Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO BR Lens Coming in 2018?

Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens

Canon is working on improving their Super Telephoto lens line with the aim of increasing image quality, focal length and decreasing weight. Their EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II is a fine example of this. I purchased the Series I model over 10 years ago but the Series II is a dramatic improvement and I expect more Diffractive Optics models will be announce in the years ahead.

The EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens made an appearance in last year's Canon EXPO in New York City. This lens will be announced some time next year, in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. I am anxious to buy this lens. Canon has big plans for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. They will pull out all the stops and announce many exciting high and medium end cameras and lenses prior to that great occasion. Keep checking back for the latest information and development. You can see my Canon lens recommendation, equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com  

Canon Explains the Science of Optics and EF Lenses

Canon has recently surpassed the 120 million copy of EF lens production in its milestone. Their family of lenses range from 8mm to 1200mm. However, the science behind each piece of glass is essentially the same.

The video below shows the basics of understanding optics. Take a look at how the EF 500mm f/4L IS lens is made, from scratch to final assembly. This is one of my favorite Super Telephoto lens in Canon's lineup. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon Patents 30mm f/2.8 DO Lens For Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens

Egami discovered a new Canon patent that may offer another hint to their widely expected full frame mirrrorless camera coming in either late 2016 or early 2017.  Canon is very keen on Diffractive Optics technology and will be announcing more high end DO lens in the future. I cannot be happier since yours truly is a big fan of DO lens. Read my review of the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens.

Patent Publication No. 2016-102851

• Published 2016.6.2
• Filing date 2014.11.27

Example

• Zoom ratio 1.00
• Focal length 31.35
• F-number 2.86
• Angle of view 34.61
• Image height 21.64
• Overall length of the lens 85.29
• BF 29.99

Canon patent

• Positive ShiboTadashi
• Diffractive optical element (the second group of aperture stop image side)
• Correct axial chromatic aberration and lateral chromatic aberration of the near-infrared light

Canon Patent - EF 1000mm f/5.6 DO IS Lens

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS lens

My readers know I am a fan of Canon's Diffractive Optics technology. The current EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II is my favorite Super Telephoto lens when I want to travel light on my wildlife photography tours. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com. Canon has been working to perfect the DO technology since the first EF 400mm f/4 DO IS lens came out in 2001. The EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens was showcased in last year's Canon EXPO at New York City.

In April, a new Canon DO patent has been uncovered for the APS-C sensor. The new design has a focal length of 50-300mm f/4.5-6 with STM. The current EF 800mm f/5.6L IS is Canon longest Telephoto lens. It is heavy and the technology is aging. Canon has been toying with the ideal of replacing it with a Series II model. But now another DO patent has been discovered by Egami. It is the EF 1000mm f/5.6 DO IS lens.

This will be ultimate in Super Telephoto Diffractive Optics design. If Canon can bring this lens out with a top weight of around 8 to 9 pounds and pack it with the latest DO BR technology, I will be a buyer for sure. Nikon saw the value in DO lens design last year but is much further behind than Canon in this technology. They announced the Phase Fresnel (PF) 300mm f/4 lens in January 2015. Fresnel lenses were originally developed by the French physicist, Augustin-Jean Fresnel for use in lighthouses.


Patent Publication No. 2016-102852 (Google Translated)

• Published 2016.6.2
• Filing date 2014.11.27
• Zoom ratio 1.00
• Focal length 950.00
• F-number 5.80
• Angle of view 1.30
• Image height 21.64
• Overall length of the lens 485.94
• BF 0.40
• Canon patent
• Positive and negative Shibomake
• Diffractive optical element (first group)
• Inner focus (the second group)

Canon Patent - DO Lens for APS-C Sensor

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens

My readers know I am a fan of Canon's Diffractive Optics technology. The current EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II is my favorite Super Telephoto lens when I want to travel light. Canon has been working to perfect the DO technology since the first EF 400mm f/4 DO IS lens came out in 2001. The EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens was showcased in last year's Canon EXPO at New York City.

Now, a new Canon DO patent has been uncovered for the APS-C sensor. The new design has a focal length of 50-300mm f/4.5-6 with STM. As of now, there is no built-in IS but this is of course a work in progress and if Canon decides to release this DO lens for the APS-C market, I am certain it will come with Image Stabilization.

