Archive for: patent
You want IS?
A patent for an EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS has surfaced finally, this has been a lens that has been talked about and desired for a long time.
We mentioned some time back that there were 5 or 6 version of the new 24-70, and one of them had IS. Canon decided against an IS version for reasons to do with weight, size and cost from what I’m told.
Sadly for the ones that want an IS version of this lens, I have little faith that such a lens will be coming any time soon. Patents can sometimes appear after a product has been announced, and that’s probably what has happened here.
Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS
Patent Publication No. 2012-123156
- 2012.6.28 Release Date
- 2010.12.8 filing date
Example 1
- Zoom ratio 2.46
- 68.99mm – f = 28.00 focal length
- Fno. 2.88
- 17.41 deg – 37.69 half angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 222.38mm – 192.25 full-length lens
- BF 39.98 – 53.68
- Effective diameter 74.47mm ball before
- Effective diameter aperture 31.23mm
- 19 sheets 12 group lens configuration
- Three three aspherical surface
- 2 UD glass sheet
Example 2
- Zoom ratio 2.86
- 68.70 – f = 24.00 focal length
- Fno. 2.88
- 17.48 deg – 42.03 half angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 224.86mm – 191.93 full-length lens
- BF 39.85 – 55.68mm
- Effective diameter 77.29mm ball before
- Effective diameter aperture 32.58mm
- Lens Construction 12 group 21 sheets
- Three three aspherical surface
- 2 UD glass sheet
- Five-group zoom positive and negative positive positive and negative
- (For Focusing group 2) Inner Focus
- (Part 1 of the fourth lens group, anti-vibration unit is L4a) image stabilization
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A bit of information
With Canon’s expected foray into the mirrorless segment just around the corner, a bit more information has started to flow.
Lenses
We’re told the new camera is in fact a new mount, I think most expected this. The camera will launch with at least 2 lenses and an EF adaptor. One lens will be a wide angle “kit” lens as well as a telephoto lens.
No word on whether or not the EF adaptor would also adapt EF-S lenses, though I would hope it did.
It is also suggested that the new primes that Canon has announced and released (24, 28, & 40mm) are the first in a series of small prime lenses meant to work well with EOS EF and the mirrorless camera.
Body
Information about the body itself is pretty vague. It’s still suggested the camera will use the 14mp CMOS G1 X sensor. A “good” ISO range and “average” video performance. A video focused camera could be “in the future”.
EF Lens Adaptor
We have posted a couple of patents in the past about such an adaptor. You can view them here and here.
Northlight has posted a cool little diagram showing the size of the EF adaptor in comparison to the new EF 40 f/2.8 pancake.
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Canon EF 35 f/1.4L Patent
A new patent for a 35mm f/1.4 optical formula has appeared. This is the first to appear since 2011 in regards to an updated 35 f/1.4L. View the previous patent here.
Canon EF 35 f/1.4L II?
Patent Publication No. 2012-123155
- 2012.6.28 Release Date
- 2010.12.8 filing date
Example 1
- Focal length f = 34.73mm
- Fno. 1.45
- Half angle of 31.92 deg.
- Image height 21.64mm
- Length 128.11mm lens
- 38.48mm back focus
- An effective diameter of 52.03mm lens
- Effective diameter aperture 25.52mm
- Lens Construction 12 elements in 9 groups sheet
- 2 2 aspherical surface
- 2 UD glass sheet
Retrofocus
- And retro focus lens optical system focal length is shorter than the length of the optical system
- Increasingly asymmetric refractive power arrangement must be strengthened a negative refractive power of the front group in particular
- Coma aberration, astigmatism, spherical aberration occurs
- Order to secure a back focus must be to increase the ratio retro
Source: [EG]
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More information
Now that the EF 24-70 f/2.8L has been redone, the most requested lens to be replaced with a new version is the Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS. A few patents exist for a new 100-400, you can see them here and here.
The lens isn’t for an immediate announcement, as we’re told they may be waiting for Nikon to announce the much needed replacement to their 80-400.
We’re told 2 designs currently exist for the lens, and at least one of them has a zoom ring instead of the polarizing “push/pull”. The lens is also said to be weather sealed, slightly faster starting at f/4, a bit heavier than the current version and has the latest and greatest IS system.
This lens could also be considered the IS replacement for the EF 400 f/5.6L, especially if it’s better optically. I’m sure this point may not be what a lot of people wanted to read.
No mention of a timeframe for an announcement. I suspect it’ll be after the 200-400.
