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    Patent: Multiple small RF prime lens optical formulas

    By Updated:67 Comments1 Min Read Canon Patents
    rf35poll 728x462 - Patent: Multiple small RF prime lens optical formulas

    Canon News has uncovered a patent that shows Canon is working on small RF prime lenses, like non-L.

    Japan patent 2019-152683 does include the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro in one of the embodiments, but keep in mind that lens design can sometimes build off of existing lenses.

    RF prime lens optical formulas in this patent:

    • Canon RF 20mm f/2 (Lens length of 70mm)
    • Canon RF 35mm f/2.8 (Lens length of 40mm)
    • Canon RF 45mm f/2.8 (Lens length of 43mm)
    • Canon RF 35mm f/2 (Lens length of 30mm)

    Beyond the prime lenses, there is also a wide-angle f/4 zoom included.

    • Canon RF 16-35mm f/4 (Lens length 90mm – 97mm)

    Looking at all the embodiments, I think only the RF 16-35mm f/4 could realistically be coming.

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    67 comments

    2. Canon didn't discontinue the EF 20mm f/2.8, and other manufacturers have made new ones in recent years (Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED, Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM Art).

      I would be surprised if Canon did not release a 20mm lens in the RF mount.
    3. I'd really like to see a non STM RF35 as the current one isn't great and acquiring focus at a distance on low contrast areas (the Macro curse) and in servo mode the STM isn't very responsive.
    6. The 20 would be interesting in f/2. Throw in a 28/2 and a 50/2 or 50/1.4 and you'd have a decent family of moderately-priced wide-normal lenses. Maybe an 85/2 also.

      I know that they're working on the high-end first, but us regular people need lenses too. Although I have no problem adapting my EF lenses to the RP.
    7. Reactions to the EF 24 f2.8, 28 F2.8 and 35 f2.0 have been mixed since they came out in 2012, and I don't think Canon has ever sold that many of them. Some people are content to make do with a zoom, which isn't that hard to do, the 16-35 f4 being what it is. Other people want moderately priced,smallish, high quality primes. Canon may have decided that the way to make a little money selling moderately priced, smallish, high quality primes is to spend a larger amount of money developing and building them.
    9. These look like affordable RF lenses.

      Canon if you are reading this, where's the f/4 trinity?
      in development probably. they can only produce so many new lenses per year.

      With Nikon having the F4's already done, you can bet Canon won't be too far behind.
    11. Reactions to the EF 24 f2.8, 28 F2.8 and 35 f2.0 have been mixed since they came out in 2012, and I don't think Canon has ever sold that many of them. Some people are content to make do with a zoom, which isn't that hard to do, the 16-35 f4 being what it is. Other people want moderately priced,smallish, high quality primes. Canon may have decided that the way to make a little money selling moderately priced, smallish, high quality primes is to spend a larger amount of money developing and building them.

      I'd have thought that the 35mm f2 IS is a pretty liked and fairly reasonably priced lens. The 24mm f2.8 IS and 28mm f2.8 IS are more difficult to justify.
    13. in development probably. they can only produce so many new lenses per year.

      With Nikon having the F4's already done, you can bet Canon won't be too far behind.

      The f/4 trinity is a much better fit for the R and the RP. I hope that we'll see it soon.
    14. Canon didn't discontinue the EF 20mm f/2.8, and other manufacturers have made new ones in recent years (Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED, Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM Art).

      I would be surprised if Canon did not release a 20mm lens in the RF mount.
      Sadly I just sold my EF20 2.8 -- what great lens! I found it big with the adapter and I usually shoot it manually.
      Now I shoot a Voigtlander 21/4 Skopar until I find a good Leica 21mm that is not over-priced.
    15. I like the EF 35 IS too. I use it for about 60% of my pictures...
      The RF 35 1.8 STM is variable in length because of macro. I dislike this very much, and this is the main reason for switching NOT to RF. One lens I would use native (the 35 of course!) and the rest I can adapt easily. But I don't ever buy this current 35 STM.
      My hopes for a similar 35 IS was not very high. They probably bring a L with 1.4 or 1.2, which is 800gr and 1500€ or more... (see the current 85). They might be superb, but I like the handy smaller ones.
      So maybe they really announce some more smaller effective prime lenses... I can't understand the differences in length on different f-stops (maybe the numbers are switched?), because a f/2.8 should be tinyer than a f/2 ?!
    17. Do you like a new affordable R without viewfinder (like sigma) and its relative pancake?
      The RP is cannibalised enough already, they won't go any lower than that (The M system is there for those, who need smaller and/or cheaper).
      And no, the Sigma might not be that cheap overall.
    19. Reactions to the EF 24 f2.8, 28 F2.8 and 35 f2.0 have been mixed since they came out in 2012, and I don't think Canon has ever sold that many of them. Some people are content to make do with a zoom, which isn't that hard to do, the 16-35 f4 being what it is. Other people want moderately priced,smallish, high quality primes. Canon may have decided that the way to make a little money selling moderately priced, smallish, high quality primes is to spend a larger amount of money developing and building them.
      Reaction was mixed in part because Canon introduced the trio of lenses at a substantial price premium over their non-IS predecessors. After about two years they announced substantial price cuts on all three, bringing them much more into line with their actual value.

      I agree that most people prefer zooms and with the optical quality of modern zooms you aren't really giving up much, if you don't need a fast lens. These primes may not be big sellers, but they are a nice, reliable stable product the rarely needs updating. I would agree that Canon may view them as a small, but reliable source of income and I suspect that if they mirror the EF versions they probably won't require much additional investment by Canon.

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