Patent Publication No. 2016-57444

• Published 2016.4.21
• Filing date 2014.9.9

Example 1

• Zoom ratio 5.59
• Focal length 51.77 135.00 289.53
• F-number 4.65 5.05 5.85
• Half angle of view (degrees) 14.78 5.78 2.70
• Image height 13.66 13.66 13.66
• The total lens length 126.05 169.37 184.15
• BF 35.50 35.50 35.50

Example 2

• Zoom ratio 5.90
• Focal length 49.13 135.00 290.00
• F-number 4.65 4.95 5.85
• Half angle of view (degrees) 15.54 5.78 2.70
• Image height 13.66 13.66 13.66
• The total lens length 108.00 152.12 168.00
• BF 15.69 15.69 15.69

Why Are Some Canon Lens 'White' In Color?

Off White color paint first appeared on Canon lenses in 1976 on the FD 600mm f/4.5 and FD 800mm f/5.6 lens. Why are some Canon 'L' lens painted Off White while others are black in color?

According to Canon, the technical reason is : Heat Reduction. Lenses contain many glass elements. These optics expand with heat, over time. Large lenses contain more and larger elements and heat expansion can bring a lens close to the limits of its design tolerances. A lighter surface reflects sunlight and helps to keep the lens cooler. In shorter lenses, the amount of glass expansion is smaller and usually do not cause a problem.

For outdoor sports and wildlife photography, being exposed to the harsh rays of the sun for long periods of time can cause damaging heat expansion. The lighter color of the lens helps to reduce overheating and protects the internal optics and image sharpness of the glass.

A number of Canon's black colored lenses also have a heat-related feature. A lens that can focus past its infinity mark allows the glass to expand when shooting under hot conditions.

Over the years, Nikon has resisted going to the lighter color but Sony has started manufacturing their high end glass with 'white' paint as well. I have been on numerous wildlife photo shoots in India and Africa and the conditions are quite harsh and hot. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

Will There Be A Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L II Lens?

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS Super Telephoto lens

In my earlier post, I talked about which cameras and lens to expect from Canon in 2016. The EF 800mm f/5.6L II is considered a long shot. Although Canon has multiple patents covering its replacement, including perhaps a built-in extender version, much like the current EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Extender, it is considered highly unlike such a model will be made due to the optical limitations and added weight. There is however a new Canon patent for the EF 200-600mm f/4.5-5.6L lens but it does not appear to be a Super Telephoto model.

My readers know I am a big fan of Canon Diffractive Optics (DO) lens. I bought their first Super Telephoto EF 400mm f/4 DO in the mid 2000s and was very happy with it even knowing its limitations. As a wildlife photographer, I had to trade a little bit of sharpness for the unmatched mobility the lens offers. Then in 2014, Canon announced the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II and the tradeoff is gone. It has been almost 15 years since Canon released the first DO lens and they have pretty much perfected the technology. Recently, at the Canon Expo 2015, they exhibited the EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens.

Together with the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Extender, EF 600mm f/4L IS II and EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens, the need for a big EF 800mm diminishes. That is why I am not certain Canon will even announce a replacement to the current EF 800mm f/5.6L IS lens any time soon. More to come . . . . .  

Canon Patent - EF-M 600mm f/5.6 DO IS Lens

The Japanese photography site Egami uncovered another new Canon patent, the EF-M 600mm f/5.6 DO IS. I am quite comfortable in predicting this patent will most probably never make it to market as is. The thought of a 600mm DO lens mounted on the EOS-M camera can only bring ridicule but it may be modified to fit the future Canon full frame mirrorless camera.

This is clearly Canon's way of staking out their intellectual property by patenting this invention. The current EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II is my favorite Diffractive Optics lens for wildlife photography but there is a chance the EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens might join its smaller brother next year.

Patent Publication No. 2015-215437

•     Published 2015.12.3
•     Filing date 2014.5.9
•     Focal length 585.00
•     F-number 5.74
•     Half angle (in degrees) 1.34
•     Image height 13.66
•     Overall length of the lens 299.25

This Is How Canon Makes The EF 500mm f/4L IS Lens

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II Super Telephoto lens

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II is my favorite non Diffractive Optics Super Telephoto prime lens. The EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X is my favorite Super Telephoto zoom lens and the EF 400mm f/4DO IS II is my favorite Diffractive Optics Super Telephoto prime lens.

You can see how the EF 500mm lens is manufactured from beginning to end. Take a look at my equipment bag and global wildlife photography taken with all the above lenses. Find out how Canon's Image Stabilizer lens technology works and see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com.

