Canon Files a Patent for a Bunch of Lenses.

[KyleSTL]

EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Nine elements in 7 groups

Handy list, but the patent example is for a 200mm f/2, not an f/2.8.

Good call, guess I didn't read it closely enough. I can't imagine what can be improved with the 200mm f/2, the current lens is quite possibly the most optically perfect lens made, and has all the latest technologies that Canon offers (4-stop IS, Ring USM, Flourite, UD). Unless they improved the barrel design with new materials like the 300, 400, 500, and 600mm lenses to make them lighter, I can't imagine what could be made better (especially since the current one was released in 2008). The current 200mm f2 is heavier than the 300mm f2.8 IS II (5.56 lbs and 5.19 lbs, respectively), but slightly lighter than the 300mm f2.8 IS (5.63 lbs).

 

[Loswr]

>Both the image height is 21.64mm (full size)

Wait, are these,.. APS-C (EF-S) Lenses? Or cinema lens?

They are EF lenses (for full frame). The 'image height' value is a radius, so 21.64 mm x 2 = 43.28 mm, the diameter of the FF image circle.

 

[scottsdaleriots]

oh no...

6 more lenses where people can ask if they should buy the old ones or wait for the new ones.

prepare yourself...

Haha I was just about 100% certain that I would buy the 50mm 1.4 but now they've released the patent I'm not so sure now

Anyone know when they'll roughly release the 50mm 1.4 and the 85's? Like a rough estimate? Early next year or late 2012? I'm studying photography next year and will be doing A LOT of studio work (so far all I know it's going to be food photography and portraits [high key and low key] and my kit lens is limited when it comes to low light shooting situations and my 70-200 2.8 IS II is heavy as). I need an alternative

Stop milking it Canon and hurry up and release the 5dmkIII and the updated primes already! Not fair

 

[Arkarch]

I have not reviewed the patents or compared them to the existing lens, but,

I have to wonder if several of these recent patents are simply efforts to refresh patent IP coming up on 17-year expirations? Yeah, I checked and EF has been around since 1987; but I dont know the timeline on each lens or if the "new" inventions are actually new or just updates.

 

[Loswr]

Anyone know when they'll roughly release the 50mm 1.4 and the 85's? Like a rough estimate? Early next year or late 2012?

These are patents, not products. Canon has close to 2500 patents published per year, so obviously, only a small percentage ever see the light of day as products (and many are not intended to, but rather to constrain the competition).

The 85/1.2 II is relatively recent, and Canon hasn't updated any non-L EF primes except the 50/1.8 II, and that was to make it cheaper to produce, and was before dSLRs were a consumer product. Today's 'typical' consumer wants zoom lenses and/or cheap lenses (<$250), and uses an APS-C camera. So, I honestly doubt there is much of a market-driven need to update the non-L EF primes (except perhaps a 50/1.8 III for even lower production costs of that very popular lens).

 

[bycostello]

no 24-70 is L :-[

 

[tt]

Presumably we'd know if they were PL mount lenses for the C300 by March/April? There's already been a 85mm PL mount shown

 

[willrobb]

These are just patents, nothing to say they will ever see the light of day as products, but if they I would be interested to see what some of the suggested primes could do if they ever came into existence. Especially the 85L.

 

[ecka]

Anyone know when they'll roughly release the 50mm 1.4 and the 85's? Like a rough estimate? Early next year or late 2012?

These are patents, not products. Canon has close to 2500 patents published per year, so obviously, only a small percentage ever see the light of day as products (and many are not intended to, but rather to constrain the competition).

The 85/1.2 II is relatively recent, and Canon hasn't updated any non-L EF primes except the 50/1.8 II, and that was to make it cheaper to produce, and was before dSLRs were a consumer product. Today's 'typical' consumer wants zoom lenses and/or cheap lenses (<$250), and uses an APS-C camera. So, I honestly doubt there is much of a market-driven need to update the non-L EF primes (except perhaps a 50/1.8 III for even lower production costs of that very popular lens).

Well, 85L II is 5 years old by now, but we can still call it a recent update. Then how about 10+ years? The original EF 50/1.8 is from the first (non-L, non-USM) "wave" of EF lenses and it was updated in 1990 (3 years later) just before the second (non-L) "wave". Nikon had recently updated their cheap 50/1.8 and it seems to be a great deal for the price. For just $220 you are getting a decent glass with a silent AF motor, 7 (rounded) aperture blades + (wow ) a lens hood and a pouch. Now, what lower production costs are we talking about? I don't think that we'll ever see the 50/1.8 III. What consumers really want/need is a fast normal prime for their crop bodies like EF-S 28mm (or 30mm), not another too long fifty. However, a new 50mm (?L) Macro would be nice.

