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Canon's latest round of patent applications has been published. JPO 2026-059152 shows off some interesting consumer RF mount prime lens optical designs. The most noteable thing about these designs is that they're compact and don't have any stretching to cover the full image height of full frame sensors.
The optical designs aren't as complex as the L VCM prime lenses, but they're not simple designs either.
Canon RF 55mm F1.8 STM
Is it possible that Canon is working on a refresh for the “nifty fifty” RF 50 F1.8 STM? I think it's a longshot, but you never know. Unless Canon thinks they can sell yet another prime lens around 50mm.
Canon RF 55mm F1.8 STM
There are two noteable elements to this optical design. The lens design is quite short, though not as small as the RF 50 F1.8 STM. Mounted to the camera it would be under 2.3″/6cm in length as part of the lens will sit inside the mount just over 10mm.
We have the RF 45mm F1.2 STM, which has been a popular lens thus far, all that speed for so little money. If Canon did bring a new “nifty-fifty”, going with 55mm, even in name would help a bit with potential customer confusion between 45mm and 50mm.
Canon RF 85mm F1.8 STM
The second interesting optical design is an RF 85mm F1.8 STM. Canon has four 85mm prime lenses in their lineup and adding a fifth isn't going to happen, but a replacement for the RF 85mm F2 IS STM might be something worthwhile.
Canon RF 85mm F1.8 STM
There's nothing inherently wrong with the 85 F2, but it is using an older generation STM focus motor, and you can feel it. It's a great lens for a lot of things, but it's not great for anything where tracking movement is the goal. An updated version with the latest STM focus motor would be welcomed.
There doesn't seem to be an IS group in the design, but if IBIS is going to make its way through the next generation of EOS R cameras as a core feature, it wouldn't be needed.
Longshots
It's a longshot that either of these designs will make it to market, but it's interesting to see Canon is still working on optical designs that don't require computational correction. I think for most of the people around these parts, they'd rather see a similar approach for a lens like an RF 35 F1.2 L VCM or similar.
I think we're going to see a lot of optical design patents in the coming months as we get closer to product announcements. Note that it's rare to see L lens designs show up in patent applications ahead of launches, but non-L lenses can appear beforehand from time to time.
The 55 is not a terrible idea at all.
I have both the 50 stm and the 1.2 and the stm is my walk around lens.
A refresh for the 85mm F2 would be quite welcome if Canon improves the Af motor. I own the 85mm f2 and I loved it very much until I picked up the 50mm F1.4 L VCM. Now, I rarely use the 85mm F2 because in comparison it is reaaaaaaaly slow. The optics are reasonable good-very good, but it doesn't work well with (fast) moving objects. I currently only use it for "macro" (actually fake macro at 0,5 magnification) but I´m probably going to sell it and help fund a true macro lens like the RF 100mm F2.8. I can make use of it as a portrait lens as well.
Only for longer walks, mostly in the mountains, where focusing speed doesn't matter at all (for me!), but sharpness and close-ups do!.
Should the f/1,8 be optically even better, not much heavier, and offer 0,5 magnification: Why not!
Yet, I am presently more than satisfied with the f/2, my children are adults now, so, I don't care about AF speed for this particular lens!
But the 55mm, if really light, compact and sharp, and (!!!) close-up able, a sure buy. Sadly, the f/1,4 VCM has an inappropriate short focusing distance, and my Zeiss Classic 50mm f/2 lacks sharpness at longer distances.