Canon EXPO 2015 in New York City, Day Two

The Canon Expo 2015 show is in its second day in New York City. Much has been written about
the Cinema EOS System 8K camera and a still-image single-lens reflex camera equipped with a CMOS sensor featuring approximately 120 million effective pixels.

Canon CinemaEOS 8K prototype camera with EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens 

I like to point out the Expo is, first and foremost, a dog-and-pony show, bringing together Canon's most powerful products, cutting-edge innovations and inspirational ideas for one incredible exhibition. It is basically a showcase to demonstrate how Canon strives to improve the lives of all who interact with their brand.

There are crazy rumors running around saying Canon might bring back the APS-H sensor with the 120MP count and put it in a new camera. Many of the prototype products demonstrated will not make it to the market or may come with different specs, if and when they do go on sale, years from now.

However, the most promising product exhibited is the EF 600mm f/4 DO BR lens, equipped with the brand new Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics technology. My readers know I am a big proponent of Diffractive Optics technology. The recently released EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II is my favorite Super Telephoto lens for hand-held, wildlife photography.  Even Nikon is trying to get on the bandwagon now by introducing their version, called Phase Fresnel. Unfortunately for them, they are over a decade too late. Canon is way ahead in this space. I am ready to buy this lens as soon as it is announced, hopefully late 2016.

Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO BR prototype lens

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 DO IS Lens In Development

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L Super Telephoto lens

Canon pioneered the development of Diffractive Optics lens in the late 1990s and introduced the first Super Telephoto EF 400mm f/4 DO IS lens in 2001. It was the first 400mm lens with a combination of 'light weight' and speed, all packed into a professional piece of glass.

I bought the lens in 2008 and it quickly became a staple in my equipment bag for wildlife photography. The drawback was, the lens did not have the highest image quality in Canon's Super Telephoto lineup, especially when a teleconverter is added but I was willing to accept the compromise once all things are considered.

Then in September 2014, the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II was announced. This time, I jumped at the chance of getting the Version II after almost 15 years of enhanced development. I have advocated the use of Diffractive Optics for years and now even Nikon has seen the light and announced their first 300mm DO lens in January 2015, called Phase Fresnel, and patented another zoom lens design.

Canon's longest Super Telephoto lens, the EF 800mm f/5.6L is aging and sorely needs a replacement. The company is indeed considering replacing the lens with a Series II, Diffractive Optics model. I cannot be happier, since this technology has now been proven and will give Canon a definitive edge over its competitor. I will definitely be interested in acquiring the EF 600mm or EF 800mm f/4 DO IS when it comes out.  

Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS Lens Patent

Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens

* * *  Canon has unveiled EF 600mm f/4 DO BR prototype lens at EXPO 2015  * * *

Canon's announced their first Diffractive Optices lens, the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS in 2001. It was a revolutionary lens with a dramatic weight reduction for that speed and focal length lens. I bought the glass a few years later and it quickly found a place in my equipment bag. The only slight drawback of the lens was it's not one of Canon's sharpest.

The EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II was announced late last year and this time I immediately placed my pre-order and have subsequently taken the lens on wildlife photography shoots around the globe. This second generation lens is a big improvement and definitely produces sharp images. Nikon has finally seen the light and is trying to catch up with their own version of DO lens, called Phase Fresnel.

Below is another new Canon patent discovered by Egami, the Japanese blog, for the EF 600mm f/4 DO lens. I will be most interested in acquiring this piece of glass if Canon decides to put it into production. You can see my works taken with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II on MichaelDanielHo.com


Patent Publication No. 2015-11171 (Google Translated)

•     Published 2015.1.19
•     Filing date 2013.6.28

Example 2

•     Focal length 588.30mm
•     Fno. 4.12
•     Angle of view 2.11 °
•     Image height 21.64mm
•     Lens length 397.80mm
•     BF 2.02mm
•     Positive ShiboTadashi
•     Inner focus
•     Vibration control

Canon EF Lens Technology - Diffractive Optics

* * *  See how Nikon is trying to play catch up to Canon  * * *

* * *  See the latest Diffractive Optics lens Canon is working on  * * *

Canon announced the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens on September 11. This is one of my favorite Canon lenses and I placed my order right after the announcement and have received the new model. This glass is about 13 years in the making. The original model was introduced in 2001 and it had one of the earlier version of Image Stabilization with a 2 stop advantage. 

You can read my review of the new lens. I will be taking it out very soon on a real world overseas photo shoot for an extensive test. The Canon video below explains the Diffractive Optics technology, Fluorite Elements and more.