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    Canon Patent Application: Inner Zoom Video Lenses with Power Zoom

    By Updated:2 Comments Canon Patents 2 Mins Read

    This is an interesting patent application (2024-090359) that is meant to patent some designs that are superficially meant for power zoom-capable lenses. The embodiments display both crop (assuming RF-S) and full-frame lenses.

    Canon writes in the patent application that the problem domain that this patent application is looking at resolving with this patent is;

    In a zoom lens equipped with an electric zoom function, if the mass of the driving lens group is large, the load on the actuator for driving the lens group becomes large, making it difficult to perform zooming and focusing quietly and quickly. 

    Having some cheaper bang for the buck video lenses could be a good thing, but I’m not sure about how much video shooters would enjoy a variable aperture lens. But if the price was right, it could be that no one would complain much about having a cheaper option.

    Canon RF-S 14-30mm F4-6.3 PZ

    WideMediumTelephoto
    Focal Length14.40 20.09 29.10
    F-Number4.10 5.05 6.35
    Half Angle of View43.49 34.21 25.15
    Lens Length72.59 72.59 72.59
    Back Focus Distance12.86 12.86 12.86

    Canon RF-S 12-30mm F4-6.3 PZ

    WideMediumTelephoto
    Focal Length12.33 18.01 27.40
    F-Number4.10 5.06 6.40
    Half Angle of View47.94 37.1826.50
    Lens Length74.6074.6074.60
    Back Focus Distance12.86 12.86 12.86

    Canon RF 20-40mm F4-6.3 PZ

    WideMediumTelephoto
    Focal Length20.60 27.97 38.80
    F-Number4.10 5.01 6.18
    Half Angle of View46.4037.7229.14
    Lens Length105.05105.05105.05
    Back Focus Distance22.05 22.05 22.05

    Source: Japan Patent Application 2024-090359

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    2 comments

    1. These seem like those terrible Sony power zoom lenses.
      They seem to sell very well so I could see why Canon would copy them.
      IMHO a variable aperture over such a short focal range makes a power zoom kind of useless.
      A long focal range makes the aperture changes gradual.
      I guess maybe these could zoom extra slowly.
    2. These seem like those terrible Sony power zoom lenses.
      They seem to sell very well so I could see why Canon would copy them.
      IMHO a variable aperture over such a short focal range makes a power zoom kind of useless.
      A long focal range makes the aperture changes gradual.
      I guess maybe these could zoom extra slowly.
      I’m sure they could have software that shifts ISO during zooming to seamlessly compensate the exposure change. People who buy crappy lenses probably also don’t care much about electronic noise issues. Like you mentioned, this seems like a way to sell a lot of cheap lenses to people who don’t know better.

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