In this patent application (2024-111453), Canon explores the super telephoto zooms that ended up with the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM. However, there are some other interesting designs in here worth exploring so let’s go through them and you’ll have to tell me if Canon should have gone for broke and made a 200-1000mm.

Canon RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 IS USM

This is the actual optical design of the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM. That lens is in hot demand and perpetually on backorder.

WideMediumTelephoto
Focal length203.00 390.84 776.00  
F-number6.42 7.30 9.18  
Half angle 6.08 3.17 1.60  
Image height21.64 21.64 21.64
Lens length331.63 390.98 421.61  
Back Focus37.98 61.62 96.27 

Canon RF 200-700mm F5.6-7.1 IS

This is a slightly smaller zoom range and slightly faster on the F5.6 and F7.1 on the wide and telephoto end respectively. At nearly the same size as the Canon RF 200-800mm, I suspect that Canon wanted the longer telephoto in a similar lens size.

WideMediumTelephoto
Focal length203.00 500.93 699.99
F-number5.60 6.34 7.10
Half angle 6.08 2.47 1.77
Image height21.64 21.64 21.64
Lens length347.80 433.60 447.80
Back Focus38.65 74.20 94.84

Canon RF 150-600mm F5.6-9 IS

This is another interesting design with a slightly faster wide end starting at 150mm and reaching 600mm. Surprisingly, it’s nearly the same size as the 200-800, which is probably why Canon opted for that design.

WideMediumTelephoto
Focal length158.88 299.63 600.00  
F-number5.89 7.479.18  
Half angle 7.75 4.13 2.07  
Image height21.64 21.64 21.64
Lens length332.30 388.15447.10  
Back Focus38.50 64.61 92.00 

Canon RF 200-1000mm F6.3-9 IS

Now we get to the one that some of you may sit up and take notice of. Canon in this embodiment shows off a 5x super telephoto zoom going to 1000mm. Usually, a 5x zoom starts to have compromises, so that may have been why Canon decided to go with the more “conservative” 200-800mm.

WideMediumTelephoto
Focal length199.98 390.17 980.38
F-number6.436.24 9.18
Half angle 6.17 3.17 1.26
Image height21.64 21.64 21.64
Lens length362.79 455.26 482.80
Back Focus38.64 40.95  100.15

Source: Japan Patent Application 2024-111453

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6 comments

  1. The 200-800 has a lens length of 422mm, whereas the 200-700 and 150-600mm embodiments are 448mm, so that might also make the 200-700 less attractive.

    However, the "800mm" is only 776mm, but the 700mm is a true 700mm (699.99mm).

    The 200-1000mm would have to have an even larger front element, considering that the 800 (776mm) and the 1000mm (980mm) has the same f/9.18 aperture number.
  2. It is a special lens.
    The medium focal length f-numbrr is smaller than wide focal length.
    If it is a L lens and near ef400 f4.0 do lens size.
    I really want one.
    But the size would be larger than 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L x 2x.
  3. It is a special lens.
    The medium focal length f-numbrr is smaller than wide focal length.
    If it is a L lens and near ef400 f4.0 do lens size.
    I really want one.
    But the size would be larger than 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L x 2x.
    I noticed that and double checked the numbers.

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