Re:Lens Blur in the new Google Camera app
by angusb on Thursday April 17, 2014 @06:03AM
(#7602770)
One limitation of this that nobody has mentioned yet is that if you have to pan your cameraphone as you are taking the photos to generate the depth map you will have a harder time composing your photo than you would with a traditional photo. Usually I like to spend a few seconds getting into the best position and framing my photo carefully before taking it. Getting the photo I wanted would therefore be much harder if I had to pan the camera around as I was taking it. I don't have Android so can't test it out... anyone using the app got any views on this?
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Re:Lens Blur in the new Google Camera app
by shawabawa3 on Thursday April 17, 2014 @06:34AM
(#7602820)
You first take the picture normally. After taking the picture it asks you to slowly move the camera up to generate the depth of field, so there's no moving the camera as you're taking it
It would seem that if you have to do a depth scan anyway, it should be possible to just do a (series of) scan(s), and then post-compose and post-focus your image(s)?
Ah cool, so not a problem. Out of interest how long does the camera-moving step take?
Re:Lens Blur in the new Google Camera app
by shawabawa3 on Thursday April 17, 2014 @06:48AM
(#7602846)
> Out of interest how long does the camera-moving step take?
Around 1 second. You only have to move the phone a tiny bit (maybe 3cm)
Half a sec on my N5 (go slower and it actually complains). It's even shorter with good lightning and with a bit of habit it can come out quite naturally. Frame, snap, slide.
I would say that it takes about 1 second on my nexus 4. If you do it too fast the app will complain, but I find that it's actually very fast and easy to do right.
It still seems like a problem to me, if your subject (and potentially background) are moving around a lot. I shoot a lot of macro shots of bugs that are always about to jump off plants that are swaying in the wind... Not to say this tech isn't impressive and useful, but it doesn't solve DoF problems for tiny cameras in every situation.