Patent: Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS

[Canon Rumors]

A lens we’d all like to see happen has appeared in a patent, a 600mm f/4 DO IS. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a patent for DO lens with a longer focal length than 400mm.</p>
<p>Patent Publication No. 2015-11171 (Google Translated)</p>
<ul>
<li>Published 2015.1.19</li>
<li>Filing date 2013.6.28</li>
</ul>
<p>Example 2</p>
<ul>
<li>Focal length 588.30mm</li>
<li>Fno. 4.12</li>
<li>Angle of view 2.11 °</li>
<li>Image height 21.64mm</li>
<li>Lens length 397.80mm</li>
<li>BF 2.02mm</li>
<li>Positive ShiboTadashi</li>
<li>Inner focus</li>
<li>Vibration control</li>
</ul>
<p>Canon recently updated the 400mm DO lens and solved a lot of the issues some photographers experienced with the first one. If a 600mm variant could cost less than a house, there’d be a pretty good market for it I think.</p>

 

[IglooEater]

Woohoo! Just wondering what will differentiate this from the 'Normal' 600L, that would keep the 600L on the market at all. Now we just need a 1200mm 5.6 DO.. ;D

 

[jvirta]

Interesting lens but what I have been wondering about these patents are the variances between the "sales" and actual specs. I mean that this lens is actually 588mm f/4.12 lens and not a 600mm f/4...

Well the differences of the figures aren't that big, but does anyone know how large can the differences be or is it only about how much the lens manufacturer is willing to "lie"? Is there some specific reasons why they cannot actually make a 600mm f/4 lens or very very close to it?

 

[Loswr]

Presumably physically smaller than the current lens, probably a bit lighter. I'd certainly be tempted...

 

[AlanF]

Presumably physically smaller than the current lens, probably a bit lighter. I'd certainly be tempted...

Matthew 6:13
"Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one"

I'd prefer a f/5.6 for weight reasons.

 

[arbitrage]

Interesting lens but what I have been wondering about these patents are the variances between the "sales" and actual specs. I mean that this lens is actually 588mm f/4.12 lens and not a 600mm f/4...

Well the differences of the figures aren't that big, but does anyone know how large can the differences be or is it only about how much the lens manufacturer is willing to "lie"? Is there some specific reasons why they cannot actually make a 600mm f/4 lens or very very close to it?

Even the patent for the 600 f/4 IS III has a 588mm rating. I wouldn't be surprised if the current one is similar. There is a certain spec they have to be in to quote a certain focal length but I'm not sure what it is.

http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/03/patent-canon-ef-600-f4l-is-ii-ef-600-f4-do-is/

 

[Vern]

Presumably physically smaller than the current lens, probably a bit lighter. I'd certainly be tempted...

Matthew 6:13
"Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one"

I'd prefer a f/5.6 for weight reasons.

+1, f5.6 would still AF w a 1.4X w current bodies and would likely weigh in a little over 2 kg based on the 400 f4 DO's weight. This would be easy to walk around with. I do go walking for birdies w the 600, f4 but it is a chore.

 

[wopbv4]

Interesting indeed.
I have the new EF 400 DO Mark II and I am very pleased with it. IQ is fantastic, IS is superb and focus is very fast even with 1.4 converter ( not with 2.0 converter).
I use the lens on a 1DX and that combo is perfectly balanced. I can use this for extended periods handheld and for BIF this makes a hughe difference.
Although the 400 DO is a lot cheaper then EF 400 F2.8 it is still (very) expensive.
The 600 DO would probably still cost something like $8000

 

[Click]

What is Positive Shibo Tadashi ?

I looked on the web, some lens are Positive ShiboTadashi, and others Negative ShiboTadashi.

What does it mean?

 

[Random Orbits]

Interesting indeed.
I have the new EF 400 DO Mark II and I am very pleased with it. IQ is fantastic, IS is superb and focus is very fast even with 1.4 converter ( not with 2.0 converter).
I use the lens on a 1DX and that combo is perfectly balanced. I can use this for extended periods handheld and for BIF this makes a hughe difference.
Although the 400 DO is a lot cheaper then EF 400 F2.8 it is still (very) expensive.
The 600 DO would probably still cost something like $8000

Probably more. If the IQ is as good as the 600 f/4 II, the I'm guessing it'd cost more than the 600 f/4 II, and that lens is 10k+.

 

[GuyF]

What is Positive Shibo Tadashi ?

I looked on the web, some lens are Positive ShiboTadashi, and others Negative ShiboTadashi.

What does it mean?

Shibo Tadashi is the ancient Japanese art of getting people to accumulate or upgrade equipment. Positive Shibo Tadashi is when they keep the original equipment, Negative is when they sell their old gear to buy the new stuff. Therefore if Neuro sells his 600mm to buy this one, that'll be Negative Shibo Tadashi and a corresponding loss of face among those who have Gear Aquisition Syndrome - why have one type of 600mm when you can have two?

All or none of the above might be true...or not....

 

[Click]

Thanks. That's a very good explanation ;D

 

[NancyP]

The key feature would have to be "costs less than a house" - or even "costs less than a mid-priced new car".

 

[RGF]

The key feature would have to be "costs less than a house" - or even "costs less than a mid-priced new car".

perhaps less than a tesla

Also will weigh less than an elephant

 

[jcarapet]

I am guessing 15k if it has similar optical quality, 18 if IQ more than current hulk of a lens. the real question is how small will it be and of course IS?

 

[jcarapet]

just noticed the IS part. Ignore me.

 

[RGF]

Wonder if the 600 DO will be shorter than the 600 F4? Would be easier to travel with.

 

[davidcl0nel]

>Lens length 397.80mm

Not so much. The 600 f/4 IS II is 448mm long), so already shorter than the focal lenght. (this is the definition of a telephoto lens actually)
Maybe the key here is the weight, but I don't think, it would be much lighter. The current II is already much more lighter than the first I one. (5.3kg->3.92kg)

 

[BeenThere]

What is Positive Shibo Tadashi ?

I looked on the web, some lens are Positive ShiboTadashi, and others Negative ShiboTadashi.

What does it mean?

Shibo Tadashi is the ancient Japanese art of getting people to accumulate or upgrade equipment. Positive Shibo Tadashi is when they keep the original equipment, Negative is when they sell their old gear to buy the new stuff. Therefore if Neuro sells his 600mm to buy this one, that'll be Negative Shibo Tadashi and a corresponding loss of face among those who have Gear Aquisition Syndrome - why have one type of 600mm when you can have two?

All or none of the above might be true...or not....

So positive Shibo Tadashi is like unrequited GAS?

 

[RGF]

What is Positive Shibo Tadashi ?

I looked on the web, some lens are Positive ShiboTadashi, and others Negative ShiboTadashi.

What does it mean?

Shibo Tadashi is the ancient Japanese art of getting people to accumulate or upgrade equipment. Positive Shibo Tadashi is when they keep the original equipment, Negative is when they sell their old gear to buy the new stuff. Therefore if Neuro sells his 600mm to buy this one, that'll be Negative Shibo Tadashi and a corresponding loss of face among those who have Gear Aquisition Syndrome - why have one type of 600mm when you can have two?

All or none of the above might be true...or not....

So positive Shibo Tadashi is like unrequited GAS?

and an eternally empty bank account