Canon's plans for exotic RF-mount lenses continues, with new designs for ultra-fast ultra wide-angle optics
(Image credit: Canon)
Last month Canon told us to expect more exotic, boutique lenses for the EOS R ecosystem. And now we can see exactly how leftfield its engineers are thinking, with freshly filed patents for Canon RF 18mm f/1.0, Canon RF 18mm f/1.2 and Canon RF 25mm f/1.2 optics.
This trio of ultra-wide, ultra-fast glass not only adds further wide-angle options to the Canon RF lens roadmap, it actually adds two entirely new focal lengths that aren't currently covered in either the manufacturer's mirrorless or DSLR line-up.
Canon currently offers a few 18mm zoom lenses, such as the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM, and even has a couple of 24mm primes, such as the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM. However, it doesn't offer an 18mm or 25mm prime lens – and certainly nothing in the neighborhood with apertures this fast.
Canon RF 18 mm f/1.0
Focal length: 18.50 mm
F no: 1.03
ω : 49.47
Image height: 21.64 mm
Lens length: 150.00 mm
Back focus: 4.99 mm
The Canon RF 18mm f/1.0 would be the company's most extreme ultra-fast, ultra-wide lens (Image credit: Canon / Hi LowsNote)
Canon RF 18mm f/1.2 Focal length: 18.51 mm
F no: 1.24
ω : 49.45
Image height: 21.64 mm
Lens length: 129.00 mm
Back focus: 16.40 mm
Canon RF 25mm f/1.2
Focal length: 24.59 mm
F no: 1.24
ω : 41.35
Image height: 21.64 mm
Lens length: 129.01 mm
Back focus: 13.57 mm
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Of course, as with any patents (particularly Canon's elephant gun approach to them), there's no guarantee that these designs will ever see the light of day. However, these three lenses are yet more examples of the kind of optical formulas that can be achieved on the new Canon EOS R mount – and the company's intention to release more of them.
As Canon told us last month, "that’s not going to stop – I think that’s going to go on and on, and I think we’re going to be bringing out these things that you just haven’t seen before.”
James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.
