If you’ve ever picked up a camera, you’ve probably dealt with focus hunting—the constant back and forth of the lens trying to find the right focus. Canon’s new focus detection system aims to put an end to this annoying issue, something that would make millions of photographers, especially me, jump for joy.
Canon’s newly designed focus technology, described in patent 2024-073200, aims to solve focus hunting. The patent outlines a system that performs focus detection through a phase difference detection method and controls the lens drive based on the focus detection results. Essentially, the system sets a drivable range for the focus lens and adjusts the focus based on detection results within this range.
The technology continuously determines the search and defocus direction using data from the current and previous frames. This helps the system establish the correct focus drive amount and search direction, ultimately zeroing in on the right plane of focus. While patents are often shrouded in technical jargon, the core idea is that Canon’s new system meticulously determines the search direction and autofocus direction, ensuring accurate focus more effectively.
A diagram from the patent illustrates how the system enables the camera to better identify the range within which the plane of focus lies, thereby solving the focus hunting issue. This method could potentially revolutionize how photographers work, saving time and ensuring sharper images.
Of course, there’s no guarantee this technology will be integrated into a final product. Canon is known for securing numerous patents—nearly 3,000 in 2023 alone—many of which never materialize into commercial products. However, if this focus detection system does make it to market, it will be a game-changer.
While we can’t say for certain if or when this new technology will be available to the public, its potential to eliminate focus hunting is undeniably exciting. Hats off to Canon if they manage to pull this off.
