Is Canon Engaged on a New Macro Lens to Beat Laowa?

Macro pictures has been a well-liked style that has grown exponentially. A sub-genre of wildlife pictures, this phase additionally requires a particular lens, one which has a big macro ratio. While Canon has created some thrilling lenses over time, such because the TS-E 50mm f2.8L Macro, the EF 50mm f2.5, or the EF 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM, these lenses have all the time been on the longer facet. It now seems that, with mirrorless mounts, the corporate is attempting to alter this. Per a brand new patent, Canon macro photographers can now get huge, thanks to those two lenses.

First spotted by Asobinet, Canon has launched a brand new patent, P2025124117, which was launched in August 2025. The patent showcases two new focal lengths, which provide life-size 1:1 copy capabilities: 20mm f2.8 Macro and a 24mm f2.8 Macro lens. Here are the designs:

Example 1

• Focal size: 21.00
• F-number: 2.80
• Half angle of view: 43.60
• Image peak: 20.00
• Total size: 116.37
• Back focal size: 17.4
• Imaging magnification (closest): -1.0

Example 2

• Focal size: 23.00
• F-number: 2.80
• Half angle of view: 38.35
• Image peak: 18.20
• Total size: 89.33
• Back focal size: 12.51
• Imaging magnification (closest): -1.0

Traditionally, a macro lens will probably be between 50mm and 100mm. There are some cases the place you additionally get 90mm or 180mm. Either manner, the telephoto vary helps a photographer get near a topic and seize all of the distinctive particulars or patterns, such because the eyes of a bug or the sample on the wings of a butterfly. The closest the corporate has come to creating wide-angle macros is Canon RF 24mm f1.8 Macro IS STM and Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro IS STM. They provide an in depth focusing distance, however they don’t seem to be true 1:1 macro lenses. Which means, anybody capturing avenue, environmental portraits, and so forth, will utilise it for its capabilities.

The solely firm that has been capable of create a wide-angle lens with true 1:1 is Laowa 15mm f4. The photographs from this lens are spectacular, as one can even see the habitat through which the bugs had been photographed. And so, if Canon is aiming to get one thing comparable for its customers, they may actually have consumers. However, it stays to be seen whether or not these patents are capable of turn into a actuality, since an f2.8 aperture may also imply a heavier lens. There can be a risk that the design is only for analysis functions, and that Canon might not work on one thing as thrilling as this. After all, Laowa did beat them to it.

Until we hear any official bulletins, it’s protected to say that Canon is aiming to be totally different, and that may be a good signal. Perhaps, mirrorless customers will see the identical lineup of lenses that excited DSLR patrons.