Patents published for a monster zoom: Could a Canon 40-800mm f/4.5-5.6 lens be on the way?
posted Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 8:59 AM EDT
Both Canon Rumors and Canon Watch are reporting on a patent that appeared on Egami for a potentially very interesting lens: A full frame EF 40-800mm f/4.5-5.6 supertelephoto zoom.
The patent for the 19x zoom optic was filed in 2015 and published last week, and the lens length is listed at just over 19 inches. However, members of Canon Rumors' forums have noticed that there are four lens designs included in the patent. Two of them are for full frame lenses and two look to be designed for a PowerShot camera.
The author of Canon Rumors puts the chances of a 40-800mm f/4.5-5.6 full frame lens coming out at "zero" whereas Canon Watch considers it "entirely possible." Personally, I fall somewhere in between the two rumor sites, leaning more towards Canon Rumors' pessimism.
With Nikon having released their 200-500mm f/5.6E zoom last year, I think that it's possible Canon is considering something longer than their 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L optic and more affordable than their 200-400mm f/4L lens. Whether or not that means a 19x zoom lens with an 800mm maximum focal length is on the way, we will just have to wait and see.
(Seen via Canon Rumors and Canon Watch)