 

[Loswr]

I could certainly see a short EF-S prime as a normal lens for APS-C. As for the 50/1.8 II update, that's one of Canon three top-selling lenses. Check out the 'updates' to the other two of the top three - the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II. No optical changes, just marginally cheaper production costs (even a small savings means big profit for the number of units sold).

Earlier this year, Canon hit a couple of sales milestones - 50 million EOS bodies and 70 million EF lenses (which includes EF-S). What does that mean? An average of 1.4 lenses per camera. Far and away, the most popular current lenses in addition to the 18-55 kit lens, are the EF-S 55-250 and the 50/1.8 II. To me, that suggests they probably sell relatively few non-L EF primes (50/1.8 notwithstanding). The 35/2 doesn't seem terribly popular, despite being 'normal' on APS-C. Since it's build and performance are similar to the 50/1.8 II, the far lower sales of the 35/2 are likely due to its higher price tag (cheap compared to most lenses, but still 3x the cost of the 50/1.8 II).

So, personally I think that if Canon does release an EF-S 28/30/35mm lens, it won't be the f/1.4 USM lens people who frequent this forum would probably prefer, but would likely cost well north of $400, perhaps $500-600. Instead, I think they'd telease an f/1.8 non-USM lens costing a bit over $200.

 

[ecka]

I could certainly see a short EF-S prime as a normal lens for APS-C. As for the 50/1.8 II update, that's one of Canon three top-selling lenses. Check out the 'updates' to the other two of the top three - the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II. No optical changes, just marginally cheaper production costs (even a small savings means big profit for the number of units sold).

Earlier this year, Canon hit a couple of sales milestones - 50 million EOS bodies and 70 million EF lenses (which includes EF-S). What does that mean? An average of 1.4 lenses per camera. Far and away, the most popular current lenses in addition to the 18-55 kit lens, are the EF-S 55-250 and the 50/1.8 II. To me, that suggests they probably sell relatively few non-L EF primes (50/1.8 notwithstanding). The 35/2 doesn't seem terribly popular, despite being 'normal' on APS-C. Since it's build and performance are similar to the 50/1.8 II, the far lower sales of the 35/2 are likely due to its higher price tag (cheap compared to most lenses, but still 3x the cost of the 50/1.8 II).

So, personally I think that if Canon does release an EF-S 28/30/35mm lens, it won't be the f/1.4 USM lens people who frequent this forum would probably prefer, but would likely cost well north of $400, perhaps $500-600. Instead, I think they'd telease an f/1.8 non-USM lens costing a bit over $200.

IMHO, if someone really thinks that a $100 lens isn't cheap enough, then perhaps he should buy a cheap P&S camera instead of DSLR . 50/1.8III doesn't make sense to me, at all. I hope the new one will have USM in it.
Hmm, EF-S 28/30/35mm f/1.8 non-USM, very unlikely. I think that non-USM primes are history. How many of those were released in the last 10 years? Zero?

 

[Loswr]

IMHO, if someone really thinks that a $100 lens isn't cheap enough, then perhaps he should buy a cheap P&S camera instead of DSLR . 50/1.8III doesn't make sense to me, at all. I hope the new one will have USM in it.
Hmm, EF-S 28/30/35mm f/1.8 non-USM, very unlikely. I think that non-USM primes are history. How many of those were released in the last 10 years? Zero?

Zero in the last 10 years. The number of non-L EF primes in the last 10 years with USM? Also zero. It's quite possible that non-L EF primes are history, with or without USM. Consider - since the introduction of the EF-S mount, Canon has released just two non-L EF lenses, the two 70-300mm zooms (a focal range where the EF-S format offers no real benefit), no primes. Everything else has been EF-S or L. When they were designed, the non-L EF lenses were for consumers - they also shot FF (film) and affordable lenses were necessary. That need is now fulfilled by EF-S lenses.

As for the 50/1.8 II, I'm not suggesting that Canon would decrease production costs with a MkIII and then pass the savings on to customers. Like the 18-55 IS II and 55-250 II, the prices for the new lenses would stay the same or increase slightly (they can tout 'improved AF algorithms' which are basically free from Canon's perspective). The only point of reducing production costs would be increased profit per unit.

 

[ecka]

IMHO, if someone really thinks that a $100 lens isn't cheap enough, then perhaps he should buy a cheap P&S camera instead of DSLR . 50/1.8III doesn't make sense to me, at all. I hope the new one will have USM in it.
Hmm, EF-S 28/30/35mm f/1.8 non-USM, very unlikely. I think that non-USM primes are history. How many of those were released in the last 10 years? Zero?

