Maybe I can't see the forest for the trees but on a quick look at the script this looks like a L1/Digilux 3 without the mirror flipping problems in live view while retaining an optical VF. No idea what size the sensor would be. I've quoted from the text below, check "Summary of the Invention"
It's fun to speculate, eg .. Anyone who can make sense of this is welcome at my table.
"This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/567,076, filed Dec. 5, 2006, which application is incorporated herein by reference."
"1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to a digital camera. In particular, the present invention relates to a digital camera having a movable mirror, which enables a subject image to be observed through an electronic viewfinder.
2. Description of Related ArtA digital single-lens reflex camera has an electronic viewfinder and an optical viewfinder, so that a subject image formed by an image pickup optical system is switched with a movable mirror, and can be observed through the optical viewfinder. Because of this, displacement does not occur between a subject image in a recording image and a subject image displayed with the optical viewfinder, whereby an image pickup manipulation can be performed satisfactorily.
However, the digital single-lens reflex camera needs to switch the movable mirror in accordance with an operation state. This requires a user's manual manipulation, and a time therefor needs to be kept. Particularly, in a camera with a “live view mode” in which an image generated by an image pickup element is displayed on a display portion in real time, the movable mirror needs to be switched frequently in accordance with an autofocus operation, a diaphragm adjustment operation, and an image pickup operation.
A digital single-lens reflex camera with a live view mode is disclosed by, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2001-272593 A).
However, in the digital single-lens reflex camera disclosed by Patent Document 1, the operability involved in switching of the movable mirror is not improved sufficiently. Therefore, even if the live view mode is set to be executable, it is difficult for a user to use it, and consequently, the user captures an image while observing it with the optical viewfinder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera with operability thereof enhanced, which includes a movable mirror and is capable of displaying a subject image in a live view through an electronic viewfinder."
philippe.amard wrote:
Not sure I understand it either Walter, yet it means that they have been working on a "non-mirrorless" 4/3 camera and could be good news for those with panaleica or oly glass + anyone with lenses that can be fitted by means of an adaptor ... I don't think it is micro 4/3 , but still might ...It might also be the 'acceptable for R users solution' as formerly announced by leica execs???I really don't know more, pure speculation on my part. Best Phx Le 17 déc. 09 à 10:24, Walter Kramer a écrit :Philippe,Thanks for the early warning. I am not sure I fully comprehend the significance of the patent. Is this the ability to display the image in a viewfinder without the mirror interrupting the view, ie, when the mirror has to flip away to expose the sensor and therefore block the finder?Walter philippe.amard wrote:Mark the date http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20090303374.pdf The E4? might follow David. Bien cordialement de Metz Philippe ------ Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: http://www.lrflex.furnfeather.net/ Archives are at: //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/-- Walter Krämer walter.kramer@xxxxxxxxxxxx walter.kramer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bus: 03 9854 2463 Mob: 0414 884 965 ------ Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: http://www.lrflex.furnfeather.net/ Archives are at: //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/------ Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: http://www.lrflex.furnfeather.net/ Archives are at: //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/
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