Patent: Lens Mount Adaptor For Different Flange Distances

Canon Rumors Guy

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<a href="http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/mirrorless-camera-rumours/">Northlight</a> has uncovered a <a href="http://pdfaiw.uspto.gov/.aiw?PageNum=0&docid=20180107098">USPTO</a> patent application that shows a design for a lens mount adaptor that allows for different flange distances with different adaptors.</p>
<p>The patent covers a lot of options, so this may be part of many more patents that deal with adaptors and lens mounts.</p>
<p>This patent also covers options for including lenses in the adapter for both wide and tele conversion.</p>
<p>Obviously there could be some full frame mirrorless camera implications with this sort of patent.</p>

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Maximilian

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If I was to buy a (FF) mirrorless camera and if I had the choice of using this mechanics or an external adaptor with the same functionality and the same behavior on the lens (AF, etc.) I'd go for the external adaptor.
Reasons:
  • size of body could be smaller without this mechanics
  • extra costs on the body
  • cost saving because external adaptor could be reused on next body
  • higher risk for this variable lens mount to fail/break or getting damaged by external impact
  • if something breaks down, repair/replacement is cheaper

If it is for cine market the perspective and arguments could be different.
 
Upvote 0
Mar 26, 2014
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I don't buy the 'Canon mirrorless FF camera might / will have a different mount' story.

Difference throat diameter & flange distance? Possibly.

Additional contacts and enhancement to protocol? Possibly.

All new mount, with different contacts and protocol? Haven't heard concrete reasons for Canon to do that, much the less such that would justify the reaction of existing customer base.

This patent might be nothing more than asset management (IP being assets), or plans to develop speed boosters, say EF -> EF-S or EF -> [super 35 compatible mount].
 
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Oct 22, 2014
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Seems more like a standalone adapter than it is a camera with a built in adapter. The camera is just in the drawing for example. If this is what they come up with for the Mirrorless to EF conundrum, it's pretty much what I was thinking they'd do. Though, an adjustable adapter doesn't make much sense for FF mirrorless. It makes perfect sense for a Crop though, since you'd have a couple of different mounts outside of EF-M to choose from.
 
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docsmith

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This may very well be the "elegant fix" Canon has come up with. One twist and the contacts move forward and then back depending upon the flange distance. Looks like there is a second piece in there, with an optical unit, but also allowing for a different physical mount.

So, this leaves me torn. On one hand, if there are size/weight/cost savings coming with the new mount, if it is the future, then I get it. It is an eventuality. But that also means that I am, at some point, looking at a transitional period for my entire kit (as I won't want to use an adapter forever), when I am very happy right now. So, while I can see this working well, call me something less than excited. Plus, isn't one of the big advantages to get aware from that moving mirror? Here you are introducing at least two new moving parts. Granted, they move not with each actuation, but with each lens change.

If this is the case, I am more likely to stay with a mirror slapper for as long as possible. So, come on with the 5DV, 1Dx III, 5Ds II and others. Give me one and even two more generations of mirrorslappers and another 10-15 years before I have to turnover the lenses in my kit.
 
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May 11, 2017
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docsmith said:
This may very well be the "elegant fix" Canon has come up with. One twist and the contacts move forward and then back depending upon the flange distance. Looks like there is a second piece in there, with an optical unit, but also allowing for a different physical mount.

Elegant? It looks to me like it has a bunch of moving parts, with the main advantages being the ability to adapt lenses with several different flange distances to the camera, and to insert wide angle and telex lens elements. This seems to be a pretty complicated solution if all you care about is adapting EF lenses to a new fullframe mirrorless camera mount and you don't care about inserting lens elements. Not sure how rugged it would be either.
 
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Feb 28, 2013
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Nothing about it is new and how they can claim a patent in beyond me. You can change mounts on Arri Alexa cameras for instance from PL to Panavision retaining electrical contacts, you can change a C700 from EF to PL in fact you can go back to the sixties and see cameras where mounts were changed altering the back focus.
Panasonic / Olympus made adaptors to move from 4/3rd to m4/3rds with electrical contacts.

Nothing of significance is shown in this patent.
 
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nostrovia said:
Looks like an XC10-style body, no?
That's what it looks like to me - I don't think that the sketch is representative of the upcoming mirrorless cameras. Even if you don't think it looks like the XC10, the sketch seems to have a vent on one side - which none of Canon's weather sealed cameras would have. It seems like this is a cinema application.
 
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