Patent: Canon RF 28mm f/1.8 & RF 50mm f/1.8

Josh Leavitt · Apr 18, 2019

Those will be nice additions to the RF lineup. But I'm hopeful Canon will give us some pancake RF primes eventually. I'd like to see RF versions of the 24mm F/2.8 STM and 40mm F/2.8 STM. I think those along with the upcoming RF 70-200 F/2.8 and an EOS RP would make a perfect light and small travel kit.

camerabug · Apr 18, 2019

The Canon RF lens lineup will obviously include more affordable non-L options

That's good to know. The RF glass I find very expensive and quite honestly, I find little incentive to even look at it with a large collection of EF L glass.

Tom W · Apr 18, 2019

Very short backfocus distance = Canon taking full advantage of the mirrorless mount system. I would expect the 28/1.8 to be a very good lens.

rrcphoto · Apr 18, 2019

Josh Leavitt said:
Those will be nice additions to the RF lineup. But I'm hopeful Canon will give us some pancake RF primes eventually. I'd like to see RF versions of the 24mm F/2.8 STM and 40mm F/2.8 STM. I think those along with the upcoming RF 70-200 F/2.8 and an EOS RP would make a perfect light and small travel kit.

24mm may come, but the 40mm will never come for the RF mount.

Maximilian · Apr 18, 2019

R series starts to become more and more interesting

But when you look at the lens length (incl. 20 mm flange) they are not really small.
Seems Canon takes IQ over size.

mb66energy · Apr 18, 2019

Maximilian said:
R series starts to become more and more interesting

But when you look at the lens length (incl. 20 mm flange) they are not really small.
Seems Canon takes IQ over size.

... without going overboard with size

Etienne · Apr 18, 2019

The 50mm f/1.8 is huge at 3.75 inches. I hope this is not the lens they manufacture

Sharlin · Apr 18, 2019

Etienne said:
The 50mm f/1.8 is huge at 3.75 inches. I hope this is not the lens they manufacture

The EF 50mm f/1.4 is 95mm as well when you include backfocus distance (which lengths mentioned in patents always do).

Aaron D · Apr 18, 2019

If that 28 (or any similar) is as sharp and compact as the RF 35 I'll buy one in a minute. A perfect walking-around lens!

Dantana · Apr 18, 2019

rrcphoto said:
24mm may come, but the 40mm will never come for the RF mount.

Is that because of a technical limitation, or something else?

LSXPhotog · Apr 18, 2019

A walk around 50mm RF lens....I hope they target sub $250 with it being a 1.8.

jonebize · Apr 18, 2019

The 28/1.8 is actually not that big. Not bad! I would love a 24/2 in a similar size.

Groundhog · Apr 18, 2019

LSXPhotog said:
A walk around 50mm RF lens....I hope they target sub $250 with it being a 1.8.

I think there will be a nifty fifty for the RF mount for well under $150 - just like the EF version it will be the inexpesive start for many to shoot with fast primes.

jonebize · Apr 18, 2019

Groundhog said:
I think there will be a nifty fifty for the RF mount for well under $150 - just like the EF version it will be the inexpesive start for many to shoot with fast primes.

With a 35mm sibling, the pair would be a powerful tool in the market

degos · Apr 19, 2019

Groundhog said:
I think there will be a nifty fifty for the RF mount for well under $150 - just like the EF version it will be the inexpesive start for many to shoot with fast primes.

Nah, Canon's whole philosophy with RF is to net big juicy margins. Big lenses, big prices, big executive smiles.

EOS M will be the bone thrown to 'enthusiasts' who don't have $1200 to spend on a lens. Go play in the corner with this little toy camera until you earn a decent salary - that's Canon's attitude.

I just hope that Tamron moves into the RF space and starts filling-out the affordable range.

canonnews · Apr 19, 2019

Groundhog said:
I think there will be a nifty fifty for the RF mount for well under $150 - just like the EF version it will be the inexpesive start for many to shoot with fast primes.

the optics for the 50mm are very similar to that of the RF 35mm. it's most likely going to be, like the 35mm a $500 lens, not a well under $150 one.

also, I made mention of this in our posting on this patent, but it deserves to be mentioned here. as this is the patent application for the RF 35mm 1.8 IS STM, and it does contain a IS element, all these patent embodiments contain the same or similar IS compensation element meaning they probably all have IS.

Etienne · Apr 19, 2019

Sharlin said:
The EF 50mm f/1.4 is 95mm as well when you include backfocus distance (which lengths mentioned in patents always do).

The Canon 50 f/1.4 is listed at 2 inches long, or 50.8 mm

Sharlin · Apr 19, 2019

Etienne said:
The Canon 50 f/1.4 is listed at 2 inches long, or 50.8 mm

The emphasis was on when you include backfocus distance. That 95mm in the patent, like always in patents on optical designs, is measured as the distance from the front element to the image plane. The total length of the EF 50/1.4 is ~95mm when you include the 44mm flange distance of the EF mount. The physical length of this RF lens is about 2cm longer than the EF one, pretty much exactly negating the difference in flange distance (which is 20mm in the RF case). This is likely not a coincidence.

Etienne · Apr 19, 2019

Sharlin said:
The emphasis was on when you include backfocus distance. That 95mm in the patent, like always in patents on optical designs, is measured as the distance from the front element to the image plane. The total length of the EF 50/1.4 is ~95mm when you include the 44mm flange distance of the EF mount. The physical length of this RF lens is about 2cm longer than the EF one, pretty much exactly negating the difference in flange distance (which is 20mm in the RF case). This is likely not a coincidence.

It doesn't negate anything. This lens is nearly twice as long, completely the opposite direction hoped-for with mirrorless tech. And it is not technically necessary as evidenced by the RF 35 f/ 1.8 IS which is slightly faster, includes near macro focusing and is about the same length as its Ef 35 f/2 IS equivalent. So, it is huge for a 50 f/1.8