Now I’m prepared to be shot down in flames for this one, since I am not really a tech-head as such. Whilst I do have some understanding of the way things work, I do not profess to be a genius when it comes to things like this. Yesterday though, I did get to thinking about the Canon autofocus system and how Canon might implement full auto focus to the video side of things, complete with full AI Servo continuous focus, just like when you’re a shooting stills.
What got me thinking was seeing a diagram of a new 3D camera that shoots 2 images through one lens by way of a prism that splits the light as it comes into the the camera, sending an image to two seperate sensors. If they can do this for a 3D camera, I was wondering why it wouldn’t be possible to do this with a stills camera.
A poorly drawn image of my dream future Autofocus system.
If we were to split the light coming into the lens, and send one image to the autofocus system and the viewfinder and the other image straight to the sensor, then surely by way of some interesting shift and alignment systems, full auto focus could be achieved whilst shooting video, using LiveView, also allowing you to view the scene through the viewfinder whilst shooting video if you so desired.
Now I wholeheartedly look forward to any discussion on this subject, even if it consists of a “You are an idiot sir! Have you no idea about the ever-so-complex inner workings of a Canon DSLR?”. I’m just thinking out loud here. . .
Fire away! 
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What is Christian’s email address? How do I get a copy of the video taken of my nephew Ryan from Telluride, Colorado when he was para gliding at Point Cartwright?
Hey Tom,
The video of the paragliders will be up on the site sometime this week. Watch this space!
Christian
I think the loss of light might be the reason why this system is not in use already. In its press release done for the HFR Comfort 3D, Sony does not communicate about the loss of light induced by the split mirror system (see here: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200910/09-117E/index.html). But as far as I know, if you split in two parts the light flow from the main lens, the amount of light falling on the sensor will be divided at least by two…
Would you still have interest in this system if all your f/2.8 lenses became f/4 ones?
I am having trouble sending comments on vimeo, therefore I am telling you here: I love your Custom picture styles, the Point Cartwright video is soooo sweet ! Would it be possible to upload one of your pf2 files somewhere? Am I asking too much?
How about focusing through the eye piece? With a recent Canon patent.
http://www.photographybay.com/2010/01/25/canon-dslr-dual-image-viewfinder/
Pretty wild not sure if it is practical.