Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Nikon Patents Digital Back for 35mm Film Cameras

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Nikon has filed a patent that makes way for a digital back to convert 35mm film SLRs into the full-fledged DSLRs. The rear door that covers the film holder would be removed and replaced with a digital back equipped with an image sensor.

An excerpt from the patent:

The camera back exchange type camera which images the object image acquired by the photographing optical system by the side of a camera body, and obtains electronic image data is known by replacing with the rear lid with which the camera body was equipped, and equipping a camera body with the camera back having an image sensor.

In the camera back of the description to this Patent document 1, when the moving mechanism to which the position of an image sensor is moved, and the position detection sensor which detects the position of an image sensor are provided and a moving mechanism moves an image sensor based on the output of a position detection sensor, The image sensor to the photographing optical system by the side of a camera body is positioned.

Are you ready to convert your Nikon F6 yet? [Read more…]

 

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L IS Lens Patent

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Canon-24-70mm

A recent patent publication shows Canon has been looking into adding image stabilization to a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.  Given the recent announcement of the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens (which still isn’t available), however, this doesn’t bode well for an IS version anytime soon.

Of course, there’s a Tamron lens that fills this void though…

[via Photo Rumors]

Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Lens Patent

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Canon 70-300mm Lens

Canon applied for a patent application on a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens in March 2011.  Presumably, this is an update to the consumer grade line of 75-300mm non-IS lenses.  There’s no mention of image stabilization in the patent; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it couldn’t be an IS lens.

These are the current consumer zoom models in this range:

The other line of thought is that a new 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens with image stabilization could replace the existing mid-grade lens as a cheaper/lower model. [Read more…]

In-Camera Warnings and Suggestions: What Do Users Want?

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Nikon DSLR Patent

Many recent camera models feature “tips” or “suggestions” on shooting modes and camera operation.  Nikon filed a patent application in June 2011 that shows off more of these kind of helpful hints.

I don’t know that these new warnings and suggestions indicated in the patent offer much more than what we already see in the latest entry-level DSLRs.  However, it got me to thinking about what would be good ideas to implement in these tips or guide modes. [Read more…]

Canon In-Camera HDR Maps Single Exposure to Individual Pixels

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Talk about changing the way HDR is done . . . .

A recently published Canon patent application (see USPTO Appl. No. 12/630,594) reveals a method for altering exposure values at the pixel level, which would allow Canon to produce a camera that captures a much wider dynamic range with a single image.

The lengthy patent application spells out a process whereby the camera captures a preliminary image with normal exposure values and then evaluates the exposure level across the entire image.  After creating an exposure map of the scene, the camera alters the exposure amount at the pixel level for the primary HDR image capture. [Read more…]

Canon DSLR Dual Image Viewfinder

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Canon DSLR Dual Viewfinder

A pair of recently published Canon patents reveal a new viewfinder system for Canon DSLRs that will allow photographers to “chimp” their shots without ever taking their eye off the viewfinder.  The patent applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) under application numbers 12/495,813 and 12/495,814 were each filed on July 1, 2009 and published by the USPTO on January 7, 2010.

The essence of the technology claimed under the patents is an advanced viewfinder system that uses a small backlit LCD or OLED inside of the finder to project previously captured images onto a mirror in the pentaprism, which in turn, is reflected toward the eye of the photographer.  As a result, the photographer sees two images in the viewfinder – the live optical image and the previously-captured image from the LCD.

The purpose of this invention, as stated in the patent, is to help the photographer be more efficient by keeping his or her eye in the viewfinder and not having to pull away from the action in order to check exposure, white balance, focus and so on. [Read more…]

Canon Fuel Cell DSLR Update

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As you may recall, Photography Bay previously reported on Canon’s efforts to patent a method for using fuel cells to power your DSLR. A newly published patent application (US 2008/0180565) sheds a little more light on things to come with fuel cell powered DSLRs.

Canon continues to push its fuel cell development by devising a method for powering not only the internal DSLR body electronics, but also external components such as lenses and hotshoe flashes.

The present invention relates to an electronic equipment system having fuel cells, and more particularly, to a camera system in which fuel cells are provided to a camera body and a connection device connected to the camera body. [0001]

Say Goodbye to AA Batteries

Essentially, Canon wants its fuel cell to power everything you attach to your camera. That’s right. No more AA batteries to stuff into your camera bag.

. . . dual battery control of detecting a remaining amount of the battery in each of the devices and determining the state of each of the batteries to control electric power supply, which makes the battery control complicated. [0010]

The patent is a little long winded (as patents can be); however, the gist of it is to have a single power source (i.e., the fuel cell) and that source powers everything (e.g., hotshoe flash).

. . . an electronic equipment system in which fuel cells are provided to an electronic equipment body [ed., a DLSR body] and a connection device [ed., a hotshoe flash] connected to the electronic equipment body, and in which detection of a battery remaining amount and control of electric power supply can be performed under unified management [ed., one fuel cell], thereby enabling simplification of the electronic equipment system and improvement of power generation efficiency thereof. [0011]

The blissful absence of partially charged batteries and wonder whether the four batteries you stuffed in the side pocket last week were good or bad. No more battery chargers plugged into your kitchen outlets. Basically, the best invention since sliced bread . . . ok, maybe not, but it is interesting nonetheless.

What’s It All Mean?

MTI Micro Fuel Cell Battery Pack for Canon DSLRFirst of all, Canon’s always going to push digital imaging innovation to the next level. Clearly, the competition is too stiff to try to lay low now. Canon stays at the top of the patent filings charts due to this drive.

With this changing tech comes the new gear. In this case, fuel-cell DSLRs means a lot of new gear – maybe even a new system. At the very least, it calls for the purchase of new speedlights with your camera body. I suppose, however, that Canon could allow backwards compatibility of battery-powered electronic flashes with this fuel cell power source.

Finally, it should lessen our carbon footprint as photographers in the digital age. Many of us are starting to think real hard about environmental issues in this changing world climate and economy. How many fewer AA batteries would our landfills see if the every digital camera user suddenly switched to fuel cells? It’s a start.

If you want to read the whole patent, feel free to look it up on the USPTO website (patent application # US 2008/0180565) or follow this direct link.