About 3 years ago Canon showed off a prototype of a posture fit device that would recognize when you were slouching and generally having bad posture while sitting at your desk. It would then remind you to correct your posture. It would continually remind you of this by flashing a light and rocking back and forth. As I slouch at my desk when writing this post, I’m reminded that I could probably use one of these devices (and thought so at the time, too) Admit it, you want one too, it’s adorable! According to Canon at the time; Our relationship…
Author: Richard
We will be releasing an upcoming series of articles on infrared photography that I’ve been slowly working through the last few weeks, and this amusingly popped up in the list of patent applications published. In this patent application (2024-054762), Canon is exploring using sensor pixels more sensitive to IR light to assist with color images. Their reasoning is that infrared light travels through haze and smoke better, and this would allow for better imaging performance in adverse conditions. While this sensor would probably see fit to exist in security cameras, it could see applications in a variety of more specialized…
In this patent application (2024-053967) Canon is looking to improve the ability of the cameras to calibrate the eye control focus with the photographer. The eye control focus is featured on older EOS film cameras and more notably, the Canon EOS R3. Eye Control AF differs from Eye AF, as Eye Control AF moves the focus point to where you are looking through the viewfinder, and Eye AF locks onto the target’s eye as the focus point. The camera does eye control by shining infrared light into your eye and measuring the relative location of your pupil. Using that, the…
CIPA has reported its data for the first two months of the year, and so far the signs are extremely positive – even for DSLRs. Yes, I said that – DSLRs, the camera system that refuses to die. Overall for the first two months of the year, Japanese camera manufacturers have shipped 102% DSLRs and 143% Mirrorless cameras when we compare to the same period last year. Which is a nice change from the usual dismal news that we usually get with these reports. Americas followed by China led the shipment growth as the Americas showed 167% gains and China…
In this patent application (2024-052498) Canon discusses replacing the gel filter at the back of a dual fisheye lens with something a little more robust and user-friendly. As you may know, the Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye uses a rear gel filter, but that can be problematic, and you must continually remove the lens and play around with gel filters. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use gel filters, you can use magnetic camera filters that snap in front of the sensor, which is probably far more convenient than our gel filters from yesteryear. This patent application though…
In this patent application (2024-052503), Canon is looking at providing autofocus for dual lenses, such as the Canon RF5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye lens. The current dual fisheye lens is manual focus only, so this would be a step in the right direction. From Canon; To provide a lens device that is equipped with an autofocus mode and a manual focus mode and can perform focus adjustment of two optical systems individually and with high precision. Because a dual fisheye lens is comprised of two individual lenses that are projecting their image circles onto the sensor to the left and right…
There was an interesting CP+ article discussing how various companies were going out of their way to change the focus of their marketing at this event to younger people, beginners, and females. From the Nikkei article; At CP+2024, events and exhibitions aimed at young people, women, and families stood out, and photo circle exhibits and work exhibitions were more visible than ever. The event conveyed how the camera industry as a whole is working to attract beginners, young people, and women so that cameras, which are becoming increasingly expensive, are not just for enthusiasts. From various events geared towards younger…
In this patent application (2024-043295), Canon is concerned about the AF performance of fast tilt-shift lenses. It seems that the incidence angle of light hitting the pixel will cause issues with AF performance around the periphery – especially when the plane of focus is tilted. In machine-translated Canon patent speak, this is what Canon has to say; When using the device to perform focusing during tilt-shift photography using imaging plane phase difference AF, a sensitivity difference occurs between the plurality of photoelectric conversion units depending on the tilt angle. As a result, the distance measurement accuracy of the phase difference…
In this patent application (2024-043481), Canon looks to improve the molded glass aspherical lens resin. According to Canon, the resins usually have a more difficult time with high humidity, as the optical performance changes with humidity. But if they create a resin that resists high humidity, then it has a more difficult time bonding to the glass element. So this patent application is looking at improving the composite resin elements in all environments. I could see this being used in our lenses, but also very much in security cameras that have to operate in all weather conditions. As Canon explains…
It’s been a slow month patent application-wise, unless, as I told Craig earlier, I start to talk about printer patent applications. No one wants to do that – including yours truly. In this patent application (JP2024-042622), Canon talks about some Ultra-wide full-frame zooms. Now, this is one area of Canon’s lens portfolio that is pretty top-notch – so any lens in this patent application would have a difficult time justifying its purpose – but an F2.0 ultra-wide would certainly have its uses if coma was tightly controlled. All the embodiments are pretty decent with a full image circle even at…