Patent: What the Digital Display on the Upcoming EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS II Might Look Like

[AvTvM]

So to be clear, the cheap looking display on the Canon lens is an unneeded afterthought, while the (I'm assuming) similarly functioning OLED display on the Zeiss lenses is what...useful? Necessary? Desirable?

if you had reasd my earlier postings in this thread, you would know, what i think of display windows on lenses.

they are utterly useless and unnecessary on digital cameras with a large back LCD and (hopefully) a viewfinder with elecronic info overlay.

however, if a company decides to put such a useless features on its products they better make sure it is 2016 tech and functionality (eg OLED and clean integration into lens barrel as in zeiss batis) rather than frankensteining some leftover 1976 LCD display onto a lens barrel (stupid canon).

 

[ahsanford]

if you had reasd my earlier postings in this thread, you would know, what i think of display windows on lenses.

they are utterly useless and unnecessary on digital cameras with a large back LCD and (hopefully) a viewfinder with elecronic info overlay.

however, if a company decides to put such a useless features on its products they better make sure it is 2016 tech and functionality (eg OLED and clean integration into lens barrel as in zeiss batis) rather than frankensteining some leftover 1976 LCD display onto a lens barrel (stupid canon).

There is another rationale for going to a display: it's better for Canon than traditional displays range windows:

• No complicated placement or tight tolerancing of lines is needed
• Less mechanical things that can fail or become decoupled from the focus ring (no slamming the focus to its limit and doing small amounts of damage each time)
• It's probably cheaper to buy a ready to go electronic module that can be calibrated electronically / through software than a mechanically 'keyed'/indexed element that needs to be dialed in on the production floor.

I've never built a lens, so I'm speculating here. But there's zero chance Canon is doing this to keep up with Zeiss (of all people). This move will either (a) sell more lenses as a differentiating feature in the market or (b) save Canon money. Possibly both.

- A

 

[AvTvM]

if i were Canon CEO I'd do away with any sort of lens (distance info) window on any new lens. i bet, not a single lens less would be bought and price paid would not be one cent cheaper.
but ... stupid Canon.

 

[ahsanford]

if i were Canon and do away with any sort of lens (distance info) window on any new lens. i bet that not a sungle lens less would be bought and price paid would not be one cent cheaper. but ... stupid Canon.

I'm glad we're not playing a drinking game in which I need to take a sip or shot every time you say Stupid Canon -- because I'd be dead by lunch.

- A

 

[AvTvM]

truth must be told. frequently, until everybody sees the light. ask any preacher. i am a Canon evangelist, sort of ...

 

[ahsanford]

truth must be told. frequently, until everybody sees the light. ask any preacher. i am a Canon evangelist, sort of ...

If Canon is your brand/deity/team/institution, you have an odd way of showing the faith. ;D

- A

 

[d]

So to be clear, the cheap looking display on the Canon lens is an unneeded afterthought, while the (I'm assuming) similarly functioning OLED display on the Zeiss lenses is what...useful? Necessary? Desirable?

if you had reasd my earlier postings in this thread, you would know, what i think of display windows on lenses.

they are utterly useless and unnecessary on digital cameras with a large back LCD and (hopefully) a viewfinder with elecronic info overlay.

however, if a company decides to put such a useless features on its products they better make sure it is 2016 tech and functionality (eg OLED and clean integration into lens barrel as in zeiss batis) rather than frankensteining some leftover 1976 LCD display onto a lens barrel (stupid canon).

Got it!

 

[privatebydesign]

Well it looks pretty cool and it is intelligent.

https://youtu.be/F9wVEdL68Wg?t=319

 

[ahsanford]

Well it looks pretty cool and it is intelligent.

https://youtu.be/F9wVEdL68Wg?t=319

Good find, thanks for the forward!

I didn't think they'd cram that much in that little window. I was only expecting a Zeiss Batis level of simplicity, but this looks like a traditional distance scale. Well done, Canon.

But I wonder if we keep hitting the 'mode' button and get a simpler setup that gives simple range to target + front and back limits of DOF for the chosen aperture. I love the traditional scale, but I could still think a simpler aperture-specific view like the Batis would be helpful.

- A

 

[privatebydesign]

Well it looks pretty cool and it is intelligent.

https://youtu.be/F9wVEdL68Wg?t=319

Good find, thanks for the forward!

I didn't think they'd cram that much in that little window. I was only expecting a Zeiss Batis level of simplicity, but this looks like a traditional distance scale. Well done, Canon.

But I wonder if we keep hitting the 'mode' button and get a simpler setup that gives simple range to target + front and back limits of DOF for the chosen aperture. I love the traditional scale, but I could still think a simpler aperture-specific view like the Batis would be helpful.

