One of our readers (Thanks!) sent us a new patent about a Transmissive Display that can shifts from the non-transparent state into the transparent state by voltage application (Click here to see the patent). Is that Display a Hybrid solution like the one see inside the Fuji X100
The interesting part is the camera body showed in the PDF (Click here). It layout looks completely different with current SONY DSLR body. A year ago we found the patent of the SLT cameras with the new camera design. So is Sony once again showing us a design of a future REAL camera? The design is clearly different than the current [shoplink 3857]SLT translucent cameras[/shoplink]! Take a look at the patent and let me know what you believe about the camera design…
44 Responses
LoL Canon 1D-ish design on the top = =
hmm, where is the Mode Dial ?
The mode dial is probably my least frequently used control ever–I’m either on “A” for hobby shooting, or “M” for portraits. I won’t miss the mode dial. However, a dial in that position could be very handy for, say, quicker ISO setting or exposure compensation.
Agree, I don’t use it often too. 🙂
For me Mode dial is much more important than top LCD. I would prefer even two dials as on Minolta 7D.
Maybe there is none, like on the advanced Nikons.
I agree with the 2 mode dials. A very big gamble with the lack of at least 1 mode dial.
I’m not sure with the AF points though… they seem not the type you’d expect on a high(er) end dSLR (unless they’ll improve on them later on). Maybe that’s what the C1/C2/C3 buttons are for.
We’ll see how this will work out in the future.
Compensation button on the left side?
(81b) – The memory switching button is a button to switch recording media (memory card and the like) at a recording destination of the photography image.
(88c) – The image quality adjusting button 88c is a button to selectively set the image quality (standard, fine, RAW, and the like) of a recorded image.
hmm
here is the Mode switch:
(92) – The mode setting button 92 is an operation member to carry out behaviors (switching behaviors) to set various modes of the camera. Every time the mode setting button 92 is pressed down, the settings are sequentially (and cyclically) changed to determine the settings. With such a press down operation of the mode setting button 92, it is possible to select a desired mode among the various photographic modes (specifically, P mode (program mode), A mode (aperture priority mode), S mode (shutter speed priority mode), M mode (manual mode), portrait mode, landscape mode, and full automation mode, and the like).
Power switch looks like a Canon.
Mode Button: Or, they could set it to where a visual dial shows on the display when the Mode button is pressed (or held down), and the front dial can be used to adjust to another shooting mode.
i am missing the video-record button. number?
I really hope the camera won’t have only 9 AF points…
I like the setup, will buy this a77 for sure
Page 4 shows an OVF
It looks like 9xi. I like it.
Big no no no no no. Wrong design. If it’s Canon design, it’s definitely the reason I chose Sony over Canon. Canon’s button placement is not intuitive for me.
Huh? Iso and EV on the left? What? Bleah…. it won’t be any good.
I usually use my left hand to hold the lens, not to click buttons unless they are on the lens. lol
I seriously hope it won’t be a design of any Sony DSLR. So far they’ve done decent work with it (aside from x30 series), so why to break things? o_O
Yes, I like the ISO button on my A700. I can change ISO holding the camera only with the right hand.
I like the power switch here, and maybe the idea for MODE button. The camera has and 3 custom buttons maybe? (C1, C2, C3)
well, yea, true, there are 3 custom buttons, but it’s a waste when first thing you have to do is to move 3 buttons from top left to customs… no point in having them really, duh. Pity. Could be a nice design otherwise.
But it’s good that Sony see the need of adding interface customization.
The ISO button on my D300 is on the left and its never given me a problem — even after moving from Sony’s button on the right stuff. 🙂 Only took a short time to get used to it, and then it was just super intuitive from then on out.
I agree about buttons on the left being wrong but
I guess they could actually swap the top lcd + mode button to left side and put the more often used buttons to right side.
I’m not a fan of top plate lcd’s and prefer buttons on right ala A700
As for the patent:
– Well, a good thing is that it shows a classical DSLR with pentaprism, not an SLT design. So perhaps it’s some high-range DSLR, like for example: a cheap full frame DSLR.
– An odd thing is that the viewfinder is eating the power all the time if I read it well… very minor but still.
– Either way: They patented darkening the screen while DSLR is powered down? o_O Duh… what for? I mean: You see it already due to lack of displays in the viewfinder, these on the bottom edge for example. Not really a useful feature…
Hm, it is potentially enable OVF without flipping the mirror. The mirror become transparent at the time we take the picture. Still don’t understand how they will do PDAF with it that rival dSLT. But amazing if they can make it work.
