Canon EOS R1 with Quad Pixel AF and Global Shutter Sensor?

After rumors of the Canon EOS R1 with a “breakthrough” autofocus system and brand new image sensor, Canon designs for a global shutter sensor and quad-pixel AF technology were discovered online.

If those reports actually confirm, the Canon EOS R1 – which is said to have autofocus performance superior to the Dual Pixel AF II systems found on the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 – could have a global 21MP sensor with no rolling shutter and AF that is really otherworldly.

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Why is a global shutter better than a normal one? A conventional shutter records image information line by line from the top of the sensor / image to the bottom. If there is movement, by the time it is recorded by the lower half of the sensor, the data is in a slightly different position than it was when it started – hence the rolling shutter phenomenon, in which the subjects warp seem to be.

In contrast, a global shutter simultaneously records the entire pixel area for the entire sensor, thus eliminating all motion artifacts. The disadvantage, however, is that global roller shutters traditionally have a reduced dynamic range. This is because each pixel needs a dedicated memory cell and therefore each is scaled down to make room for it.

Cameras like the Canon EOS C700 (a $ 25,000 flagship cinema camera) already have the technology, and last year Canon unveiled a new design for a global sensor with dual HDR memory for the first time in a full-frame still camera used. The benefits for professional sports photography (and hybrid videos) are quite large.

Quad Pixel AF isn’t the first time Canon has played with the technology. Last year Canon developed a Quad AF system on a 20.7 megapixel sensor with 83 million focus detection points. What are the advantages over the already creepily accurate Dual Pixel AF II (supplemented by deep learning)? As Canon News explains:

“Right now, Dual Pixel AF (DPAF) sensors allow you to focus reliably while the camera is in the horizontal position and your contrasting edge you are fixing is vertical. When the edge is horizontal (or parallel to the camera orientation). Then it is extremely difficult to lock yourself. This is because all pixels are arranged in one direction for dual pixel AF. Canon needs a quad pixel where the pixel is split not just once but twice, making different phases different arrangements. ”

The addition of either of these technologies would clearly make the Canon EOS R1 – which supposedly already offers 120 fps video, 120 dB dynamic range and “the fastest frame rate for a Canon still camera ever” – a quantum leap over the Canon EOS. 1D X Mark III flagship sports camera will replace it. Roll on, this rumored announcement from 2021 …

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