New Canon PowerShot and Rebel cameras to pack DOF control

Canon is rumored to start introducing Lytro-like depth-of-field control features, aka light-field, in its future PowerShot compact and Rebel-series DSLR cameras.

Most of the recent rumors concerning Canon’s future have been referring to EOS 7D replacement as well as the company’s big-megapixel DSLR. In fact, they should consist of upcoming lenses because highly-trusted sources have claimed that 2014 will be Canon’s “year of the lenses”.

As we still have not seen any new Canon lens in 2014, the rumor mill is leaking information about other future plans. According to an inside source, the Japan-based company will be adding Lytro-like light-field capabilities into PowerShot and Rebel cameras.

New Canon PowerShot and Rebel cameras rumored to feature Lytro-like depth-of-field control

This is the new Lytro Illum light-field camera. It will be released this summer for $1,499 if you pre-order it and $1,599 if you buy it after launch. Canon is rumored to add similar light-field features into future PowerShot and Rebel cameras.

Light-field technology has been getting a lot of traction in recent times. Ever since the introduction of the first Lytro camera in 2011, photographer have been dreaming about having light-field capabilities into their “more professional” cameras.

Nokia has added a “Refocus” application into its Windows Phone 8 smartphones, allowing users to capture a shot and set the focus later. Additionally, Google is also providing such feature in the company’s latest version of Android 4.4 Kitkat.

Moreover, Lytro has recently announced Illum, a camera with an unusual design that offers top-notch light-field photography features, although it will be released with a rather high price tag.

In order to make sure that it does not miss this train, Canon is allegedly working on a similar technology. It is called depth-of-field control and is rumored to make its way into future Canon PowerShot and Rebel cameras, although the models have not been specified.

Canon 7D Mark II, 750D, and 150D are all supposed to be released in 2014

By the end of 2014, Canon is rumored to release replacements for several of its DSLR cameras. The 7D Mark II, 750D, and 150D are all rumored to become official this year.

Only the 700D and 100D have also been marketed as Rebel cameras: Rebel T5i and Rebel SL1, respectively. This means that light-field photography features could make their way only into their replacements, while the 7D Mark II will probably skip past such technology.

Canon PowerShot SX60HS and G17 cameras also launching sometime this year

As for the new Canon PowerShot cameras, the Canon PowerShot SX60HS and Canon PowerShot G17 are rumored to become official in the following months. Other models are in the works, too, but we should note that it does not mean that all of them will be getting depth-of-field control.

There must be some sort of “conditions” to make such capability possible in a camera. Furthermore, it is too early to give a verdict when so little information has been provided. Regardless, we will be watching how this story unfolds and will report back when we have more details.