Patent: Canon EF 50mm f/1.4

[Canon Rumors]

The optical formula for a new EF 50mm f/1.4 has appeared. It looks like the lens has internal focus and an odd negative front element. We haven’t heard anything for a while about a new 50mm f/1.4, but it’s definitely needed.</p>
<p>Patent Publication No. 2015-138121</p>
<ul>
<li>Published 2015.7.30</li>
<li>Filing date 2014.1.22</li>
</ul>
<p>Example 1</p>
<ul>
<li>Focal length 49.10</li>
<li>F number 1.45</li>
<li>Half angle (in degrees) 23.78</li>
<li>Image height 21.64</li>
<li>Overall length of the lens 100.16</li>
<li>BF 38.10</li>
</ul>
<p>Canon patents</p>
<ul>
<li>Positive ShiboTadashi</li>
<li>Inner focus (part of the first group)</li>
</ul>

 

[Haydn1971]

My debit card is waiting !

Come to market now !

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

It is a very different optical design of the traditional double gauss. This should be an alternative to not be so huge and heavy as the wonderful Sigma 50 Art.

 

[chromophore]

Actually, the front element would not be negative. "Negative" refers to the property of diverging a collimated beam of light, whereas "positive" refers to converging a collimated beam. This is because the curvature of the front surface, although concave, is smaller than the curvature of the rear surface, thus the lens is a positive meniscus.

The proper way to characterize that this front element is unusual is that its front surface is concave. Another lens that shares this property is the EF 180/3.5 macro USM. But I don't remember off the top of my head whether this lens' front element is a positive or negative element.

 

[Sporgon]

Looks like an expensive optical formula to me

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Looks like an expensive optical formula to me

Possibly expensive, to achieve high image quality with light weight and compact size?

 

[Haydn1971]

Is 100mm compact ? Compared to a Sigma of Otus yep... It's going to be bigger than the current model, I smell the hint of a red ring !

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Is 100mm compact ? Compared to a Sigma of Otus yep... It's going to be bigger than the current model, I smell the hint of a red ring !

Yes, compact compared to Sigma Art and Zeiss Otus.

 

[The Supplanter]

This appears to be the third 50mm f1.4 patent in just over a year...
http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/07/patent-canon-55mm-f1-4-other-primes/

 

[drmikeinpdx]

Is that front surface actually concave or just plano? I stared at it for a long time and can't decide.

 

[Sporgon]

Looks like an expensive optical formula to me

Possibly expensive, to achieve high image quality with light weight and compact size?

Sounds like it will be similar size to Sigma 50 Art, perhaps a little less girth and weight.

My take on this: Canon may be looking to up the ante on the Sigma by producing a lens which is similar in wide aperture resolution but has less vignetting, although the Sigma is pretty good in that respect too.

 

[Maximilian]

Cool! Finally someting new in the 50 mm mid to high preformance level.
New optical formula, new game, new exitement.
Let's hope we'll hear someting about the IQ performance of that one.
Quite eager to see results.

 

[Maximilian]

So if I read the patent right (this time) the lens will have a lengh of approx. 62 mm (100.16-38.10).
So some 22% bigger compared to the old 50mm f/1.4 USM which has 50,5 mm.
And of course much smaller than the Sigma A (99,9mm).

 

[davidcl0nel]

So some 22% bigger compared to the old 50mm f/1.4 USM which has 50,5 mm.

Do you have the "old" one?
How long is it, if the focus tube is maximized? This is the weak spot on the current one, I think. If the new one has complete internal focus....

 

[ScottyP]

Funny no one is going to pick up the dead-easy edge and just stick IS in a 50mm prime. Sure you can do without it (currently everyone does) but given the consumer appetite for it evidenced in camera forums, someone could sell a lot of units if they would just do it. If you can do it economically in a $199 kit lens you can do it anywhere.

 

[Proscribo]

Funny no one is going to pick up the dead-easy edge and just stick IS in a 50mm prime. Sure you can do without it (currently everyone does) but given the consumer appetite for it evidenced in camera forums, someone could sell a lot of units if they would just do it. If you can do it economically in a $199 kit lens you can do it anywhere.

Uhh.. I'm quite sure that it's A BIT different thing to put IS to a variable aperture zoom that is at max f/3.5 in wide end and f/5.6ish at 50mm, than what it is to put it into 50mm f/1.4... So far closest is sony 50mm f/1.8 IS for crop, IIRC.

 

[Gordonium]

Inverted telephoto design? So trying to compete with sigma art then?

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Funny no one is going to pick up the dead-easy edge and just stick IS in a 50mm prime. Sure you can do without it (currently everyone does) but given the consumer appetite for it evidenced in camera forums, someone could sell a lot of units if they would just do it. If you can do it economically in a $199 kit lens you can do it anywhere.

Uhh.. I'm quite sure that it's A BIT different thing to put IS to a variable aperture zoom that is at max f/3.5 in wide end and f/5.6ish at 50mm, than what it is to put it into 50mm f/1.4... So far closest is sony 50mm f/1.8 IS for crop, IIRC.

A decade ago I've been dreaming of a 50mm Image Stabilizer. After I replaced my old Canon F1.4 by a Sigma Art, I'm no longer sure I would buy one.

I can still dream, but the reality is that a Canon 50mm Image Stabilizer with the same picture quality of the Sigma Art would cost more than $ 1500.

 

[Maximilian]

So some 22% bigger compared to the old 50mm f/1.4 USM which has 50,5 mm.

Do you have the "old" one?
How long is it, if the focus tube is maximized? This is the weak spot on the current one, I think. If the new one has complete internal focus....

Sorry, David, I don't have the old one! That's why I'm so interested in a successor of it.
Just refering to tech data from canon. Don't know if the old one is extracting anyway.
Looking at the review at TDP it does not look like that.

 

[Proscribo]

Funny no one is going to pick up the dead-easy edge and just stick IS in a 50mm prime. Sure you can do without it (currently everyone does) but given the consumer appetite for it evidenced in camera forums, someone could sell a lot of units if they would just do it. If you can do it economically in a $199 kit lens you can do it anywhere.

Uhh.. I'm quite sure that it's A BIT different thing to put IS to a variable aperture zoom that is at max f/3.5 in wide end and f/5.6ish at 50mm, than what it is to put it into 50mm f/1.4... So far closest is sony 50mm f/1.8 IS for crop, IIRC.

A decade ago I've been dreaming of a 50mm Image Stabilizer. After I replaced my old Canon F1.4 by a Sigma Art, I'm no longer sure I would buy one.

I can still dream, but the reality is that a Canon 50mm Image Stabilizer with the same picture quality of the Sigma Art would cost more than $ 1500.

I would go for the 50mm 1.4 IS instead of the Sigma, if it gives two things: smaller size vs. sigma and better IQ than Canon's current 50mm lenses. Fortunately that Sigma is so bloody good that even if the Canon non-L lens couldn't compete against it, the Canon could still be much better than the current offerings.