In this patent application (2025-023282), Canon is looking to make the power zoom motors much smaller for future lenses. Canon is exploring using 1, 2, or even more voice coil motors to move the elements necessary to zoom the lens.
In this patent application (2025-019790), Canon explores the use of more resin elements to make up some pretty interesting lenses. We have to preface this by saying that a lot of Canon lenses have resin elements; it is not unheard of, even in the realms of L lenses.
This is an interesting patent application (2025-012993) showing a strange lens configuration. The embodiments show a potential RF fish eye zoom, even though that is not the focus of the patent application.
In this patent application (2025-001041), Canon describes improvements to how dual lens VR lenses focus and calibrate the focus across both lenses. This series of patents (there have been a few) made me marvel at how much we take for granted with our stereoscopic lenses – our eyes- and how seamlessly they adjust independently without [.
In this patent application (2024-163673), Canon is exploring some lesser-quality super telephoto primes. Could be good news for us peons that don't want to drop 5 digits on a super-telephoto prime.
In this patent application (2024-111453), Canon explores the super telephoto zooms that ended up with the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM. However, there are some other interesting designs in here worth exploring so let's go through them and you'll have to tell me if Canon should have gone for broke and made a 200-1000mm. [...] Source
At first, when I was writing up this patent application (2024-082112), I was leaning toward what others are mentioning on the internet that these are for ILC (interchangeable lens cameras) but after reading more, and looking at the back focus distances involved, I think it's more likely that these are for a compact rangefinder styled [...] Source
In this patent application (2024-078721), Canon is showing off some embodiments of some smaller standard F2. 8 zooms. While at first glance, this seems unlikely we should also keep in mind that Tamron's smaller 28-70 F2.
In this patent application (2024-076793), Canon shows off some embodiments of some lenses with internal zoom and focusing. The first embodiment that I'm going to talk about is a constant 60mm in lens length and a constant F4 aperture 12-30mm lens.
This is an intriguing patent application (2024-074321) because there are a few different embodiments that deserve a closer look than I originally thought reading through it. First, the 20-60mm F2. 8 would cover a lot of focal length bases for me.
In this patent application (2024-073200) Canon is looking at improving the racking of the lens from near to far to find focus quicker. As you may be aware, major defocus happens when the contrast is too far out of focus that it's just soft with no visible contrast. When this happens, it's nearly impossible for [...]
In this patent application (2024-072582) Canon discusses improving the magnets that drive the motors on various lenses that attach to the camera. This is to prevent the magnetic flux from causing image artifacts especially at high ISO when the sensor is operating at a extremely high level of amplification and thus, sensitivity. I seem to [...]
In this patent application (2024-071858) Canon looks to improve the operation of IBIS on your cameras near and dear to your heart. While we'll never know if this patent will end up in the R1 or the R5 Mark II, all these types of patents silently make the little improvements that ultimately add up to [...]
Canon has always delivered great bang for the buck lenses on top of the fabulous L lenses that we enjoy, so it's no surprise that we see a new patent application dealing with the lower end of the spectrum.
In this patent application (2024-071267) Canon shows off a pretty awesome embodiment of a fabled Canon RF 14-20mm F2. 0. We were rumored to see such a lens, but with Canon's supply issues, your guess is as good as mine if it's coming soon.
In this patent application (2024-063513), Canon is looking at improving the subwavelength coatings for optical elements. In an optical system constituted by optical elements, reflection of incident light on the surface and inner surface of the optical element is undesirable because it causes a loss in the amount of transmitted light and reflection ghosts.
I think it's pretty safe to say that Canon has all the ultra wide zoom lenses that they could possibly need, but we also have to keep in mind that once the dust settles and the lens start production, they are hard at work on the Mark II variant of the lens.
There's always the feeling I get when the amount of patent applications start to reach a tempo that perhaps it's a sign that Canon is about to do something. Mind you, Canon has trolled me in the past with this, so anything is possible.
About 3 years ago Canon showed off a prototype of a posture fit device that would recognize when you were slouching and generally having bad posture while sitting at your desk. It would then remind you to correct your posture.
In this patent application (2024-053967) Canon is looking to improve the ability of the cameras to calibrate the eye control focus with the photographer. The eye control focus is featured on older EOS film cameras and more notably, the Canon EOS R3.
In this patent application (2024-052498) Canon discusses replacing the gel filter at the back of a dual fisheye lens with something a little more robust and user-friendly. As you may know, the Canon RF 5.
In this patent application (2024-052503), Canon is looking at providing autofocus for dual lenses, such as the Canon RF5. 2mm f/2. 8L Dual Fisheye lens. The current dual fisheye lens is manual focus only, so this would be a step in the right direction.
In this patent application (2024-025100), Canon describes the optical formulas of some pretty impressive zoom lenses. In this patent, we see the impressive Canon RF 24-105 F2. 8L IS USM Z embodiment, and it's just as impressive as the lens is in real life.
Reading through this patent application (2024-022343) was a “huh, I never thought of that” moment. Canon in this patent is concerned that when some of its high-speed sensors go full out, they draw too much current from the battery causing the voltage to dip.
