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    Canon Patent Application: New Composite element for an RF 50mm F1.4

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    JPA 506039231 i 000011 1536x518 - Canon Patent Application: New Composite element for an RF 50mm F1.4

    In this patent application (JP2024-039231), Canon discusses a new element composition, which is a resin element attached to a glass element to form a unique composite element. This element's goal is to help reduce lens size and also decrease aberrations. They have included some very interesting embodiments including one that has reached near-mythical proportions in the Canon community – the 50mm F1.4.

    Dare to dream 50mm F1.4 fans. Since Peanuts is copyrighted until 2070 (really?), you'll just have to imagine poor Charlie Brown once again trying to kick the football from Lucy. But it does actually look like a serious optical design, so here's hoping.

    The patent discusses three different materials however it doesn't seem to give any real details on what the resin is composed of. However, anything that makes lenses better is a good thing.

    Canon RF-S 15-45mm F4.0

    Focal length        15.30   30.00   45.00
F value              4.12    4.12    4.12
Half angle of view  41.68   24.91   16.51
Real image height   11.60   13.65   13.65
Total length        83.50   83.50   83.50
BF                  17.67   17.67   17.67

    Canon RF 24-70mm F4.0

    focal length        24.60   35.00   67.90
F value              4.12    4.12    4.12
Half angle of view  41.33   31.72   17.67
Real image height   19.39   21.41   21.64
Total length       108.50  114.20  142.13
BF                  20.95   29.00   50.49

    Canon RF 50mm F1.4

    Focal length        50.03
F value              1.44
Half angle of view  23.39 
Real image height   21.64
Total length       113.51
BF                  13.51

    Canon RF 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

    Focal Length         28.40   85.00  197.00
F Number              2.90    4.76    5.70
Half Angle of View   37.30   14.28    6.27
Actual Image Height  18.98   21.64   21.64
Total Length        151.14  179.02  220.00
BF                   13.50   27.15   47.04

    Japan Patent Application 2024-039231

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    26 comments

    4. Canon RF 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

      So Canon finally make up their minds and decide to replicate the Tamron/Sigma popular lineup in E-mount.

      All the need is put a faster STM motor and this will be my daily lens. I will pick this over 24-105L f4
    5. Canon RF 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

      So Canon finally make up their minds and decide to replicate the Tamron/Sigma popular lineup in E-mount.
      Most patents never become lenses, sorry, but I would not recommend getting your hopes up.
    6. This must be a fake patent. I refuse to believe Canon will ever make a 50mm F1.4 :D
      The RF 24-70mm f/4 could be nice if it had the macro capability of the EF version, but Sony have set the bar higher with their 20-70 f/4
    7. ... Dare to dream 50mm F1.4 fans. ...
      Looks like a quite big lens (total length 113.51) so wouldn't put my money on a "midrange" but on a smaller "L" with price according to the L.

      Since Peanuts is copyrighted until 2070 (really?), you'll just have to imagine poor Charlie Brown once again trying to kick the football from Lucy. But it does actually look like a serious optical design, so here's hoping.
      Maybe the Peanuts copyright is until 2070 because they know we'll have to wait that long? ;) :P
    9. Canon RF 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

      So Canon finally make up their minds and decide to replicate the Tamron/Sigma popular lineup in E-mount.

      All the need is put a faster STM motor and this will be my daily lens. I will pick this over 24-105L f4
      I am guessing this would be an L lens as opposed to the RF 24-240 f/4-6.3
    11. Looks like a quite big lens (total length 113.51) so wouldn't put my money on a "midrange" but on a smaller "L" with price according to the L.


      Maybe the Peanuts copyright is until 2070 because they know we'll have to wait that long? ;) :p
      The RF 50 F1.2 isn't even that long. If the use of the composite is supposed to, among other things, reduce lens size (as claimed), why would a 50 F1.4 be longer than the 50 F1.2? The 1.2 is an amazing lens, but also really big. I have two 50s (the 1.8 and the 1.2), so I wouldn't be interested in a third anyway, but I would hope that a 1.4 would be inbetween the 1.8 and 1.2 in size, not bigger than both.
    13. I very badly want a compact 50mm f/1.4 in native RF mount. Obviously, this design doesn't exactly fit that description with its length! haha If any of these designs or iterations were to hit the market, I think they're all very interesting.
    14. Most patents never become lenses, sorry, but I would not recommend getting your hopes up.
      And Canon prides themselves on getting a huge number of patents per year, so they probably have more never used patents than other companies.

      "Canon Places Fifth in U.S. Patent Rankings, Achieving Top Spot Among Japanese Companies for 38 Years Running"

      - Title of Canon USA press release
    15. Meaning the actual lens would be ~94mm long because patent lengths are front element to sensor.
      Still "pretty big" — not that I think it's a bad thing, but my Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art is 108mm long, including the mount. I suppose this could have very well corrected optics, maybe L-grade.

      I doubt we'll see a RF 50mm f/1.4 anytime soon, though...
    17. The RF 50 F1.2 isn't even that long. ...
      Length comparison (mechanically):
      RF 50/1.2: 108,0 mm
      RF 50/1.8: 40,5 mm
      EF 50/1.4: 50.5 mm + ~20 mm adapter
      This patent: ~93,5 mm
      RF 85/2.0: 90.5 mm
      Meaning the actual lens would be ~94mm long because patent lengths are front element to sensor.
      I was aware of the 20 mm flange distance, and I even thought about adding that to my post.
      But thank you for pointing that out.

      If designing a "midrange" 50/1.4 without IS I would expect Canon to look for a significantly shorter lens (because of no IS) than the RF85/2.0 IS to partner that.
      I would expect a length (mechanically) at maximum close to the EF 50/1.4+Adapter, maybe slightly longer. But hopefully much smaller.
      In comparison, this patent seems to be quite big, just about 1 cm shorter than that f/1.2 giant.
      So I came to the conclusion that this is not the "midrange" 50/1.4 wanted by some/many/me or @LSXPhotog.
      I very badly want a compact 50mm f/1.4 in native RF mount. Obviously, this design doesn't exactly fit that description with its length!...
    19. Length comparison (mechanically):
      RF 50/1.2: 108,0 mm
      RF 50/1.8: 40,5 mm
      EF 50/1.4: 50.5 mm + ~20 mm adapter
      This patent: ~93,5 mm
      RF 85/2.0: 90.5 mm

      I was aware of the 20 mm flange distance, and I even thought about adding that to my post.
      But thank you for pointing that out.

      If designing a "midrange" 50/1.4 without IS I would expect Canon to look for a significant shorter lens (because of no IS) than the RF85/2.0 IS to partner that.
      I would expect a length (mechanically) at maximum close to the EF 50/1.4+Adapter, maybe slightly longer. But hopefully much smaller.
      In comparison, this patent seems to be quite big, just about 1 cm shorter than that f/1.2 giant.
      So I came to the conclusion that this is not the "midrange" 50/1.4 expected by some/many/me or @LSXPhotog.
      Given the size and new composite material outlined in this lens patent I would expect Canon to have it introduced as a 50mm 1.4 L IS much akin to the ef 85mm 1.4 L IS.

      That said, whatever happened to that 600mm f4 DO BR L IS lens they had a prototype of? The dimensions looked super svelte when they showed it in 2015.

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