When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works. |
In this patent application (2024-111453), Canon explores the super telephoto zooms that ended up with the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM. However, there are some other interesting designs in here worth exploring so let's go through them and you'll have to tell me if Canon should have gone for broke and made a 200-1000mm.
Canon RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 IS USM
This is the actual optical design of the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM. That lens is in hot demand and perpetually on backorder.
| Wide | Medium | Telephoto | |
| Focal length | 203.00 | 390.84 | 776.00 |
| F-number | 6.42 | 7.30 | 9.18 |
| Half angle | 6.08 | 3.17 | 1.60 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Lens length | 331.63 | 390.98 | 421.61 |
| Back Focus | 37.98 | 61.62 | 96.27 |
Canon RF 200-700mm F5.6-7.1 IS
This is a slightly smaller zoom range and slightly faster on the F5.6 and F7.1 on the wide and telephoto end respectively. At nearly the same size as the Canon RF 200-800mm, I suspect that Canon wanted the longer telephoto in a similar lens size.
| Wide | Medium | Telephoto | |
| Focal length | 203.00 | 500.93 | 699.99 |
| F-number | 5.60 | 6.34 | 7.10 |
| Half angle | 6.08 | 2.47 | 1.77 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Lens length | 347.80 | 433.60 | 447.80 |
| Back Focus | 38.65 | 74.20 | 94.84 |
Canon RF 150-600mm F5.6-9 IS
This is another interesting design with a slightly faster wide end starting at 150mm and reaching 600mm. Surprisingly, it's nearly the same size as the 200-800, which is probably why Canon opted for that design.
| Wide | Medium | Telephoto | |
| Focal length | 158.88 | 299.63 | 600.00 |
| F-number | 5.89 | 7.47 | 9.18 |
| Half angle | 7.75 | 4.13 | 2.07 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Lens length | 332.30 | 388.15 | 447.10 |
| Back Focus | 38.50 | 64.61 | 92.00 |
Canon RF 200-1000mm F6.3-9 IS
Now we get to the one that some of you may sit up and take notice of. Canon in this embodiment shows off a 5x super telephoto zoom going to 1000mm. Usually, a 5x zoom starts to have compromises, so that may have been why Canon decided to go with the more “conservative” 200-800mm.
| Wide | Medium | Telephoto | |
| Focal length | 199.98 | 390.17 | 980.38 |
| F-number | 6.43 | 6.24 | 9.18 |
| Half angle | 6.17 | 3.17 | 1.26 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Lens length | 362.79 | 455.26 | 482.80 |
| Back Focus | 38.64 | 40.95 | 100.15 |
However, the "800mm" is only 776mm, but the 700mm is a true 700mm (699.99mm).
The 200-1000mm would have to have an even larger front element, considering that the 800 (776mm) and the 1000mm (980mm) has the same f/9.18 aperture number.
The medium focal length f-numbrr is smaller than wide focal length.
If it is a L lens and near ef400 f4.0 do lens size.
I really want one.
But the size would be larger than 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L x 2x.
Very strange.
I am curious about the entire focal range.
We can't assume anything.
If they really make it, it can be a video lens.
Canon had 50-1000mm but for super 35.