New optical designs for Canon mirrorless megazoom lenses has been spotted online, including a monster Canon RF 100-700mm.
The pair of new formulas describe the Canon RF 100-600mm f/4.5-7.1 and Canon RF 100-700mm f/4.0-8.0 – which would seem to come from the same design ethos as the recently announced Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
Indeed, the 100-600mm f/4.5-7.1 does seem to be a little too close for comfort to the 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1, so it is probably the case that this lens was ultimately replaced by the slightly shorter optic.
However, the 100-700mm f/4.0-8.0 is sufficiently different to – and arguably sufficiently more appealing than – the 100-500mm, so there may still be a place in Canon's lineup for this megazoom.
Filings for both exotic optics were spotted at the US Patent and Trademark Office (by Northlight Images) as well as the Japan Patent Office (by Canon News). The registrations describe the lenses as follows:
| Focal length | 103.00 | 248.50 | 600.00 |
| F-number | 4.60 | 5.85 | 6.80 |
| Half angle of view | 11.86 | 4.98 | 2.07 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Total lens length | 241.66 | 305.61 | 331.66 |
| Back focus | 17.57 | 37.01 | 97.33 |
| Focal length | 123.00 | 293.00 | 700.00 |
| F-number | 4.60 | 5.85 | 8.00 |
| Half angle of view | 9.98 | 4.22 | 1.77 |
| Image height | 21.64 | 21.64 | 21.64 |
| Total lens length | 246.28 | 322.64 | 370.48 |
| Back focus | 14.01 | 44.69 | 107.78 |
So, are these just remnants of the same design phase that ultimately birthed the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L lens? Or is there still a chance that we'll see the 100-700mm appear in some form?
It's entirely possible that this could be a non-L lens equivalent, perhaps envisioned to be paired with the Canon EOS RP or Canon EOS R6 (much like the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM).
And, as with many Canon patents, they could just be designs that never see the light of day – though that 100-700 is something we would certainly love to see!
Read more:
Super telephoto Canon RF 100-500mm, plus RF 1.4x and 2x Extenders announced
The best 150-600mm lenses: great super-telephoto zooms
Best Canon RF lenses: the best lens for Canon EOS R and EOS RP in 2020
