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    Patent: Zoom tilt-shift lenses

    By 40 Comments2 Mins Read Canon Patents
    zoomtiltshift 728x462 - Patent: Zoom tilt-shift lenses

    A patent uncovered by Northlight shows the optical formulas for zooming tilt-shift lenses has appeared over at the USPTO.

    The patent appears to mention two separate and interesting tilt-shift lens technology.

    The first, the patent shows two internal shift modules. This would help to maintain image quality when tilting the lens. The patent shows a 50mm f/4 design with the two shift modules.

    The second part of the patent shows off new zooming tilt-shift lens designs.

    Both a  24-100mm f/4 and a 30-80mm f/4 are included as embodiments.

    Canon TS-E 24-100mm f/4 embodiment:

    • Focal length: 24.74mm – 49.55mm – 99.94mm
    • F-number: 4.13 – 4.31 – 4.42
    • Half angle of view: 41.17° – 23.59° – 12.21°
    • Image height: 21.64mm – 21.64mm – 21.64mm
    • Total lens length: 159.00mm – 174.75mm – 200.33mm
    • BF: 43.99mm – 55.44mm – 69.75mm

    Canon TS-E 30-80mm f/4-6.3 embodiment:

    • Focal length: 31.15mm – 55.06mm – 129.92mm – 39.12mm – 83.69m
    • F-number: 4.52- 5.96 – 6.08 – 5.97 – 6.07
    • Half  angle of view: 34.78° – 21.45° – 9.45° – 28.94° – 14.49°
    • Image height: 21.64mm – 21.64mm- 21.64mm – 21.64mm – 21.64mm
    • Total lens length: 168.22mm – 182.25mm – 205.02mm – 173.45mm – 192.88mm
    • BF: 55.33mm – 69.40mm – 89.40mm – 61.34mm – 78.11mm

    These designs are for the EF mount, but we suspect any updates to the wide angle tilt-shift lenses or even going the zoom route will be for the RF mount.

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    40 comments

    5. Can anyone venture a guess at the price of a 24-100/4 tilt shift lens?

      Way more than I can afford...

      I would venture a guess at 4x an existing t/s lens.
    8. I'm sure these would be fantastic lenses but I am still expecting reasonably priced lenses from Canon for RF. It seems Canon is playing a fantasy game with RF lenses now.
    9. I'm sure these would be fantastic lenses but I am still expecting reasonably priced lenses from Canon for RF. It seems Canon is playing a fantasy game with RF lenses now.
      I think Canon’s strategy is logical. The RF 35 is reasonably priced, and the RF 24-105 is essentially the same as the EF version and priced to match. The premium priced lenses are uniquely made available for RF and/or addressing a perceived gap in EF (e.g., portrait primes that emphasize sharpness). Someone pointed out that the launch price of the RF 85/1.2 is essentially the insulation-adjusted equivalent of the EF 85/1.2 II. For other needs as the RF portfolio is built out, there are mount adapters which are inexpensive, and in many cases bundled with the R camera.
    10. I think Canon’s strategy is logical. The RF 35 is reasonably priced, and the RF 24-105 is essentially the same as the EF version and priced to match. The premium priced lenses are uniquely made available for RF and/or addressing a perceived gap in EF (e.g., portrait primes that emphasize sharpness). Someone pointed out that the launch price of the RF 85/1.2 is essentially the insulation-adjusted equivalent of the EF 85/1.2 II. For other needs as the RF portfolio is built out, there are mount adapters which are inexpensive, and in many cases bundled with the R camera.
      I have the 35mm and 24-105mm, and with adapter I can use all my Canon lenses as well. But it's me. Canon must really introduce resonably priced RF 70-300 and 17-35mm lenses for new buyers. I think 17-35mm is coming anyway.
      Also for RP Canon desperately needs RF 24-105mm f3.5-5.6 (like the EF STM version). Rp + that lens as a kit for 1700USD or less, then Canon will fly :)
    11. Also for RP Canon desperately needs RF 24-105mm f3.5-5.6 (like the EF STM version). Rp + that lens as a kit for 1700USD or less, then Canon will fly :)
      I think we’ll see the previously announced RF 24-240 bundled with the RP soon. Canon already sells the RP bundled with a mount adapter and the EF 24-105 variable aperture STM...for US$1700.
    12. I think we’ll see the previously announced RF 24-240 bundled with the RP soon. Canon already sells the RP bundled with a mount adapter and the EF 24-105 variable aperture STM...for US$1700.
      24-240mm isn't cheap enough for new comers and STM is used with adapter (as a temporary solution). And that 24-105 STM option isn't in Europe (at least I haven't seen yet).
    13. I'm sure these would be fantastic lenses but I am still expecting reasonably priced lenses from Canon for RF. It seems Canon is playing a fantasy game with RF lenses now.
      The post says these are EF lens mount. Canon Rumors Guy is speculating that they could become RF, but that's just his opinion. Tilt-shift is a niche market. Keeping these lenses EF, which means they could be mounted on any Canon body makes more sense.
    14. Someone pointed out that the launch price of the RF 85/1.2 is essentially the insulation-adjusted equivalent of the EF 85/1.2 II.

      IIRC, it was inflation adjusted.
    16. The post says these are EF lens mount. Canon Rumors Guy is speculating that they could become RF, but that's just his opinion. Tilt-shift is a niche market. Keeping these lenses EF, which means they could be mounted on any Canon body makes more sense.
      It’s a niche market, but it’s a market that spends a lot of money. Higher priced products also have higher profit margins. I can see advantages to these lenses in the R mount.
    17. It’s a niche market, but it’s a market that spends a lot of money. Higher priced products also have higher profit margins. I can see advantages to these lenses in the R mount.

      What would be the advantages? EF mount would still work perfectly with the Canon R series, while also working with existing DLSRs and even M bodies. If the lenses are RF, they can only work on R bodies, which means no sales beyond the small percentage of Canon users who have an R body.
    18. 24-240mm isn't cheap enough for new comers and STM is used with adapter (as a temporary solution). And that 24-105 STM option isn't in Europe (at least I haven't seen yet).
      What is the estimated cost of the RF 24-240? I must have missed that in the announcement. But certainly it would be higher than I’d expect for a 24-105 with a similar variable aperture. On the other hand, there are certainly budget options for R/RP buyers via the adapter. Given the ongoing contraction at the low end of the ILC market, Canon may have more interest in delivering for the higher-end enthusiast and pro crowd. There’s a big step in going from APS-C to FF in terms of system cost, and Canon already has the crop market covered with the M line. Moving the R line more upmarket makes some sense.
    19. What would be the advantages? EF mount would still work perfectly with the Canon R series, while also working with existing DLSRs and even M bodies. If the lenses are RF, they can only work on R bodies, which means no sales beyond the small percentage of Canon users who have an R body.

      The advantage is that people have an irrational hatred of adapters, even when they work flawlessly.

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