Interest in designing a better digital camera?

[Andrew O'Neill]

What about a digital camera where one can switch between IR, and full spectrum?

 

[George Mann]

What about a digital camera where one can switch between IR, and full spectrum?

Why not.

 

[Anon Ymous]

What about a digital camera where one can switch between IR, and full spectrum?

Digital cameras have an IR cut filter in front of the sensor, removing it does the job.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

All I want form digital is for Fuji to redo their X100, as I think of it as best RF style in a lot of areas. However my problem remains with filter array (in all digital cameras) and few quirks Fuji stuck into it for reasons I cannot figure. There are so many good design solutions in that camera, few for me remain to be addressed.

1. Sensor goes mono, no filter, color transition is done in post if one wants color, and they can keep current 26 mp sensor for some years to come
2. Lens has standard filter thread (female as any camera lens we can think of) never understood why they did what they did with this one
3. Manual focusing is not fly-by-wire, but standard as one would expect from any lens, so you hit the stops at ends of focusing run

I landed on X100T and was going to "upgrade" to latest V, but stopped short as new lens did not do it for me, not enough anyways. I find wide and tele attachments an utter waste of money on any of these, especially how they are implemented (now with latest sensor, cropping opportunities have much increased).

I'll add that I don't compare digital capture to film, I don't think these two will ever merge, so to me trying to do the impossible isn't even unrealistic. I, as many many others, enjoy shooting film and I cannot think of one reason digital would ever have a chance of emulating that experience, unless they figure how to take the sensor out after shooting, dunk in a solution before images can be seen. Inherent imperfection of analog is a charm that digital can only attempt to fake, but in the end it will remain as fake as ever. So I see the two as parallel venues to capture a scene, not as one competing with the other for which is better. There are a lot advantages digital capture offers that analog would not stand a chance, and as such both have a place.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Digital cameras have an IR cut filter in front of the sensor, removing it does the job.

Yes, I know that. I did that to one of my dslrs. And not very successfully, I might add! What I'm saying is, making a camera where at the flip of a switch, you have IR capability.

 

[George Mann]

What I'm saying is, making a camera where at the flip of a switch, you have IR capability.

This is a simple thing to achieve.

 

[DonW]

Hey I love tilting at windmills as much as the next frustrated inventor, but in this case to start from ground zero seems like a long shot. The Panasonic S series cameras come as close to perfect for my needs as any digital camera ever will imho.

What exactly are you trying to improve upon?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

This is a simple thing to achieve.

That's reassuring to hear... but if it's so easy, why have none of the manufacturers done it? From what I can see, there are many photogs posting digi IR photos online...

 

[George Mann]

That's reassuring to hear... but if it's so easy, why have none of the manufacturers done it? From what I can see, there are many photogs posting digi IR photos online...

It can noticeably increase the cost to manufacture, and since the filter is removable, it is not considered.

 

[grat]

That's reassuring to hear... but if it's so easy, why have none of the manufacturers done it? From what I can see, there are many photogs posting digi IR photos online...

Sony kind of did this with their NightShot video cameras, which were IR sensitive in one mode. The problem was, people figured out how to enable nightshot mode during the day-- and discovered that a great deal of clothing is IR transmissive.

Caused a bit of a stink, and all digital camera manufacturers have been paranoid about IR since.

Don't know how they enabled/disabled the IR sensitivity, though.

 

[CasperMarly]

I am wondering whether or not you'all would be interested in discussing design idea's concerning whats possible regarding the theoretical design of an improved digital camera or capture device?

I have a few theories on the subject that I would like to discuss, with more related design idea's to come.

8x10 digital back for a Sinar P2 would be a nice start.

 

[cliveh]

Interest in designing a better digital camera?
Yes, it should be exactly the same weight and size as a Leica II, with a collapsible 50mm F0.95 ASPH lens. It should have minimal functions of shutter speed, aperture and ISO and be at least 26 megapixel and waterproof.

 

[Pieter12]

clothing is IR transmissive

Really? Source? Examples? Urban Legend?

 

[grat]

Search for "sony nightshot xray". It's not really that exciting, but some people are just... strange.

But yes, a number of fabrics, particularly cotton ones, will transmit IR wavelengths. Obviously, it has to be relatively thin, and you need very strong IR lighting (like, say, bright sunlight in summer). I don't want to sound like an expert on this (because I'm really not), but this was a major scandal for Sony around 20 years ago.

 

[Lee Rust]

Interest in designing a better digital camera?
Yes, it should be exactly the same weight and size as a Leica II, with a collapsible 50mm F0.95 ASPH lens. It should have minimal functions of shutter speed, aperture and ISO and be at least 26 megapixel and waterproof.

Yes, indeed... Oskar Barnack got it right from the very beginning.