Canon patent for EF-M 9-18mm f/3.5-4.5 STM lens

canon patent

Something is moving in Canon’s EOS M department. Here we have another Canon patent for an EF-M lens,, a EF-M 9-18mm f/3.5-4.5 STM.

We already have an ultra wide-angle lens for the EOS M system, the [shoplink 14076]EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM[/shoplink]. Will the optic formula described in the Canon patent ever hit the market? Hard to say.

  • Patent Publication No. 2016-54371
    • Published 2016.4.14
    • Filing date 2014.9.3
  • Example
    • Zoom ratio 1.90
    • Wide-angle intermediate telephoto
    • Focal length 9.22 14.05 17.50
    • F-number 3.39 4.04 4.63
    • Half angle of view (degrees) 53.07 44.12 37.91
    • Image height 12.27 13.63 13.63
    • Overall length of the lens 89.68 83.60 86.84
    • BF 14.22 15.78 16.00
  • Canon patent
    • Upon correction of the distortion, providing a constraint on stretching amount at each image height
    • Properly set the curve shape of the distortion aberration
[via Egami]

Canon patent for improved image stabilisation (using 2 vibration control groups)

canon patent

Canon patent for a new and improved image stabilisation system using two groups to keep the vibrations under control.

  • Patent Publication No. 2015-203862
    • Published 2015.11.16
    • Filing date 2014.4.16
  • Canon patent
    • Equipped with two vibration proof group
    • Shake detection, determine the amount of correction from the shooting information
    • Obtaining correction amounts of the two vibration proof group from the magnification ratio and the distance information of the lens
[via Egami]

Sigma patent for 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art lens

sigma patent

I usually do not feature patents by other companies but this time I think it is worth to make an exception. A patent filed by Sigma (No. 2016-38502) was spotted and it points to a lens a lot of photographers are hoping Sigma will bring to market soon, it’s a 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art lens.

Such a lens, given it comes with Canon mount (which is very likely) would compete with Canon’s [shoplink 2160]EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM[/shoplink]. If it comes with the outstanding quality and performance we have seen on other recent Sigma lenses, and if it has a competitive price, then it may well cause some distress at Canon.

[via Egami]

Canon patent for 3D lens-style camera (to use with smartphone)

lens-style
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Another interesting Canon patent that may point to a future product. Canon filed a patent for a lens-style camera, i.e. a camera build into a lens system, and to use with your smartphone. Sony made such a smartphone attachable lens-style camera with the Sony DSC-QX100.

canon lens-style
101 smartphone body, 102 lens style camera, 505 the identification markers, 501 camera marker discrimination

There are a few interesting things in the patent description. According to the patent literature, it should be possible to create 3D images by using the smartphone camera and the lens-system together. This requires a precise positioning of the lens-style camera. A marker system is provided for this purpose. To correctly place the lens-style camera, you have to shot the marker painted on the lens-style camera with the smartphone camera, as shown in the image below.

Canon lens-style
To correctly set the lens-style camera, the painted marker is shot with the smartphone camera
  • Patent Publication No. 2016-10133
    • Published 2016.1.18
    • Filing date 2014.6.26
  • Canon patent
    • The first device having a camera function (101 smartphone of)
    • The second device having a camera function (102 lens-style camera)
    • The second unit (102 lens-style camera) is provided with a retractable mechanism
    • Equipped with a marker that represents the collapsed position
    • The first device (101 Smartphone of) is to shoot so as to include a marker
    • Depending on the tip position of the collapsed, to get the mounting position to the first device of the second unit (102 lens-style camera) (101 smartphone of)
[via Egami]