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Focus free technology
  • lenuisiblelenuisible
    not new, but maybe available shortly on compact cameras. Let's wait and see the quality that can be achieved, not clear yet :

    http://www.lytro.com/science_inside

    http://www.lytro.com/picture_gallery
  • 6 Replies sorted by
  • Mark_the_HarpMark_the_Harp
    Isn't this basically the same as coded aperture technology? It's the technology used in large flat metal "lenses" that some space telescopes use to create images in the x-ray and other non-visible regions. It's something that looks like a huge 2D barcode. Coded apertures in cameras are a smaller version of these and can sit between a conventional lens and the sensor, and allow you to focus on different regions of the scene. It's pretty magical stuff - way over my head mathematically, but fascinating. Great to see someone trying to develop it into a commercial product, although I can't quite see it's really going to be as popular as they make out. But hey - it takes "fix it in post" to a whole 'nother level!

    Here is a good video explanation of that technology applied to photos (and it has some examples):



    EDIT: Just realised this video is isn't that helpful! The lightfield camera uses a different technique. Anyway, for the mathematically-inclined, a quick google search on Coded Aperture will while away a few hours!
  • lenuisiblelenuisible
    I'm not sure, my optical knowledge is quite limited, and I can't really watch those videos right now (at work ...)

    Another video (from 2006) explains the science behind plenoptic cameras :


  • Mark_the_HarpMark_the_Harp
    Nice video - I love the refocussing through a still of a splash of water. Clever!!

    The Lytro picture gallery is fun (click on bits of the photos to make them change focus, if you haven't already worked that out). The problem is, if those cameras become popular I can see them spawning a whole genre of "throw focus" videos, just like the "still-pictures-that-are-video-with-narrow-depth-of-field-and-cheesy-film-look-plus-aimless-music" genre that we currently "enjoy"!
  • CRFilmsCRFilms
    http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/light-field-camera-captures-unprecedented-images-lets-you-cho/
  • stoneystoney
    Hmmm... Lytro body, Lytro lens, Lytro file format, Lytro online storage. No compatibility whatsoever with any other gadgets and standards. Definitely... not my liking.
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev
    It is always interesting to see how it is happening again and again.
    Some firm needs financing, so they go to some massmedia and with their journalist prepare some shit that tells about "their unique approach"(tm) (in other words - some "resolutionaty" shit).

    After airing or publication bunch of small motherfuckers start spreading the word.
    - You saw this?
    - No.
    - It's fucking resolutionary, how can you miss that?
    - Yeah, I fucked up with this. But i'll fix this and post link to this amazing techique to auto forum that I constantly visit. They certainly must know how bright will be our future.

    At the same time bosses of startup are glad and looking at their future bonuses.
    They also think that it is time to fire few engineers and hire some computer graphic specialists, so they could make them more demo pictures and videos.
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