With Canon releasing the EOS R1 and soon the EOS R5 Mark II and hopefully some other awesome camera that clearly won’t be an EOS R100 Mark II. There have been a few patent applications that we have talked about over the past 8 or so months here since I started working here on Canon Rumors that I do hope come out.
Since Canon has not released a camera since May 24, 2023, all the patents I’ve talked to you fine people about are certainly on the table as being potentially tabled for an upcoming camera this year.
I usually tell y’all that patent applications are a look into the research. Still, there are costs involved in creating a patent the least trivial being the time it takes to write it all up and go through the entire process in at least 2 countries’ patent offices (namely USA and Japan). The process can take years and a considerable amount of time. And time, as we all know, is money.
Now to add something here even though I think it’s obvious. THis is by no means a list of things that Canon will implement in cameras this year – just neat stuff I want to see, and I think is likely, if Canon has the will to do so.
Right-Angle Tiltable EVF
Is this the year that Canon releases a Camera with a tilting EVF? Canon hasn’t released a camera since these patent applications were published, so it would stand to reason that if Canon was going to release something, now would be a good time to do it. Of course, none of our sources have said that it has a tilting EVF, but Canon does like to surprise us with details.
Check out the Patent Application for tilting TIlting EVF Patent and the second patent application here.
Increased Cooling Capability
Over the past 6 months, Canon has focused a lot of attention on cooling, whether it be better cooling with IBIS-enabled cameras, or even some crazy things like an active cooling grip.
This is a series of patents that we will never know if Canon has enabled outside of maybe a blurb in the press release, except the camera will “just work”.
We all know that the R5 came onto the scene as the first ILC with 8K and suffered overheating issues because of it. I think we can be sure that Canon won’t repeat the same mistake again.
The first two patent applications (here and here) that I think stand a good chance of being quietly implemented are to deal with heat transfer with IBIS-enabled sensors. Because these sensors are “floating” they can’t be directly attached to fixed heat shunts to quickly remove heat from the sensor. So Canon (and others) have to get clever to remove the heat from the sensor as quickly as possible.
Another neat cooling idea was this one which was an accessory grip that provided additional cooling for the camera. I think this would be a swell idea for video shooters since they don’t necessarily care as much about the weight, but would certainly care about the additional cooling. It would be great to see Canon do something like this patent application here. Having an active cooling grip would also allow Canon to push the limits for video even more than they already do, while still having a small camera for stills photography, or when you don’t need the extra cooling. I honestly can’t see a downside to this. The fan would even be far away from microphones etc on either the camera body or mounted on the hotshoe. It would also be easier to isolate the fan noise and any vibration as well from the camera.
Improved Eye Control Focus
Canon has done a lot of research post R3 on improving the eye control focus (that is when you look through the viewfinder and the focus spot automagically moves to where your eye is looking). From improving the sensitivity to streamlining the calibration, Canon has been busy. This would be another area where we probably wouldn’t even know, except it would work better.
So without further ado, here’s a patent application on Improved Eye Control Autofocus and another on Improved Eye Control Calibration. Both of which I would love to see.
Haptic Feedback
This is an esoteric desire but at times in full electronic shutter mode, I find it difficult at times to determine if I shutter pressed, and having the camera beep at me seems counterintuitive to why we wanted silent cameras in the first place. These patent applications are to allow some haptic feedback on button presses so we can operate our cameras in complete silent but be well aware that an action has occurred on the camera (either shutter or a menu/configuration change). This to me seems like a no-brainer, and Canon has researched how to do this with IBIS. YOu can read up on Canon’s ideas on these patent applications here, and this one here.
Internal ND Filter
This has never really been a problem for me because it’s been a very long time since I’ve had F1.2 or F1.4 lenses, and I shoot video maybe of a cat, once a decade. But for videographers, and portrait photographers, having a built in ND filter would be a solid win. So I’m going to put this on my list, just because Craig will probably complain if it’s not on here (yes, he wants it).
You can read up on all the haptic feedback patent applications in this article here.
This year could be a very fun year, and I hope Canon throws us some pleasant surprises with these releases.
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That would make me switch systems.
Your cave misses you. Or is that your mom’s basement? Same, same.
But what do you expect? Iris/face/fingerprint ID? In-grip DNA ID?
Whatever - It must work in an instant!
Because I don't want to miss the bald eagle or the kingfisher passing by because I need 30 sec to insert my password on a touch keypad.
God with you people around we wouldn't even have cameras, I swear.
What is your ideal solution?
How do you keep your iPhone or PowerBook from beeing robbed and reset to factory setting?
I didn't say "bovine scat". I just don't see any solution really working on any other device.
Do you? If yes, as I said: "Anything appreciated!"
Oh, I know one solution:
[sarc mode]
Bolt it to your hand! Not my solution.
[/sarc mode]
Also that Panasonic S9 looks very good, maybe an R9 competitor? That and the 28mm F2.8 and we're good.
Internal ND can also be useful for long exposures ie seascapes. Darker NDs are generally used with 5 stop being the normal one and fun with 10 stops (or more). 3 stop would be a minimum though. I've even used NDs for night very long exposures. this one was a stack of 17 shots of 3-4minutes so about an hour of acquisition time during the Sydney Vivid light festival. The colours are from boats in the harbour that change based on geo points within the harbour.