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That’s a 44x Zoom
Canon has published a patent for a zoom lens with an equivalent focal length of 24-1060. That’s a 44x zoom for those that are counting. Could we see this in the next SX PowerShot camera? A good possibility.
Patent Publication No. 2012-98699
- 2012.5.24 Release Date
- 2010.10.7 filing date
Example 7
- Zoom ratio 44.28
- 13.08 – - 190.43mm f = 4.30 focal length
- Fno 2.87 – 5.00 – 7.07
- 16.50 – - 1.17 deg 37.77 a half angle of view.
- 3.88 – - 3.88mm 3.33 image height
- 93.62 – - 137.94mm 94.49 lens length
- BF 1.00mm
- 13 pieces in 10 groups Lens Construction
- Two four-sided aspherical
- 3 UD glass sheet
- One fluorite
- Group 4 consists of positive and negative positive positive
- (For Focusing the fourth lens group) Rear focus
Source: [EG]
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More DO Lenses?
A few patents in regards to diffractive optics have come about. 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO IS, 14 f/2.8 DO and a 600 f/4 DO IS.
Diffractive optic patents keep coming up, though no new products are being announced. It does appear Canon is invested in the technology and thinks there is a market for it. I am a big fan of the 400 DO and hope to see longer DO lenses in the future.
Read more about the patents after the break.
Patent Publication No. 2012-78397
- 2012.4.19 Release Date
- 2010.9.30 filing date
Example 1
- Zoom ratio 4.01
- 135.50 – - 290.90mm 72.50 focal length
- Fno 4.66 -. 4.97 – 5.87
- 9.07 – - 4.25deg 16.62 a half angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 171.47 – - 204.08mm 144.08 full-length lens
- BF 40.08mm
- 18 sheets 12 group lens configuration
- 3 UD glass sheet
- A plane diffraction
- Seven-group zoom positive and negative positive positive and negative polarity
- Inner Focus (Group 6)
- Shake correction (group 2)
Example 2
- Zoom ratio 2.84
- 200.00 – - 292.50mm 103.00 focal length
- Fno 4.67 -. 5.44 – 5.77
- 6.17 – - 4.23deg 11.86 a half angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 189.12 – - 210.66mm 162.16 full-length lens
- BF 45.16 – 58.25 – 70.16mm
- 13 pieces in 11 groups Lens Construction
- 2 UD glass sheet
- A plane diffraction
- Five-group zoom of positive and negative positive positive and negative
- Rear focus
Example 3
- 14.36mm focal length
- Fno. 2.89
- 56.38deg half angle of view.
- Image height 21.60mm
- Length 133.66mm lens
- BF 38.47mm
- 16 pieces in 10 groups Lens Construction
- 2 UD glass sheet
- Two surface diffraction
- Two positive lens group a negative
- (Part of the front group) Inner Focus
Example 4
- 584.94mm focal length
- Fno. 4.12
- 2.12deg half angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- Length 404.06mm lens
- BF 123.32mm
- 18 sheets 12 group lens configuration
- 3 UD glass sheet
- One fluorite
- Two groups of positive-positive lens
- (Part of the front group) Inner Focus
Conventional diffractive optical element
- Because there is a thick diffraction grating, and obliquely incident light, the diffraction efficiency is reduced
- When the diffraction efficiency is reduced, flare, ghost, imaging performance deterioration, such as contrast degradation occurs
Canon’s patent
- Can be in close contact with another medium to a diffraction grating, to reduce the thickness
- Capable of suppressing a decrease in diffraction efficiency
- With another medium, and fine particle dispersion ultraviolet curing resin material
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Improved Canon ultrawide for full frame?
The world is waiting for Canon to release a top end performing ultra wide lens for full frame cameras. While I think the 17-40 f/4L is a bargain of a workhorse and the 16-35 f/2.8L II is a very solid performer, I think the line is still lacking that standout ultra wide zoom lens. I have heard numerous photographers say they’d pay “anything” for a top notch lens in that segment.
Below are 3 patented optical formulas for new ultrawide angle lenses for Canon.
A 16-35 f/2.8, a 17-35 f/2.8-4 and a 16-35 f/2-2.8. There seems to be a decent amount of f/2 patents appearing on zoom lenses from Canon, it could be time for such a lens to make it to market.
