[Patent] Canon Patent For Improved Phase Detection Auto Focus

Phase Detection AF

Egami (machine translated) found a patent by Canon regarding an improved Phase Detection Auto Focus. Such a “hybrid” autofocusing system has been featured on the Rebel T4i/650D and the recently announced EOS M. The patented technology aims at improving speed and accuracy. Is this the AF system that Canon will implement on its next, more pro-oriented mirrorless camera, expected to be announced later this year?

  • Patent Publication No. 2010-60771
    • 2010.3.18 Release Date
    • 2008.9.3 filing date
  • Existing techniques
    • Patent Publication No. H11-281878
    • Different lengths of baseline using the AF sensor
      • F2.8 sensor: high focusing accuracy
      • Can detect a wide range of defocus amount (the amount of deviation of focus): F5.6 sensor
      • After roughly at F5.6 sensor is focused, making focus F2.8 sensor with high accuracy
    • Drawback
      • Depending on the timing F2.8 sensor is not used, focusing accuracy is not good
  • Canon’s patent
    • Different lengths of baseline using the AF sensor
      • Because of the defocus amount detection range is limited, must search as duplicate detection range
      • By using the F5.6 sensor, within a limit not exceeding the amount of defocus, it is possible to focus lens is driven at high speed
    • If the Live View
      • The image plane using phase difference AF
      • Focus lens is driven at high speed
        • Using the central pixel: When low-intensity
        • Using the neighboring pixels: When high-intensity
Imaging surface phase detection AF
[via Egami]

[Deal] Refurbished EOS 5D Mark II $1759.20 At Canon Store

Refurbished EOS 5D Mark IIs are back in the Canon Direct Store for $1759.20 (click here). Have also a look on what you can do with your 5D Mark II if you apply the Magic Lantern firmware replacement. The full frame 5D mark II is still  a great camera and at this price it is a bargain. The specs (full specs on Amazon):

  • 21.1 Megapixel Full-Frame Sensor
  • 3.0″ High Resolution LCD Display
  • Live View Mode
  • 1080p Movie Mode
  • Dust & Weather-Resistant
  • Self Cleaning Sensor
  • Broad ISO Range (50-25600)
  • 3.9 fps Burst Mode

EOS 5D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[Deal] Rebel T4i/650D And iPad3 32GB For $ 1375.00/Free Shipping

I was somewhat wondering that you couldn’t find such bundles out there. Adorama has a kit bundling the Rebel T4i/650D and a New iPad (3th gen) with 32GB and the Apple Camera Connection Kit  for $1,375.95 (click here), that’s $100 off the price you normally would pay for the two items. The New iPad (3) does amazing well for photographers. Beside the awesome Retina display, there are some very cool apps for photographers out there. My favorite for post processing is Snapseed ($4.99), with RAW support and its powerful yet intuitive to use U-point technology. Since I am using Snapseed I fire up Lightroom 4 much less: most of the needed corrections etc can comfortably be made on the iPad. Files are not crunched, nor are there other limiting factors (well, I wouldn’t use the iPad with file sizes over 20MB). Other great apps are Photogene ($2.99) and Photoforge 2 ($2.99). Together with the new Rebel T4i/650D this kit makes a perfect starter for (new) photographers that want to stay light. It’s perfect for traveling, at least it was for me during the three months I spent in SE-Asia last year. And then I had a first gen iPad. :-)

Rebel T4i/650D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Apple iPad 3 price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Don’t Call It Hack: Magic Lantern 2.3 Released (5D2, 60D, 50D, T1i/500D, T2i/550D, T3i/600D Supported)

Magic Lantern 2.3 has been released. Magic Lantern is a firmware replacement for Canon DSLRs, specifically for the EOS 5D Mark II (get it refurbished at the Canon Store for 1,759.20), EOS 60D, EOS 50D, Rebel T3i/600D, Rebel T2i and Rebel T1i. New and improved features: customizable menus, shortcuts, automatic HDR bracketing, timelapse, advanced fps and ISO control, contrast and adjustment in liveview, image analysis, fast playback.

