Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Apple and Destroying Photography

Apple on Tuesday was granted a patent for a spherical photosensor and lens array that provides high-resolution capture in an incredibly compact package.  (AppleInsider:  Apple invention uses spherically curved photosensor for smaller, better iPhone camera)



You won't see this in the Adorama pro shop any time soon although they may feature it when there's a professional demand for cameras with eyes with the size and action of insects.

There are five ways to capture images here in the Rockhouse and their capability decreases with the size of the lens with the worst ones being those on the computers.  There is almost never much variability in the depth of focus with computer or cellphone cameras and the article addresses the problem but says they have some computer trickery to correct depth of focus as well.  Sure, that's peachy but there's still no way to change the depth of focus (i.e. limiting the aperture, etc) without yet more tricks.

This looks a whole lot more like weapons research than it does anything related to computers or high-end photography and we're sure spook agencies would love to see how this works for their devious purposes.

There was a time when Apple made computers which changed the world.  Now it makes cameras for Instagram and the Kardashians doing whatever they do.  Super high-tech gear for the most banal of applications.

- still glad I left my iPhone in Greece

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