Canon has recently developed a series of "larger, white" lenses, expected to be more swift, lightweight, and compact.
In the world of photography, Canon is making waves with its latest patent application, P2025114982, published on August 6, 2025. This groundbreaking development reveals a series of compact, lightweight super telephoto prime lenses, designed to challenge the traditional bulky nature of fast aperture super telephoto lenses.
Kim Bunermann, a renowned photographer, editor, and writer with a Master's degree in Photography and Media, reports on this exciting development. Kim's work has been published internationally and she specialises in the art and science of photography, blending technical expertise with visual insight.
The patent application includes examples of super telephoto lenses with focal lengths of 300mm, 400mm, and 500mm, each featuring fast apertures of f/2.8, f/2.8, and f/4 respectively. These fast apertures enable better performance in low light and faster shutter speeds, making these lenses ideal for wildlife, action, and sports photography.
One of the key features of these lenses is the use of a floating focus design, which improves optical performance and allows the lens to be smaller and lighter, especially critical for longer focal lengths. This design also ensures high optical performance, long focal length, and a lightweight design, potentially resulting in "game changer" lenses for the industry.
The total lens length for the 300mm variant is around 372mm, which is relatively compact for such focal lengths. The patent application also provides the half angle of view and image height for each example, offering a comprehensive look at the optical system's design.
While no official commercial release dates have been announced yet, the patent application suggests that Canon is keeping the aperture size impressively large without large and heavy glass, while controlling optical aberrations. This is a big win for professionals who need high-performance gear that's easier to handle in the field.
For instance, the RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM weighs a much more manageable 2.9kg compared to older DSLR giants like the EF 600mm f/4L IS USM (5.36kg) and the EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM (16.5kg).
As we eagerly await the official release of these lenses, it's worth browsing Canon's current best super telephoto lenses, best budget telephoto lenses, and best Canon telephoto lenses to find the perfect fit for your photography needs.
[1] Canon's Patent Application P2025114982: https://www.canon.com/patent/P2025114982 [2] Canon's Super Telephoto Prime Lenses: https://www.canon.com/cusa/learning/technologies/lenses#super-telephoto-prime-lenses [3] Canon's Ongoing Push for Compact Lenses: https://www.canon.com/cusa/learning/technologies/lenses#compact-lenses
- In the realm of photography, Canon's latest patent application, P2025114982, unveils compact, lightweight super telephoto prime lenses, aiming to counteract the typical bulkiness of fast aperture super telephoto lenses.
- Kim Bunermann, a distinguished photographer, editor, and writer with a Master's degree in Photography and Media, has reported on this significant development.
- The patent application proposes super telephoto lenses with focal lengths of 300mm, 400mm, and 500mm, each boasting fast apertures of f/2.8, f/2.8, and f/4 respectively.
- These fast apertures offer improved low light performance and faster shutter speeds, making them suitable for wildlife, action, and sports photography.
- One of the key features of these lenses is the adoption of a floating focus design, which enhances optical performance and allows the lens to be smaller and lighter, particularly crucial for longer focal lengths.
- With a total length of approximately 372mm for the 300mm variant, these lenses represent a relatively compact option for such focal lengths.
- The patent application provides the half angle of view and image height for each example, offering a detailed look at the optical system's design.
- Canon's potential release of these lenses could represent a major advancement for professionals requiring high-performance gear that's easier to handle in the field.
