Canon Patents f/1.4 Fast-AF Lens Series

Canon applied to patent (Japanese) a series of “soup can” lenses – referring to their rough size, shape and heft because of innumerable lens elements – designed to have optimal image quality at f/1.4 and also, interestingly, to emphasize a “achieving miniaturization of a focus group” that would lead to much faster autofocus than is usual for bright prime lenses.

The Old EF Model: Amazing and To Be Replaced

The patent application was filed 18 months ago, at the beginning of the pandemic.

The four instances cited range in focal length from 22mm to 35mm, meaning that if these were to result in actual production lenses at all, it is unlikely more than two of them would surface – probably a 24mm and a 35mm. A 28mm embodiment was not provided.

Strategically, this puts Canon in an interesting position, able to push it s f/1.2 lenses as no-compromise image quality light monsters, with the f/1.4 series providing a new, unique benefit of faster autofocus.