Smart patent: How to add a foldable grip to compact cameras.
Today I had some time to read the latest Sony patents. I didn’t find anything about the future Sony cameras. But I found a patent that shows a genius way to add a grip to super compact cameras by simply…folding it! You can see more designs here: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7871206.pdf.
So was it worth to spend a Sunday afternoon for that? Nope 
But I always hope to find some cool stuff like I did last year when I found the translucent technology patent.
Chester Lam
3 years ago |If you’ve already posted it (and I missed it), ignore this. But DxOMark has tested the Sony a560. I thought it was kind if interesting, since the sensor performance seems similar to the NEX 5.
http://dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/All-tested-sensors/Sony/Alpha-560
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/Compare-sensors/(appareil1)/686%7C0/(appareil2)/652%7C0/(appareil3)/685%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Sony/(brand2)/Sony/(brand3)/Sony
admin
3 years ago |Thanks Chester! I posted it right now. Bye!
Thomas
3 years ago |This acutally looks really nice. Making the lens-cover function as a grip seems pretty nice to me. I could’ve bought a camera with that patent, if I were going to buy a compact.
Cheng
3 years ago |Probably the next Cybershot T-series.
Jesse Lim
3 years ago |They would probably name it Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TZ Series…
Jesse Lim
3 years ago |Nice concept. But it is a double-edge sword design.
Ergonomically speaking, your fingers are going to get pretty uncomfortable if the design of the folding edge of the grip are too stiff and sharp just to maintain slim and sexy profile for the unfolding cover.
However, if you want to make the grip user friendly and nice to hold to, there’s no deny of increasing curvature by reduce the curve radius thus resulting a more chubby and bulky looks when unfolded.
Anyways, this is just my opinion… =D
Leslie
3 years ago |In the NEX5 way of thinking…probably the next thing they will do is…the removable battery will become the grip.Then they will say:”look how small this camera is!” But then,you have to ad the removable battery,the removable flash,the removable EVF and so on.
Will
3 years ago |Since it is patented, it will never be used. Patents are the kiss of death to actual implementation. Patents are why door-stops aren’t able to be made as low cones — because someone owns the patent, and therefore no one will build it (because no one wants to pay him).
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Michael Young
3 years ago |It all depends on the ergonomics, mechanical strength and durability of the folding mechanism.
That can only be tested in an actual product.