Tamron filed another patent 2012-189637 in Japan for a 40mm f/2 lens for mirrorless cameras with 1″ sensor (Nikon 1). The patent contains several different calculations for 30mm, 35mm and 40mm f/2 versions. Few months ago Tamron filed a patent for 35mm f/2, 40mm f/2, 28mm f/2 and 38mm f/2 lenses.
Nikon filed patent 2012-185263 in Japan for a Nikon 32mm f/1.2 mirrorless lens (aprox. 85mm equivalent):
Nikon’s patent 2012-185190 filed in Japan is for a ring flash attachment that uses optical fiber to transfer the light beams from the camera’s built-in flash and position them around the lens (similar to the Ray Flash adapter).
Nikon filed patent 2012-155026 in Japan for a lens adapter with adjustable flange back. The helicoid ring allows to further close focus the lens (similar adapter already exists for using Leica lenses with Sony NEX camera). In this patent the flange back will automatically be adjusted by the camera (CPU).
Nikon patent application 20120182617 is for a 300mm f/4 with VR. The interesting part is that the overall length of the lens is relatively short ~ 190mm (around 7.5 in.) with back focus – so real length would be ~150 mm, much shorter than the existing 300/f4 (222.5mm/8.8 in): In the patent calculations one of the surfaces is marked as [...]
Nikon filed a patent 2012133116 for a 6-24mm f/2-2.8 lens (28-112mm equivalent) that will probably be used for a new Coolpix camera with a 1/1.7 inch sensor. New: Aquatica AD800 housing for the Nikon D800/D800e camera (price: $3,359.00). New book: Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P510. Only few hours left: 25% off when you rent the Nikon D4 from [...]
Nikon’s patent 2012128155 filed in Japan is for implementing an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) in the lens for optimum performance and improved resolving power. The low-pass filter is used to prevent/reduce moiré patterns in images. The patent describes a 300mm f/2.8 lens with OLPF.
Nikon’s 18-55mm f/4-5.6 lens patent 2012123118 appears to be for a mirrorless APS-C camera. The Nikon 1 system has a sensor smaller than APS-C. Maybe Nikon is working on a camera similar to the Pentax K-01? Patents do not guarantee new product introductions, but almost every new lens fr0m the past few years has been patented first.
