Patent Application: The Zoom You’ve Dreamt About: Canon RF 70-150mm f/2L IS USM

In this patent application (2024-154138), Canon hits the ground running on some downright jaw-dropping lovely zooms. Will we see any? I hope so, but I’m sure someone out there will complain about them being too expensive and too heavy. Going by the embodiments, these will be both.

Canon sets up the problem domain that this application addresses as;

In recent years, in digital still cameras and video cameras, the number of pixels in solid-state imaging elements such as CCD and CMOS sensors has increased, and therefore optical systems used in imaging devices using imaging elements are required to have high optical performance. Furthermore, a large-diameter zoom lens is required to take pictures that make the most of the blur effect.

Canon RF 70-130mm f/2.0L IS USM

This embodiment oozes expensive. Just count the elements and complexity of the zoom for a lens around the 2x zoom range. With its slightly under 2x zoom range, we should expect nothing but greatness from this lens.

The back focus distance is pretty tight, but we have seen actual production lenses around 14mm in back focus, so this would seem to fit with the RF mount.

	Wide	Middle	Telephoto
Focal Length	72.10	97.26	130.95
F-Number	2.05	2.05	2.05
Angle of View	16.70	12.54	9.38
Half Image Height	21.64	21.64	21.64
Total Lens Length	198.00	198.00	198.00
Back Focus Distance	13.90	13.90	13.90

Canon RF 70-150mm F2.0L IS USM

This one is “cheating” a bit but since the long focal is 145.5 – it really wouldn’t surprise me to see Canon call this a 170-150mm length lens. This just isn’t a Canon thing, they all “fudge” a bit on the focal lengths. I don’t make the rules. This lens takes the complexity of the first embodiment and says “Hold my beer”.

Big and heavy, this is.

	Wide	Middle	Telephoto
Focal Length	72.10	101.30	145.50
F-Number	2.05	2.05	2.05
Angle of View	16.70	12.06	8.46
Half Image Height	21.64	21.64	21.64
Total Lens Length	227.00	227.00	227.00
Back Focus Distance	13.90	13.90	13.90

There are more variations of 70-140mm lenses in the embodiments as well as a 70-200mm f/2.8. Will Canon do this lens? it would be the perfect companion to the near-legendary RF 28-70mm f/2.0L.

Canon RF 70-150mm F1.8L IS USM

Next up, though, is the mother of all 70-200 variants of lenses, first in their name; you know the titles. Thanks to the forum for pointing out that I missed this one.

I think that if Canon does any of the embodiments, they’ll cut it back a bit and do an F2.0L because it’s cheaper, the front element is smaller, and thus, the lens is less front-heavy.

However, we dare to dream!

	Wide	Middle	Telephoto
Focal Length	72.10	102.62	145.50
F-Number	1.89	1.89	1.89
Angle of View	16.70	11.90	8.46
Half Image Height	21.64	21.64	21.64
Total Lens Length	240.00	240.00	240.00
Back Focus Distance	14.34	14.34	14.34

As with all patent applications, this is a look into Canon’s research. While it may not ultimately end up in a product, it’s a sign that Canon is at least looking at these types of esoteric lens designs.

Japan Patent Application 2024-154138

Go to discussion…