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About 4 years ago, Canon trolled me with a series of patent applications describing a handheld interchangeable lens camera attached to a handheld gimbal system. It appeared as if Canon was thinking about taking the EOS-M in a different direction.
Covid happened very soon after these patent applications and all the best-laid plans may have been blown up quickly after the resulting pandemic and supply shortages.
But back by popular demand is a new system. In this patent application (2024-112386) Canon explores this. They are specifically researching a camera system that can be made small and light enough to be accurately controlled by a handheld gimbal. This appears to be very similar to the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems. The present invention aims to provide an imaging device that can be made lighter and smaller while ensuring precise gimbal control.
Looking at the above diagram, the sensor appears to be quite small – it's what Number 5 is pointing at, so I think it's safe to say it would be similar to a small sensor compact camera. It's difficult to say if this sensor would be 1″ similar to the size of the PowerShot v10, I could see Canon experimenting with different implementations of the same basic camera system.
As with all patent applications, this is a look into Canon's research and no guarantees that they'll develop this into a product.
I don't get why do you need a SEPARATE gimbal with a camera when you can get a gimbal for your phone? Or why not get an Insta 360? Either of those will give you better results imo
Also why if I post from the website (not forum) you escape single quotes? Is that necessary?
Lumix is going in the right direction with a powerful and easy to use phone app, Canon has a loooooong way to go there.
DJI sells plenty of phone gimbals as well.
They make money on both.
The PDF seems to be longer but it is in Japanese.
Also for smaller sensors, software will play a much more important role than hardware.
APS-C on a gimbal? Sounds big, losing its whole purpose
Many Canon shooters (and ex-DJI Pocket users) dream about a true Canon-level compact gimbal camera.
DJI dominates this space alone — the Pocket 3 has no real rival if you want a 1” sensor, mechanical 3-axis gimbal, and pocket size.
Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro now offers 10-bit Log ProRes, eating away at compact “run & gun” shooters — but no mechanical gimbal.
So here’s a concept I drafted:
Canon R Pocket L
✅ 1” BSI CMOS sensor — 12–20 MP, Dual Gain
✅ Fixed 10mm F/1.4 L-series lens — weather-sealed, true L-glass quality
✅ Cinema RAW Light video — 4K120, 10-bit, C-Log3
✅ 3-axis mechanical gimbal — not just EIS or IBIS
✅ Storage: microSD V90 or CFexpress Type A, and also external SSD support.
✅ USB-C 3.2, direct output, Canon Connect Pro app
✅ Weight: ~300 g, Head size: ~50 mm × 60 mm
✅ Price target: €1,500–2,000
Why does this make sense for Canon?
- Pocket-size run & gun filmmakers want more than smartphone EIS — real bokeh, true colors, Log, RAW.
- DJI owns this niche with no competition.
- Canon could easily position this between smartphones and Cinema EOS.
- L-series front glass = Canon signature.
- Not cannibalizing R5, R5C, or Cinema EOS — instead, it blocks Apple & DJI from taking this niche completely.
This is obviously just an open wish, no proprietary claim.If you think this is interesting — give it a +1 or share your tweaks.
Maybe Canon watches here — maybe they don’t — but at least let’s get the conversation going.
Would you buy a Canon R Pocket L?
✨
#Canon #PocketL #CinemaRAW #Gimbal