- A

Even better coverage here https://youtu.be/RL-xVSH0bh0?t=116 and you can change it from 'black on white' to 'white on black' too.

 

[pokerz]

Well it looks pretty cool and it is intelligent.

https://youtu.be/F9wVEdL68Wg?t=319

Good find, thanks for the forward!

I didn't think they'd cram that much in that little window. I was only expecting a Zeiss Batis level of simplicity, but this looks like a traditional distance scale. Well done, Canon.

But I wonder if we keep hitting the 'mode' button and get a simpler setup that gives simple range to target + front and back limits of DOF for the chosen aperture. I love the traditional scale, but I could still think a simpler aperture-specific view like the Batis would be helpful.

- A

Does this LCD glow up in dim area like Top LCD panel of most DSLRs?

 

[ahsanford]

Does this LCD glow up in dim area like Top LCD panel of most DSLRs?

I did not see a backlight feature or demonstration in the video. Would obviously be nice.

- A

 

[pokerz]

Does this LCD glow up in dim area like Top LCD panel of most DSLRs?

I did not see a backlight feature or demonstration in the video. Would obviously be nice.

- A

So L lens = backlighted, normal len = normal LCD, sounds good? 8)

 

[ahsanford]

Does this LCD glow up in dim area like Top LCD panel of most DSLRs?

I did not see a backlight feature or demonstration in the video. Would obviously be nice.

- A

So L lens = backlighted, normal len = normal LCD, sounds good? 8)

This feature seems clever but not precise. The resolution on that screen and the thickness of those lines seems a bit crude. Call me crazy, but I think L users might find this little gizmo a bit of a takeaway in that light -- they might prefer the old school distance scales.

- A

 

[haggie]

After the reactions on the first pages of this thread, I was a bit worried about the usefulness of the LCD. After seeing the video from Canon USA, I am reassured that it will be useful. Actually, it delivers what I have always missed in AF-lenses. That may be a result of (still) being used to FD lenses, but the DOF scale gave me a lot of information setting up my camera/lens for almost any type of photography: landscape, macro and even action.
As it appears, now it is finally back for me to use. That to me is the best news of this new lens.

I am in the market for a lens in the 70-300 mm range. I can only hope that AF-speed is as good as is suggested (I do not care about smoothness for video) and that AF-accuracy is on par with that. The image quality is mentioned to be improved, as was highly needed.

So all in all I think that Canon communicates that they try to deliver a 70-300 mm with fast AF and much improved IQ, and that they add an LCD screen to give information that will be useful in many photographic situations and just was not made available before.

And yes, ahsanford's remark that this DFOF-scale may not be precise is a bit of a worry. Just like the AF-speed and IQ of this new 70-300 lens may be a bit of a worry for those that are interested.
But for these worries the answer will come: tests from independent test sites will show if Canon really delivers all this.

At least my hopes are high after seeing the official introduction video by Canon USA, because I cannot imagine Canon using these big words about the new 70-300 and then not (be able to) deliver.

However, if the price of $800 - $900 as mentioned in another thread about this lens will prove to be correct (recent pricing shows that $800 - $900 will translate into €800+ to €900+), I will certainly wait to get it because that amount is too much compared to L-series lenses - despite the welcome improvements that I think must be acknowledged.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

However, if the price of $800 - $900 as mentioned in another thread about this lens will prove to be correct (recent pricing shows that $800 - $900 will translate into €800+ to €900+), I will certainly wait to get it because that amount is too much compared to L-series lenses - despite the welcome improvements that I think must be acknowledged.

The price of 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is US$549 in the USA. In the Europe it must be about 500-600 Euro.

 

[mrsfotografie]

Well it looks pretty cool and it is intelligent.

https://youtu.be/F9wVEdL68Wg?t=319

I get that with nano USM, the LCD screen is a great way to get distance info in an otherwise mechanically uncoupled system. But ff crop conversion factors and shake indication? That's just dumb adding of useless features.

 

[AvTvM]

The price of 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is US$549 in the USA. In the Europe it must be about 500-600 Euro.

yes, listings start at € 579 in germany.

 

[haggie]

Thanks, ajfotofilmagem and AvTvM.
I just saw the prices on the Canon website.

Looks like a decent price to me.
Now let the test results roll in, so I can decide! 8)

 

[d]

Well it looks pretty cool and it is intelligent.

https://youtu.be/F9wVEdL68Wg?t=319

I get that with nano USM, the LCD screen is a great way to get distance info in an otherwise mechanically uncoupled system. But ff crop conversion factors and shake indication? That's just dumb adding of useless features.

I agree. It also seems like a silly way to display DOG information - why not display the focussed distance in the middle as an actual figure, with the near distance and far distances either side (also as figures), rather than trying to mimic the mechanical DOF representation. Unless...it's not actually particularly precise.