Canon Patent For “Subject Blur Correction” (computational photography)

Cano Patent

Here is anew Canon patent application. Not for an RF mount lens for once but for computational photography.

Canon patent application 2021-96460 (Japan) discusses methods and algorithms to reduce the blur of a photographed subject. The technology automatically detects the subject and corrects blur. From the patent literature (machine translated):

To provide an image blur correction device capable of obtaining an image blur correction effect desired by a user. Since the amount of shake (direction and magnitude of shake) is generally different between “camera shake” and “subject shake”, it is not possible to completely correct both. Therefore, for example, [the patent] discloses a technique for correcting “subject shake” when a subject’s face is detected and correcting “camera shake” when a subject’s face is not detected.

The algorithm can differentiate between a moving subject and a not firmly hold camera, and correct the blur depending by the situation. The amount of correction can be set by the user. More form the Canon patent application:

It is considered that which of “camera shake” and “subject shake” should be corrected depends on the intention of the user (target of interest) in the shooting scene. For example, when the user pays attention to the background, it is desirable that the “camera shake”, which is the shake of the entire screen, is corrected. On the other hand, when the user is paying attention to the main subject, it is desirable that the “subject shake” is corrected. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately control the shake correction target according to the user’s intention that changes with the shooting scene.

Interesting patent application. Expect this technology on your future Canon camera.

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

[via asobinet.com]

Canon EOS M50 Mark II Sample Image Gallery

Canon Eos M50 Mark Ii Review

The Canon EOS M50 Mark II flies a lot under the radar. Mainly because people and reviewer think that there is not much more compared to the Mark I. Still, the EOS M50 Mark II is best selling as did the Mark I, especially in Asia.

There are not much Canon EOS M50 Mark II reviews to talk about. DPReview has a set of sample pictures snapped with the EOS M50 Mark II.

Canon EOS M50 Mark II:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon Vintage Review: Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS

Canon Vintage

Here is another Canon vintage review. This time: the Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS, released in 2001.

While having a 3MP imaging sensor, the PowerShot Prto90 IS was rather feature-packed for its time. At a glance:

  • 2.6-megapixel CCD delivering up to 1,856 x 1,392-pixel resolution images.
  • Electronic viewfinder and 1.8-inch color LCD monitor with swivel design.
  • 10x, 7-70mm lens (equivalent to a 37-370mm lens on a 35mm camera) with Image Stabilizer.
  • 2x to 4x digital telephoto. Auto and Manual focus.
  • Automatic, Program AE, Shutter Speed-Priority, Aperture-Priority, and Manual exposure modes, plus seven special “Scene” shooting modes.
  • Shutter speeds from 1/1,000 to eight seconds.
  • Apertures from f/2.8 to f/8.0. Variable ISO with five settings.
  • Center-Weighted Average or Spot metering, with AE (Auto Exposure) and FE (Flash Exposure) Lock.
  • Adjustable White Balance with seven modes.
  • Built-in, pop-up flash with five operating modes.
  • External flash hot shoe. Movie mode with sound recording.
  • Auto Exposure Bracketing, Self-Timer, and Continuous shooting modes.
  • Infrared remote control included.
  • Images saved in JPEG or RAW file format; movies saved as AVI files.

The Canon vintage review comes from renowned gear reviewer Gordon Laing of CameraLab‘s fame.

For sample images shot with the Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS head over to Gordon’s site. More information about the PowerShot Pro90 IS can be found at the Canon Camera Museum.

Here Is The First Commercial Canon EOS R5 Cooling Mod, Doubles 8K Times

Eos R5 Cooling

It had to come sooner or later, now here it is. The first commercial Canon EOS R5 cooling modification.

Kolari Vision known for filters and camera mods, announced their Canon EOS R5 cooling mod. Kolari claims that their mod doubles 8K video recording times and cuts recovery time by 66% at normal environment temperatures. Sounds impressing. Have a look at the table below. Kolari claims that with an environment temperature of 15°C (59 Fahrenheit) you’ll no longer get a time limit when recording 8K. At 20°C (69 Fahrenheit) you get 44 minutes and 25 minutes after recovery. Not bad, eh? However, as PetaPixel underlines, the mod will likely void your warranty.

Says Kolari Vision:

When the R5 was released, we also learned that it overheats quickly in 8K shooting and in some 4K modes. Initially this was handled through a timer chip in the camera independent of actual temperature.  After public backlash, Canon quickly released a new firmware that patched the timer issue and started actually using the camera temperature data instead, but even with this upgrade the performance boost was minor, for example at 20C instead of overheating after around 19 minutes, the new firmware allowed you to shoot around 25 minutes, and the recovery after overheating.

In several thermal analyses of the camera, the processor on the motherboard seemed to generate most of the heat. In the stock design, Canon places two thermal pads partially over the processor and pumps the heat into a small heatsink. That heatsink however sits under another board and does not vent heat anywhere further.

To remedy this problem, we took an R5 apart and designed a new heatsink to vent the heat from the processor to the camera case where it could dissipate faster. We tested aluminum initially, but eventually settled on a thick copper heatsink to transfer heat more efficiently.

This design draws heat out of the processor and brings it around the motherboard and out to the rear case where it transfers heat through a high efficiency thermal pad. This design is fully internal to the camera and maintains the weather sealing of the camera.

We tested the modified camera at 8K-D IPB 30FPS at 59F (15C) and 69F (20C). At 15C, the R5 never overheated in our hands. At 20C, where the stock camera last around 25 minutes, after our mod the camera lasts 44 minutes, almost two times the initial shooting duration. What’s even more important, is that the camera recovered a lot faster after it did overheat, giving more shooting time after a short recovery. With the stock camera, we could only get about 8 minutes of additional shooting after a 5 minute recovery, where the mod was able to shoot 25 minutes after the same 5 minute recovery, a 3 times faster overheating recovery.

Head over to Kolari Vision for the whole story…

Kolari offers a modification service for your Canon EOS R5 at the price of $400. You can also buy an already modified EOS R5 at $4,440. Instructions for DIY aficionados will follow later this year.

More Canon EOS R5 review stuff is listed here (many reviews), for EOS R6 review stuff see here. The EOS R5 is highly regarded as a stills camera. In particular, the EOS R5 autofocus system seems to be huge leap forwards. The official Canon EOS R5 user guide and manual are available for download: EOS R5, and for the EOS R6 too.

Canon EOS R5:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE