Are Resin Lens Elements Coming To Future Canon Lenses? (Canon patent)

February 7, 2025
Canon News
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Will we see plastic lens elements in future Canon lenses? A pertinent Canon patent application was spotted.

Canon patent application P025019790, published In Japan on February 7, 2025, introduces a new zoom lens and imaging device. The patent addresses the challenge of creating a compact, large-aperture zoom lens with minimal aberration. To achieve this, Canon proposes the use of plastic lenses, as seen in examples like the 28-105mm F4, 24-35mm F2, and 24-35mm F3.5.

The key idea of the invention is to utilize resin lenses in the zoom lens construction, which helps reduce the weight of the lens. However, resin lenses are known to be sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, which can cause fluctuations in focus and optical aberration. Previous patents have attempted to address this by pairing resin lenses with both positive and negative refractive power in the same lens group to counteract these fluctuations.

Canon’s new approach focuses on using resin lenses in a way that minimizes the impact of temperature and humidity on optical performance. This innovation aims to provide a lightweight, small-sized zoom lens that retains consistent optical quality despite environmental changes. The patent also explores methods to stabilize the refractive power of resin lenses, particularly those made from high-dispersion materials, which are prone to changes due to moisture absorption.

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