Oly µ4/3 EP1 Unveiled (sort of)
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The much larger sensor (compared to all compacts apart from the Sigma DP1/2) results in a much shallower deph of field for stills and movie clips alike. Much nicer in fact than what you get from a standard consumer camcorder.
Have a look for example at the "daisy" clip at DPReview.Note that it uses SD HD cards, signaling an even more imminent end for XD.
Note also that the movie clips are M-JPEG , a much less compressed file than MPEG4/AVCHD but much easier to edit.
Having just read the other thread about "the ideal backpacking camera" the size of the new "ultracompact" (compared with the other similar zooms) 14-42mm shows what can be done , if a smaller design would have been possible with the existing technology, Olympus would have implemented that.
Liquid lenses, multiple pinholes and the like are not suitable for this kind of camera.
Also, a lot of image processing is done on board and is unique to each manufacturer and continuously upgraded (firmware) . So it isn't as simple as plugging in a lens with a sensor into a separate storage device.
BTW, to further illustrate where we are at with miniaturisation, note that there there is no built in flash.
It could be that it was done to keep that classic retro styling, but I suspect that they run out of room inside the body.
The usual way these cameras are designed is to start with a preconceived body size, in this case the Pen F and then start procuring/designing all the necessary bits to fit inside that . This is the major reason for the great variety of battery sizes, pretty much the last "compromise" available to the engineers.This is a cross cut view of the EP1…
Franco
>Without many lens elements set in a few groups (see above cross cut) it isn't possible to get an image that is acceptable by today's standards.
Are you confusing webcam lens with a liquid lens?
There are many type of liquid lens designs but this one is probably most suitable:
I believe that you need multiple lens element in order to focus or zoom. Fixed focus lens [webcam/some mobile cameras] obviously cannot compare with the the quality of autofocus/optical zoom lenses.
Liquid zoom lens is designed to change its convexity and/or concavity in order to focus and zoom.
>And keep in mind that there is a lot of image manipulation going on in firmware in the EP1, to correct the limitations of such a small lens design.
>BTW, you also need a focal plane shutter in there…these feature can be implemented in a liquid lens camera also.
>If you are not after photographic quality comparable to a good compact,
I am obviously after serious photographic quality, but something in SUL realm.I could be wrong but I am not convinced that making a prototype will cost "a few million dollars". May be a few of thousand dollars max, if I can write application software myself.
Liquid lens fabrication process seems very simple compared to conventional lens.
I am not aware of what liquid is used by lens manufacturers but according to a bit of research I did 66.7% glycerol – water solution is colourless, has freezing temp of -50F, better refractive index then water and very good surface tension comparable to water.
What I have in mind is SUL integrated system for under one pound consisting of
>iphone 3GS
>zoom lens camera with amazing photo quality, flashlight, weather tracker
>Iridium satellite transceiver/antenna module for 2way communication and real time GPS trackingAfter more thinking it seems like very big niche – outdoor photography, journalists, researchers working in remote places, sea travelers by ship, and military form a huge market.
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