Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens is in development

Canon has patented a new prime lens with a focal length of 58mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, which could compete against Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G lens if it becomes official.

Back in October 2013, Nikon paid a tribute to the legendary Noct Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 lens through the AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.8G lens for FX-mount cameras. The focal length of this prime is a bit unconventional, but it is a good optic for portrait photography and it has received mainly positive reviews from users.

Canon had not wasted much time after the launch of the aforementioned product and it filed a patent for a similar lens in March 2014. Without much further ado, it seems like a Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens is in development and on its way to the consumer market.

Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens patented in Japan

It may be an unusual focal length, but this does not mean that there is not a market for it out there. The AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.8G optic proves that sometimes photographers want to look at the world from a different perspective.

Although it has a long way to go before becoming official, the Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens would be an interesting product. Additionally, it would be interesting to see what the company has in mind for such prime.

The two internal configurations of the Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens, as described in its patent application.

The patent was filed on March 11, 2014 and its approval was granted on October 1, 2015. We are not looking at it with skepticism, albeit this does not mean that we should expect its launch to occur in the near future.

All patents must be taken with a grain of salt, as the Japan-based manufacturer may decide against going further with this project. Either way, the Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens remains an interesting idea.

Canon’s 58mm lens to be longer than Nikon’s existing model

Getting back to the patent, the Canon 58mm f/1.4 lens has two configurations described in it. One of them consists of 11 elements in nine groups, while the other one has 10 elements in eight groups.

Both designs include an inner focusing mechanism, which means that the front lens element will not move when focusing. This feature comes in handy to photographers who attach filters or other accessories to their lenses.

The product will measure about 118mm in length, which means that it will be a lot longer than the Nikon 58mm f/1.8G. The Nikon model measures about 70mm in length. Stay tuned to Camyx to find out whether or not this product will make it onto the market.