Man, I just knew ...

[DonSchap]

I knew this would happen. The DSLR cameras have gotten so close in performance to one another, there nothing left to kick around. Where's the mind of Minolta, when you need it? Is photography left to the creative genius of a software giant? The mind of Adobe?

We need some radical thinking to come along and shake things up, a little, otherwise, the next couple of years are going to go the way of the 1990s! Nothing changed ... the photography really hit the skids.

Three-dimensional focusing still looks pretty novel ... yes, an Adobe approach.

Just some unsolicitied opinion ... due to a time-tested observation. :rolleyes:

[kgosden]

Well, I am still waiting for a touch screen with live view on a DSLR. Why? Because I would think it possible to create a variable ISO across the sensor. Then use the touch screen to effectively draw a graduated ISO change line on a non straight line horizon boundary. This would open up the ability to create nearly perfect ND filter effects at the time of exposure.

[DonSchap]

What happens when you happen to butt your nose against the screen, during normal operation?

[cdifoto]

Gee. It's up to you now. What a shame.

[DonSchap]

Don,

With all the incredible brilliance around here ... for the low, low price of ... nada, I think those boners at manufacturing are missing out on the real "collective consciousness."

(Fade into the DCRP Forums)

CDI: Don't try to frighten us with your experimental photographer's ways, Schap.
Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure
up the improved focusing methods, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the
Adobe's hidden lenses ...

. . . . . . . . . .Suddenly CDI chokes and starts to turn blue under Schap's spell.

SCHAP: I find your lack of faith disturbing.

JEFF: Enough of this! Schap, release him!

SCHAP: As you wish.

. . . . . . CDI looks stunned and surprised at the ethereal challenge to his throat

JEFF: This bickering is pointless. DonSchap will provide us with
the location of Adobe's multi-focusing lens by the time camera's
are ready for them. We will then crush the former single lens focus
with one swift stroke.

(Fade to black ...)?

[Nickcanada]

Ummm, looks like Don is a little time on his hands.... ;)

I think the next big leap will be HDR sensors. We can make an HDR image out of a RAW file so why can't our cameras?!? Add in a little in camera tone mapping and bang the next big photographic gimmick. Remember you heard it from me first! ;)

[Paradox]

I've had the variable sensor ISO thought before...I can understand there would be some manufacturing/programming challenges to overcome, but surely a system to automatically adjust ISO in blown out/underexposed areas to get an equal exposure would be possible? Much better than current cameras excuse for dynamic range increase functions anyway.

[Prospero]

I think such a system already exists on some dSLRs. On the D300, for instance, there is active D-lighting which brightens the shadows of the image and darkens the highlights a bit. In essence, this is in-camera tone-mapping.

I think some other brands offer a similar feature, but by different names.

[DonSchap]

I don't know ... the SONY A700's DRO+ adjust in JPG is pretty awesome. Here, take a look at a comparison that was recently done, and you tell me:

DRO example (http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2007/11/01/dro-idc-and-acr/)

another reason to consider (http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2007/11/01/advanced-dro-the-a700s-magic-bullet/)


With this kind of result ... variable ISO looks to be obsolete. It's pretty easy to see what you are missing, if you are not shooting with an α700. It truly is a well-thought out and amazing tool ... behind the glass.

[JTL]

Yep. By this time next year, I expect that in-camera auto or profile-based true HDR and "tone mapping" will be the new hot must have feature...

[Nickcanada]

I don't care what any of you say, it was my idea first!!! :P

[DonSchap]

Nick, use a small-letter "P" for the :p

LOL :D

[Visual Reality]

I think such a system already exists on some dSLRs. On the D300, for instance, there is active D-lighting which brightens the shadows of the image and darkens the highlights a bit. In essence, this is in-camera tone-mapping.

I think some other brands offer a similar feature, but by different names.
This is simply a software solution similar to the Shadow/Highlight tool in Photoshop.

Dynamic ISO would be great...as was said you could do ND effects or have software programmed to drop ISO sharply on areas of the sensor getting flooded, or increase ISO in areas with lost shadow detail. The only problem I see is how to do this cleanly without it looking too fake. Another possibility would be a lens coating that darkens in reaction to overly bright light (think auto-dimming rear view mirrors) to control over-exposure.

The touch screen idea is neat as well...incorporate this with dynamic ISO and draw a line on the horizon when you would like the sky darkened across that portion of the sensor for correct exposure without the need for combining multiple exposures for HDR. Tap on the screen where you would like your focus to be, rather than using a directional pad to select a location in the viewfinder. Press and drag toward or away from your focus point to set desired depth of field visually (think of control points in Capture NX to get an idea).

Multiple sensors are an idea as well. Though not cost-effective, one could imagine having one sensor to each side of the main image sensor, tilted at an angle. Each would receive an identical image projected onto it via mirrors and using a different ISO sensitivity one could theoretically create a one-shot HDR image. This will probably never happen due to cost, power requirements and body design complexity though. It would be more feasable to create a new sensor like explained above.

[Rooz]

I don't know ... the SONY A700's DRO+ adjust in JPG is pretty awesome. Here, take a look at a comparison that was recently done, and you tell me:

DRO example (http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2007/11/01/dro-idc-and-acr/)

another reason to consider (http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2007/11/01/advanced-dro-the-a700s-magic-bullet/)


With this kind of result ... variable ISO looks to be obsolete. It's pretty easy to see what you are missing, if you are not shooting with an α700. It truly is a well-thought out and amazing tool ... behind the glass.

this is just sony's version of active d-lighting. its not anything new OR unique to sony.

[cdifoto]

All they're doing is playing with curves for you.

[kgosden]

Visual Reality hit on the difference. I would want to do this at the hardware level. Current concepts like D-Lighting probably work after the sensor has collected the image data. I believe that my concept likely requires a new chip interface design. It would require the signal amplification to be at the pixel level. I image today's chips pass the sensor data globally to a single 'ISO' processor/amp.

I envisioned this as having a few menu driven rules for min/max ISO range, some level of pixel count for feathering in the effect and an on/off option.

[DonSchap]

It is a time-saver ... so what the heck?

Personally, the A700 is meeting my needs ... and cripes, I have to ask: What more can you ask for? I've had plenty of days when the camera I was using simply could not cut it. Admittedly, my image in Red Rocks could have benefitted from a sensor w/ definable ISO-shift ... had I been able to vary the horizon ... a one-shot wonder.

35684

Although, multiple-image processors could make for some interesting ideas. God knows we have the memory resources, these days. Nice work guys ... a brainstorming session ... with potential.

[Rooz]

not to mention that the technology is there for greater DN, the fuji s5 has it in spades and its not using some tricky curve boost like d-lighting. its a marvelous sensor if thats what you're into.