In this patent application (2024-011653), Canon explores using electronically controlled lenses (aka EF or RF lenses) in other fields that they currently offer products for such as medical and industrial imaging.
In this patent application (2024-010559), Canon explores some new designs for macro lenses. With the Canon RF 100mm f/2. 8L Macro IS USM, any of the longer focal length designs are unlikely to reach production.
In this patent application (2024-007656), Canon looks to create small ultra wides for both full frame and crop. One of the designs is curiously either similar or is the RF-S 10-18mm f/4. 5-6. 3. If it is the actual RF-S 10-18, then it also gives us the lowest back focus distance for the RF mount that Canon [.
In this patent application (2024-009238) we have a series of telephoto primes for the RF mount. We know these are specifically for the RF mount because the back focus distance is under 44mm. Also, with a more relaxed back focus distance (greater than 20mm) they should work with Canon's tele-extenders.
Back in the Canon EOS EF days, Canon made several large super zooms, mainly the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5. 6L, and the Canon EF 35-350mm f/3. 5-5. 6L USM. But outside of the consumer Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.
This is an odd patent application (2024-006604), let's dive into the dirty details. These embodiments are odd for several reasons. The 18mm image height lenses would have to have an extreme amount of image stretching for full frame.
One of the problems that mirrorless cameras have is major defocus. This is when you attempt to focus on the subject with the lens completely out of focus. There's not enough contrast for the camera to determine just how far it needs to move the lens to reach focus on the target.
Canon never fully completes something and is always looking at methods to improve the technology they have developed. In this patent application (2024-003432), Canon is looking to improve Eye Control AF's functions.
This is a curious patent (Japan Patent Application 2024-002151). When I was quickly culling through the applications my first thought was that it was a curved sensor, but reading more it became a far more curious application.
One of the disappointments for me with the RF-S system is the normal kit zoom range from 18-45 instead of 15-45mm. In this patent application, Canon sets out to create a 15-45mm that hopefully isn't plagued with the same quality assurance issues as its older EF-M brother.
This is a curious patent from Canon. These are without a doubt higher-end lenses and are certainly for APS-C. Canon specifically mentions that these types of lenses would be advantageous for video as the center of gravity doesn't change.
In this patent application, Canon is illustrating some smaller primes. Since these designs are relatively simplistic, they could be good “bang for the buck” lenses as long as you are not expecting pristine resolving power, as they don't optically fill the entire image circle but rely on software stretching.
In these two patent applications, Canon is exploring adding haptic feedback into the grip surface of the camera. These are two separate patent applications but discuss similar functions, so I'll lump them all in here.
In this patent application, Canon describes setting lens barrel button functions based on the orientation of the camera body. The idea that they are batting around is that as you change the orientation and you are hand holding a heavy lens, the buttons can be then in an awkward position when you are trying to [.
In this patent application (Japan 2023-178037) Canon is describing a tilting EVF for a mirrorless camera. I had the EVF-DC1 for the EOS-M system and loved the tilt function of the EVF. It gave a different perspective and shooting angle and was a useful feature.
Over the years I've seen some crazy designs patented by Canon and applications like this one are fun to read. I mean, here's a patent application where someone was told. “Go nuts, see what you can do”.
Canon is at it again with this form factor and finding more ways to combat the most obscure heat problems you can imagine. Why heat is an issue, is aptly described in this part of the patent application.
A patent application (2023-166831) from Canon has just been released for improved cooling for a small form factor camera, that also includes IBIS. The form factor that Canon describes seems to be quite similar to that of the Canon R5C, but smaller.
We just went into a long discussion over why reducing heat from IBIS units is a good and absolutely necessary thing for Canon to be looking at, so I think if you need some background, have a go with this patent application here.
As sensors get more complicated, faster, and also more stacked there is more heat generated from the sensor itself. As fabrication design rules get smaller, for normal chips that reduces the size of the chip which reduces the resistance to electric current, and usually heat – which is why as design rules get smaller, chips [.
This patent application (2023-149130)shows some interesting and fairly simplistic optics for 70, 75, and 85mm primes. The 85mm primes are unlikely since we already have the Canon RF 85mm F2. 0 IS STM.
One of the issues with a totally silent camera is the fact that we have very little in the way of feedback when an operation occurs. If you don't want that incessant beep and are using an electronic shutter, it's easy to miss that an image has been taken, or that another operation has occurred.
Canon has published a series of 3 patent applications at the same time dealing with super-telephoto zooms. I know we have recently covered a similar patent application not so long ago, and that usually precludes me from writing up yet-another-article on this.
This Canon patent application delves into the operation of a motorized tilt-shift lens for what appears like the Canon RF mount. Tilt-shift lenses have complicated and fragile mechanics, and removing some of the fiddly nature from these lenses would help in the field if the ergonomics of controlling the lens were fair.
There are times I see a cool patent, and look at it and can't for the life of me explain what it does. I still may have gotten this one wrong, but I don't think so. I actually sat on this patent all weekend and even forced Craig into an Irish triple expresso before finally [.
In this patent application (2023-130885), Canon lists quite a few primes with a significant ingress, but also more notably a smaller image circle than what would normally be used for APS-C. For Canon APS-C, that's 13.