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    Canon Patent Application: Mirrorless camera with a Tilting EVF

    By 15 Comments2 Mins Read

    In this patent application (Japan 2023-178037) Canon is describing a tilting EVF for a mirrorless camera. I had the EVF-DC1 for the EOS-M system and loved the tilt function of the EVF. It gave a different perspective and shooting angle and was a useful feature. This seems to be a continuation of Canon’s research into tilting EVF such as this patent here before. In the prior patent application, Canon describes the mechanical movement of the EVF to minimize the overall size of the EVF assembly while providing a tilting option.

    In this patent application, Canon is describing the connection ribbon cable from the camera’s main body to the EVF. What they are trying to do is create a cable that has a very predictable movement when the EVF is in the extended and tilted positions. This is to ensure that there is no binding or excessive strain on the cable, and also no possibility of Murphy and his annoying law getting the cable pinched somewhere in the tilting mechanism. If this cable gets sheared or if the cable gets pinched and one of the conductors inside of the cable breaks, the EVF can potentially stop working altogether. How this cable is designed has a pretty large impact on the EVF assembly’s reliability.

    You can see the cable in this side diagram, labeled as 117. As you can see in the diagram, that cable has to move quite a bit, and needs to follow a pretty specific path, especially for when the EVF is in its traditional position as the space left over for the cable is quite small.

    Canon has described this cable, to have the following shape, so that they can accurately predict how it will flex and move inside of the EVF housing.

    Having a tiltable EVF on a mirrorless camera isn’t a new thing, as Panasonic did it with the GX series a long time ago, and more recently the Fuji GFX series. The patent is quite detailed, showing a great deal of breakout mechanical diagrams on the EVF showing that Canon has progressed a fair amount into the design phase of this EVF mechanism. As with other patent applications, this is never guaranteed to be in an actual product but is a look into the research that happens at Canon.

    Source: Japan Patent Application 2023-178037

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    15 comments

    3. We might even get Jeff from the MFT crowd to join the RF system! (Probably know one will get this one.)
      In all seriousness: a Canon R8 replacement or partner that goes for small body and a tiltable EVF like the GX8 would be amazing.

      I wonder why they are doing a more complex pull-out system and not a simple tilt-up as the GX8 had.
    4. The arguments against a flippy screen for the 5D/1D in years past seems to have finally gone with the advent of mirrorless bodies even it they are smaller. You certainly don't need a screen protector if you can turn it in.
      Will it be the same situation with combined tilt/flippy screens that they will eventually be in all bodies? Tilt is great for street and portraiture but useless for astro (portrait orientation and angled up).
    6. I'm all for tilting EVFs, it something I didn't know I wanted until I had it.
      I never use the rear LCD for shooting, but a tilting EVF would be a dream come true. I already use one whith longer focals on my Leica M240, and like it, despite its crappy "quality". No doubt the Canon implementation will be far better.
    11. I hope, Canon will make the leap from their growing no. of patents to a real implementation soon. Would be really great to have a tilting EVF, in particular in bright settings.
      Canon has for the last 20-30 years been one of the top patent companies on the planet. they have a wide variety of research - but until you research down to almost implementation you can't really tell if something is cost effective or resonates with consumers the way you want.
    12. Very similar to:
      www.canonrumors.com

      Canon patents a built-in tilting viewfinder

      Here is an interesting patent from Canon, an EOS R series body with a built-in tilting viewfinder. This would definitely be a feature a lot of people would enjo
      www.canonrumors.com
      Yes - I mentioned this patent (and linked the article).

      it's the mechanical assembly in that patent - this patent app is dealing with the reliability of the flex ribbon cable.
    13. I would love to see this on any future camera I buy. Probably the most frustrating aspect of using mirrorless cameras to me is the fact that I can't use my angle finder with them. I would probably just prefer being able to use the Canon angle finder C on my R5. It works of every Canon EOS SLR - film and digital. Can't they just make an ordinary angle finder that swivels like the angle finder C that would work on the R cameras? I HATE using the rear screen when getting low. I can't see it without reading glasses and there is always glare from the sun.
    14. Canon has for the last 20-30 years been one of the top patent companies on the planet. they have a wide variety of research - but until you research down to almost implementation you can't really tell if something is cost effective or resonates with consumers the way you want.
      A built-in tilting EVF shouldn't be such a big leap for Canon, I think,. And I am sure that many users at least of more expensive cameras would like it, because it really amends the usability of a camera in bright environments. But, sure, Canon has to check the market, every cent more on the cost side of the production counts.
    15. It wasn't bult in but there was a 90 degree viewfinder that canon offered during the slr years. I think there were two or maybe three versions. So, I can definitely see this being produced.

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