Patent Publication No. 2012-63568
- 2012.3.29 Release Date
- 2010.9.16 filing date
Example 2
- Zoom ratio 2.06
- 24.00 – - 33.95mm f = 16.48 focal length
- Fno 2.90 – 2.90 – 2.91
- 42.03 – - 32.51deg 52.70 angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 170.87 – - 172.62mm 178.10 full-length lens
- BF 40.00 – 48.45 – 61.71mm
- Lens Construction 12 group 17 sheets
- Three three aspherical surface
- 2 UD lens sheet
Example 4
- Zoom ratio 1.94
- 24.01 – - 33.98mm f = 17.51 focal length
- Fno 2.91 – 3.21 – 3.86
- Image height 21.64mm
- 174.18 – - 175.92mm 178.81 full-length lens
- BF 41.60 – 48.49 – 60.70mm
- Lens Construction 12 group 17 sheets
- Three three aspherical surface
- 2 UD lens sheet
Example 6
- Zoom ratio 2.06
- 24.02 – - 33.99mm f = 16.49 focal length
- Fno 2.15 – 2.46 – 2.94
- 42.02 – - 32.48deg 52.69 angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 171.08 – - 172.88mm 176.23 full-length lens
- BF 39.26 – 46.99 58.75mm
- 18 sheets 13 group lens configuration
- Three three aspherical surface
- 2 UD lens sheet
Canon’s patent
- 4-group zoom lens of a positive negative positive and negative
- Inner Focus
- Optimized so as to reduce the field curvature of the wide-angle side
Source: [EG]
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Patent Time
A patent showing a new teleconverter has made an appearance. It appears to be a 2.7 or 2.8x TC. What effect woud it have on aperture? A 400 f/2.8L IS II would become 1120mm at f/8. All well and good, but the missing f/8 autofocus on the 1D X makes this one a bit strange with the current line of camera bodies.
Patent Publication No. 2012-47869
- 2012.3.8 Release Date
- 2010.8.25 filing date
Example 1
- -83.98mm focal length
- Expansion rate β = 1.996
- Lens Construction 5 group nine
Example 3
- -41.91mm focal length
- Expansion rate β = 2.779
- Lens Construction 5 group nine
Canon’s patent
- Rear converter is to increase the focal length, F number, the residual aberration
- When doubled, twice the lateral aberration, longitudinal aberration is 4 times greater rate of expansion, because the F-number is also double, longitudinal aberration is twice per depth of focus
- Rear converter configuration consisting of three groups of positive and negative positive
- Reduce the aberration of the rear converter itself
Source: [EG]
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Another new 70-200 f/2.8
It looks like Tamron is going to be refreshing their 70-200 f/2.8 with a new version. The new version will add Tamron’s vibration correction as well as a new optical design.
2012-58619,2012-58620 Patent Publication No.
- 2012.3.22 Release Date
- 2010.9.10 filing date
Example 1
- 111.5353 – - 194.0928mm f = 71.5336 focal length
- Fno 2.9
- 20.71 – - 12.48 deg 34.66 angle of view.
- Magnification ratio 2.713
- 18 sheets 13 group lens configuration
- Three three aspherical surface
- 3 ED glass sheet
- Super ED lens equivalent to 1 XLD glass sheets and fluorite ※
Tamron’s patent
- Positive-positive four-group zoom of positive and negative
- Inner Focus
- Focusing for the third lens group
- Made compact and lightweight AF speed of the focus group
- Lens consists of a single sheet of focus group
- Inner zoom
- Shake correction
- For anti-vibration part of the fourth lens group
- Compact, lightweight unit
- By a small amount of shift in anti-vibration, energy saving
Source: [EG]
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Canon EF 17-40 f/2.8-4L Patent
Below is a patent for a new Canon wide angle zoom concept. The variable aperture is interested, if it remained as light and compact as the current 17-40 f/4L, the additional stop of light wide open would be a nice feature.
Patent Publication No. 2010-42792
- 2012.3.1 Release Date
- 2010.8.20 filing date
Example 1
- 39.05mm – f = 17.64 focal length
- Fno = 2.64 – 4.10
- 28.99 deg – 50.80 half angle of view.
- Image height 21.64mm
- 136.70mm – 134.67 full-length lens
- BF 39.97 – 64.95mm
- Lens Construction 12 elements in 9 groups sheet
- 4 aspherical surface
Canon’s patent
- Negative lead type zoom lens of negative-positive
- Small and light lens for focusing
- Inner focus
- Focusing the use (1b in the figure) part of the first lens group
- Video support
Source: [EG]
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