Canon rolls out CF-1 digital retinal camera

Canon's new CF-1 may not be as enthralling as the (hopefully) forthcoming 40D, but we're sure ophthalmologists and optometrists can certainly dig it. The firm's latest mydriatic digital retinal camera provides a 50-degree angle of view, a trio of imaging modes (color, fluorescein angiography, and red-free), and can produce "clear and detailed diagnostic images for immediate review" when attached to an EOS 30D DSLR. Additionally, this unit motorizes the processes of changing filters and adjusting the chin rest, and while we've no idea what this thing will run your eye care company, Canon claims that both the CF-1 and Retinal Imaging Control software are currently available for those in the market.

[Thanks, Nation]

[Dustin @ Aug 17th 2007 11:43AM]

Motorized filter changing and chin rest? Three imaging modes? Who cares -- how many megapixels does it have?!?

[Rainier @ Aug 17th 2007 11:53AM]

Need the chin rest to steady the patient's head, and to make it comfortable for them. C'mon, you should know this - when was the last time you had an eye exam. Oh, and if you were just being sarcastically funny, then, "Ohh...tee hee hee hee" =P

[Dustin @ Aug 17th 2007 11:55AM]

Yeah, think sarcastically funny. I'm a photographer and roll my eyes when people get all worked up in a tizzy over how many megapixels the newest camera has...as if they're even going to print an 8x10, much less a poster.

[Paul @ Aug 17th 2007 1:36PM]

Um, having more megapixels and thereby a larger possible photo means the the picture will look sharper and clearer in smaller sizes too. Duh.

Does buying a machine like this mean my ophthalmologist will have another excuse to overcharge me? It already costs $180 for just an exam and fitting.

[Trent @ Aug 17th 2007 1:45PM]

Retinal photography is pretty much restricted to those who are having serious problems that require monitoring of the stability of the retina.

As an aside it's pretty interesting to have photo's like this taken because they take multiple pictures in rapid succession. Although that might not sound interesting, the bit that is interesting is that the rapid flashes deplete your eyes of the chemical compounds needed to see color. After the flashes you are momentarily (less than a second) blind, with black and white vision coming then color coming back slowly as your body recreates the chemicals used to see color (the first color you see is red so the first thing you see is a red/pink tinted world, it's quite trippy).

Don't try this at home BTW, the flashes used in retinal photography are different than those used in conventional flash photography, enough so that doing the same thing with a conventional flash could possibly damage your retina.

[Bill Brasky @ Aug 17th 2007 12:21PM]

Who needs eye doctors anymore when there's http://www.lasikathome.com/

[Mark Griffith @ Aug 17th 2007 3:23PM]

When I saw the headline on G-mail I thought they had invented a camera you could insert into your eyeball so you could take photos anytime of anything you saw. :)

[michas_pi @ Aug 17th 2007 4:36PM]

Remember that one episode of Will It Blend? where a Sony Handycam was blended?

They should try that again but with this retinal camera.

[Charles Aquino @ Aug 20th 2007 2:21AM]

Why use a camera, when you can use a laser?
http://www.optos.com/us/Products-Services/About-optomap-products/optomap-Retinal-Exam/

Canon has dominated the analog fundus photography market for decades, fundus photography is basically obsolete. They have dominated the analog fundus photography market, when analog's ability was only able to capture 30 degrees of the retina. Now, trying to compete with Optos, Canon has increased their quality w/ higher megapixels and an increase of 20 degrees of the retina- but that is still far behind the 200 degrees of coverage from the Optomap machine.

That 150 degree difference makes one 1/4 second shot on the Optos a 4-shot process on the Canon, having to adjust the patient several times to capture a full 200 degree image. Not only that, it will be the doctor's job to put together all four images, I believe, and diagnose based on that.

Also, Canon does offer three imaging modes. But you will have to take a separate shot in each of the three modes to attain an image that can be separated by a click of a button on the optos review program.

Doing the math 4 images(200 degree image), 3 images (3 imaging modes), 2 eyes = 24 Images on a Canon, which the Optomap can do in two.

I'd say that Canon is trying to cling on to a market that they are no longer on top of. I guess, they offer high resolution and added functionality, which can be beneficial to doctor's who don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to lease an Optomap machine. Any way you look at it, whenever they get a new machine- it's a new charge to you! haha

But in all seriousness, I've been an optometric assistant for 3 years, and I love the Optomap Retinal Scan. It's fast, easy, and painless. I've used the analog fundus camera, and it takes me about 15-20 minutes to fully capture an equivalent 30 second mapping on the Optos. Optomap or Retinal photography is a preventive measure when no symptoms are present, and serves a monitoring purpose when a condition is detected. It does cost extra money, but there have been a several cases each year where we have saved a patient from going blind, and my vision is worth more than that $50, $100, or $1,000,000 charge.