Canon Patent Application: Power Zoom Ultra Wide Angle Lenses

[Richard CN]

In this patent application (2025-011796) we have several embodiments of ultra wide angle lenses that would be power zoom capable. They are all inner focus lenses as well.

It could be that Canon is thinking about making, yet again, another ultra-wide angle, and this time with more of a video focus, or this is in preparation for the eventual replacement of the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM which is approaching 6 years old at this time.

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[Maximilian]

Have no fear! It will be expensive

 

[GMCPhotographics]

The RF 15-35mm f2.8 is a very good lens but not one of Canon's greatest lens designs. The RF 14-35mm f4 eclipses it in most specifications except brightness. I think the RF 15-35mm f2.8 it's actually a little bit wider than 15mm, but employs software corrective stretching to neautalise the barrel distortion and correct the dark and distorted corners. I don't ahve a problem with that, but i know som here are quite touchy with that.
I think if you have a 24-70mm or a 28-70mm as your main zoom lens then having a UWA that covers the 24-35mm is quite a large over lap. It seems the fashion at the moment to reduce the long end to 28mm.

I wonder if Canon should consider a 18-35mm f2.0 (or even f1.8) for street & portraiture work. Also a wee little 10mm f2.8 prime would be really sweet too.

Out of this rumoured patent formula list the RF 14-28mm f2.8 looks the most interesting to me.

 

[john1970]

I will likely just keep my current 15-35 mm f2.8 and 10-20 mm f4 for my UWA needs.

Hoping for a super telephoto zoom and a 1:1 macro zoom. The only two lenses that have my interest.

 

[neuroanatomist]

An f/2.8 UWA zoom to complete the Z trinity makes sense.

 

[RobbieHat]

The 14-28mm f2.8 lens with minimal correction at the wide end would be of interest to me assuming the corners are sharp.

Nikon and Sony have similar lenses (I think those might be 14-24 mm) and they are quite nice astro lenses stopped down a bit. I can work with the f2.8 given modern sensor handling of higher ISO but I would really like a UWA lens to replace my Sigma Art 14 mm f1.8 for astro.

This lens would also likely replace my EF 11-24mm f4 and I might add the 10-20mm f4 for the really wide work.

 

[neuroanatomist]

This lens would also likely replace my EF 11-24mm f4 and I might add the 10-20mm f4 for the really wide work.

For me, the RF 10-20/4 very effectively replaced my EF 11-24/4...with a lens that is much smaller and lighter.

 

[Bob Howland]

Where is the power zoom controlled, at the lens, at the body or at both? The Sony FX3 and FX30 have a W/T ring surrounding the shutter release, so that's where they seem to be heading. Are there any rumors that Canon is going the same place and when?

 

[neuroanatomist]

Where is the power zoom controlled, at the lens, at the body or at both?

The current Z series from Canon are controlled by an external motor, the PZ-E2 that costs $1K (or it’s slightly more expensive B variant that has a 20-pin connector for other cinema accessories).

 

[RobbieHat]

For me, the RF 10-20/4 very effectively replaced my EF 11-24/4...with a lens that is much smaller and lighter.

That’s been my temptation. I was just hoping to replace my astro lens at the same time and get rid of my last few EF lenses. I also like the ability to filter the 11-24mm with the EF to RF drop in filter adapter as I shoot a lot of ocean scenes and like to be able to slow the shutter speed or use a CP filter to eliminate reflection.

 

[Exploreshootshare]

The 14-28mm f2.8 lens with minimal correction at the wide end would be of interest to me assuming the corners are sharp.

Nikon and Sony have similar lenses (I think those might be 14-24 mm) and they are quite nice astro lenses stopped down a bit. I can work with the f2.8 given modern sensor handling of higher ISO but I would really like a UWA lens to replace my Sigma Art 14 mm f1.8 for astro.

This lens would also likely replace my EF 11-24mm f4 and I might add the 10-20mm f4 for the really wide work.

Nikon has a 14-24mm F2.8

Sony has three offerings:
16-35mm F2.8
16-25mm F2.8 and
12-24mm F2.8

The last lens does have a bulbous front lens, which limits the use of filters.

 

[cpreston]

A 15-35mm is far more useful as a servo zoom for video than a a 14-28mm. I\'m hoping for a 15-35mm f/2.8 IS Z lens with an 82mm filter thread.

 

[David_B]

Most of the google results are way over my head but this seems dumb enough for me...

What is the difference between paraxial and real image height? - CAXCAD

What is the difference between paraxial and real iamge heightMost definations are based on the paraxial optics The paraxial image height for optical design is fast for calculation, but inaccuracy for wide angle or big distortion The real image height needs to calculate the ray iteration and is...

www.caxcad.com

• Most definations are based on the paraxial optics
• The paraxial image height for optical design is fast for calculation, but inaccuracy for wide angle or big distortion
• The real image height needs to calculate the ray iteration and is inaccuracy.

 

[will4m]

I wonder if only a 2× zoom range would be enough to justify an addition to the "Z" range (including compatibility with the power zoom adapters)...
The 10-20mm already has a 2× zoom range but starting at the much more impressive 10mm (albeit at f/4).

Personally, I am hoping for something like a 15-45mm f/2.8 – that would create enough separation between the existing lenses to justify the new lens and a zoom range that would justify use with a servo. (Similar to the separation between the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 24-105 f/2.8 Z.)

That being said, if I could only get one more "Z" lens, my vote would be for one in a super-tele range like a 200-600 or 300-800 f/8.