Canon Dual Pixel Liveview Autofocus

[Canon Rumors]

Tweet

A Revolution in Autofocus Unlocks the Potential of Live View

Dual Pixel CMOS AF is a groundbreaking technology from Canon that unlocks the potential └of Live View, changing forever the way users will capture video and still images with a DSLR camera. Dual Pixel CMOS AF powers incredibly smooth and consistent autofocus – like that └of a camcorder – so focus transitions are natural and subjects remain locked in even as they move. It also enables phenomenally accurate and faster-than-ever autofocus through an LCD monitor, allowing the user to realize the unique compositional freedom of angle that Live View is capable of providing. And the compatibility of Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 103* Canon EF lenses empowers the user with exceptional optical tools for nearly limitless creative options. All these remarkable advances are possible thanks to an innovative technological design. For the first time in an EOS camera, the individual pixels on the CMOS sensor are capable of both capturing light and performing phase-difference detection autofocus. This revolutionary leap in Live View autofocus performance cements Live View shooting as an outstanding complement to traditional viewfinder shooting, unleashing wonderful new possibilities for dynamic, creative, high quality video and still capture in more situations than ever before.

cr

 

[Famateur]

A dedicated AF area selection button, positioned conveniently next to the shutter release, enables quick switching between modes, without having to take the camera away from the eye.

This sounds pretty cool! Maybe don't need the D-Pad after all?

I'm excited to see the Dual Pixel AF in action...

[Jan Jasinski]

There's already a video of the 70D, it's actually smaller than the 60D!
http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2480809

[neuroanatomist]

Interesting and promising.  Still not as fast as true phase AF, I expect.

Still...I was considering the EOS M, but maybe I'll wait for the EOS M MkII with this technology...   

[expatinasia]

This is pretty big news for those that do shoot video. Does it have a headphone socket?

[Rienzphotoz]

Does it have a headphone socket?

Good question ... headphone socket will make this, already, incredible camera even more attractive.

[Swphoto]

Does it have a headphone socket?

Good question ... headphone socket will make this, already, incredible camera even more attractive.

I see a mic input, but nothing for headphones: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-70d/5

[Mark D5 TEAM II]

Does it have a headphone socket?

It doesn't appear to have one based on the pics I've seen, unfortunately. Also, the remote control terminal is the Rebel-class E3-type connector as opposed to the N3-type connector used by the higher-end bodies. Also, no PC sync terminal like the 60D & 6D  .

[LowBloodSugar]

They have all the pieces of the formula now!  Its only a matter of time until canon makes a proper mirror-less EF compatible camera!

[expatinasia]

Does it have a headphone socket?

It doesn't appear to have one based on the pics I've seen, unfortunately. Also, the remote control terminal is the Rebel-class E3-type connector as opposed to the N3-type connector used by the higher-end bodies. Also, no PC sync terminal like the 60D & 6D  .

Yes, you are right. Strange move for a camera with so much video potential. The two video examples engadget has uploaded are pretty amazing in how easy it is to switch focus from one point to another.

I had been considering getting a XA20 but I will have to take a closer look at the 70D as it might meet my video needs better than the 1D X does, though the simple fact it does not have a headphone jack puts me off. Still this is a good move forward for DSLRs, and I am even more interested to see what they do with the 7D Mark II.

[Radiating]

It seems that they are essentially putting 2 pixels at every pixel site to help with autofocus. So in reality if I'm reading this right you have 40.4 megapixels in this body and are just always shooting in m-raw.

However the extra megapixels enable super amazing video autofocus.

[shinjuku-thief]

Yes, you are right. Strange move for a camera with so much video potential. The two video examples engadget has uploaded are pretty amazing in how easy it is to switch focus from one point to another.

Those focus pulls were ridiculously easy to do with this AF and the touch screen.

[dilbert]

Interesting development.

For some number of pixels, it is going to reduce (halve?) the amount of light that is received by the photo diode.

If this is the green pixels, as suggested by some diagrams, then it may make little/no overall difference as there are already twice as many green receptors as there are red/blue.

Additionally, this means that there will be some pixels that do not record the same level of light as others. This will need a bit of new fancy footwork for raw converters to properly evaluate what it means to have a pixel that is not and will never have the same luminosity as all of the others around it.

This has potential to have an adverse impact on noise simply due to there being less signal available.

Will be interesting to see the outcome!

[funkboy]

Give me this technology in a G1X replacement with a lens faster than f/4 at the long end (& 25mm or wider on the short end) & I'll be all over it!

As I suspect a great many people here will be as well.

Although at the moment my "compact" camera has evolved into the 6D with the 40mm pancake on it (my lovely Fuji X10 has been gathering dust since I got the 6D).  Once you go FF it's really hard to accept anything else...

[pedro]

Is there any news about their fabricating process? Does the sensor apply to the former 500nm or did Canon change to 180nm, 90nm, or even 65nm parts?