canon. I am not a pro at reading and understanding patents 100%. If a focal length or other information shows the below isn’t true, please let me know.

14-24 f/2.8L

Canon 14-24 f/2.8L Patent Diagram

Read the Patent: http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=lbTIAAAAEBAJ

60mm f/2.8 IS Macro

EF-S(?) 60 f/2.8 IS Macro

Read The Patent: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2009/0251589.html

70-200 f/2.8L IS II

70-200 f/2.8L IS II

Read The Patent: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2009/0296231.html

CR’s Take
That’s all that seems to be out there right now. I’ve reported on facebook before that there would be a new lens coming that isn’t a replacement to anything currently in the lineup. I’m going to assume that will be the 14-24.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and please don’t take it as fact. There’s an obvious lens that would complete the trifecta of new zooms.

EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS II

Still searching for a patent. It would be nice to see all 3 launched at once. Canon’s recent history seems to show they max out at launching 2 L’s at a time. Correct me if I’m wrong.

2010 may be a good year for Canon zoom fans.

cr

A Canon First? [CR1]

Too good to be true?
A cryptic message today said Canon is developing their first f/2 zoom. The broken english of the email said the lens would be a “short zoom range”. There was no focal length given.

cr

EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Discontinued?

I was hoping not
I received word from a few folks that the EF 100 f/2.8 Macro has been discontinued. The lens currently still appears in Canon Canada’s price lists as well as Canon USA’s. The manufacturing of the lens may have stopped.

I hope this lens isn’t gone, there’s a big difference between $650CAD and $1300CAD for a 100mm Macro. I own the aformentioned lens, and I have no plans to upgrade.

I’ll look for something definitive.

cr

January 2010 [CR1]

All that’s needed is a spark sometimes
I received an email in response to the report the November 24, 2009 announcement day had been pushed back until January.

“Yes, it has been delayed until January now, this is the second time this has happened although this time not due to a technical issues but more marketing. If everything goes to plan (which hardly happens to be honest), January will be a killer month for announcements:

1Ds Mark IV together with the new duo of high end lenses. The 70-200 2.8 IS II and of course the 24-70 II IS.”

CR’s Take
The lenses I’m not shocked by, they’ve sort of become the lenses that will always be replaced. I’ll be taking a wait and see approach.

However, a 1Ds4 announcement already? I thought the 1D4 was early…. this would be crazy.

cr

Nothing to speak of

Slow
There’s nothing going on in Canon land at the moment. I’m digging up nothing.

70-200 2.8L IS II
I did received an email claiming the 24th of November WAS correct but an announcement has been delayed until January.

A couple of stores in Canada I spoke to that had long backorders on 70-200 f/2.8L IS say they finally got a couple of lenses. This also happened to them shortly before Nikon announced their replacement.

Bored? Howabout a 3D Rumor?
“According to my friend after canons “disappointment” with the 7D they will be releasing a full frame version in mid-late 2010.”

Yeah, I’m stretching here… but I hate not updating the site. Have some fun :)

cr

EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II Announcement [CR2]

Soon!
I received notice that there will be a Canon announcement on November, 24, 2009 in regards to a new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.

No word on any other lenses being announced. Still waiting on CR3 confirmation.

cr

EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro Reviewed – DPReview

Nice lens
DPReview has completed their indepth review of the new L macro. I haven’t had the chance to play around with one yet.

From DPR
“Overall, then, the EF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM Macro is an easy recommendation if you’re looking for exceptional image quality regardless of price. However potential buyers do need to appreciate that the increased cost over its older stablemate appears to pay mainly for the Hybrid IS system, which despite its clever technology isn’t hugely useful for actual close-distance macro work. Of course it’s still a great benefit for general-purpose shooting, which mustn’t be underestimated, and the new Hybrid technology appears to be a step in the right direction; but the marriage between macro and stabilization remains an uneasy one.”

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_100_2p8_is_usm_c16/

cr

Odds & Ends

1D Mark IV Ship Date
I’ve heard December 9, 2009 is when the first batch of 1D Mark IV’s will be in the wild. No word on what country(ies) that would be.

