Canon Patent: Electric Tilt-shift Lens Operation

Canon Patent

This is a rather interesting Canon patent application, and it might well go into production one day.

Canon patent application 2023135457 (japan, published 9/28/2023) discusses technology and methods to implement an electronic, motor-driven tilt-shift lens operation. The following excerpt from the patent literature should make this more clear:

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can reduce the effort and time of operation and improve the convenience of tilt photography and shift photography.

Background Art

Patent Document 1 describes tilt photography in which the in-focus range is adjusted by moving two optical element groups in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and tilt photography in which the shooting angle of view is changed and distortion is corrected. An optical system is disclosed that can perform shift photography.

In recent years, the number of situations in which tilt photography and shift photography are used has been increasing, and there is an urgent need to reduce the effort and time required for operations in such photography. However, in the optical system of Patent Document 1, there is no mention of reduction in operational effort and time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that can reduce the effort and time of operation and improve the convenience of tilt photography and shift photography.

Means for Solving the Problems

A control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an imaging device including an imaging device, and a tilt effect that tilts a focus plane with respect to an imaging surface of the imaging device and moves a shooting range. A control device used in a camera system having a lens device including at least one optical member for changing at least one of a shift effect and a shift effect, in which a first operation instruction based on an operation on an operation unit is acquired, A first control unit that moves at least one optical member in response to an operation, and moves the at least one optical member to a preset position when a second operation instruction different from the first operation instruction is obtained. and a second control section.

In this embodiment, by moving the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis O, the tilt effect and shift effect can be changed. Specifically, by moving the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 in opposite directions, the tilt effect can be changed, and by moving them in the same direction, the shift effect can be changed. The lens-side CPU 9 controls the movement of the sixth group lens 26 via a drive section using a signal from a detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of movement of the sixth group lens 26. Further, the lens-side CPU 9 controls the movement of the 8th group lens 28 via the drive section using a signal from a detection section (not shown) that detects the amount of movement of the 8th group lens 28. The drive unit that moves the sixth group lens 26 and the eighth group lens 28 is, for example, a stepping motor or a voice coil motor (VCM). Note that it is also possible to change the tilt effect by tilting (rotating) the lens.

FIG. 3 [on top, editor’s note] is an explanatory diagram of the operation unit 500 for changing the tilt effect and shift effect. The operation unit 500 includes a direction key 501, a slide switch (selection unit) 502, and a decision/cancel button 503. The operation unit 500 is provided on the lens barrel 2 so that it can be operated by a photographer. Note that although the operating unit 500 is provided on the lens barrel 2 in this embodiment, it may also be provided on the camera 3. Further, a part of the operation unit 500 (for example, the direction key 501) may be provided on the lens barrel 2, and another part (for example, the enter/cancel button 503) may be provided on the camera 3. Further, instead of the direction key 501, an operating member such as a joystick, a lever, or an operating ring may be used. Furthermore, instead of providing the operation section 500, a screen for executing the same functions as the operation section 500 may be displayed on the display section 14, for example. Furthermore, the functions of the operation section 500 may be assigned to an existing operation member provided in the camera system 1.

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Patent: 200-1000mm F5.6-11 IS And 200-800mm F5.6-8 IS Lenses

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent application: two super telephoto zooms for the RF mount.

Canon patent application 2023135180 (Japan, published 9/28/2023) discusses optical formulas for two super telephoto zoom lenses for the RF mount:

  • 200-1000mm F5.6-11 IS
  • 200-800mm F5.6-8 IS

From the patent literature:

To obtain a zoom lens whose entire system is compact and whose optical performance is suppressed from deteriorating due to focusing.

BACKGROUND ART

As an imaging optical system, a telephoto zoom lens having a long focal length at the telephoto end is known. (Patent Document 1) Such a zoom lens is required to be small, yet easy to perform high-speed focusing, and to suppress deterioration of optical performance due to focusing.

However, the zoom lens disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a large number of lenses in the fourth lens group, which is a focus group, and also has relatively strong refractive power. Therefore, it is difficult to simultaneously increase the speed of focusing and suppress deterioration in optical performance due to focusing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens whose entire system is small in size and whose optical performance is suppressed from deteriorating due to focusing, and an imaging device having the zoom lens.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 206.00-778.20
  • F value: 5.71-9.18
  • Half angle of view: 6.00-1.59
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 330.11-420.11
  • Back focus: 40.03-96.02

Example 2

  • Focal length: 200.00-998.33
  • F value: 5.71-11.00
  • Half angle of view: 6.17-1.24
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 346.80-456.78
  • Back focus: 43.85-105.49

Example 3

  • Focal length: 206.00-775.95
  • F value: 5.83-8.00
  • Half angle of view: 6.00-1.60
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 330.08-420.12
  • Back focus: 38.46-38.46

More Canon patents are listed here.

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Canon Set To Release Two RF 35mm f/1.2L Lenses?

Nab 2023 Canon Eos R5 Mark Ii Canon Eos R8 CP+ 2024 Mark Ii Canon EOS Rf 24-50mm R6 Mark Ii Rf Mount Eos R6 Mark Ii Rf 300mm Rf 35mm Canon Eos R100 Rf 24mm F/1.8 Rf-s Canon Eos R7 Eos R100 Canon High Resolution Eos R R10 Eos C5 Canon Canon Eos R1 Eos R5c Canon Rf 16mm Rf 35mm F/1.2L EF Lenses Tilt-shift Lenses Rumor

A new Canon rumor surfaced from the interweb of wet photography desires. Two 35mm f/1.2L lenses? Why not! One of them might be a “DS” version, like Canon did with the RF 85mm f/1.2L.

Without further ado, here is the rumor:

  • If the Canon RF 35mm F1.2L USM is released, it will likely become the best-selling L single focus lens. This lens has been rumored and anticipated since the RF mount’s inception five years ago.
  • A sales representative who sells Canon lenses to certain retailers in certain countries mentions the RF35mm F1.2 L USM and says that two models of this lens will be announced by the end of 2023. .
  • There are two models of the RF85mm F1.2L USM. You can get the “DS” version for a few hundred dollars more than the regular model. This function provides the effect of “improving” the blur.
  • Rumors about the release of such a lens have been going on for a long time, but this is the first direct information I’ve heard from someone I work with in the industry.

[via asobinet]

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Firmware Update Released (version 1.8.0)

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Manual

Canon released a firmware update for the venerable Canon EOS-1D X Mark III.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III firmware update 1.8.0 delivers:

  1. Adds the ability to register the focus position in the preset functions of the CR-A100 Camera Remote Application.
    When used with the Robotic Camera System CR-S700R, it helps the user to focus on the intended subject distance when shooting.
  2. Adds the ability to erase voice memos added to images and to add voice memos to protected images.
  3. Adds enhanced security when transferring images via FTPS transfer.
  4. Fixes minor issues.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III firmware 1.8.0 download at Canon Europe.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Firmware Update Released (version 1.2.0)

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review

Canon released a firmware update for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, version 1.2.0.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II firmware update 1.2.0 brings:

  1. Adds support for the RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye lens.
  2. Adds enhanced security when transferring images via FTPS transfer.
  3. Adds support for the Software Development Assistance Kit (EDSDK/CCAPI).
  4. Fixes minor issues.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II firmware version 1.2.0 download at Canon Europe.