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    Patent: Canon shows off a new approach to the modern shutter button

    By Updated:78 Comments1 Min Read Canon Patents
    patentshutterbutton - Patent: Canon shows off a new approach to the modern shutter button

    Canon News has uncovered a very interesting patent by Canon. This one looks at potentially replacing the modern shutter button as we know it.

    … and no, Canon is not replacing the shutter button with a direct print button.

    If you look at area 61 of patent image, there is no shutter button, just what looks to be a touchpad. The touchpad is would have multiple functions depending on what you're doing with the camera.

    Before you freak out, I'm sure Canon has learned a lot of about touchpads from the EOS R and how poorly it was generally received. While not a huge detriment to the EOS R, I think a more classical approach to ergonomics would have served the camera well.

    If Canon is seriously considering this approach, hopefully, it's thoroughly tested in the real world.

    patentshutterbutton - Patent: Canon shows off a new approach to the modern shutter button

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    4. Has the mechanical shutter button been a frequent repair problem for Canon?

      Is the mechanical shutter button a difficult place to weather/dust proof?

      I'm sure we will get some interesting brainstorming in this thread. Maybe the touch-sensitive shutter pad could involve many functions, freeing our thumbs to...
    5. There is only one part of the system that doesn't improve with different iterations of the technology - and that's the photographer. However fast your focus is, however good your object detection, you're relying on meat computing at the moment for the brain to decide "this is the right shot", and then send the nerve signals to your finger to press the button. By this time the opportunity may have gone.

      As AI gets better at understanding composition it will likely be the job of the photographer to frame the image and set the creative direction for the shot, but it'll be the camera itself that decides when to take the photo.

      Maybe in the future a shutter button isn't needed at all? :)

      Is this real photography? Who cares, as long as it gives you the best shots :)
    6. "Before you freak out.."

      Too late!

      I have a lot of questions on implementation, but then again, Canon patents a lot of stuff that never surface so maybe this falls into the "never to see the light of day" category. I don't think it's a bad thing for Canon to try weird things - sometimes they stick and become really useful.
    10. There is only one part of the system that doesn't improve with different iterations of the technology - and that's the photographer. However fast your focus is, however good your object detection, you're relying on meat computing at the moment for the brain to decide "this is the right shot", and then send the nerve signals to your finger to press the button. By this time the opportunity may have gone.

      As AI gets better at understanding composition it will likely be the job of the photographer to frame the image and set the creative direction for the shot, but it'll be the camera itself that decides when to take the photo.

      Maybe in the future a shutter button isn't needed at all? :)

      Is this real photography? Who cares, as long as it gives you the best shots :)

      But better AF and other features might help to capture something you could not before.
    11. A mechanical butoon tucked under a touch pad will be best of both worlds. The touch pad can be used to move AF point or area and half press and press all the way to shoot would still work well. May be.. a bit easy to weather seal as well?
    12. In addition to being a touch pad this can be used to navigate through (swipe left or right) photos while reviewing through the EVF of course this can be done even with LCD but it will be more useful when viewing through the EVF.
    13. I'm freaking out. I don't know what it is, but I hate it. Hahaha, jk, but I do enjoy pushing the button. Nothing makes me sadder than having touchscreen for my car's radio and climate control in lieu of the tactile joy of dials, buttons, etc. Anyway, I'm sure if it isn't cool, they won't pursue it.
    15. Just because its a touch screen, doesn't mean you can't press it. It could be like the touchpad on your pc, with swipe sensitivity and half and full press.

      -Brian
      You mean like buttons on a microwave oven?
    17. I'm game for trying things out and often defended tech changes that a lot of photographers were resistant to (very long list)... but not sure I'm keen on the idea.. some things are more tactile and I've found touchpads on laptops irritating, I've tried the steam controller (games) and its also a trackpad and again not a good experience.. and seen the reaction to the R's touchbar. I'm ok with it on phones and on the live view, because it gives additional feedback/info, but a strictly touch device generally hasn't been my cup of tea.

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