I agree. Panning the zoomed camera around doesn't sound feasible. Keeping digital zoom on both cameras, each with a different minimum zoom level would be cool. Of course, optical zoom is way better, but size constraints make it fairly unlikely to happen. But having one camera that has a native focal length of X and the second camera having a native focal length of 5X, while retaining the zoom capability for each camera, now that would be awesome!
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Apple's Proposed Dual Camera Interface Brought to Life in Video Demo
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I agree. Panning the zoomed camera around doesn't sound feasible. Keeping digital zoom on both cameras, each with a different minimum zoom level would be cool. Of course, optical zoom is way better, but size constraints make it fairly unlikely to happen. But having one camera that has a native focal length of X and the second camera having a native focal length of 5X, while retaining the zoom capability for each camera, now that would be awesome!
Neat stuff, but I'd take issue with the term "zoom," which is commonly used to describe a lens of continuously-variable focal length (and shots taken while changing the focal length of that lens). Since Apple's patent involves two fixed-focal length lenses, it's simply switching between wide angle and telephoto, like the microscopes (and old movie and video cameras) that have a multi-lens turret (in film and video, those lens turrets were essentially made obsolete by advances in zoom lens design).
Unlike cameras with lens turrets, Apple's patent allows for simultaneous capture of images from both lenses - effectively, making every shot a two-camera shoot (albeit from the same position and with identical tracking). This is more like a stereoscopic camera/microscope - twin fixed lenses with slightly offset points of view that capture separate images.
Sure, "zoomed-in" and "zoomed-out" are often used to describe the result of switching points of view - whether from dynamically changing the focal length of a zoom lens, a dolly or steadicam shot wherein the camera is moved, or by cutting/dissolving to another view of the same subject. But since we're talking tech here, it'd be nice to have a technically-accurate description.
It would be very cool if software allowed for a true zoom effect while shooting live video with a two-lens iPhone, continuously creating interpolated images based on the two fixed views. I didn't see that suggested in the patent application. Based on the current state of processing power, that's more likely something that might be done in post-production (like the transitions between standard video and slo-mo). That would still be a form of digital zoom, though, subject to some of the same limitations (presumably, the center of the image could be of higher quality than conventional digital zoom as it's sourced from the telephoto, but the areas outside the field of view of the telephoto would still have to be enlarged from the wide angle image). What could easily be done "live" would be a dissolve/wipe between the two cameras. Dual cameras also offer the possibility of a different approach to HDR (effectively, using the telephoto as a spot meter for the wide)...
Unlike cameras with lens turrets, Apple's patent allows for simultaneous capture of images from both lenses - effectively, making every shot a two-camera shoot (albeit from the same position and with identical tracking). This is more like a stereoscopic camera/microscope - twin fixed lenses with slightly offset points of view that capture separate images.
Sure, "zoomed-in" and "zoomed-out" are often used to describe the result of switching points of view - whether from dynamically changing the focal length of a zoom lens, a dolly or steadicam shot wherein the camera is moved, or by cutting/dissolving to another view of the same subject. But since we're talking tech here, it'd be nice to have a technically-accurate description.
It would be very cool if software allowed for a true zoom effect while shooting live video with a two-lens iPhone, continuously creating interpolated images based on the two fixed views. I didn't see that suggested in the patent application. Based on the current state of processing power, that's more likely something that might be done in post-production (like the transitions between standard video and slo-mo). That would still be a form of digital zoom, though, subject to some of the same limitations (presumably, the center of the image could be of higher quality than conventional digital zoom as it's sourced from the telephoto, but the areas outside the field of view of the telephoto would still have to be enlarged from the wide angle image). What could easily be done "live" would be a dissolve/wipe between the two cameras. Dual cameras also offer the possibility of a different approach to HDR (effectively, using the telephoto as a spot meter for the wide)...
