A New And Interesting Canon Patent

credits: Canon

A New And Interesting Canon Patent has emerged. Canon is exploring plastic lens elements to make pro lenses lighter, according to a newly surfaced patent. The idea? Replace some glass elements with resin to cut weight—potentially a game-changer for big zooms and telephotos.

The patent details designs like a 28-105mm f/4 and a 24-35mm f/2, using plastic in ways that maintain optical quality. The challenge? Resin expands with heat and humidity, which can mess with focus. Canon’s solution? Special coatings, high-dispersion plastics, and balancing elements that counteract any shifts.

If this works, we could see significantly lighter 70-200mm and 300mm lenses in the future. But for now, it’s just a patent—not a product.