With their newest Youtube-Upload, German LightField specialist Raytrix demos the LightField features of their R29 camera.
The HD video includes original footage recorded with the high-end camera (resized from 3288 x 2192 = 7.2 megapixels; and 100 % crops), and demonstrates the reconstruction of 3D information – even at a subject-to-lens distance of 400 meters – as well as software refocus and extended depth of field.
Video frame rate for full-resolution imaging is 5 frames per second.
Lenticular prints are commonly used to create an illusion of movement or the impression of spatial depth, by selectively showing different images when seen from different angles. In the case of lenticular print postcards, posters etc., the distance between our eyes is enough to show a slightly different image to each eye, creating an illusion of depth.
Spain’s ANAR Foundation (Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk) operates an anonymous and confidential help line for abused children. With their most recent poster campaign, they solved the problem of potentially abusive parents keeping their children from even looking at the ad that is set to help minors at risk. Continue reading
Today’s LightField technology uses either of two methods to record a LightField: it either reconstructs a single low-resolution LightField image (e.g. using microlens arrays or coded masks), or requires several individual pictures to be taken and combined for a high-resolution LightField (e.g. using camera gantries or coded apertures).
In a recent publication, Kshitij Marwah and colleagues introduced a new LightField camera prototype that combines the advantages of these two methods, to reconstruct higher-resolution LightFields from a single, coded image. To do so, they have co-designed the prototype camera to incorporate both of the main aspects of LightField technology: camera optics and computational processing.
Last week, we presented the tap2focus iPhone App that offers Lytro-like refocus capabilities by way of manually recording several photos and combining them into an interactive picture.
Shortly after (but unrelated), Arqball announced the launch of their newest app FocusTwist which also promises this LightField-like feature.
FocusTwist ($1.99) There are a few differences between the two apps:
Manufacturers are racing towards creating the first light field enabled smartphone, and the first ones are expected to be released early next year.
If you have an iPhone, you don’t have to wait until then to create pictures with interactive refocus: App developer Caal Studio took the same technological short-cut that MEMS technology uses for image refocus, and merges several images focused at different depths to create a Lytro-like effect.
Their new iOS App tap2focus allows you to take multiple pictures at different focal lengths by tapping on the live camera preview, while holding the iPhone or iPod Touch as stationary as possible.
The app then combines these images into an interactive image, which can be viewed and refocused on the device itself and shared to facebook, twitter or via email.
tap2focus ($0.99)