Canon Patent APp for 35mm f/1.2 Published

Canon’s rumored intent to release a 35mm f/1.2 in RF mount appears to have more legs with the publication of a Japanese patent application (Japanese) for several 35mm embodiments.

The variations are mostly slight design changes leading to slight focal length adjustments. All appear to be rather lengthy lenses to accommodate between fifteen and twenty lens elements. There is an awful lot of correction going on in this design.

The calculated aberration graphs included in the design patent show the expected image quality performance to be about as good as any lens Canon has yet produced and could well better the Sigma 35 f/1.2 Art made for E and L mounts.

The design is fairly close to Sigma’s optical design, shown below.

Super bright standard primes have become a trend, with OEM manufacturers looking to prove their chops, as well as third party lens makers taking advantage of the price space under these “halo” lenses. Laowa is pushing a new line of crazy-bright primes, such as their Argus f/09.5 35mm, that it indicates will soon launch.

The Canon patent application was submitted in October of 2019, toward the end of a period when many RF lens patents were submitted to the Japanese patent office. This patent is not yet approved.