Yep, not described in that particular patent, but a competitor is doing exactly that:
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/22/video-demo-dual-camera-tech/
On a side note, Matt, please use this narration speed on your future videos. Or maybe just be in them, perhaps your on-screen persona is slightly less quick than when you're reading a voice over. I'm not saying that I can't understand your previous reviews, but this one just seemed much better-paced.
There may be limited capability to pan around, within the range available from OIS. There's also mention of using a folded telephoto - if a mirror was used, moving the mirror would allow for some steering of the field of view. However, I can't see the kind of gross movement implied here. Now, a more fully articulated camera assembly is at least possible, and offers some interesting possibilities. However, if the camera pivoted, the angle of view would change, unlike the simulation.
I agree, why wouldn't the image be stitched together in the preview, presenting one viewfinder window as the default?
Nature perfected optical zoom by using TWO eyes, so it's a wonder why it's taken so long for the camera industry to come to the same point of realization.
Apple should have a camera on each top corner of the phone (so wider apart) and then intelligently combine the images just like our brains do.
Apple should have a camera on each top corner of the phone (so wider apart) and then intelligently combine the images just like our brains do.
Um, humans don't have optical zoom capability lol. Having two eyes aids with depth perception and provides a larger field of view.
Yeah, they will argue that they needed more room to implement this feature, yet non of the iPads will get it for 2-5 years (I hope I am wrong). I honestly would pay more for a regular sized iPhone with this new camera tech.
A potentially key difference is that that Corephotonics is using two lenses of the same focal length. That allows the processor to do pixel-by-pixel comparisons/interpolations. In system with two different focal lengths, those comparisons can only be made in the parts of the image common to both lenses. It seems unlikely that one could achieve the same edge-to-edge results.
LOL, so you are saying every new iPad released after September will get this feature? Because they are bigger? I think it is more Economics than Physics.
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Tim Cook is a miser who is too caught up with pleasing the share holders. Wall Street is the single reason why we still have 16gb flagship iPhones, 5400RPM Hard Drives in brand new iMacs, 480p camera on the NEW Macbook, and now inferior camera tech because I don't want to carry a brick phablet around.
Ideally, and people said this over a decade ago with DSLRs and pan and scan cameras, is to keep the same body but make a cartridge format camera for forward compatibility. For obvious reasons, that will never happen. Is it more profitable to the company to get you to spend $200 for a phone cartridge or $700 for new phone? Especially as Apple has gone out of its way to take off the shelf hardware and close it to make DIY upgrades virtually impossible, the same philosophy can arguably be applied to areas other than RAM and HDD space (or SSDs, for which non-Apple branded models won't have all abilities enabled such as TRIM).
Plus, how much of a choice isn't it? What goes into your decision making can be via encouragement and/or deception, but is Apple threatening you with death or what is tantamount to death if you don't have it? This isn't a college degree, it's a portable gizmo.
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The smaller sensors and lenses in general are the cause. And why, despite more megapixels, there's less detail and more noise (electromigration, JPG compression, etc). A poor lens can result in a soft image, an inadequate aperture means less light goes through the lens, etc...
And inside such a small frame - DSLR-style lenses aren't going to be easy, though it's amazing optical stabilization has been developed for such small frames.
I think you missed his point.
he's referring to the recent rumour that only the 'Plus' phones will have this feature. Akin to how currently, only the 'Plus' phones have OIS.
I don't know about what i'm about to say but,
do you think this will allow 3D images on iPhone? It could take the same photo from different angles, and photos can be viewed by tilting your iPhone. I know this will give a very shallow depth into the photos but that's still a nice feature, I guess, I hope
do you think this will allow 3D images on iPhone? It could take the same photo from different angles, and photos can be viewed by tilting your iPhone. I know this will give a very shallow depth into the photos but that's still a nice feature, I guess, I hope
No. iPads won't have it because cameras on tablets are not as important.
I know, right? Physics sucks.
Surely it's not just the same as live photos, ala 
style, pinch to zoom (non-destructive) on steroids & file size twice the size!
style, pinch to zoom (non-destructive) on steroids & file size twice the size!