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New patent shows Canon still working on Quad Pixel Autofocus

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Since the announcement of Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus system, introduced with the Canon EOS 70D, we kind of knew that Quad Pixel Autofocus would be inevitable eventually. Several new patents have been released over the last few years, including this one from 2020 suggesting that it might come with the EOS R1. Now a new patent from Canon about Quad Pixel AF adds more fuel to that EOS R1 fire.

Dual Pixel AF is pretty awesome, as evidenced by the significant lack of auto-backfocus jokes we used to regularly hear about Canon DSLRs. And while it’s not perfect, it seems to be leading the way lately in some respects. But Quad Pixel AF should help to make Canon’s EF more reliable and accurate than it has already become, posing a serious threat to the competition.

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Canon patents a Dual Pixel AF Back-side Illuminated sensor (finally)

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It’s taken a while for Canon to jump on the whole BSI train, although the company appears to have filed a patent in for what appears to be a method of manufacturing a stacked back-side illuminated sensor. And not just any BSI sensor, this one features Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus tech, too.

The patent takes a long-winded way to describe the system, essentially stating that it will both make the sensor easier to manufacture and also offer all of the usual benefits of a BSI sensor – like increased light-gathering abilities for high ISO performance (although the EOS R5 doesn’t suck, even without BSI).

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Canon’s Quad Pixel AF patent – Maybe the sensor for upcoming EOS R1?

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Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus (DPAF) has been one of Canon’s biggest selling points ever since they first introduced the technology in 2013 with the EOS 70D DSLR. The technology has developed ever since, with the EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras having some of the best AF performance available in mirrorless cameras today.

But DPAF isn’t perfect. It’s fantastic if the edge contrast of what you’re focusing on is oriented 90 degrees to how you’re holding the camera, but if you’re holding the camera horizontal and the edge you’re focusing on is also horizontal, it can struggle. This new patent suggests a solution. Quad Pixel Autofocus!

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Contrast detection autofocus doesn’t suck as much as you think and here’s why

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New cameras get a lot of hassle over their autofocus systems. Either it doesn’t have Eye AF, or it isn’t dual pixel or it’s not phase detection. But what do all of these things mean? And I don’t just mean what are the technical differences, but how and why does this matter in the real world? And to whom does it matter?

That’s what this video from Gerald Undone covers, in probably the most unbiased way I’ve ever seen. Autofocus technology is evolving rapidly, and he covers just about all of it. He explains how they work, the pros and cons of each, when the system your camera uses matters and when it probably doesn’t.

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Nikon mirrorless camera may have dual pixel autofocus tech according to new patent

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I have to be honest here, I’m actually starting to get a little excited about the idea of a Nikon mirrorless camera. I know I probably shouldn’t. I know it’ll be lots of hype and when it finally arrives I’ll be disappointed. But, still, the more little bits of information about it come out, the closer I get to certain that I will want one. And this latest development just brings me that bit closer.

NikonEye are reporting on two new patents Nikon have published describing a new autofocus system. It combines dual pixel AF technology similar to Canon, as well as “time of flight” tech similar to new Sony sensors. The new autofocus system appears to be destined for the new mirrorless system.

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Adobe to add 5D Mark IV’s dual pixel RAW functionality to Lightroom and Photoshop

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The dual pixel sensor of the 5D Mark IV has two main functions. One is to improve the accuracy of the autofocus. The other gives you slight focus adjustment capabilities in post – a bit like Lytro. The latter is called dual pixel raw. At the moment (well, for those who already have a 5D Mark IV), the dual pixel raw feature is only available to users of Canon’s own software; Digital Photo Professional.

However, Cnet are reporting that Adobe have confirmed they’re adding the 5D Mark IV’s dual pixel raw technology into Lightroom. Presumably, this also includes Adobe Camera Raw.  Adobe’s spokesman, Roman Skuratovskiy said “We’re working on it”, but did not specify when this update might be available.

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