G11 vs S90
Canon has been pleasantly surprised by the initial orders for the S90. Originally the camera was pegged to be outsold by the G11 6 to 1, their internal numbers have changed to 3 or 4 to 1.

Micro 4/3
Canon is watching how things go with the new system. Currently there are no plans within Canon to start R&D on a Micro 4/3 body or anything similar. There is also no plans for a third lens system at this time. EF-S is still a confusing thing for consumers. This is no lie, Canon still gets flack for the FD to EF change which happened 22 years ago!

24-70 f/2.8L IS
A great source has said this lens is coming in 2010.

Initial 1D Mark IV Orders
Orders for the 1D Mark IV have been beyond expectations for Canon. They do expect to meet the demand of initial orders.

24 f/1.4L II
This is still a hard lens to come by in a lot of places. I’m told Canon is working on having the supply issue sorted by the start of 2010.

cr

Lens Rumors This Week

Direct quotes of lens info I’ve received
“Talked to the Canon EOS Rep today- was buying a 7D.  He said, “By the way, our current stock of 70-200 F/2.8 IS USM are being sold at an extra special price of USD1450. I can’t tell you why, and you didn’t hear it from me, but I can get you a special price for it”. When subtly probed on a new lens, he gave the very cryptic “I can’t talk about any of that… all I can do is tell you that if you want the cheap 2.8, its now.”

24-70, 70-200 & 100-400 (eternal rumors I’m afraid)
“The Canon 70-200 2.8 II will see the light of day this side of the year for announcement. Improved optics at 2.8 and new 5 stop IS. It was suppose to be announced with the 1D Mark IV but was delayed slightly. I don’t deal with pricing at all but expect it to be 30% more expensive than the current model.

In 2010 look out for the Canon 24-70 II with IS, announcement due with 1Ds IV. The 100-400 is scheduled for renewal sometime in early 2010.”

14-24 Patent?
From an FM thread and Northlight.

Patent Here: http://www.google.com/patents?id=lbTIAAAAEBAJ

CR’s Take
I really hope this lens isn’t true. Yes, Canon needs a kick butt ultra wide angle. The 17-40 is worth what it costs, the 16-35 is a relative disappointment beside the Nikkor 14-24. What I don’t like, and a few of my photographer friends also don’t like is that you can’t filter a 14mm lens (yes, there may be some do it yourself solution). What I’d like to see is a 16-24 f/2.8 lens with the performance of the Nikkor 14-24. I want to use polarizers, grad filters, ND filters and all that.

I’m not sure if I’m in the minority in regards to filters.

cr

Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II [CR1]

Coming?
Received a few emails over the last day or two that Canon would be announcing a new lens or two at the end of November. One lens will surely be the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.

I called Canon Canada who is out of stock on them and they have no ETA.

I’m looking into info from Canon USA.

This is a CR1 rumor for the moment. We’ve never been super successful in getting lenses right, but we’re getting better after the 7D launch.

cr

Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II [CR1]

New Source
I’m told to expect a new 70-200 f/2.8L IS to be announced with the 1D Mark V (Skipping IV?).

Lenses have generally been very tough to track down with Canon. The only real success we’ve had was with the 7D.

The new source says to expect 1 other lens to be announced with it. Availability in the distant future.

cr

24-105 f/4L IS Replacement

Going going…..
I just received an email in regards to a replacement of the 24-105 f/4L IS. The email says the new lens is slightly wider and longer while retaining the f/4 aperture. The new Hybrid IS will be implemented in the lens.

The writer of the email claims to have seen the lens.

This is the first I’ve heard of it. I’ll ask around.

cr

Canon 24-70 f/2.8L IS

Misprint
Apparently the folks at Canon even want a 24-70 f/2.8L IS!

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=3006

I vote misprint for now, even though they make it more than once.

Something more?

I’m on the road so I can’t post any screenshots in case the correction is made by Canon.

thanks Ettore

cr