Here is a new Canon patent application, as usual for RF-mount lenses.

Canon patent application 2024042622 (japan, published 3/28/2024) discusses optical formulas for two lenses for full frame mirrorless cameras (i.e. fort he RF-mount):

• 12-24mm f/2.8
• 14-20mm f/2

From the patent literature:

• An object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that is compact and provides high optical performance over the entire object distance range.
• [ Background Art] As an imaging optical system, an imaging lens with a half angle of view of more than 50 degrees at the wide-angle end is called an ultra-wide-angle lens, and among them, a bright lens with an F value of 2.8 or less has a wide Suitable for taking advantage of the angle of view and short shutter speed for shooting starry skies and dark places. Such an ultra-wide-angle lens is required to have high resolution performance that suppresses spherical aberration and sagittal flare over a short distance from an infinite subject. Particularly in zoom lenses, there has been a problem in that it is difficult to reduce the size of the lens while suppressing variations in aberrations from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end.
• However, the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a large F value and cannot sufficiently reduce aberration fluctuations during zooming due to an increase in aperture. The zoom lens of Patent Document 2 reduces aberration fluctuations during zooming by having multiple groups compared to the zoom lens of Patent Document 1, but there is a need for a wider angle and a smaller size.
• An object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that is compact and provides high optical performance over the entire object distance.

Example 1

• Focal length: 12.29-23.80
• F value: 2.93
• Half angle of view: 60.39-42.27
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 138.05-134.83
• Back focus: 13.86-19.48

Example 2

• Focal length: 14.30-21.50
• F value: 2.06
• Half angle of view: 56.54-45.18
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 148.04-139.46
• Back focus: 13.87-20.30

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A new Canon patent application for two lenses featuring Canon’s new silent USM zoom technology (hence the “Z”).

Canon patent application 2024025100 (Japan, published 02/26/2024) discusses optical formulas and methods for two zoom lenses:

• RF 24-105mm f/2.8 Z
• RF 15-60mm f/2.8 Z

From the patent literature:

• The present invention provides a zoom lens that is compact, has a high zoom ratio, and a large aperture ratio, yet achieves high image quality and high-speed zoom operation.
• BACKGROUND ART: As a zoom lens used in an imaging device, there is a demand for a zoom lens that is small and lightweight, and has high optical performance that can satisfactorily correct various aberrations such as chromatic aberration. Additionally, there is a demand for a zoom lens that has a short focal length at the wide-angle end, a large zoom ratio, a small F number, a large aperture ratio, and is easy to manufacture. Additionally, there is a demand for a zoom lens that allows high-speed zoom operations. Patent Document 1 discloses a zoom lens that includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a lens group with positive refractive power, a lens group with negative refractive power, and a rear group having a plurality of lens groups. .
• Although the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 is small, has a high zoom ratio, and a large aperture ratio, it is difficult to achieve high image quality and high-speed zoom operation.
• Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens that is compact, has a high zoom ratio, and a large aperture ratio, yet achieves high image quality and high-speed zoom operation.

Example 1

• Focal length: 24.72-101.86
• F value: 2.90
• Half angle of view: 41.19-11.99
• Image height:
• Total length: 212.40
• Back focus: 11.98-21.74

Example 2

• Focal length: 15.45-58.20
• F value: 2.90
• Half angle of view: 41.48-13.21
• Image height:
• Total length: 143.99
• Back focus: 11.90

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A new Canon patent application. Canon patent 2024023099 (Japan, published 2/21/2024) discusses optical formulas for three wide angle zoom lenses.

