Canon Might Announce The RF 200-500mm f/4L IS In Q4 2023, And For $15,999, Rumor

RF 200-500mm

Canon might be set to release the long rumored (!) RF 200-500mm f/4L IS lens sometimes during Q4 2023, i.e. soon.

The RF 200-500mm f/4L IS will come with hefty price tag, though. The rumored price is $15.999 – not everyone’s budget. Says the source of the rumor:

[RF 200-500mm f/4L IS] the will be the RF replacement for the highly-regarded EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x. There will not be a built-in teleconverter in the RF version, which will help reduce weight, size and complexity, sadly its omission won’t reduce the price.

Do not waste time on rumors, use your time to go out and take pictures.

Source: Canon Rumors

Canon Patent: RF 24-300mm f/2.8-5.6 IS, RF 24-240mm f/2-5.6 IS And RF 40-350mm f/2.8-5.6 IS

Canon Patent

And another Canon patent for lenses for the RF mount.

Canon patent application 2023104137 (Japan, published 7/28/2023) discusses optical formulas for three zoom lenses for the RF mount:

  • RF 24-300mm f/2.8-5.6 IS
  • RF 24-240mm f/2-5.6 IS
  • RF 40-350mm f/2.8-5.6 IS

From the patent literature:

A zoom lens, an imaging device having the same, and an imaging system

To provide a zoom lens that is compact as a whole, has a high zoom ratio, and has high optical performance over the entire zoom range.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, there has been a demand for a zoom lens used in an imaging apparatus having an imaging device to have a compact overall system, a high zoom ratio, and high resolution (high optical performance). . In particular, zoom lenses are required to have high optical performance with substantially uniform resolving power from the center of the screen to the periphery of the screen.

However, in the zoom lenses disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the relationship between the refractive powers of the lens groups is not appropriate, the lens size increases when the zoom ratio is increased, and astigmatism at the wide-angle end and coma at the telephoto end gets worse.

The present invention provides a zoom lens that is compact overall, has a high zoom ratio, and has high optical performance over the entire zoom range.

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: RF 9-18mm f/4 And RF 10-18mm f/4 Lenses

Canon Patent

Another Canon patent application that was published yesterday.

Canon patent application 2023099389 (Japan, published 7/13/2023) discusses optical formulas and methods for two ultra wide zoom lenses.

From the patent literature:

A compact and lightweight zoom lens that has a wide angle of view and high optical performance over the entire zoom range is provided.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, zoom lenses used in imaging apparatuses are required to have a wide angle of view and high optical performance as imaging apparatuses have become more sophisticated. Further, as a zoom lens having a wide angle of view at the wide-angle end, a negative lead type zoom lens in which a lens group having a negative refractive power precedes the zoom lens is known.
However, in the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1, the focal length of the first lens group is set to be small in order to widen the angle of view. . In addition, the back focus and the refractive power of the first lens group are not appropriate, and it is difficult to further reduce the diameter of the front lens and shorten the total length. The zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a short back focus and a refractive power arrangement suitable for shortening the total length. However, the lens groups succeeding the first lens group all have positive refractive power, and it is difficult to narrow the position of the front principal point toward the first lens group when viewed as the entire succeeding group. is difficult.
In order to obtain a compact and lightweight zoom lens that has high optical performance over the entire zoom range while achieving a wide angle, the refractive power and lens configuration of the first lens group, and the lens groups following the first lens group It is important to set the refracting power and placement position of the lens appropriately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and lightweight zoom lens that has a wide angle of view and high optical performance over the entire zoom range, and an imaging apparatus having the zoom lens.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 9.27-17.46
  • F-value: 4.12
  • Half angle of view: 63.98-51.10
  • Image height: 19.00-21.64
  • Overall length: 108.47-100.80
  • Back focus: 15.71-23.00

Example 2

  • Focal length: 10.01-17.46
  • F-value: 4.12
  • Half angle of view: 62.21-51.10
  • Image height: 19.00-21.64
  • Overall length: 106.74-99.55
  • Back focus: 12.36

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: RF 200mm f/2 IS Lens For EOS R System

Canon Patent

And here we have another Canon patent published today.

Canon patent application 2023099385 (Japan, published 7/13/2023) discusses optical formulas for a RF 200mm f/2 IS lens.

From the patent literature:

To provide an optical system having a plurality of focusing groups and anti-vibration groups that can be made compact and lightweight in addition to excellent optical performance.

