Introduction to Camera Features

2019-12-05 • SEND FEEDBACK •
Related: digital sensor, dynamic range, Expose To The Right, exposure, frame averaging, pixel shift, true-color sensor or image

Why should it even be a consideration when choosing a camera as to whether it has Eye AF or frame averaging support or focus stacking support or AF-ON separate from the shutter or... insert_your_own_favorite_capability. Most such features should be taken for granted now, just like autofocus and exposure.

Will Nikon, Canon, Leica, Panasonic, Sony, Phase One, Fujifilm all read this page and formulate a plan to improve/add? I am not hopeful but at the least they will be called out for lame design until and unless they raise their game.

In the pages that follow, features and behaviors that could make cameras better for everyone ar enumerated, with proposed way they should operate. And at no downside in other aspects of operation. In nearly all cases, there is no defensible rationale for not getting it done.

Why do Camera Makers Ignore a Deep Well of Knowledge and Experience?

General areas needing attention

The design shortcomings can be lumped into several general categories.

Raising image quality

Raising the Bar on Image Quality

• Features that improves sharpness, e.g., spot-on autofocus, compensating for focus shift and field curvature, near/far depth of field aids, etc.
• Features that indirectly raise dynamic range , such as frame averaging, or auto-ETTR or pixel shift of multi-shot high-res mode or “invisible bracketing” to extend dynamic range.
• Features that improve color rendition, such as frame averaging or pixel shift or auto-ETTR. Some of these can also improve sharpness, by lowering noise levels or avoiding Bayer matrix demosaicing.
• Features that improve total image quality by removing digital artifacts like moiré and color aliasing, e.g., pixel shift, multi-shot high-res mode.
• Increased dynamic range via automated and seamless electronic multi-scan / multi-exposure.
• Exposure modes like auto-ETTR to make full use of the dynamic range of the sensor.

Raising the hit rate when capturing images

Raising the hit rate when capturing images

• Accurate autofocus mode—priority on absolute spot-on focus.
• Sophisticated Eye AF that guaranteeds iris of the eye focus.
• Advanced autofocus prioritization, such as nearest or farthest subject matter, moving object priority, focus bracketing at extreme speed.
• Feature that compensate for physical issues like subject movement or camera movement.
• Automate operations prone to errors, e.g., auto-ETTR for exposure, focus stacking, iterative image analysis for best focus.

Usability

Usability and Convenience, Minimizing Errors

• Simplify the kitchen-sink clutter in today’s cameras. For example, menu settings, most of which are JPEG or video centric, and can be removed (hidden) entirely for the RAW shooter or the shooter for whom video isn’t a thing.
• Real customization of camera displays and controls, vs the token controls seen today.
• Auditory and visual feedback as to image capture quality (sharpness, DR, etc) that allows the photographer to determine that optimal image quality has been captured (exposure, dynamic range, sharpness, depth of field, etc). When possible, the camera can guarantee optimal results in some cases.

New frontiers

Computational photography and improved technology

• Computational photography of various kinds, the lack of which will surely kill off any camera maker that does not embrace it (Sony has publicly stated that it Sony is investing in AI for photography).
• Panoramas made like with iPhone, with all electronic shutter.