• 10-20mm f/4
• 10-20mm f/2.8-4
• 9-18mm f/4

From the patent literature:

• An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens that is small and has good optical characteristics, and an imaging device and an imaging system including the zoom lens.
• BACKGROUND ART: Zoom lenses used in imaging devices are required to have a wide angle of view, be compact, and have good optical characteristics. As a wide-angle zoom lens, a so-called negative lead type zoom lens in which a lens group with a negative refractive power is arranged closest to the object side is known.
• A negative lead type zoom lens has the characteristics that it is relatively easy to widen the angle of view and easily obtain a long back focus. However, negative lead type zoom lenses tend to have an asymmetrical lens configuration with respect to the aperture stop. Therefore, it is difficult to correct various aberrations, for example, it is difficult to suppress aberration fluctuations during focusing, and it is very difficult to obtain high optical performance.
• In particular, in the inner focus type, in which focusing is performed using a small and lightweight lens group located closer to the image side than the first lens group in order to perform high-speed focusing, aberration fluctuations during focusing tend to increase.
• The present invention provides a zoom lens that is compact and has good optical characteristics, and an imaging device and an imaging system having the zoom lens.

Example 1

• Focal length: 10.33-19.39
• F value: 4.08-4.12
• Half angle of view: 61.36-48.13
• Image height: 18.92-21.64
• Total length: 128.82-123.27
• Back focus: 12.13

Example 2

• Focal length: 9.20-17.90
• F value: 4.08-4.12
• Half angle of view: 64.04-50.40
• Image height: 18.90-21.64
• Total length: 125.26-119.35
• Back focus: 10.50

Example 3

• Focal length: 11.30-23.90
• F value: 4.08-4.12
• Half angle of view: 59.29-42.15
• Image height: 19.02-21.64
• Total length: 129.79-129.33
• Back focus: 14.54-10.54

Example 4

• Focal length: 10.30-19.80
• F value: 2.89-4.12
• Half angle of view: 61.76-47.54
• Image height: 19.18-21.64
• Total length: 132.94-127.01
• Back focus: 11.35

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Canon patent application 2024007656 (Japan, published 19/01/2024) discusses optical formulas for two wide angle zoom lenses.

• 10-18mm f4.5-6.3
• 10-20mm f/4 with internal zoom mechanism

From the patent literature:

• An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens that has high optical performance, is compact, and has a wide angle of view.
• BACKGROUND ART
  Wide-angle lenses are widely used for landscape photography, astronomical photography, and the like. Wide-angle lenses are required to have high optical performance and realize a wide angle of view while being compact.
• Generally, in a negative read optical system, the constituent lens groups are arranged asymmetrically, making it difficult to correct various aberrations such as astigmatism. In particular, when widening the angle of view or downsizing the lens, the refractive power of the lens group closest to the object, which has a negative refractive power, becomes stronger, so that many of the above-mentioned aberrations occur.
• For this reason, in order to achieve a wide angle of view and miniaturization in a negative lead type optical system, and to properly correct various aberrations such as curvature of field and obtain high optical performance, the refractive power of each lens group must be adjusted. It is important to set these appropriately.
• In Patent Document 1, various aberrations such as astigmatism and field curvature are corrected by weakening the refractive power of each lens group, but this increases the size of the optical system, which is undesirable.
• Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens that has high optical performance, is small in size, and has a wide angle of view.

Example 1

• Focal length: 10.30-17.50
• F value: 4.63-6.13
• Half angle of view: 53.0-38.0
• Image height: 11.28-12.95
• Total length: 74.63-73.78
• Back focus: 10.97

Example 2

• Focal length: 15.00-29.10
• F value: 4.63-6.42
• Half angle of view: 55.-36.3
• Image height: 17.85-21.46
• Total length: 122.37-109.82
• Back focus: 13.33

Example 3

• Focal length: 10.30-21.35
• F value: 4.63-6.33
• Half angle of view: 53.0-32.5
• Image height: 11.38-13.66
• Total length: 84.74-75.36
• Back focus: 10.97-14.95

Example 4

• Focal length: 10.30-19.40
• F value: 4.12
• Half angle of view: 52.9-35.2
• Image height: 11.38-13.52
• Total length: 75.89-75.89
• Back focus: 10.97

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