Description of the Related Art

In a telephoto lens equipped with a plurality of focusing groups that move during focusing from infinity to the closest object and a vibration reduction group for correcting image blur, in addition to good optical performance, There is a demand for miniaturization and weight reduction of the entire lens system.
The present invention provides an optical system having a plurality of focusing groups and anti-vibration groups, which can be reduced in size and weight in addition to excellent optical performance.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 195.00
  • F-value: 2.05
  • Half angle of view: 6.33
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 184.49
  • Back focus: 22.35

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: RF 100mm f/1.4, RF 85mm f/1.4 And More Prime Lenses

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent, the first of four that have been published today.

Canon patent application 2023099386 (Japan, published 7/13/2023) discusses optical formulas for a bunch of fast prime lenses.

From the patent literature:

To provide an optical system capable of satisfactorily correcting aberrations over a wide range of object distances while achieving miniaturization of a focus lens group.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, an optical system used in an imaging apparatus has achieved a reduction in the size of the entire lens diameter of a focus lens group. It is required to be able to satisfactorily correct surface curvature and the like. As an optical system that satisfies these requirements, Patent Document 1 discloses a positive refractive power first lens group, a negative refractive power focus lens group, and a positive refractive power lens group, which are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. is disclosed having a focus lens group of .
However, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, when the aperture of the optical system is increased, the focal length of the focus lens group having a positive refractive power and the second optical system arranged on the image side of the focus lens group The focal length of the 4 lens group is not properly set. For this reason, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to suppress aberration fluctuations during focusing when the optical system has a large aperture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an optical system capable of satisfactorily correcting aberrations over a wide range of object distances while achieving a compact focus lens group.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 82.50
  • F-value: 1.46
  • Half angle of view: 14.69
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 112.50
  • Back focus: 13.00

Example 2

  • Focal length: 72.10
  • F-value: 1.46
  • Half angle of view: 16.70
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 108.50
  • Back focus: 12.99

Example 3

  • Focal length: 97.50
  • F-value: 1.46
  • Half angle of view: 12.51
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 125.50
  • Back focus: 13.00

Example 4

  • Focal length: 82.50
  • F-value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 14.69
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Overall length: 135.50
  • Back focus: 15.03

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

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Another Milestone For Canon: 100 Million EOS Cameras And 160 Million RF/EF Lenses

Canon

Canon press release:

Canon celebrates significant milestones with production of 110 million EOS series cameras and 160 million interchangeable RF/EF lenses

TOKYO, June 29, 2023—Canon Inc. announced today that the company has reached two major production milestones—a cumulative total of 110 million1 EOS Series interchangeable-lens cameras in March and 160 million2 RF/EF series interchangeable lenses in May. An EOS R6 Mark II (released in December 2022) was the 110 millionth EOS series camera produced, while an RF100mm F2.8 L MACRO IS USM (released in July 2021) became the Company’s 160 millionth interchangeable lens.

Production of EOS Series cameras reaches 110 million mark through Canon’s pursuit of “Speed, Comfort and High Image Quality”

EOS, or Electro Optical System, is also the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn. Canon’s EOS system debuted alongside the EF series of interchangeable lenses in March 1987 as the world’s first fully-electronic mount system for silver halide film AF SLR cameras. During the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS Kiss Digital (EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D in other regions) in September 2003. Since that time, Canon has continued to launch a range of groundbreaking products, including the professional-model EOS-1D series and the EOS 5D series, which paved the way for digital SLR video recording. Canon’s desire to further expand the boundaries of visual expression led to its next-generation EOS R System, launched in October 2018. By striving to expand its lineup of attractive products to meet a diverse range of needs, Canon’s EOS series has gained and maintained the support of many users over the years. As a result, the company has maintained the world’s No. 1 share3 of digital SLR cameras over 20 years, from 2003 to 2022. In March 2023, Canon produced its 110 millionth EOS series camera.

Production of Canon RF/EF lenses reaches 160 million unit production milestone on the strength of advanced imaging technology

Canon’s proprietary EF lenses, launched in March 1987 along with the EOS SLR camera system, have continued to evolve since their introduction, leading the industry through the incorporation of a wide range of innovative technologies, including such world’s firsts4 as the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, and a multilayered diffractive optical (DO) element.

With the addition of the RF Lens—which achieves unprecedented high image quality by leveraging a large aperture and short-back focus, along with a high-speed signal transmission system, that are the hallmarks of the EOS R System launched in 2018—the entire range of lenses has been expanded to include a total of 115 models5, expanding the possibilities of image capture. In May 2023, the Company celebrated the production of 160 million EOS series interchangeable lenses.

Refining its proprietary imaging technologies, Canon will continue to strengthen and expand the EOS series along with its RF and EF lens lineup, striving to push the frontier of imaging forward and to contribute to the further development of photographic and video imaging culture.

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