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Since the launch of the RF mount in 2018, there has been multiple times we have seen a flurry of new Canon tilt-shift patents that showed both optical designs and never before seen technology. Canon has shown off autofocus tilt-shift designs as well as in camera control of tilt and shift movement.
As we all know, nothing has come of it yet.
A while back I spoke with someone I'd consider an expert in tilt-shift photography and technology who has a relationship with Canon. At that time, he was told by Canon that they were more than happy to continue manufacturing and selling the TS-E lenses for the EF mount. It's a niche market and the TS-E lenses are terrific.
Japan Patent 2026-072135 shows us the direction Canon's R&D is going for the future of tilt-shift lenses.
A New Way to Tilt and ShiftCanon has designed a new way to do the tilt and shift. “Normal” tilt-shift lenses work by tilting or shifting the entire lens barrel externally. In these designs, Canon is moving two lens groups internally sideways in opposite directions.
They're moving two lens groups in opposite directions to avoid compositional “drift”.
It also looks like Canon has gone extreme in the amount of tilt. They show a 70-75° object tilt, which is beyond the current tilt-shift lenses out there.
New Tilt-Shift Optical DesignsThere are optical designs and focal lengths that we expect with tilt-shift lenses, but these latest optical designs are head-turning to say the least.
The first design should be familiar to anyone that uses tilt-shift lenses. Then we get to the new ideas.
Canon TS-R 24mm f/3.5L Replace with:
Canon TS-R 24mm f/3.5L Patent · RF Mount
⚠ These specifications are sourced from a patent filing and may not reflect the final production lens. Patent specifications often differ from the released product.
We also have some zoom tilt-shift lens designs. I think this would be a great direction for Canon to go with their future RF tilt-shift lenses. I imagine having a zoom function in various situations on a tripod would be a welcomed feature.
Canon TS-R 17-24mm f/4L
Canon TS-R 17-24mm f/4L Patent · RF Mount
Focal Length
17.51–23.30mm
Half-Angle
51.01–42.88°
⚠ These specifications are sourced from a patent filing and may not reflect the final production lens. Patent specifications often differ from the released product.
This is where things get wild and I may have done a “WT…….?” when I first saw a couple of these designs. I think these are more of a case of showing what is going on overall in the patent application as opposed to an actual consumer product design.
Going by the design drawings, Canon is showing the two tilt/shift groups with “normal” elements stuck between them. This is probably the way they need to do it to get light to come to the sensor properly. I could be wrong on that though.
Canon TS-R 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L
Canon TS-R 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L Patent · RF Mount
Back Focus
21.40–66.85mm
⚠ These specifications are sourced from a patent filing and may not reflect the final production lens. Patent specifications often differ from the released product.
Canon TS-R 200-600mm f/5.6-8L
Canon TS-R 200-600mm f/5.6-8L Patent · RF Mount
Back Focus
23.11–81.24mm
⚠ These specifications are sourced from a patent filing and may not reflect the final production lens. Patent specifications often differ from the released product.
Commercial Product Viability?I can't see lenses like the Canon TS-R 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L and Canon TS-R 200-600mm f/5.6-8L optical designs becoming consumer products. Maybe tilt-shift bird photography is the next evolution?
The wide angle zoom designs are possible and would be more likely. Doing the tilting and shifting inside the barrel would be an innovative approach and it looks like the design concepts are very mature and this is something we could very well see when the TS-R lenses come to market.
Very cool.
Current Canon TS-E Tilt-Shift Lenses
Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L
17mm ultra-wide tilt-shift±6.5° tilt · ±12mm shiftAngle of view: 104°Min focus: 0.25m / 0.82ftEF mount · 820g Check Prices →
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II
24mm wide tilt-shift±8.5° tilt · ±12mm shiftAngle of view: 84°Min focus: 0.21m / 0.69ftEF mount · 780g Check Prices →
Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro
50mm standard tilt-shift macro±10° tilt · ±12mm shift1:2 macro reproduction ratioMin focus: 0.25m / 0.82ftEF mount · 945g Check Prices →
Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8L Macro
90mm short telephoto tilt-shift macro±10° tilt · ±12mm shift1:2 macro reproduction ratioMin focus: 0.39m / 1.28ftEF mount · 1,025g Check Prices →
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