Magic Lantern v2.3 represents an important milestone – professionals from all around the world are already trusting it for their paid work. We can safely say it’s no longer a hack, but it’s strongly heading towards a solid piece of engineering that you can trust.

Magic Lantern is not a new kid on the block, it has been around for a while and gained maturity with every release. Keep in mind that this firmware replacement adds lots of features that Canon didn’t want you to have on your DSLR, even if your DSLR is perfectly able to manage it. See it as a sort of jailbreak for Canon DSLRs. Magic Lantern will be free for all starting August 13, until then you can get it after a $10 (or more) donation. Click here to go directly to the download page.

[via photographybay]

[Review] Next EOS M Reviews And Hands-On Round-Up

Yeah, Hello New EOS World! Just want to list some of the last resources related to the EOS M (the ILC with the best sensor on the market) I have found on the web. First of all, all the pics you see above and below are by Jet Daisuke, and were shot in Tokyo a few days ago. Let’s start with an in-depth preview of the EOS M made by Camera Labs. From the verdict:

[…] having compatibility (with some limitations) to the entire EF lens catalogue which makes it extremely tempting to existing Canon DSLR owners. Second is having a decent sized APS-C sensor with performance that’s identical to an existing EOS DSLR. Third, for me anyway, is also sharing the movie capabilities of EOS DSLRs including a decent array of frame rates, full manual exposure control, audio level adjustment and the chance to connect an external microphone. Fourth is the standard hotshoe, which can accommodate any of the Canon Speedlites, and fifth is the decent touch-screen interface which includes pinch and swiping gestures. As for the hybrid AF system, this could become a big plus point or a negative depending on its performance in practice.

Next, DPreview has updated its first impressions review “with lots more information, including our own hands-on pictures of the camera and a video illustrating the shutter sound“. Nofilmschool is pasticularly interested to know if moire and aliasing have been improved. The hands-on is done from a film-makers point of view. Thoughts and impressions by Amin Sabet on The Online Photographer. Another hands-om at EOSHD. Finally, I would also like to feature two posts by techradar. First one analyzes the impact Canon’s entry in the mirrorless market may have on the industry, the second one discusses the possible dead of (Canon) DSLRs because of the raising of mirrorless system cameras.

Canon EOS-M preorder links:

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
If you live in Germany: wexcameras.de (click here)

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
EOS M Black at Amazon (click here), Amazon UK (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M White at BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 22mm pancake at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 18-55mm kit lens at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M adapter at Amazon (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M Flash at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).

More pre-order options here.

Uhhh…would like to have all these lenses
Looks cool…
Definitely cool!
Supercool!

 

[Deal] Refurbished EOS 7D For $1,199.95, And Huge 60D And T3i Bundles On Sale

B&H has a stack of refurbished EOS 7D on sale for $1,199.95 (click here). The gear is refurbished by Canon and ships free in the US. Won’t last long and no longer than July 28th, when the offer expires. This is a great deal, since a refurbished 7D costs $1359 in the Canon Store.

And there are two more crazy Canon sales going on, both also expiring July 28th. First one is an EOS 60D bundle that comes with lots of accessories for $1,299 (click here) instead of $1729, that’s $430 off. The  kit includes the following items: EOS 60D DSLR Camera, Canon EF-S 18-135mm Lens, EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens, Pearstone LP-E6 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, Vello BG-C6 Battery Grip, SanDisk 16 GB SDHC Memory Card Extreme Pro Class 10 UHS-I, Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag.

Finally, we have a Rebel T3i bundle with the  EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens, EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens, Pearstone LP-E8 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, SanDisk 16GB SDHC Memory Card Extreme Class 10 UHS-I, Vello BG-C5 Battery Grip, T3i & T2i, Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag, all for $849 (click here) instead of $1,199