Canon patent for Tilt-Shift lens with image stabilisation

tilt-shift lens

Egami (translated) spotted a patent filed by Canon for a tilt-shift lens with built-in image stabilisation.

  • Patent Publication No. 2015-99216
    • Published 2015.5.28
    • Filing date 2013.11.18
  • Canon patents
    • Anti-vibration possible tilt-shift lens
    • Possible anti-vibration while maintaining the tilt
    • A first vibration proof group corresponding to the tilt, the second of vibration proof group corresponding to the shift
    • Carry out the tilt vibration isolation of a shift anti-vibration, the telephoto side in the wide side

If this patent hits the market, Canon would produce the world’s first image stabilised Tilt-Shift lens.

Ron Howard & Josh Hutcherson Announce Fifteen Consumer Finalists For Canon’s Project Imagination

Canon press release:

Ron Howard & Josh Hutcherson Announce Fifteen Consumer Finalists For Canon’s Project Imagination: The Trailer Contest

One Will Inspire a Short Film Starring Hutcherson

MELVILLE, N.Y., May 27, 2015 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, along with Ron Howard (two-time Academy Award® Winner) and Josh Hutcherson (star of “The Hunger Games” franchise), have announced the names of 15 finalists in the Project Imagination: The Trailer contest. The contest, which drew a flood of submissions, encouraged people of all skill levels to turn their photos and video footage into movie trailers with titles, Hollywood style voice-overs and epic soundtracks.

The public is now able to vote through June 10 on the 15 finalists at imagination.usa.canon.com and then Ron Howard and Josh Hutcherson will select one winning trailer based on its overall impression, inspiration and imagination. The film is set to go into production this summer and will be written and directed by Kat Candler (“Hellion“).

“As a veteran filmmaker, I appreciate the value of edge-of-your seat creativity in filmmaking, and that’s what Project Imagination: The Trailer is all about,” said Howard. “Josh and Kat are the perfect complements to what’s sure to be an exhilarating exploration into the inspirational value of trailers.”

“What’s most exciting about this process is that I don’t know what to expect,” said Hutcherson.

“We were thrilled by the number of truly creative trailers that were submitted,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “And, we know that Ron, Josh and Kat will honor the power of everyday moments to inspire something really fascinating.”

The 15 chosen finalists are:

  • JR Poli of North Lauderdale, Fla., with “Everything is Mean“
  • Anna Fuller of Louisville, Ky., with “A Reader and a Writer“
  • Jan Garcia of Union City, Calif., with “The Life and Times“
  • Ben Alagna of Los Angeles, Calif., with “Siren“
  • Ryan McDowell of Campbell, Calif., with “Borderless“
  • Mina Park of Los Angeles, Calif., with “Calling Card“
  • Rachel Bingham of Sandy, Utah, with “Ninja School“
  • Zack Murray of Odessa, Fla., with “Spin“
  • Jonathan Spencer of Charleston, Mass., with “The 18-Hour Proposal“
  • Matt Sconce of Oakhurst, Calif., with “The Hunt“
  • Ryan Lawson of Chicago, Ill., with “Bubbles“
  • Giordan Moore of Springfield, Mass., with “The Clumsy Shoveler“
  • Marc Geiger of Lancaster, Calif., with “Stuck“
  • Mark Mukherjee of Tampa, Fla., with “Tainted Water“
  • Nic Thorson of Sherman Oaks, Calif., with “Project Six“

For the third iteration of Project Imagination, Francesca Silvestri and Kevin Chinoy of Freestyle Picture Company are once again producing the film, this time with Josh Hutcherson.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon EOS 5D series celebrates 10 year anniversary

View Post

Canon press release:

Canon EOS 5D series celebrates 10 year anniversary

TOKYO, May 28, 2015—Canon Inc. announced today the celebration this year of the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the Company’s EOS 5D series of digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. Launched in September 2005, the EOS 5D enabled advanced-amateur users to take advantage of the impressive high-image-quality performance and photographic expression unique to digital SLR cameras equipped with a 35 mm full-frame sensor, which, at the time, primarily targeted only professional-level users.

