Canon R1 & R5 II: Internal ND Filters Confirmed?

Are you a photography enthusiast eagerly awaiting the release of Canon’s next-generation mirrorless cameras? Well, you’re in for a treat! Recent rumors and leaks suggest that the highly anticipated Canon R1 and R5 II may come equipped with internal neutral density (ND) filters. This exciting development could be a game-changer for photographers, as it eliminates the need for external filters and streamlines the entire shooting process. In this blog, we will delve into the rumors surrounding the inclusion of internal ND filters in the Canon R1 and R5 II, discussing the potential benefits they bring to photographers and exploring how this feature could enhance their creative capabilities. So, let’s dive in and discover what the future may hold for Canon’s cutting-edge mirrorless cameras!

Canon R1 & R5 II: Internal ND Filters Confirmed?

Introduction

Do you remember the camera Insider story from a couple of days ago that said the Canon EOS R5 Mark II is getting internal ND filters? With recent patent filings, this doesn’t seem so wild. Nor is it so wild that the Canon EOS R1 will also get them. Stick around for all the details after this short break, but first, subscribe to this channel for a chance to win a Canon EOS R5. I’ll be giving one away to one lucky subscriber once this channel reaches 100,000 subscribers. Anyone above the age of 18 with a valid mailing address is eligible. Additional Terms and conditions are linked in the description down below.

The Speculation

Two days ago, the camera Insider said that it is now being said that the Canon EOS R5 Mark II will have a built-in ND filter, which is one of the more requested features that people would like to see in Canon EOS R Bodies. But many of you had your doubts. While others didn’t believe that it would happen for technical reasons like nadum. That’s not going to happen with the RF realm, the flange distance is just too short to put an internal ND system between the sensor and the back of the lens.

Sony’s Example

I get it, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II is going to have a relatively small body, similar to that of the Mark 1, and putting in internal ND filters with Ibis does pose a bit of a challenge. However, Sony has shown that at least with Ibis and internal ND filters, that it’s certainly possible with the Sony Murano released a few days ago for pre-order for twenty-five thousand dollars. In fact, it’s something that Canon’s been working on for some time, and we’ve got proof.

The Patents

These seem to be core patent applications describing the built-in ND filter arrangement. As it goes into most detail with respect to the mechanical operation of the ND filter, the detail describes the ND filter controlled by a motor that allows it to swing out of the way of the sensor assembly and to be stored in the rest position between the mount and the grip area.

Why is it Important?

Some of you might still be thinking, “Well yeah, but why is this so important? This is really the realm of videographers, we photographers don’t need this.” And that’s simply not true. All you have to do is look at the comments from my last story covering this, and you’ll see a lot of photographers saying the same thing.

Because there’s one challenge. And if you want to shoot fast wide open at something like f/1.2, f/1.4, f/2 on a bright sunny day, there’s no way you can do that without any sort of ND filter, variable or otherwise. You have to have it there, or otherwise all you’re going to get is this, a white screen without any detail.

For videographers, this is even more important because you’re far more constrained by your settings. So for example, if you’re shooting 30 frames per second, then your shutter must be 1/60th. So your shutter can’t move, it has to match your frame rate due to the rule of 180. So twice the frame rate is where you set your shutter. And then your ISO is usually left to float because you can’t possibly respond to it as quickly. So what control do you have left then? Well, to control the exposure, you’re basically left with the aperture. And that’s a problem.

So if you want to be able to shoot wide open at f/1.2, your exposure saying, “Not a chance, Simon, in this bright sunny weather. You’re an idiot if you think you can do that. You’re going to have to shoot at f/22.” And if you’ve got it, f/29 or f/32. And we know what starts to happen when you shoot at those smaller apertures. You start to have a loss of detail.

