Camera manufacturer Canon has just received a patent that would allow its cameras to use the in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS) to calculate or approximate the effect an anti-aliasing filter has on a shot. This is sensor-shift multi-shot but in reverse, as put forth by PetaPixel. Here are more details about the patent.
Canon patented anti-aliasing filter simulator
Canon has put forth a patent that would allow it to use the sensor to shift when capturing an image that would help it replicate the effects that a shot would have with an anti-aliasing filter. The only catch here is, there’s no anti-aliasing filter used.
According to the excerpt, the technology uses the movements of a sensor stabilization system. This would help overcome the problems related to sampling and spatial aliasing and also capture images much like how a shot using an anti-alias filter would produce. This is much similar to what Pentax has been using for a decade now. Pentax has been using the technology in its cameras for more than a decade now and the latest offering is the K-3 Mark III.
To simplify it, the technology is called an AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator. This creates the effect of using an optical AA filter obviously without using the hardware. Here, the sensor executes fine movements or vibrations during an exposure that helps minimize moire and false color which are two of the shortcomings.
The K-3 as an example from Pentax has three settings to go with. The first is “Type 1” which helps attain an optimum balance between the image resolution and moire while the “Type 2“ helps strike a chord prioritizing moire compensation. Finally, the third setting called “OFF” prioritizes image resolution as it turns off the use of an AA filter simulator.
The feature has some limitations such as it would require a shutter speed of higher than 1/1000 seconds and if it is lower, the effects are evident as it would take brightly lit conditions to make the technology work.
Both Pentax and Canon have the technology of creating an anti-aliasing filter simulator that allows photographers to turn on or off the anti-aliasing feature based on their preferences. It remains to be seen as to what additional Canon’s latest patent has in store compared to the patent filed by Pentax years ago.
