Canon Patent Application: High Precision AF for Tilt / Shift Lenses

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In this Canon Patent Application (2023-153460) Canon discusses both the need and the method of changing focusing during shift or tilt operations.

As with the other patent applications in this series, I should first mention that the tilting and shifting discussed seem to be internal and done by moving optical elements. That question has been asked or commented on a few times – so it's not your traditional tilt-shift lens.

This patent discusses changing the AF point via the touch panel that will change focus along the focal plane, even if it's tilted which can be really handy.

We have talked about a few of these tilt-shift patent applications and they are relatively spaced out and discuss various methods of control of the same style of mechanical lens.

With so many various patents – this reminds me of the leadup with the patent applications that we got with Canon's IBIS. The applications were all coming out before it was announced, we knew they were really looking at dotting every i and crossing every t and this is starting to look a bit familiar. It doesn't mean it's around the corner, but at this time I'd be a little surprised if we didn't get something. I know Craig would be quite upset if it didn't materialize- he's counting the days until he can get his hands on a TS-R AF.

But as always the proviso – these are just patent applications, they aren't patents yet, and they may never be. And they certainly don't guarantee we'll see these in a product in the future, but it's a glimpse into what Canon has been researching.

Source: Japan Patent Office 2023-153460 Via: Asobinet

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22 comments

  3. I know Craig would be quite upset if it didn't materialize- he's counting the days until he can get his hands on a TS-R AF.
    You can probably include Keith (Northlight Images) in that group too :-)
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  4. Back in the day, I'm talking 1st gen AF file cameras...the dawn of the EOS system.
    The EOS 650 had a feature where you could focus one one item (using the single point AF system..those where the days), then focus on a 2nd item in the view finder and then the camera would work out what aperture you needed to get both in focus. Something along these lines combined to the motorised tilt and shift would be an amazing tool to leverage the Scheimpflug principle in an easy workflow.
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  5. Back in the day, I'm talking 1st gen AF file cameras...the dawn of the EOS system.
    The EOS 650 had a feature where you could focus one one item (using the single point AF system..those where the days), then focus on a 2nd item in the view finder and then the camera would work out what aperture you needed to get both in focus. Something along these lines combined to the motorised tilt and shift would be an amazing tool to leverage the Scheimpflug principle in an easy workflow.
    That is an interesting historical perspective. Thank you for sharing.
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  8. Interesting, I had no idea that had existed. I never really ever used a DOF Preview button either.
    My first DSLR was a Rebel T1i/500D that I bought in 2009, and it had A-DEP:
    Screenshot 2023-10-18 at 9.47.09 AM.png

    I rarely used the DoF preview button, but I have my R3 EVF set DoF + Exposure simulation and I really like the I can see the DoF as I change the aperture.
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  9. Back in the day, I'm talking 1st gen AF file cameras...the dawn of the EOS system.
    The EOS 650 had a feature where you could focus one one item (using the single point AF system..those where the days), then focus on a 2nd item in the view finder and then the camera would work out what aperture you needed to get both in focus. Something along these lines combined to the motorised tilt and shift would be an amazing tool to leverage the Scheimpflug principle in an easy workflow.
    Guess you mean the "deapth" setting. I wonder why it's no longer offered. And you're right, the "Tilt" feature could certainly benefit from a similar system, especially when motorized.
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  10. Guess you mean the "deapth" setting. I wonder why it's no longer offered. And you're right, the "Tilt" feature could certainly benefit from a similar system, especially when motorized.
    A feature like A-DEP would also be useful for focus stacking, mark the starting point, mark the endpoint, and let the camera determine the number of exposures, based on the stepsize and/or aperture. The Helicon focus app works this way (but is very slow).
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  11. A feature like A-DEP would also be useful for focus stacking, mark the starting point, mark the endpoint, and let the camera determine the number of exposures, based on the stepsize and/or aperture. The Helicon focus app works this way (but is very slow).
    Magic lantern has that as a module, I used it a lot on my original EOS M.

    But a face-detect version of A-DEP would be even better: have the camera pick the aperture where every face is in acceptable focus.
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  12. I think I will be really interested in a 14mm RF TS-E. Autofocus never really bothered me with tilt shift . It made me a better photographer. Each image is deliberate and precise and carefully thought out. It’s always on a tripod with a countdown timer. Autofocus is great but can make a photographer lazy.
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  13. Autofocus is great but can make a photographer lazy.
    Autofocus made some photographers so lazy, they can't find the motivation to use an EF to RF adapter!
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  14. I think I will be really interested in a 14mm RF TS-E. Autofocus never really bothered me with tilt shift . It made me a better photographer. Each image is deliberate and precise and carefully thought out. It’s always on a tripod with a countdown timer. Autofocus is great but can make a photographer lazy.
    yes, just like digital photography makes you take photos more opportunistic as opposed to deliberate film photography ;)

    but jokes aside - i think Canon is looking for things that your smartphone can never do at this point.
    hence theyre trying to make exotic lenses accessible through simple features to a wider audience.

