You had to know this one was coming, right?  For years now, DSLR manufacturers have been tied to wireless flash communication via  light-based transmission systems, which puts limits on the ability to take your flashes out of the line-of-sight of other flashes.  Of course, there are a plenty of workarounds – and there are third party solutions from the likes of PocketWizards and RadioPoppers.

But there has always been something missing with those other solutions.  Maybe it’s a little clunky to strap on those third-party devices?  Maybe there was some radio interference?  Something, however minor, just doesn’t quite function like the factory specs of the wireless flash system under ideal conditions.

A recently filed patent application with the USPTO reveals that Canon is working on a radio-based solution for its wireless flash system with transmitters built-in camera bodies. [Read more…]