Canon Patent Application For Speedbooster-like Focal Reducer

focal reducer

Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application 2019-003074 that describes a focal reducer.

A focal reducer does the opposite of a teleconverter, reduces the focal length and increases the lens aperture. You likely know that from the Metabone Speedboosters.

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 1 (18-55mm, F2.8)
Zoom ratio: 3.05
Focal length: 17.50 – 53.35 mm
F number: 2.80 – 2.80
Half angle of view: 36.65 – 13.71 
Image height: 13.02 – 13.02 mm
Lens length: 148.81 – 172.70 mm
Back focus: 35.51 – 40.31 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 1 with reducer 1
Focal length: 11.36 mm
F number: 1.82
Half angle of view: 36.67 
Image height: 8.46 mm
Lens length: 142.26 mm
Back focus: 2.00 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 2 (34mm, F1.4)
Focal length: 34.20 mm
F number: 1.45
Half angle of view: 32.32 
Image height: 21.64 mm
Lens length: 129.16 mm
Back focus: 39.35 mm

Specification and lens arrangement of master lens 2 with reducer 5
Focal length: 23.92 mm
F number: 1.02
Half angle of view: 32.33 
Image height: 15.14 mm
Lens length: 125.59 mm
Back focus: 2.00 mm

Canon Patent For RF 90mm f/2.8L IS Macro Lens (EOS R System)

Canon Patent

Hi Lows Note spotted a rather interesting Canon patent application (2017-108266).

The patent literature describes a 90mm f/2.8L IS macro lens for the Canon EOS R system. Two optical formulas are discussed in the patent literature.

Specification and lens arrangement of embodiment 1

  • Focal length: 97.00mm
  • F number: 2.92
  • Half angle of view: 12.57
  • Image height: 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 115.12mm
  • Back focus: 20.01mm

Specification and lens arrangement of embodiment 3

  • Focal length: 86.00mm
  • F number: 2.87
  • Half angle of view: 14.12
  • Image height: 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 115.07mm
  • Back focus: 15.93mm

Well, this is a patent application for a lens that may indeed hit the market (most patent applications never become a real product).

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these:

Canon Patent For RF 28-70mm F/2-2.8 For EOS R (with no image stabilisation, sign for IBIS?)

canon patent

Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application (2018-197774) for an RF 28-70mm F/2-2.8 lens for the EOS R system.

  • Focal length: 28.68 – 67.90mm
  • F number: 2.26 – 2.91
  • Half angle of view: 37.03 – 17.67
  • Image height: 21.64 – 21.64mm
  • Lens length: 149.69 – 174.43mm
  • Back focus: 20.57 – 35.45mm

The interesting fact: the lens literature does not refer to an image stabilisation group inside the lens. Some people is saying this is a sign for IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation) coming to future EOS R models (rumors already surfaced). We are not sure how to interpret this.

Canon always stated the superiority of image stabilisation in the lens. Never the less, Canon execs didn’t exclude the possibility of a future mirrorless camera with IBIS, and there are a few patents clearly discussing IBIS (patent 1 | 2 | 3).

Do you think this patent application is a clear sign of IBIS to be featured on future EOS R cameras?

Canon in an unusual move for the company already disclosed the the EOS R lens roadmap for the next years (also see this interview). The lens described in the patent application doesn’t seem to be on Canon’s immediate agenda. Keep in mind that patents are a way for companies to secure they research and development and hence their intellectual propriety. A patent application rarely means a product is coming to the market soon.

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production in the next few years are these:

Canon Patent For Basic IBIS (In Body Image Stabilisation) Used To Correct Lens Eccentricity

canon

What a neat coincidence. After a rumor about Canon featuring IBIS in future EOS R cameras, we can report a Canon patent application for a basic IBIS system spotted by Hi Lows Note.

The literature in patent application 2018-194766 seems to describe a basic IBIS system used to correct lens eccentricity. The image sensor can tilt in order to correct the lens eccentricity.

Machine translated excerpt:

[…] the optical instrument concerning the present invention, and its system, A camera device provided with the control means which carries out the tilt of the image sensor to an optic axis, It consists of a lens device provided with the detection means which detects the parameter to which the image formation performance of a lens is changed, The image sensor according to a parameter falls from the aforementioned lens device, information is transmited to the aforementioned camera device, and it is characterized by comprising the optical instrument which consists of the camera device in which the thing [ falling and carrying out the tilt of the image sensor to an optic axis based on information ] is possible, and its system.

As usual I’m glad for any help interpreting patent literature.

canon

Sigma Patent For 12mm f/2.8 Lens For Full Frame Cameras

sigma patent

Is this the next super cool Sigma lens?

Hi Lows Note spotted a patent application (2018-189733) by Sigma for a 12mm f/2.8 lens for full frame cameras.

  • Focal length: 12.42 mm
  • F number: 2.93
  • Angle of view: 120.49
  • Image height: 21.63 mm
  • Lens length: 169.4 mm

Apparently the lens has some sort of distortion correction built in:

The present invention relates to the wide angle lens system in which the back focus used for a digital camera, a video camera, a film-based camera, etc. corrected several aberrations, such as a distortion aberration […]

Someone?

Canon Working on RF 25-300mm F/3.5-5.6 For Canon EOS R, Patent Suggests

canon

Hi Lows Note spotted a Canon patent application (2018-180203) for a RF 25-300mm F/3.5-5.6 lens for the Canon EOS R system. The patent literature describes a compact lens. Doesn’t look like a L-grade lens.

  • Zoom ratio: 11.68
  • Focal length: 25.20 – 294.41 mm
  • F number: 3.50 – 5.60
  • Angle of view: 36.72 – 4.20
  • Image height: 18.80 – 21.61 mm
  • Lens length: 374.08 mm
  • Back focus: 21.75 mm

canon