Patent points to DSLR movies

Entry-level DSLRs could have another selling point soon - digital video capture.

Japanese inventor Hiroshi Terada has filed a patent that circumvents the inherent problems caused by the DSLR's traditional mirror setup, using a semi-transparent mirror that lets through enough light - around 70% - to capture moving images with the shutter 'closed'. The remaining 30% of light would be bounced to the auto-focus sensor, running in a special movie mode slower and smoother than its usual high-speed photography mode.

There's no word on whether any manufacturers have licensed the patent yet nor on the resolutions and frame rates possible with this technology, but it can only be a matter of time before we see the first video DSLR. Expect to see it at the cheaper end of the market, acting as an extra incentive for buyers to upgrade to DSLR without losing a feature familiar from compact cameras.

For more information, Photography Bay has helpfully dissected Terada's patent