Zero in the last 10 years. The number of non-L EF primes in the last 10 years with USM? Also zero. It's quite possible that non-L EF primes are history, with or without USM. Consider - since the introduction of the EF-S mount, Canon has released just two non-L EF lenses, the two 70-300mm zooms (a focal range where the EF-S format offers no real benefit), no primes. Everything else has been EF-S or L. When they were designed, the non-L EF lenses were for consumers - they also shot FF (film) and affordable lenses were necessary. That need is now fulfilled by EF-S lenses.

As for the 50/1.8 II, I'm not suggesting that Canon would decrease production costs with a MkIII and then pass the savings on to customers. Like the 18-55 IS II and 55-250 II, the prices for the new lenses would stay the same or increase slightly (they can tout 'improved AF algorithms' which are basically free from Canon's perspective). The only point of reducing production costs would be increased profit per unit.

Actually, most of them were released in the last 10 years (all except EF 100mm f/2 USM in 1991)
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM - 1993 (not a ring type, but still )
EF 20mm f/2.8 USM - 1992
EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - 1995
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM - 1992
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro - 2000
However, I agree with you, there may be no future for non-L EF primes. Only L and EF-S will remain, but there is no future for non-USM EF-S primes as well. Canon yet have to make some cheap (affordable) EF-S primes, the market is starving for those. Current EF 28mm f/1.8 USM isn't any good for the price, Sigma 30/1.4 or Nikon 35/1.8 are much more attractive. IMHO Canon should discontinue all 5 non-L EF wide primes (EF 20mm f/2.8 USM, EF 24mm f/2.8, EF 28mm f/2.8, EF 35mm f/2, EF 28mm f/1.8 USM) and release some new EF-S USM primes instead. Like EF-S 20mm f/1.8 USM, EF-S 30mm f/1.8 USM and maybe an UWA - EF-S 8mm f/(something) USM.

 

[Loswr]

Actually, most of them were released in the last 10 years (all except EF 100mm f/2 USM in 1991)
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM - 1993 (not a ring type, but still )
EF 20mm f/2.8 USM - 1992
EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - 1995
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM - 1992
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro - 2000

Ummmm...are you currently worried about the dreaded Y2K bug? I'm not sure which time zone or alternate reality you're living in, but where I am (and I suspect, the rest of the world as well), it's currently 2011. Counting backward from this year (it's a good thing I have 10 fingers!) shows that 'the last 10 years' comprise 2001-2010. Your list of lenses is entirely pre-2001.

+1 on the need for a set of wide-to-normal EF-S primes!

 

[ecka]

Actually, most of them were released in the last 10 years (all except EF 100mm f/2 USM in 1991)
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM - 1993 (not a ring type, but still )
EF 20mm f/2.8 USM - 1992
EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - 1995
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM - 1992
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro - 2000

Ummmm...are you currently worried about the dreaded Y2K bug? I'm not sure which time zone or alternate reality you're living in, but where I am (and I suspect, the rest of the world as well), it's currently 2011. Counting backward from this year (it's a good thing I have 10 fingers!) shows that 'the last 10 years' comprise 2001-2010. Your list of lenses is entirely pre-2001.

+1 on the need for a set of wide-to-normal EF-S primes!

I'm sorry, you are right. I must be too tired right now and 10 or 20 years doesn't make any difference to me . Let's make it 20 .

 

[hutjeflut]

still waiting and hoping for a 50mm 1.8 with much better focus then the current 1.8

i love it opticly but the focus is just rubbish...

 

[Justin]

Interesting discussion about market share and profitability. I think most of it is right. We won't see any more non L EF primes. EF-S? Sure.

Canon really can do no wrong with it's latest rounds of L lenses, say since 2008. Thing is most of them are super teles and out of reach for mere mortals. Where Canon should innovate on the current prime lens lineup is in corner sharpness wide open, chromatic aberrations, and vignetting. I'd pay more and carry heavier primes if Canon could make these lenses mightier and even add IS.

I would love to be able to add a few primes to my bag including:

35 1.4 IS, better corner sharpness, lower CA, faster AF
85 1.4 IS, faster focus than 85 1.2, better corner sharpness wide open, lower CA

I'd pay $2k each for these lenses.

 

[JR]

I'd pay more and carry heavier primes if Canon could make these lenses mightier and even add IS.

I would love to be able to add a few primes to my bag including:

35 1.4 IS, better corner sharpness, lower CA, faster AF
85 1.4 IS, faster focus than 85 1.2, better corner sharpness wide open, lower CA

I'd pay $2k each for these lenses.

I would buy them too (at least the 35mm) but I dont think we will see IS on any L prime from Canon below the 100mm mark. I certainly would like that to some degree because it could be useful for taking video handheld, but I dont think it will happen.