Canon Patent: Electronic Viewfinder With Folded Optics

Folded Optics

Here is a Canon patent application for a new EVF (Electronic ViewFinder) for a mirrorless camera. Folded optics are employed.

Canon patent application 2020-95073A (Japan) discusses a new kind of Electronic Viewfinder featuring folded optics, a technology used for smartphone camera lenses and everywhere you want to have an optical path that’s longer than the size of the system. Prismatic binoculars being a good example.

The EVF in the patent literature uses polarized surfaces to maximize reflection. We think this patent might go into production, sooner or later. The patent application was spotted by Hi Lows Note.

folded optics

More Canon patent applications are listed here. Some particularly interesting patent applications we think might get into production are these:

More About The Upcoming Canon EOS R6 and EOS R5 Announcement

Canon Eos R5 Announcement

Some more details leaked about the upcoming Canon EOS R6 and EOS R5 announcement of July 9, 2020.

According to Nokishita, Canon will release these EOS R5 and EOS R6 kits and accessories:

  • Canon EOS R5 body
  • Canon EOS R5 with RF 24-105mm USM
  • Canon EOS R6 body
  • Canon EOS R6 with RF 24-105mm STM
  • Canon EOS R6 with RF 24-105mm USM
  • Wireless transmitter WFT-R10 (A/B/C/D/E)
  • Canon BG-R10 battery grip
  • Canon LP-E6NH battery

Canon will also announce the following lenses and accessories:

  • Canon RF 100-500mm L
  • Canon RF 800mm f/11
  • Canon RF 600mm f//11
  • Lens Hood ET-101
  • Lens Hood ET-88B
  • Lens Hood ET-77
  • Lens Case LZ1328
  • Lens Case LZ1435
  • RF 1.4x extender
  • RF 2x extender

Finally, Nokishita speculates that Canon might announce even more new gear. Maybe more lenses or some development announcement?

Get ready for the Canon EOS R5 announcement. In the meantime, here are the EOS R5 specifications we know about, and here is a list of all EOS R5 teasers and rumors.

Canon EOS R Firmware Update and Price Drop Coming

Canon Eos R Firmware Update

A new Canon EOS R firmware update might be released soon, according to latest rumors. Nothing exciting, though.

The next Canon EOS R firmware update might be released by July 2020 and will mainly be a bug fix. So, don’t expect new features or else. Also, there seem to be no plans to dismiss the EOS R: it will be part of the Canon EOS R lineup also in 2021.

However, according to the same source, the Canon EOS R price will drop to $1,400 by September 2020. This price has so far only seen at some special promotions.

All Canon rumors are listed here.

Source: Canon Rumors

Canon Develops World’s First 1 Megapixel SPAD Image Sensor

SPAD Image Sensor

Canon’s research labs are developing the world’s first 1 megapixel SPAD image sensor, another highly specialized sensor for scientific applications.

The camera utilizing the sensor described in the press release below were jointly developed with scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. A scientific article was also published: Megapixel time-gated SPAD image sensor for 2D and 3D imaging applications

Canon press release:

TOKYO, June 24, 2020—Canon Inc. announced today that the company has developed the world’s first1 single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) image sensor with signal-amplifying pixels capable of capturing 1-megapixel images. SPAD image sensors are ideal for such applications as 2-dimensional cameras, which capture and develop still image and video in an extremely short span of time. These sensors also hold potential for use in 3-dimensional cameras due to their ability to obtain information about the distance between them and a subject as image data.

A SPAD sensor is a uniquely designed image sensor in which each pixel possesses an electronic element. When a single light particle, called a photon, reaches a pixel it is multiplied—as if creating an “avalanche”—that results in a single large electrical pulse. The ability to generate multiple electrons from a single photon provides such advantages as greater sensitivity during image capture and high precision distance measurement.

The SPAD image sensor developed by Canon overcomes the longstanding difficulties of achieving this effect with high pixel counts. By adopting new circuit technology, Canon’s sensor uses a method known as photon counting to realize a digital image resolution of 1 megapixel. What’s more, the sensor employs a global shutter that allows simultaneous control of exposure for every pixel. Exposure time can be shortened to as little as 3.8 nanoseconds2, making possible clear and distortion-free image capture. In addition, the sensor is capable of up to 24,000 frames per second (FPS) with 1 bit output, thus enabling slow-motion capture of fast movement within an extremely short time frame.

SPAD Image Sensor

Thanks to its ability to capture fine details for the entirety of events and phenomena, this technology holds the potential for use in a wide variety of fields and applications including clear, safe and durable analysis of chemical reactions, natural phenomena including lightning strikes, falling objects, damage upon impact and other events that can’t be observed with precision by the naked eye.

The sensor also features a high time resolution as precise as 100 picoseconds2, enabling it to determine the exact timing at which a photon reaches a pixel with ultra-high accuracy. Leveraging this functionality, the sensor is capable of Time of Flight distance measurement. What’s more, with a high resolution of 1 megapixel and high-speed image capture, it is also able to accurately perform 3D distance measurements in situations where multiple subjects overlap—useful in such scenarios as a vehicle distance measurement for self-driving automobiles and grasping 3D spatial information for xR3 and similar devices.

Canon’s development of a SPAD image sensor enables 3D cameras capable of recognizing depth information to achieve a resolution of 1 megapixel is expected to rapidly expand the use of such cameras as the “eyes” of high-performance robotic devices. Going forward, Canon will strive to anticipate the needs of industry by continuing to advance its innovative image sensor technology, further expand the possibilities of what is visible, spur evolution in science and industry through high-precision detection of information and contribute to the development of fields yet to be discovered.

[more about SPAD sensors after the break]
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Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 Deal – $249(reg. $329, limited time)

Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 Deal

B&H Photo has a very good Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 deal, for limited time only and part of their Mega DealZone. Rokinon lenses are also branded Samyang.

Get the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC lens for Canon EF mount on sale at $249. Compare at $329. Free shipping.

There is more discounted gear and accessories (memory cards, cleaning kit, tripods, etc) on offer in B&H Photo Mega DealZone, definetly worth a look.

Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 deal key features:

  • Ultra Wide-Angle 14mm Lens
  • Compatible w/ Full Frame & APS-C Cameras
  • Hybrid Aspherical Lenses — Sharp Images
  • Multi-Layer Coating to Reduce Flare

More hand-picked deals are listed here.

Nik Collection 3 has just been released and is on sale with a 30% discount.

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon USAmazon DEAmazon UKB&H Photo, eBayAdorama.

Refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store (best deals might be found here)

Save $10 on Luminar 4 and/or Aurora HDR 2019 using our code “WATCH” at checkout.

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