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    Canon Patent Application: Ultra Wide Zooms

    By 11 Comments2 Mins Read Canon Patents
    JPA 506058439 i 000012 1536x518 - Canon Patent Application: Ultra Wide Zooms

    I think it's pretty safe to say that Canon has all the ultra wide zoom lenses that they could possibly need, but we also have to keep in mind that once the dust settles and the lens start production, they are hard at work on the Mark II variant of the lens.

    While we can look at this patent and say “well, this will never get done”. It may down the road as it may replace one of the current ultra wides that Canon sells.

    These embodiments look okay, but it should be noted that they are designed to lose resolution from image circle stretching at the wide end. Something I'm sure some of you know is something that I absolutely abhor. That being said, I'm not a lens designer, nor do I know Canon's internal budgeting and margins, I'm simply allowed to whine about it.

    There are three embodiments all with the same focal so we'll just dive into the first one. In the first embodiment circles back to the beginning of the article when I mentioned this may be a second release, or a Mark II lens. Consider it's a little wider and perhaps a little better than the current Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM. Keep in mind that the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM is almost 6 years old now.

    The optical design is completely different to that of the current production Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM and is a far more complicated lens design.

    image 14 728x227 - Canon Patent Application: Ultra Wide Zooms

    Canon RF 14-35mm F2.8

                            Near   Middle   Far
    focal length           14.42   23.76   33.91  
    F number                2.88    2.88    2.88  
    Half angle of view (°) 52.67   42.32   32.54  
    Image height           18.91   21.64   21.64  
    Lens length           154.50  144.35  145.20  
    Back Focus             17.88   28.46   37.90  

    As with all patent applications, this is a way to look into Canon's ongoing research and may or may not end up in an actual product.

    Japan Patent Application 2024-058439

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    11 comments

    3. Is stretching the corners and full electronic control the future? I am a bit concerned for longevity of such lenses. We have vintage lenses from 60 years ago that still can work well on current cameras because optics are solid and is mechanically coupled. What about these electronic lenses with digital stretching, especially when the control algorithm is proprietary?
    4. Is stretching the corners and full electronic control the future? I am a bit concerned for longevity of such lenses. We have vintage lenses from 60 years ago that still can work well on current cameras because optics are solid and is mechanically coupled. What about these electronic lenses with digital stretching, especially when the control algorithm is proprietary?

      you can always fix the image in post. full electronic control though is a much harder thing to work around. But I've seen some people adapt Contax electronic mount lenses to EF .. so there's always a way.
    7. 15-35L is one of those lens that raised the stereotype that RF is big and bulky.
      Minimum lens length 144.35 mm - 20 mm Flange = 124.35 mm
      "Old" 15-35L: 126.8 mm

      ==> almost same length. So Size was not the reason for this patent.
    8. Minimum lens length 144.35 mm - 20 mm Flange = 124.35 mm
      "Old" 15-35L: 126.8 mm

      ==> almost same length. So Size was not the reason for this patent.
      If it’s same length but internal zoom will be a upgrade
    9. If it’s same length but internal zoom will be a upgrade
      Where do you read internal zoom?
      I read
      Lens length 154.50 144.35 145.20
      So the lens formula differs by about 1 cm, depending on FL.
      Will interesting if and how this can be implemented as internal zoom.

      And if so, the lens will be about 1 cm larger, than the old one.

      Edit: I did also check the other two formulae. They have less differing lengths, still several mm.
      So no constant length, and no fully internal zoom.
    10. Where do you read internal zoom?
      I read

      So the lens formula differs by about 1 cm, depending on FL.
      Will interesting if and how this can be implemented as internal zoom.

      And if so, the lens will be about 1 cm larger, than the old one.

      Edit: I did also check the other two formulae. They have less differing lengths, still several mm.
      So no constant length, and no fully internal zoom.
      It could be like the EF17-40L, that pretends to be internal zooming, but the front element moves a few mm.

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