Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS USM lens is in development

Canon has patented a 600mm super-telephoto prime lens with a maximum aperture of f/4 and with a built-in diffractive optical (DO) element to reduce its size while increasing image quality.

Diffractive Optics is a special technology developed by Canon which consists of adding a diffractive optical element into a lens. This multi-layer element calls for a simpler internal design leading to smaller lenses while raising the image quality.

Among the lenses with a built-in DOE, we can find the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM II, which was unveiled at the Photokina 2014 event. The company is definitely working on other products with this technology and the EF-mount 600mm f/4 DO IS USM is one of them.

The internal design of the Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS USM lens.

Patent for Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS USM lens shows up online

Canon is working on a new lens with integrated Diffractive Optics technology. Sources in Japan have uncovered a patent for an EF-mount 600mm super-telephoto prime lens with a maximum aperture of f/4 that has a built-in DO element.

Moreover, the optic comes with image stabilization technology, that is almost always a must when it comes to action and wildlife photography and that will be helpful in low-light conditions.

The lens also employs an Ultrasonic Motor, meaning that autofocusing will be smooth, silent, and quick. The Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS USM lens announces itself as a promising product and it will most likely be aimed at professional photographers.

Its specifications are hinting towards an expensive product, but it may well be worthwhile. It remains to be seen whether the Japanese manufacturer will go ahead with the project in order to release this one on the market.

DO-ready version will be smaller than the existing non-DO model

The patent application was filed on June 28, 2013. It was approved on January 19, 2015 and, as you can notice, it has taken a while to be leaked on the web.

The Canon EF 600mm f/4 DO IS USM lens is said to have 18 elements split into 12 groups with an aspherical element, a DO element, and an Ultra-low Dispersion element.

This product will have a length of about 398mm and a diameter of about 143mm, so it will be a rather big lens. Either way, it will be smaller than the current model which comes without a DO element as it measures 448mm in length and 168mm in diameter.

For now, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM II lens is available for about $11,500 at Amazon. Stick with us for more details regarding a DO version!