Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Patent Diagram
A recently published patent application from Canon reveals the development of new 50mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/1.4 lenses, which use similar optical formulas. We know the new EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens is due any day now but a 50mm f/1.4 lens hasn’t really been on the radar even though the current EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens is getting quite old.
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 Patent Diagram
The close focus distance of 300mm on the 35mm lens matches up pretty close to the rumored 280mm close focus distance on the coming 35mm f/1.4L.
Current Canon 50mm f1.4 USM Lens
The 50mm f/1.4 is specified to have a 450mm close focus distance and be slightly shorter overall than the 35mm f/1.4 in the same patent application.
This application was filed with the USPTO on January 20, 2015 and published on July 23, 2015. You can read it for yourself here.
The 35mm patent diagram shows 12 elements. The new 35/1.4 is described as 14 elements in 11 groups in Canon’s PR. Presumably this 35mm patent won’t ever be seen in production, as is the fate of many lens patents. A new 50/1.4 is long overdue……
Nice catch Alan.