Sorry, had not reading it carefully. I thought that can change state is translucent mirror. But it is the display instead.
Switch between MODES is easily achievable by hitting button 92 (either HOLD, or press & released) while using the ‘backdial 82’ to scroll (left or right) to switch between MODES. Doesn’t look to big… my bet is on a future replacement for A55.
OK, I’m not a patent expert, and I haven’t read it in detail, but what specifically are they trying to patent here that has to do with the A77? What is the “new technology” they are trying to own the right to? The filing date is February, so is this not a generic camera drawing on the application for the translucent mirror. If it is, I wouldn’t read too much into it as to being the A77.
Looks like there’s an optical pentaprism (YES!) with a transparent LCD overlay on the focusing screen.
Upon closer inspection, the patent does indeed name part 15 (found on “sheet 3 of 7” in the patent, or page 4/14 of the PDF file) as a “pentaprism” optical finder (page 12/14). However, the patent seems only to address the possibility of the overlay that would normally indicate selected AF area to act as a kind of electronic eyepiece shutter, with the purpose of indicating whether the camera is in a “photography prohibitied state” otherwise known as “off.”
DO NOT WANT. The term “photography prohibited state” suggests dystopian nightmares of government bodies remotely blacking out camera viewfinders when photography is deemed inconvenient.
Oh, you slowpoke.
If dystopian government can do things with your camera remotely, they can use mechanical eyepiece shutter, already present on sony cameras with lifeview, for example, or, if you still trying to make a shot while not using viewfinder at all and depending on luck, AF and 10 shots per second, they can remotely prevent shutter release button from operating, if you still trying, they can remotely control writing on memory card, so your shot will not be saved, and finally they can remotely control power circuits in your camera and just shut it off.
There are many ways for dystopian government to prevent you shooting dystopian government members doing nasty dystopian things, not just some elaborate LCD overlay.
And you have GPS in your camera (and hidden dystopian tracking devices), and there are dystopian security cameras everywhere, so you will be arrested by dystopian order enforcement corps long before you could do anything with your camera.
Or you will be just shot by robot snipers on site.
i dont like the design.
i hope all the button will be on the right hand side.
i prefer to use my left hand to hold the lens all the time.
Seems to be about something with a specific function which occurs when, for example, a power-save mode comes into action?
Perhaps it will be designed into several different slr-like models? If so, the diagrams might only represent a generalised camera layout, and not any particular model such as the A77?
certainly
This is very interesting. There are a few items to note:
It is not a Design Patent, so it *may* not be the final design of any upcoming camera. For design patents, expect to see a D prefex to the patent number and expect to see the term “ornamental design” in the patent claim section. For Sony camera, they are usually very short and show a few views of the camera.
Separately, patents don’t have to include all the elements of a complete system, just the relevant ones for the particular aspect of a patent claim. So, Sony may patent just the idea of a transmissive display device as part of the view finder element. Meanwhile, there may more to the intended camera system than is in this particular patent.
For example, another patent might describe how such a transmissive display device would not only prevent transmission of light bouncing from a mirror, but could project an image such as an EVF. *This is speculation.* I haven’t looked for this type of patent. I suppose it would just be a variation of a typical EVF
So, perhaps, this *may* be the first step to a hybrid OVF/EVF device.
Gosh, next thing we’ll know is that Sony patents a movable half-mirror design, that, in combination with this patent plus a bit more, would get us closer to a hybrid DSLR/SLT camera.
…. hmmmm ……
heh, heh … I just realized I’ve probably started a hybrid DSLR/SLT rumor. I could easily imagine how a forum in Taiwan might mention this reference, then someone at dyxum will see the Taiwanese forum and report the rumor, then someone at DPR will see the dyxum rumor … Eventually we’ll have a full blown SR4 merely because of some open speculation.
Top LCD! And isn’t gimpy like the a900! Yay! 😀 That’s a big plus.
this is not sony alpha…this is a cybershot
R2, H12 ???
Hahahaha, I like that claim!
This PowerShot SX130IS, it’s a premium performance with family-friendly value. You should have this excellent camera.
No PASM dial?
lmao. The obvious that everyone missed.
Missed? Why? It was pointed out almost right at the beginning of comments.
I’m blind o.o Guess it got weeded out quick o.o
For me, it is the new big A9X body design.
I like it because it seems very ergonomical
and avantgardiste.