Egami (translated) spotted some interesting patents filed by Canon.

The patent refers to new 17-40mm and 16-35mm lenses, as you can see with apertures between f/2.8 and f/4. Are these patents for the replacements of the [shoplink 246]EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM[/shoplink] and the highly popular [shoplink 242]Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM[/shoplink] lenses? These two lenses were measured by DxOMark a few weeks ago.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-41245
  • Publication date 2014.3.6
  • Filing date 2012.8.22
• Example 1
  • Focal length f = 16.49-23.55-33.95mm
  • Fno. 4.10
  • Half angle ω = 52.68-42.57-32.51 °
  • 14 pieces of 10-group lens configuration
• Example 2
  • Focal length f = 17.50-25.45-38.90mm
  • Fno. 4.10
  • Half angle ω = 51.03-40.36-29.08 °
  • 15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration
• Example 4
  • Focal length f = 17.50-24.82-38.89mm
  • Fno. 2.88-3.25-4.10
  • Half angle ω = 51.02-41.08-29.09 °
  • 15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration
• Example 5
  • Focal length f = 16.50-25.34-34.00mm
  • Fno. 2.91
  • Half angle ω = 52.66-40.49-32.47 °
  • 15 pieces of 11-group lens configuration
• Canon patents
  • 4-group zoom of positive and negative positive negative
  • Inner focus

Lots of Canon patents surfaced in the last weeks. Here is another one spotted by Egami (translated). If I got the (machine-) translated text right, both lenses should also feature macro capabilities.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-16464,2014-16465
  • Publication date 2014.1.30
  • Filing date 2012.7.9
• Example 3
  • Macro when in parentheses
  • Zoom ratio 2.84 (2.87)
  • Focal length f = 24.30-35.10-69.00mm (67.23-60.62)
  • Fno. 4.10 (5.28-5.56)
  • Half angle ω = 41.68-31.65-17.41 ° (17.84-19.64)
  • Image height Y = 21.64mm
  • 134.65-141.04-164.94mm overall length of the lens (162.09-152.75)
  • BF 39.15-46.02-59.68mm (64.95-67.73)
  • β = -0.17 (-0.7)
• Example 4
  • Macro when in parentheses
  • Zoom ratio 3.42 (2.84)
  • Focal length f = 24.30-35.10-82.99mm (68.22-64.03)
  • Fno. 3.58-4.42-5.89 (5.92-5.87)
  • Half angle ω = 41.68-31.65-14.61 ° (17.60-18.67)
  • Image height Y = 21.64mm
  • 126.64-128.32-155.92mm overall length of the lens (149.57-148.58)
  • BF 39.39-49.31-64.14mm (65.59-65.96)
  • β = -0.17 (-0.6)
• Canon patents
  • (4, etc. as in Example 3) seven-group zoom of positive and negative positive and negative positive positive and negative
  • (4, etc. the second group, as in Example 3) inner focus
  • implement the macro function by the first group fed out to the object side

Egami (translated) found a patent filed by Canon that appears to refer to new kit lenses: 17-55mm f/3.5-5.6 STM and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 STM. s you can see both lenses feature Canon’s newer STM (stepping motor) technology to drive the lens. STM is almost silent when operating, hence useful for videography.

• Patent Publication No. 2014-21258
  • Publication date 2014.2.3
  • Filing date 2012.7.18
• Example 2
  • Zoom ratio 2.92
  • Focal length f = 18.50-32.89-54.00mm
  • Fno. 3.49-4.39-5.80
  • Half angle ω = 36.44-22.55-14.20 °
  • Image height Y = 13.66mm
  • 119.77-110.06-120.23mm overall length of the lens
  • BF 37.98-52.51-74.3mm
• Example 3
  • Zoom ratio 3.09
  • Focal length f = 17.50-32.05-54.00mm
  • Fno. 3.47-4.38-5.80
  • Half angle ω = 37.97-23.08-14.20 °
  • Image height Y = 13.66mm
  • 119.55-108.81-118.68mm overall length of the lens
  • BF 36.59-51.53-73.93mm
• Canon patents
  • 4-group zoom of positive and negative positive negative
  • Inner folder – Kas (Group 3)
  • The fourth lens unit can also be used for anti-vibration