PRNewswire reports that Panasonic invested in Pelican Imaging:
“Pelican’s array camera technology is extremely innovative; they’re pioneering the next generation of video and image capture,” said Patrick Suel, Venture Partner at Panasonic. “We think there are broad applications for depth-enabled imaging in many industries.”
Pelican Imaging CEO and President Chris Pickett noted, “We’re extremely pleased to add Panasonic to our investor group, which includes other industry leaders like Qualcomm and Nokia. Our relationship with Panasonic will provide further market leverage to bring Pelican’s solutions to multiple market segments.”
Image Sensor World reports that “Pelican array camera provides depth information of the captured scene, allowing users to refocus after the fact, create 3D models, and perform an unprecedented range of edits. At under 3mm thickness, Pelican’s array camera is said to be about 50% of the thickness of the best-in-class camera modules shipping in mobile phones today (not clear what resolution is compared).“
30 Responses
M43 in say 7 or 8 years from now?
The cameras we have now will seem like antiques, albeit ones that still take nice images.
Sooner in compact camera, or their domestic market cellphones
One interesting point is if new technologies are not more easier implemented on smaller sensor.
Fact is that we have 5-axis IBIS only on a small sensor to this day.
Once you have satisfactory sensitivity and DR on a small sensor, all the other technologies turn up in a competitive advantage.
Small size is also an advantage in lenses, for AF speed with linear motors. One must imagine that both work by magnetic levitation.
The future advantages of a small sensor therefore might have been a consideration in keeping to a smaller format.
await for 5-axis IBIS in future FF Sony cameras
I’ll tell you a secret: with proper light and proper technique, IBIS is not so important.
Let me tell you one: “with proper light” & “with proper technique”
You just shat on your own thought…
I bought a share in Pelican and ended up with a huge bill…
Haha nice one!
🙂
🙂
I don’t know Sally that sounds fishy
oops that should be Salty which goes better with fish
Oh Cod. Is that another fish joke?
Sorry , couldn’t help myself ;-), I have obviously made a trout of myself but honestly there is no point carping on a about it 😉
Nice to see Panny and other companies realizing and investing in new fangled Sensors
The ones they make now seem to have hit the wall in significant advancement.
Can’t wait until the new new new technology gets in my hand held size FF removable lens $100 camera 🙂
The most useful application of Pelican’s technology for 2D photography seems to be artificial emulation of DOF effects in small sensor devices. There are plenty of other applications in industrial and scientific photography.
I think that Panasonic is looking at this more as product/market expansion, rather then for use in consumer cameras as such. As mentioned, industrial, scientific imaging, and it is also being looked at for more sophisticated surveillance uses such as in banks, stores, warehouses, etc. But as history shows us, development in one area may often lead to breakthroughs in others.
All Panasonic have to do now is make real sized sensors, instead of micro-sensors.
“All Panasonic have to do now is make real sized sensors, instead of micro-sensors.”
… and real size lenses to go along with it … lenses the size of titanic, the kind where you need a fork lift in tow to bring along.
They should do it like Sony did: A microscopic camera that only connects to a lens the size of mountains. I suppose you keep the camera in your pocket and give the lens to your wife to carry, or you load it on the truck with a crane … or you get pancake lenses that are so slow that defeat almost all of you High ISO advantage.
I tried giving the lenses for my wife to carry, but she’d always turn on the vibration control and put it up her dress. Still can’t get rid of the fishy smell.
@admin, my comment has 2 hours of moderation, and this guy’s posting garbage. How about turning off anonymous posting? And how about un-moderating constructive posters? Out.
Actually my wife would never let me change my full frame lenses to micro four thirds lenses, which is obviously fine with me. though she tells me: ”it’s just as well you buy big full frame lenses, as you’re a bit micro four thirds where it matters.”
Solution: Get a smaller wife. A microscopic one.
I’d love to get a μwife, but she signed a prenup: she gets all my full frame lenses – looks like I’m stuck with her. But it gets worse: I just bought a very expensive bigma, and I’d desperately love to use it, but i can’t prise it off of the wife…and It’ll stink to high heaven when I eventually get it off of her.
Which one of your comments got moderated?
I noticed that I get moderated when 1) I have a link in the post or 2) I post four or five within a short time. These are safeguards built into WordPress, to prevent spamming, and Admin has to log in personally to approve them. Since you are a frequent, constructive contributor, I’m sure your messages get approved on sight, but Admin does need to sleep and is away at work a lot. I don’t think you are being singled out, in other words. At least others can still see your message while it’s being moderated, I think.
The disadvantage of disallowing anonymous posts is that there will be fewer comments altogether, which means fewer views, which means less revenue. (Troll click on ads, too.) Of course, now that this site gets 500 to 600 comments per post, a lot of which is just bickering, perhaps Admin could do that.
@J Shin what worries me about signing is that a couple of months back when you went too sign in it came up with the email of the previous poster.Since then I have not logged in , I know it was probably just a glitch but that and the ability to use any name is a bit off putting
J Shin, my reply to you in “Nokton 42,5mm test roundup…” is still awaiting moderation after 3 hours.
I basically point out that Amazon’s sample pics for Panny _MFT_ 20mm, 7-14mm, and 25mm show lack of blue/green (which I’m calling grayish). Whereas also on Amazon, other lenses do not, including Panny _FT_ 7-14, and (e.g.) Oly MFT 17mm.
@JShin. Apologies. In my haste I botched my summary badly.
The big lens to see color difference is PanaLeica _FT_ 25mm vs. PanaLeica MFT 25mm.
Another good one is Oly (not Panny) _FT_ 7-14 vs. Panny 7-14.
Sorry about any confusion.
As I posted on SAR the other day, artificial DOF control is a logical step in the future.
Strong Cpu, good algorithm and a few more stop of better ISO performance and you can say goodbye to fast huge lenses and say hello to FF sensors with small f8 fixed lenses
The “refocus after the fact, create 3D models” bit so smacks of that “Lytro” thingie (is it what it was called?) that has “overhyped fail” written all over it, doesn’t it?
I know I’m a bore but I’ll reiterate that the future is filled with super megapixel sensors providing digital zooming and software correction based off very simple ultra-resolving ultra-bright primes (aka Nokia Pureview), and that’s where smart photo investments should head 🙂