Canon Patent: 14-280mm f/2.8-5.6 Lens For 4/3 Sensor

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Does Canon have a 4/3 camera in their lineup? However, here is a Canon patent application for a lens that seems to fit such a sensor.

Canon patent application 2021-183997 (Japan) discusses optical formulas for a 14-280mm f/2.8-5.6 lens for a camera with a 4/3 sensor. From the patent literature:

There are known zoom lenses that are compact and can efficiently obtain a magnification ratio, which are suitable for image pickup devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, and TV cameras. The zoom lens has a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive or negative refractive power in order from the object side to the image side. There is something. In the zoom lens, the lens group on the image side of the third lens group is moved to correct (compensate) the image plane movement due to the scaling.

Example 1

  • Focal length 14.26 117.92 280.89
  • F number 2.88 5.38 5.77
  • Half angle of view (°) 37.19 5.24 2.21
  • Image height 10.82 10.82 10.82
  • Lens total length 181.14 181.14 181.14
  • BF 19.35 10.59 6.46

The patent also describes a lens with 10x zoom. Maybe both lenses are for an upcoming PowerShot-like camera with a 4/3 sensor? Or a video camera?

Example 2

  • Focal length 17.51 ​​87.85 169.87
  • F number 2.27 4.40 4.63
  • Half angle of view (°) 31.70 7.02 3.64
  • Image height 10.82 10.82 10.82
  • Lens total length 129.45 129.45 129.45
  • BF 21.20 11.01 6.13

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via asobinet.com]

Canon Patent: More RF Mount Lenses – 14mm f/1.8 & 20mm f/1.4

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And yet another Canon patent application for RF mount lenses. This time we have a 14mm f/1.8 and a 20mm f/1.4.

Canon patent application 2021-184030 (Japan) discusses optical designs for a 14mm f/1.8 and a 20mm f/1.4 lens, both for full frame mirrorless cameras, i.e. for the EOS R lineup.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a single focus lens which is advantageous in terms of wide angle, small size and high optical performance, for example.

An image pickup optical system used in a photographic camera and a movie camera is required to have a wide angle, a small F value, and an image pickup optical system having substantially uniform resolution from the center of the screen to the periphery of the screen over the entire object distance. ing. In order to realize such an imaging optical system, a first lens group fixed at the time of focusing is arranged on the most object side, and a plurality of negative lenses are continuously arranged from the most object side in the first lens group. A single focus lens (single focus optical system) has been proposed. Patent Document 1 describes a single focal length optical system having a focal length of 24 mm and an F value of 1.4, and Patent Document 2 describes a single focal length optical system having a focal length of 20 mm and an F value of 1.4.

Example 1

  • Focal length 18.46
  • F number 1.73
  • Angle of view 49.53
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens total length 144.17
  • BF 39.17

Example 2

  • Focal length 14.42
  • F number 1.74
  • Angle of view 56.31
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens total length 151.49
  • BF 37.99

Example 4

  • Focal length 20.00
  • F number 1.46
  • Angle of view 47.25
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens total length 146.11
  • BF 38.99

Example 5

  • Focal length 16.00
  • F number 1.74
  • Angle of view 53.52
  • Image height 21.64
  • Lens total length 127.35
  • BF 35.73

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

[via asobinet.com]

Canon Patent: RF 17-60mm, 17-70mm, 17-85mm, all f/4-5.6

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Here is a new Canon patent application for RF mount lenses.

Canon patent application 2021-182053 (Japan, spotted by Hi Lows Note) discusses optical formulas for the following lenses: RF 17-60mm f/4-5.6, 17-70mm f/4-5.6 and 17-85mm f/4-5.6.

Embodiment 1

  • Focal length (mm): 17.50 28.00 58.00
  • F number: 4.10 4.50 5.70
  • Half angle of view (degree): 51.50 38.16 20.77
  • Maximum image height (mm): 22.00 22.00 22.00
  • Image height (mm): 19.47 20.98 21.94
  • Lens length (mm): 108.50 114.27 158.50
  • BF (mm): 21.38 33.45 49.01

Embodiment 2

  • Focal length (mm): 17.50 35.00 68.00
  • F number: 4.10 4.50 5.70
  • Half angle of view (degree): 51.50 32.15 17.93
  • Maximum image height (mm): 22.00 22.00 22.00
  • Image height (mm): 19.43 21.75 22.10
  • Lens length (mm): 123.50 130.13 173.50
  • BF (mm): 18.27 33.13 42.65

Embodiment 3

  • Focal length (mm): 17.50 40.00 83.50
  • F number: 4.10 4.50 5.70
  • Half angle of view (degree): 51.50 28.81 14.76
  • Maximum image height (mm): 22.00 22.00 22.00
  • Image height (mm): 19.43 22.05 22.41
  • Lens length (mm): 130.50 135.64 183.50
  • BF (mm): 14.89 34.26 43.12

Embodiment 4

  • Focal length (mm): 17.50 35.00 68.00
  • F number: 4.10 4.50 5.70
  • Half angle of view (degree): 51.50 32.15 17.93
  • Maximum image height (mm): 22.00 22.00 22.00
  • Image height (mm): 19.39 21.53 22.27
  • Lens length (mm): 126.50 125.61 176.50
  • BF (mm): 14.57 27.63 38.40

Don’t think these lenses will ever go into production.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Canon Patent: 28-70mm f/2.8 And 28-60mm f/4 Lenses For RF Mount

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And yet another Canon patent application for lenses for the RF mount (EOS R).