Now for video, it’s not as big of a detail or a big problem. However, as you can see with the falls here, I shot this at f/32 with the shutter set to 1/120th. But when doing talking head shots, when doing it outside, shooting at f/2 or under is something that’s preferred. And the only way to do that is with ND filters and having them inside the camera available and ready to go whenever you need it. You don’t have to worry about forgetting them. And not only that, if you buy a new lens, you don’t have to spend several hundred dollars more on ND filters if you own a bunch of lenses, as many of you do.

The Canon EOS R1

For those of you that felt that internal ND filters are something that should come to the Canon EOS R1, Canon rumors discovered that there’s also a linear motor-driven ND filter for a larger one series camera body. The one series camera body version has an ND filter on a set of rails that move the ND filter in and out of the optical path. Well, that sounds pretty fancy, does it? Sounds pretty awesome. But I know what you’re thinking, doesn’t this pose a risk to reliability? Because with all these armatures, with all these rails, with all these moving parts inside the camera, there’s more single points of failure. And so I am a little bit concerned about that. The last thing I would want to see is any of these parts come loose and scratch up the sensor, because boy, would that be an expensive repair. But I’m sure Canon has thought this out.

Final Thoughts

Whether we see this on the Canon EOS R5 Mark II or the Canon EOS R1, these series of patent filings that Canon rumors have drawn to our attention very carefully, and I highly recommend you read their story because there are about five or six separate patents describing how the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the Canon EOS R1, if they’re not going to be getting variable ND filters internally, at least Canon spent an awful lot of time thinking about how to do it enough to create five or six different patent applications.

So where are we? Just a couple of days ago, the camera Insider posted a story saying that they’ve been told that we can expect to see internal ND filters in the Canon EOS R5 Mark II. But at that point, we hadn’t heard anything else. There was no validation from them from multiple sources or even from Canon rumors. But just two days later, as I suggested, there might be that stories like this quite often shake the rumor mill and things come loose. Peter Peter at Canon rumors came out with a story that I just quoted here in this video, talking about several patent applications, some of them filed just recently, showing that Canon has certainly been working on putting variable ND filters, multiple filters, inside a camera the size of the Canon EOS R5, as well as larger bodies such as the R1 or the R3.

And if it is going to be in smaller bodies, I can bet you anything that the first camera to get it will be a 5 series camera. It’s the only camera that sits below the R3 and the R1. So I highly recommend reading that article from Canon rumors. It provides validation to what the camera Insider said, and it also looks like the camera Insider is starting to become an oracle of things that are supposed to be coming out.

I hope you find useful my article Canon R1 & R5 II: Internal ND Filters Confirmed?, I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog at this link.

If you need help with anything join the community or do not hesitate to contact me.

Best of luck! and follow your passion.

Please consider joining my newsletter or following me on social media if you like my content.

Sirui Sniper AF 23mm F1.2 Review | Autofocusing F1.2 lens for $350 Bucks?

December 10, 2023

Are you tired of missing out on those perfect shots in low light conditions? Are...Read More

Does the PHOTO really matter in photography?

December 10, 2023

Are you someone who believes that the most important aspect of photography is the subject...Read More

I Painted My Filmmaking Gear!

December 10, 2023

Have you ever struggled to find your filmmaking gear in a sea of black equipment?...Read More

Want a Tamron 20-40mm F2.8?

December 10, 2023

Are you in the market for a high-quality zoom lens that won’t break the bank?...Read More

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN for Sony & L-Mount: I Just Fell a Little Bit in Love with Sigma

December 10, 2023

Have you ever experienced the magic of using a high-quality lens like the Sigma 85mm...Read More

How to Search Your Lightroom Catalog by Lens or Camera!

December 10, 2023

Are you struggling to find specific photos in your Lightroom catalog based on the lenses...Read More

iPhone 15 Pro Camera Review – Great Hardware, Improved Processing

December 10, 2023

Are you someone who relies heavily on your smartphone camera for capturing important moments and...Read More

Cheap Stuff Beginner Photographers Need…

December 9, 2023

Are you an aspiring photographer on a tight budget? Are you looking for affordable tools...Read More