Canon EF 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens is in development

Canon is working on an EF-mount 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom lens which has just been patented in Japan for EOS DSLRs with full-frame sensors.

Nikon has recently unveiled the AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR lens and everybody is waiting for Canon to issue a response. However, a stabilized version of the EF-mount 24-70mm f/2.8 has not arrived, yet, and it seems like the EOS maker has other plans for the time being.

The plans consist of another zoom lens, one that is stabilized, but which does not have such a bright and constant maximum aperture. The product in question consists of a Canon EF 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, which has been patented for full-frame DSLRs.

The internal design of the Canon EF 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, as described in its patent application.

Canon patents EF 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom lens

Canon has patented an EF-mount 24-120mm zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, depending on the user-selected focal length.

The new optic has a Stepping Motor, which is the lower-end version of the company’s autofocus motor. Even so, autofocusing will be fairly quick, smooth, and silent, so users need not to worry about it.

According to the patent application, the lens comes with integrated Image Stabilization technology, hence the IS designation. As usual, the IS system will allow users to use slower shutter speeds in low-light conditions without blur, caused by camera or hand shaking, showing up in their photos.

The Canon EF 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens has been developed for EOS-series DSLRs with full-frame image sensors. Nevertheless, they can be mounted on APS-C shooters and, in this case, it will offer a 35mm focal length equivalent of approximately 38-192mm, thus being a good optic to use while traveling.

Canon EF 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens might be released soon

Canon filed for the patent on January 9, 2014, while the regulatory associations approved it on July 23, 2015.

The process has come to a conclusion quicker than in most situations which could mean nothing or could mean that the product is being rushed to the market.

It would be interesting to see such lens being launched on the market sometime in the near future, but we should not forget that this is just a patent and that we have to take it with a pinch of salt.

Meanwhile, stay tuned to our website to find out more about Canon’s future plans.