At the time of its launch in September 2005, full-frame CMOS sensors were only made available in professional-level models. In addition to being the first advanced-amateur digital SLR camera to incorporate a sensor of this size, the EOS 5D was offered at a competitive price,1 contributing to the popularization of full-frame-sensor cameras.

Furthermore, in November 2008, Canon launched the second-generation model in the series: the EOS 5D Mark II. The camera, which was the first in the EOS series to include a function enabling the capture of Full HD video, facilitated the widespread adoption of digital SLR cameras as a tool for capturing video. The EOS 5D Mark II made big waves in the motion picture and video production industries by delivering the exceptional image quality and impressive subject background blur unique to SLR cameras, while also allowing users to take advantage of Canon’s rich interchangeable EF lens lineup spanning over 64 models,2 enabling a wide spectrum of imaging expression possibilities.

In March 2012, Canon introduced the EOS 5D Mark III, featuring dramatic improvements in still-image and video quality as well as enhanced AF precision and a faster maximum continuous shooting speed. Since its launch, the EOS 5D Mark III has garnered high acclaim in the market and, as the Company’s core advanced-amateur digital SLR camera, has come to serve as a driving force for the EOS series.

Canon, through the in-house production of all key parts for its EOS series digital cameras, has made possible a highly robust lineup, ensuring that each and every model within the series, including EOS 5D-series models, is equipped with the optimal sensor. To support the diverse needs of users, Canon will further strengthen its entire EOS-series interchangeable-lens camera lineup, including the EOS 5D series, which enjoys the widespread support of professional and advanced-amateur users alike, with the aim of contributing to expanding the photographic and video imaging culture.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon USA puts latest 4K Digital Imaging Solutions on display at Cine Gear Expo 2015 in Los Angeles

Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark III
View Post

Canon press release:

Canon U.S.A. Puts Its Latest 4K Digital Imaging Solutions On Display At Cine Gear Expo 2015

Highlights Include New EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera, XC10 4K Camcorder, and DP-V2410 4K Reference Monitor 

MELVILLE, N.Y, MAY 27, 2015 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will showcase its latest 4K digital cinema products for professionals in the motion picture, television production, and video content creation industries in Booth #12 at Cine Gear Expo Los Angeles 2015 from Friday, June 5 through Saturday, June 6.

Located at the Studios at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, CA, visitors to the Canon booth will have an opportunity to receive hands-on experience with the latest cinema equipment offerings including the new EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera, XC10 4K Digital Camcorder, and DP-V2410 4K Reference Display introduced in April. Canon will also have its new CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 ultra-telephoto 4K zoom lens on display, the only lens of its kind in the industry. In addition, the new 50.6 megapixel, high-resolution EOS 5DS and 5DS R Digital SLR cameras will be shown.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Dragonfly Telephoto Array is made of 10 Canon 400mm f/2.8 IS II lenses, and sees the faint structure of the universe

Dragonfly Telephoto Array
View Post

We wrote about this project time ago. Now it evolved and we won’t miss the news.

The Dragonfly Telephoto Array belongs to the University of Toronto’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics. The ten EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II make up for approximately $100,000. The lenses were mounted on ten SBIG STF-8300M CCD cameras, and that makes up for another whooping $20,000. There is also a Paramount ME-II robotic telescope involved, which is yours for just $135,000.

What is the thing good for? Quoting:

Dragonfly is designed to reveal the faint structure [of the universe] by greatly reducing scattered light and internal reflections within its optics. It achieves this using ten, commercially available Canon 400mm lenses with unprecedented nano-fabricated coatings with sub-wavelength structure on optical glasses.

There are some research paper available if you are into this sort of scientific things:

[via DIYP]