    RF10-20 is an exotic lens, but now light - likely VERY fun and with IS.

    RF15-30 / RF-S 10-18 (i guess) and RF 100-400, RF600 F11 for a very entry level price... all with great IS

    I think they're not banking on quality bokeh and thin DoF to help them sell vs. smartphones - esp. since many prosumers typically are afraid of prime lenses - and every channel always speaks about holy trinty anyway. hence they're neglecting them.

    I see the TS R AF lens in the same vane as the RF10-20... appeal to a larger audience:
    1. they want to break out of indoor/outdoor architecture - which i guess @Hector falls into
    2. maybe even make it a unique travel lens for city and dramatic landscape
    3. get it in the hands of some wedding photographers who always buy something if it gives them an edge (some of tried and failed with the minature effect)
    4. video!!! photography doesnt pay... so professionals are often primarily video shooters and for that AF is insanely helpful
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  15. yes, just like digital photography makes you take photos more opportunistic as opposed to deliberate film photography ;)

    but jokes aside - i think Canon is looking for things that your smartphone can never do at this point.
    hence theyre trying to make exotic lenses accessible through simple features to a wider audience.

    RF10-20 is an exotic lens, but now light - likely VERY fun and with IS.

    RF15-30 / RF-S 10-18 (i guess) and RF 100-400, RF600 F11 for a very entry level price... all with great IS

    I think they're not banking on quality bokeh and thin DoF to help them sell vs. smartphones - esp. since many prosumers typically are afraid of prime lenses - and every channel always speaks about holy trinty anyway. hence they're neglecting them.

    I see the TS R AF lens in the same vane as the RF10-20... appeal to a larger audience:
    1. they want to break out of indoor/outdoor architecture - which i guess @Hector falls into
    2. maybe even make it a unique travel lens for city and dramatic landscape
    3. get it in the hands of some wedding photographers who always buy something if it gives them an edge (some of tried and failed with the minature effect)
    4. video!!! photography doesnt pay... so professionals are often primarily video shooters and for that AF is insanely helpful
    That's also how I perceive the future 14 TS lens: as a universal WA lens, not only for architecture. There are even in landscape photography many situations which could benefit from shifting or tilting. Raising a camera to take a picture of a steep mountain distorts it (not the camera, of course :rolleyes:), therefore, I often use the TSE 24 for such pictures. Or trees in a forest, converging lines are not always nice to look at. Tripod use? I never use one. And that's where I see a huge advantage in those Canon patents, especially when tilting... Of course, a professional use is a different case, tripods are basic equipment there.
    And they still say Canon are not innovating...
    Yes, I know, it's presently only a patent, but I'm confident!
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  17. That's also how I perceive the future 14 TS lens: as a universal WA lens, not only for architecture. There are even in landscape photography many situations which could benefit from shifting or tilting. Raising a camera to take a picture of a steep mountain distorts it (not the camera, of course :rolleyes:), therefore, I often use the TSE 24 for such pictures. Or trees in a forest, converging lines are not always nice to look at. Tripod use? I never use one. And that's where I see a huge advantage in those Canon patents, especially when tilting... Of course, a professional use is a different case, tripods are basic equipment there.
    And they still say Canon are not innovating...
    Yes, I know, it's presently only a patent, but I'm confident!
    Changing the focus plane can be great with landscapes.
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  18. Keith did not seem very enthusiastic about AF.
    Logical!
    As a professional, he certainly takes his time to get the perfect picture of a building, to keep demanding customers satisfied.
    And precise focusing, of course, matters. So, I guess he pays extreme attention to get the right focus, and saving time thru AF becomes secundary. Anyway, if you're working on a tripod, you are usually not in a hurry.
    Keith, am I right? :unsure:
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  19. Logical!
    As a professional, he certainly takes his time to get the perfect picture of a building, to keep demanding customers satisfied.
    And precise focusing, of course, matters. So, I guess he pays extreme attention to get the right focus, and saving time thru AF becomes secundary. Anyway, if you're working on a tripod, you are usually not in a hurry.
    Keith, am I right? :unsure:
    There's something enjoyable for me about using manual focus and setting the camera's setting manually too. It doesn't always result in good photos, but I enjoy it more :p
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