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TLDR; Phone cameras are not as good as SLRs because of tiny sensor, tiny lens and fixed focal length. How do we improve them then? Well, put as many as 16 diffe

by sytelus 10y ago

TLDR; Phone cameras are not as good as SLRs because of tiny sensor, tiny lens and fixed focal length. How do we improve them then? Well, put as many as 16 different sensor+lens combinations in a small body, capture multiple views simultaneously and then algorithmically combine them to generate picture that looks as good as SLR. I think its cool idea and this is where smartphone industry is heading anyway, iPhone 7 being the first example. The key is algorithms to combine multiple views which can invariably introduce errors and artifacts for the trained eye. In extreme case, the entire back side of phone can be just rectangular matrix of 100s of lenses and sensor capturing the scene simultaneously and generate gigapixel image that can be viewed at variable focal length after the fact. That would be cool!

sohkamyung 10y ago
It sounds like a good idea. But it may not be suitable for all conditions where people use a DSLR. One example I can think of is macrophotography. In this case, the subject is simply too close to the camera to be covered by the numerous lenses of the Light camera. I'm also not sure if the mechanical mirrors can be moved fast enough for high-speed action photography; but it might be. Of course, it is a very specific example. For general usage, the Light may be a compelling replacement for a DSLR.
- 6nf 10y ago
  Yea the closer you get to the object, the worse the picture. But on the upside you start to get pretty good 3d scanning. With multiple views from different angles you'd be able to create detailed 3d scans of small objects. You may want to use this in video chat - each person's face will be rendered in high accuracy in 3D! Unfortunately the screen is on the other side of the cameras...
  - fwn 10y ago
    ..but at that price and with all the optical problems they seem to solve, a flipscreen is probably not that big of a deal to add.
- Tepix 10y ago
  For "normal" macro photographs, smartphone cameras are already doing an OK job. If you put a macro lens in front of your cellphone camera, it can be better. Phone cameras have issues elsewhere: * Low light exposures with low noise * low depth of field * telephotography
  - dharma1 10y ago
    I would add lower dynamic range and noise in general compared to dSLRs, because of small sensor/photosite size
- Obi_Juan_Kenobi 10y ago
  While this approach won't get you good macro performance, with some tweaks the DoF from small sensors could be a real boon. If you could pack a few of these close together, especially in a small package, there's a wonderful opportunity for wide-angle macro photography.
Yetanfou 10y ago
...iPhone 7 being the first example. No, iPhone 7 is certainly not the first example of a multi-camera phone. There have been several multi-sensor phones, this year both Huawei (P9) and LG (G5) were launched with such. In an article on these devices it is noted that 'Apple's iPhone 7 Plus is rumored to be following their lead later this year'. Correct, Apple did follow their lead, especially Huawei's as the P9 does just what is described in the article: it uses multiple sensors to increase image quality. http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/11/11406098/lg-g5-huawei-p9-two-camera-smartphone-trend-app http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/11/11406098/lg-g5-huawei-p9-t... Please don't perpetuate this myth of Apple being first with such and so. As a rule they are not first with anything, instead they see what others are doing and produce their own version of the idea. A refined version often, but that does not make it the first version.
- jahnu 10y ago
  They are often the first to remove things. #courage
- reitoei 10y ago
  There were actually a couple of cameras before the P9 and G5 using dual lenses (and I assume sensors) for doing weird 3D/DOF field stuff: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138719-dual-lens-smartphone-cameras-the-history-running-up-to-iphone-7-plus http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138719-dual-lens-smartphone-... Your (and the most important) point about the iPhone 7 not being the first is bang on.
- glenndebacker 10y ago
  "Please don't perpetuate this myth of Apple being first with such and so. As a rule they are not first with anything, instead they see what others are doing and produce their own version of the idea. A refined version often, but that does not make it the first version." I really don't understand why people are getting so worked up of company X of Y being first or debunking Apple myths.... I personally couldn't care less (and I think most consumers) because I value a good working implementation before the fact that a brand is the first in anything. Why does that matter?
agumonkey 10y ago
I've been told about superresolution before, since, I'm waiting for smartphones to use it for pictures. The megapixel race produced such horrendous sampling and compression artifacts.
Mithaldu 10y ago
It's a technological Beholder, only misses the tentacles. :D

by sytelus 10y ago

sohkamyung 10y ago

It sounds like a good idea. But it may not be suitable for all conditions where people use a DSLR. One example I can think of is macrophotography. In this case, the subject is simply too close to the camera to be covered by the numerous lenses of the Light camera. I'm also not sure if the mechanical mirrors can be moved fast enough for high-speed action photography; but it might be. Of course, it is a very specific example. For general usage, the Light may be a compelling replacement for a DSLR.

6nf 10y ago
Yea the closer you get to the object, the worse the picture. But on the upside you start to get pretty good 3d scanning. With multiple views from different angles you'd be able to create detailed 3d scans of small objects. You may want to use this in video chat - each person's face will be rendered in high accuracy in 3D! Unfortunately the screen is on the other side of the cameras...
- fwn 10y ago
  ..but at that price and with all the optical problems they seem to solve, a flipscreen is probably not that big of a deal to add.
Tepix 10y ago
For "normal" macro photographs, smartphone cameras are already doing an OK job. If you put a macro lens in front of your cellphone camera, it can be better. Phone cameras have issues elsewhere: * Low light exposures with low noise * low depth of field * telephotography
- dharma1 10y ago
  I would add lower dynamic range and noise in general compared to dSLRs, because of small sensor/photosite size
Obi_Juan_Kenobi 10y ago
While this approach won't get you good macro performance, with some tweaks the DoF from small sensors could be a real boon. If you could pack a few of these close together, especially in a small package, there's a wonderful opportunity for wide-angle macro photography.

Yetanfou 10y ago

...iPhone 7 being the first example. No, iPhone 7 is certainly not the first example of a multi-camera phone. There have been several multi-sensor phones, this year both Huawei (P9) and LG (G5) were launched with such. In an article on these devices it is noted that 'Apple's iPhone 7 Plus is rumored to be following their lead later this year'. Correct, Apple did follow their lead, especially Huawei's as the P9 does just what is described in the article: it uses multiple sensors to increase image quality. http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/11/11406098/lg-g5-huawei-p9-two-camera-smartphone-trend-app http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/11/11406098/lg-g5-huawei-p9-t... Please don't perpetuate this myth of Apple being first with such and so. As a rule they are not first with anything, instead they see what others are doing and produce their own version of the idea. A refined version often, but that does not make it the first version.

jahnu 10y ago
They are often the first to remove things. #courage
reitoei 10y ago
There were actually a couple of cameras before the P9 and G5 using dual lenses (and I assume sensors) for doing weird 3D/DOF field stuff: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138719-dual-lens-smartphone-cameras-the-history-running-up-to-iphone-7-plus http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138719-dual-lens-smartphone-... Your (and the most important) point about the iPhone 7 not being the first is bang on.
glenndebacker 10y ago
"Please don't perpetuate this myth of Apple being first with such and so. As a rule they are not first with anything, instead they see what others are doing and produce their own version of the idea. A refined version often, but that does not make it the first version." I really don't understand why people are getting so worked up of company X of Y being first or debunking Apple myths.... I personally couldn't care less (and I think most consumers) because I value a good working implementation before the fact that a brand is the first in anything. Why does that matter?

agumonkey 10y ago

I've been told about superresolution before, since, I'm waiting for smartphones to use it for pictures. The megapixel race produced such horrendous sampling and compression artifacts.

Mithaldu 10y ago

It's a technological Beholder, only misses the tentacles. :D