LED lights could be included with the pop-up flash on Canon DSLRs, new patent reveals

An integrated flash can come in handy for photographers, but it’s useless for vloggers and video makers. However, a new Canon patent could resolve this. It shows a set of LED lights integrated with the pop-up flash to provide DLSR video makers with a continuous light source.

The patent discusses how the LED lights can be integrated along with the pop-up flash. Although it sounds like a good idea, the main problem is how to sink the heat away from the LEDs. If it’s not performed efficiently, the lifespan of LED lights gets significantly shorter. The document provides some ideas, but also the challenges they may face:

“When using LED which carries out a continuous light as a light source of a lighting system, the measure against the heat which occurs from LED serves as problem. If the measure against heat is not performed sufficiently, LED deteriorates for a short time and there is a possibility that it may become impossible for light volume to be deteriorated or to switch on the light. If it is a lighting system removable to a camera like a Patent document 2, in order to radiate heat in the heat which occurs from LED, it is possible to provide a radiation substrate with a large area, but in the type which has a pop-up function, it is difficult to provide a radiation substrate with a large area near the LED.”

Since this is just a patent for now, it’s not clear when and if it will be integrated into DSLRs. But if it does, it could be a handy solution for both photographers and video makers.

First off, vloggers could use it so they don’t have to rig an external light source to the camera. Just like the pop-up flash, the integrated LEDs probably can’t reach far, but they could be useful for close-up videos. When it comes to photography, I immediately remembered the AF assist light on my camera.  It isn’t always reliable, so I sometimes have to switch to manual focus. An integrated LED light could help me see better, so I can focus properly. After all, it could help the camera “see” better too, so I can rely on AF again.

All in all, if the good solution is found for cooling down the LEDs, I think this could be a good idea. What about you? Would you like to have LED lights integrated into your DSLR?

[Japan Patent Application 2019-056787 via Canon Rumors]