There may be a serious physical size consideration here. It's already APS-C. Given what the patent shows I'm already kinda worried it will look like a half of a can of soda hanging off a deck of cards. The whole package needs to be small or else it's pointless.
I'm not so sure what the outcome will be but I think Canon seems to have pulled all the stops in miniaturizing the lens design. Typical back focus for EF lenses are in the range of 40-70mm range. But this one apparently has a "0.5mm" back focus. Which means an extremely rear plane ! Typically, a lens with a very close rear plane can be made smaller to cover the same image circle.
I wonder how this compares to other mirrorless systems or maybe even the Leica M system ? Anyone has any clues what are the back focus of other mirrorless systems like the NEX ?
I agree. I am worried it will look like the Sony NEX system. Sure the body is small, but the lenses are still large because of the sensor. Not sure how miniaturizing the body helps when the lenses are still large. Just makes working with the body harder as it is small and has fewer external controls.
size doesnt really matter if the whole package is still small enough
I'm using a NEX 5n with a voigtlander 35 1.2 M-mount, and the whole thing weights 600g, but size-wise it's as large as the nex with the kit lens. of course that means it's larger than a compact camera, but I can still put the NEX in my bag/backpack without even feeling it.
now try do the same with a 5d2+85 1.2 (but even with a 50 1.4 - which you risk breaking if you dont use the hood btw)
the trick is considering the 3 dimensions, so it is true, NEX+kit is long because of the lens, but the height is really small compared to, say, X100 or Xpro1 or G1x. you can just position the NEX differently and it's still compact.
by the way, the patented lens looks small, but has no IS and is 5.6 at 45mm. that's still ok provided that it really is small.
