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    Patent: Canon 100-400mm f/5.6-7.1

    By Updated:110 Comments1 Min Read Canon Patents
    patent100400rf - Patent: Canon 100-400mm f/5.6-7.1

    Canon News has uncovered a patent for an APS-C 100-400mm F5.6-7.1 optical formula.  (Richard also messed it up by not noticing it was APS-C at first)

    Does this mean that the EOS-M is getting a super telephoto consumer lens? The optical elements are fairly lightweight and the lens optics diameter would be somewhere around 52mm, which seems to fit with the EOS-M ecosystem.  Or is this a sign of an RF APS-C camera coming out.  The need for an APS-C 100-400 is puzzling if it's for the RF mount though.

    Canon RF/EF-M 100-400mm f/5.6-7.1:

    • Focal length: 119.97mm 218.00mm 360.96mm
    • F-Number: 5.50 6.50 7.10
    • Half angle of view: 6.50° 3.59° 2.17°
    • Image height: 13.66mm  13.66mm  13.66mm
    • Total lens length: 179.62mm 192.93mm 233.56mm
    • BF: 15.03mm  15.03mm  15.04mm

    Canon appears to be going a different direction with their longer lenses for their mirrorless mounts than the other manufacturers. They seem to be more interested in reducing the size and making the usability more comfortable. It also helps that they have a bunch of stellar EF lenses that will work just fine with your mirrorless cameras if you want the faster speeds.

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    110 comments

    1. Image Height of 13.6 mm indicates this is an APS-C lens (sqrt(22^2 + 15^2) / 2 = 13). In which case I'm more disappointed in this than the RF 100-500 or 24-105 going to 7.1. Although as a compact lens and the right price it will likely still make for an awesome lens. Are we sure this is RF and not EF-M though*?

      Also not a fan of calling it a 100-400mm if it's really just a 3X zoom at 120-360mm. But maybe they'll be a bit more honest in the actual name, this is just a patent after all.

      *Edit: Note that 360 mm / 7.1 = 51 mm, so less than Canon's standard diameter for EF-M lenses. So it would fit in that system, even though f/7.1 on APS-C is still quite rough.
    2. Oh dear:
      • Focal length: 119.97mm 218.00mm 360.96mm
      • F-Number: 5.50 6.50 7.10
      That's floored even the positive side of me. Anyway, let's hope it is a cheap consumer lens alongside a stellar 100-500mm L.
    4. That can't possibly be a successor to the current 100-400 with that aperture at 400mm.

      That f/7.1 aperture report also makes one wonder if some of the details about a prospective 100-500 lens are getting mixed up with this thing.
    5. That can't possibly be a successor to the current 100-400 with that aperture at 400mm.

      That f/7.1 aperture report also makes one wonder if some of the details about a prospective 100-500 lens are getting mixed up with this thing.
      This is not related to the EF 100-400mm L lens at all. The patent is for an APS-C lens.

      And the RF 100-500 mm is something Canon officially announced. I'm not sure if I understood that correctly, but it sounded like you implied that the f/7.1 aperture in that lens could be misinformation. It is not.
    6. Image Height of 13.6 mm indicates this is an APS-C lens
      Yes, I updated my posting and sent an email off to craig about it. Sorry for the confusion. It's becoming so automatic that if it's a mirrorless patent, it's a full frame RF that it just blew right by me.

      My addendum;

      It totally skipped by me that this is an APS-C lens because the image height is 13.66mm.

      This is kind of an odd duck patent application either meant for the RF mount or the EOS-M mount. It seems unlikely it would for the EOS-M mount considering they seem to be diameter constrained at 61mm in diameter. However, technically a F7.1 400mm would have around a 55mm front element, so it's possible that this is for the EOS-M mount, but I think it's highly unlikely the lens body could be made that small.
    7. Image Height of 13.6 mm indicates this is an APS-C lens (sqrt(22^2 + 15^2) / 2 = 13). In which case I'm more disappointed in this than the RF 100-500 or 24-105 going to 7.1. Although as a compact lens and the right price it will likely still make for an awesome lens. Are we sure this is RF and not EF-M though*?

      Good point! This must be an EF-M design. If I had to guess I'd say that this is a byproduct patent of the RF 100–500 design work, but I haven't checked whether the designs are even remotely similar. 360mm f/7.1 wouldn't be totally bad if it's sharp at max aperture.
    8. 360mm f/7.1 wouldn't be totally bad if it's sharp at max aperture.
      Sure thing, I shoot my Sigma 150-600 mm C at 7.1 a lot in my 80D and get results I'm happy with. But at 600 mm and third party, I'm also more forgiving than I'd be on a Canon lens in this focal length.

      I guess what would be could about it is that (subtracting the flange) at ~ 160 mm physical length it is just 50 mm longer than my EF-S 55-250 mm IS STM. And that lens is lovely compact and affordable for what it does.
    10. This feels like replacement to 70-300mm lenses more than a proper replacement for 100-400mm L mk2.
      It's already been edited/corrected that this is a crop lens. fwiw, the 100-400 doesn't need a replacement, it's damn near perfect.
    12. If this becomes an RF mount lens, it portends an APS-C RF camera, if it becomes an EOS-M mount lens, it shows Canon's continued interest in the smaller bodies. Good news whichever way it might happen.
    14. It's already been edited/corrected that this is a crop lens. fwiw, the 100-400 doesn't need a replacement, it's damn near perfect.
      100-400mm Mk2 is certainly the beast. Since this is a crop lens it would still be competing with 70-300/55-250 which are both popular among beginers with a little extra reach at tele end.
    17. I'd like to see some new EFm releases. While this is slow, it does seem small, which is consistent with the EFm lineup. Most important to me is to see some higher end glass that will match the 32 MP of the M6 II. I would drop $ tomorrow on a high quality EFm general purpose zoom.
    19. oh woah could be amazin birdler lense for M cameras . Sharpest supertele ever made if made well?
      Thank you canon confusing me even more about what to do next :p
      So M5ii must be coming , and M barrel diameter isnt unbreakable law.
      There isnt IS so M5ii got ibis?
      Guys i would love to see your face if next M camera would be M1 :p would make some :O
      It even makes sense ,camera for professional bird shooters

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