Cool: Sony Patent Reveals Eye-Controlled Autofocus Viewfinder!

A new Sony patent, published on October 15, 2025, describes a technology that would allow photographers to control autofocus points using their eyes while looking through the viewfinder — a concept reminiscent of Canon’s eye-control AF found in the Canon EOS R3 and Canon EOS R1.

The patent, titled “Viewfinder and Imaging Device,” outlines a system that detects the photographer’s eye movement to select the AF area. It uses a light-emitting unit to project detection light onto the cornea and analyzes the reflected signal to determine gaze direction. However, Sony’s design appears to address a major challenge with such systems — ensuring accuracy without increasing the size of the viewfinder or camera body.

The document explains that previous eye-tracking systems required larger optical paths and could be obstructed by eyelids or corneal variations, leading to unreliable autofocus. Sony’s new approach aims to confine the light emission to a narrow zone around the pupil, maintaining precision while keeping the viewfinder compact.

If this concept reaches production, it could mark Sony’s first implementation of true eye-controlled AF — something that could revolutionize shooting speed and precision for mirrorless cameras like the future Sony a9 IV.

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via Asobinet