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Lens manufacturers have patented various zoom lenses, some offering a wide focal range and others power zooms for hybrid cameras. Canon, too, has varied patents in the works, including the RF 300-600mm f/5.6L IS USM. Of the multiple patents, one that certainly caught everyone’s attention was the 200-500mm f4L, a lens that was later allegedly shelved by the company. It now appears that the same focal length has been patented by the company again, but it offers a few distinctions. Here’s a look at what you can expect.
According to reports from Asobinet, Canon published patent P2025080464 on May 26. The patent showcases the Canon RF 200-500mm f5.6L IS USM and Canon 200-400mm f4 zoom lenses. The zoom lenses are designed to be “lightweight in order to suppress the change in the center of gravity” while also providing “high optical performance over the entire zoom range and the entire focus range.”
Canon RF 200-500mm f5.6L IS USM
- Focal length: 205.00-495.00
- F-number: 5.75
- Half angle of view: 6.02-2.50
- Image height: 21.64
- Total length: 350.00
- Back focal length: 37.96
Canon 200-500mm f4
- Focal length: 205.00-395.00
- F-number: 4.10
- Half angle of view: 6.02-3.14
- Image height: 21.64
- Total length: 350.00
- Back focal length: 43.54
According to the patent, the new design is same length as the RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM, while also featuring the same internal zoom mechanism. In addition, the patented Canon lens is slightly longer than the Nikon 180-600mm f5.6-6.3 VR, which measures 4.4 in. x 12.5 in.
However, with patents, the weight or circumference of the lens is never revealed in patents. And so, we have to wait until Canon announces the lens, to know exactly which innovative components it may carry.
Canon already has an RF 100-500mm f/4.5- 7.1L IS USM, which was launched in 2020. It is possible that the company will update the lens, but reduce the focal range, to offer better optics, as well as design. In our review of the 100-500mm, we liked the image quality, fast focusing, image stabilization, and the gorgeous bokeh. But with f5.6, the 200-500mm may not be able to give the result. Furthermore, if with the zoom, the f-stop increases, the lens will certainly put off many photographers. Instead, a lower aperture range or a constant aperture would be ideal for birds, wildlife, and sports photographers.
The 200-500mm f5.6 will certainly be costly, since the 100-500mm was around $2,699. With the new tariffs and changes, by the time the lens launches, it will cost more than this. Keeping this in mind, Canon will have to work around the pricing.
It remains to be seen what we see in a couple of months. If the patent is put in production stages, then we may find more reports in the near future.