Canon patent application 2021-179550A (Japan, spotted by Hi Lows Note) discusses optical formulas for a 28-70mm f/2.8 and a 28-60mm f/4 lens, both for full frame mirrorless cameras (hence for the RF mount on the EOS R).

Embodiment 1

  • Zoom ratio: 2.35
  • Focal length (mm): 28.84 39.89 67.90
  • F number: 2.91 2.91 2.91
  • Half angle of view (degree): 32.65 28.06 17.67
  • Image height (mm): 21.64 21.64 21.64
  • Lens length (mm): 149.46 133.18 115.94
  • Back focus (mm): 13.48 19.38 27.78

Embodiment 2

  • Zoom ratio: 2.35
  • Focal length (mm): 28.84 39.96 67.90
  • F number: 2.91 2.91 2.91
  • Half angle of view (degree): 32.68 27.27 17.67
  • Image height (mm): 18.50 20.60 21.64
  • Lens length (mm): 152.91 136.27 115.98
  • Back focus (mm): 13.50 19.41 26.94


Embodiment 3

  • Zoom ratio: 2.08
  • Focal length (mm): 28.84 33.20 60.00
  • F number: 4.12 4.12 4.12
  • Half angle of view (degree): 32.68 31.82 19.83
  • Image height (mm): 18.50 20.60 21.64
  • Lens length (mm): 141.33 130.27 104.61
  • Back focus (mm): 19.70 21.65 35.51

Embodiment 4

  • Zoom ratio: 2.35
  • Focal length (mm): 28.84 37.16 67.90
  • F number: 2.91 2.91 2.91
  • Half angle of view (degree): 32.68 29.00 17.67
  • Image height (mm): 18.50 20.60 21.64
  • Lens length (mm): 121.04 110.42 101.92
  • Back focus (mm): 9.97 13.25 25.53

Embodiment 5

  • Zoom ratio: 2.35
  • Focal length (mm): 28.84 39.87 67.90
  • F number: 2.91 2.91 2.91
  • Half angle of view (degree): 32.65 28.07 17.67
  • Image height (mm): 21.64 21.64 21.64
  • Lens length (mm): 146.19 132.32 116.42
  • Back focus (mm): 14.84 20.01 28.77

Canon Patent To Recognize Vertical Mode Through Eye Sensor

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Not sure I get how this Canon patent application might be useful. But who am I to tell? Patent application to recognize vertical use mode through the eye sensor.

Canon patent application 2021-180437 (Japan, spotted by asobinet.com) discusses methods to recognize the vertical use mode through data delivered by the eye sensor in addition to the gyro sensor, to avoid false detection. If I got it right, this should work to change the orientation in live view. From the patent literature:

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device having excellent operability, which can perform suitable control when a user looks into an electronic viewfinder and takes a picture.

Conventionally, there are known image pickup devices that detect the position of a user’s face and perform various functions based on the detected position of the face. For example, in Patent Document 1, the position information of a face element is detected from a face image taken by an in-camera, the vertical direction of the face image is determined, and the display direction of the image information in the display unit is determined according to the vertical direction of the face image. A portable terminal device to be controlled has been proposed.

However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, in a camera provided with an electronic viewfinder, when a user looks into the electronic viewfinder and takes a picture, a face image cannot be acquired and the face cannot be acquired.The vertical direction of the image cannot be determined.

Therefore, when the direction in which the user holds the camera or the direction of the user’s face with respect to the camera is changed, the image information is displayed in the display unit in a display direction different from the direction desired by the user. Operability is reduced. Further, other controls such as control according to a voice input for instructing a direction cannot be suitably performed, and control is performed in a direction different from the direction intended by the user, resulting in poor operability.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device having excellent operability, which can perform suitable control when a user looks into an electronic viewfinder and takes a picture.

The image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes an electronic viewfinder that displays an captured image, a detection means that detects the posture of the image pickup device, and an acquisition means that acquires information on the eyes of a user who sees the electronic viewfinder. Based on the information acquired by the acquisition means, the determination means for determining the orientation of the user’s face with respect to the image pickup device, the detection result of the detection means, and the determination result of the determination means. It is characterized by having a control means for changing the control of the image pickup apparatus.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

Canon Patent: Zoom Lens That Shrinks When Zooming To Telephoto

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A new Canon patent application. A lens that becomes shorter when you zoom to the telephoto end. Usually it is the opposite.

asobinet.com spotted this Canon patent application. The lens seems to have f2.8/f4 and covers the standard focal length. Interesting lens but I don’t think it will ever go into production.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY: A zoom lens and an image pickup device having the same.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zoom lens having a large aperture ratio and a small size but having high optical performance, and an image pickup apparatus having the same.

In recent years, with the increasing functionality of image pickup devices, there is a demand for a compact and lightweight zoom lens having a large aperture ratio. As a zoom lens that satisfies this requirement, a negative lead type zoom lens in which a lens group having a negative refractive power is arranged on the most object side is known.

An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens having a large aperture ratio and a small size but having high optical performance, and an image pickup apparatus having the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 28.84-67.90
  • F value: 2.91
  • Half angle of view: 32.65-17.67
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 149.46-115.94
  • Back focus: 13.48-27.78

Example 3

  • Focal length: 28.84-60.00
  • F value: 4.12
  • Half angle of view: 32.68-19.83
  • Image height: 18.50-21.64
  • Overall length: 141.33-104.61
  • Back focus: 19.70-35.51

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these: