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Autofocus is one of the most important aspects of photography today for various photographers. Whether you are into street, wedding, events, wildlife, or food photography, a good autofocus lens will help you get the best, sharp images in less than a few seconds. While Nikon‘s higher-end cameras have the ability to focus in the dark automatically, their lenses still have a long way to go. To achieve the same, it appears Nikon has filed a new patent, which will deal with your woes.
First reported by Y.M.Cinema, the patent is said to help one capture fast-paced subjects by eliminating internal vibrations from the lens’ motors. This means one can focus faster, without interfering with the position sensors that help the autofocus. The patent states that they will add a lens focus position sensor inside the lens barrel, which can cancel the vibration. This is called a “node,” a term in vibration theory, where the spot remains stable even when the elements around it are in motion.
Per the report, Nikon engineers have realised that this “node” occurred around 264 Hz during their simulation tests. So, by placing the focus sensor near the node, the company tests if the autofocus readings will remain stable as the lens moves. This was particularly helpful to hybrid shooters, who may depend on videos for their work.
The patent states this innovation is mechanical, which means Nikon will not add more elements or correct the jitters through software. The design uses the company’s existing voice coil motor, which drives the focus of the lens, but with a new, smarter layout to ease the challenge.
The new and reduced vibration can help street photographers or those into sports pan and take their shots faster without missing out on major moments. It also means wildlife photographers can shoot handheld in situations where they can access their monopods or tripods. Low-light photographers will also stand a chance to get a better, faster lock-in focus. These design changes are aimed at both prime and zoom lenses, and they will certainly have a greater impact on the upcoming Nikkor Z lenses.
Nikon’s mirrorless segment has been growing better, and with the new patent, it seems the company is trying to excel more. With better autofocus and more pristine image quality, the company can get more users to try out its gear. However, it remains to be seen when the patent actually rolls out and how much of a difference it can make in a real-world scenario.
