Patent: Another 100x Zoom PowerShot

[Canon Rumors]

Before the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS hit the market last fall, there had been rumblings that it would have a 100x zoom, but it *only* came with 65x zoom which worked out to a focal length of 24-1365mm. <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2013/12/whos-ready-for-a-100x-zoom-powershot/">There was a patent for a 100x zoom optical formula</a> at that time, but I guess it wasn’t ready for market. Now, another 100x zoom patent has come to light, this time with a 24-2400mm focal length when factoring in the 1/2.3″ sensor.</p>
<p><strong>Patent Publication No. 2014-174524 (Machine Translated)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Published 2014.9.22</li>
<li>Filing date 2013.3.13</li>
<li>Zoom ratio 98.52</li>
<li>The focal length f = 3.07 53.41 302.40mm</li>
<li>Fno. 1.85 8.14 9.00</li>
<li>Half angle ω = 36.2 2.40 0.50 °</li>
<li>Overall length of the lens 110.05mm</li>
<li>BF 12.67 27.40 5.19mm</li>
<li>4-group zoom of positive and negative, positive</li>
<li>Inner zoom (the second group, the third group)</li>
<li>Rear focus (fourth group)</li>
<li>Anti-vibration (third group)</li>
</ul>
<p>Could the PowerShot SX70 HS get a 100x zoom? Nikon has brought us the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127274-REG/nikon_26499_coolpix_p900_digital_camera.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">83x zoom Coolpix P900</a>, so it only makes sense that Canon will try to outdo the P900 when the next iteration of the popular megazoom PowerShot gets unveiled, which isn’t going to be for a while yet.</p>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2015-03-09">Egami</a>]</p>

 

[l_d_allan]

Is the 1/3.2" sensor a typo? Was it supposed to be 1/2.3" sensor?

 

[plam_1980]

Is the 1/3.2" sensor a typo? Was it supposed to be 1/2.3" sensor?

I was wondering the same?

Also can anyone guess when will SX70 be announced? SX50 was in 2012 and SX60 was months ago...

 

[Proscribo]

sooooo.... how does one take a pic at 2400mm?

 

[hoodlum]

Is the 1/3.2" sensor a typo? Was it supposed to be 1/2.3" sensor?

Based on actual focal length it was designed for a 1/3.2" sensor. With diffraction kicking in around F4 there won't be much detail at the long end as it is at f9!!!

 

[Canon Rumors]

Is the 1/3.2" sensor a typo? Was it supposed to be 1/2.3" sensor?

Yep, that was a typo. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[dadgummit]

sooooo.... how does one take a pic at 2400mm?

Without a tripod I would imagine it would be next to impossible. Of course most point and shoot owners carry tripods... This is probably why they released "only" a 65X zoom this last time.

 

[skfla]

Yawn.... When gets up a serious zoom range like 24-6000, let me know. But seiously, I'm sure that birders and peeping toms would like a 100x but who else? & aren't we pushing the properties of physics just a little too far? Software can only correct so much.

 

[hendrik-sg]

beside a marketing gag this is pure nonsense. diffraction, camera shake, noise (at f9), and all other lens aberations fill ruin every Picture at 2400mm, this is just nice to have. any yes, despite of the physical Limits, it is fascinating ;D

 

[LonelyBoy]

Yawn.... When gets up a serious zoom range like 24-6000, let me know. But seiously, I'm sure that birders and peeping toms would like a 100x but who else? & aren't we pushing the properties of physics just a little too far? Software can only correct so much.

I doubt either birders or peeping toms would actually be interested in the images this would generate at 2400mm. I really can't imagine who would be, honestly, though it's fascinating from an engineering standpoint.

 

[hniekus]

I do not think that 1/3.2 is a typo.
With the max 302.4 mm you get a 1685 mm with a 1/2.3 sensor.
If you take a 1/3.2 sensor it becomes 2344 mm

 

[crashpc]

I still wonder why they don´t make some "long reach" specialized cam. Something like 200-2000mm, just 10x zoom? For those who cannot afford or don´t want to buy serious 300+mm lens to complement their big system? Life would be so much easier!