Changes in technology coming to you as we speak

[Puffer Fish]

For everyone who is a fan of the dSLR, there is a quiet and major technology change happening that in the very near future will change the camera's everyone uses.

Two companies are leading this change -Canon and Panasonic, but expect everyone to follow.

The change is in using software to correct for all of the weaknesses of lens.. to go even further, to make lens that you cannot even look thru, that produce sharper, more consistent pictures.

The G10 is the first major product for Canon to use this.. which explains why the resolution on a tiny sensor is so good, at iso 80 or 100.. and because the sensor has not improved, why it sucks at anything above that.

Released not that long ago, is the first interchangeable lens camera that clearly is taking advantage of this...the new Panasonic micro 4/3 system.

Rather than make a lens to correct for all the focus issues one has with a small sensor, they have actually done the opposite.. made a lens that requires software to put the three channels together... this improves resolution and chromatic Aberration and allows results that are impossible to do with a physical lens design:

Here is a comparison of the kit lens on the GH-1, versus the kit "L" lens on the Cannon 1DsIII. notice that the chromatic Aberration and the resolution for what is obviously a much cheaper lens is much more uniform. Yes the L lens is better in the center, but physical optics stop it from being that way at the edge. No such limit now for Panasonic.

dpreview.com - Lens Review - Fullscreen (http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/widget/Fullscreen.ashx?reviews=57,43&fullscreen=true&av=4,4&fl=14,16&vis=VisualiserSharpnessMTF,VisualiserSharpnessMTF&stack=horizontal&lock=&config=/lensreviews/widget/LensReviewConfiguration.xml%3F4)

Here is a general overview of what they are doing:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Review: 17. Photographic tests (Kit Lens): Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgh1/page17.asp)

The results to say the least are amazing, but notice that this will not work with a standard Dslr.. as lens will be made that one cannot look thru directly.

As it requires the lens to be mapped to the camera, this is actually much easier to do with a P&S... and to do it with a interchangeable lens camera, is a huge mathematical task, that requires all new lens and cameras.

Here is a resolution comparison between several similar camera's:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Review: 29. Compared to (Resolution): Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgh1/page29.asp)

Notice how poorly the Oly does with the identical sensor, but without any software adjustment.

What does this all mean? Well expect this technology to spread.. and camera's to change...there will still be large sensor interchangeable lens camera's, and most likely they will be the last to change, as they gain the least from this technology.

The release of the GF1 this week now means that both the interchangable lens mapping and the size issue has been addressed. Think of it as a grownup G10.

Lets hope someone makes an underwater case for it...

[Nemrod]

The Panasonic and Oly 4:3 sensors are about six times the area of the G10/11 and new S90.

I understand there is a Sea Tool housing in the works for the new GF1.

But I do think the end of small sensor prosumer cameras like the G10 are over with the inflated MP ratings and as well, the bulky dSLR is going to be challenged as software and optical engineers meld a new generation of small, compact, full feature interchangeable lens cameras that can slip into a pocket.

N

[Puffer Fish]

The current problem with the small sensors is light sensitivity, not resolution. Canon for one, introduced the G11 in a smaller pixel sensor and then introduced the new 7D with 18 meg...my understanding is that it is using a new type of diode.. with much greater light sensitivity...which may or may not be possible to be made smaller. If it is, then expect the megapixel race to continue.

Note: Many think the 50D was too high for the C size sensor...will see if the 18 meg actually works, however, lens mapping means the dSLR with an optical viewfinder will gradually be going away.

Also, with the huge image quality differences between the Oly and Panasonic, Oly is going to find the future pretty tough if they don't change soon. This becomes more and more important as the pixel density goes down, and the next generation (next year?) is expected to make the jump to 15 meg... and without it, will have all the issues that people complain about with smaller sensors.

[drbill]

All I have to do is make enough money to keep up with all these technological changes!

[Web Monkey]

The change is in using software to correct for all of the weaknesses of lens.. to go even further, to make lens that you cannot even look thru, that produce sharper, more consistent pictures.

This is going to really suck. You can't "enhance" what isn't there.

If they're going to use crappy lenses, they're going to lose image accuracy, no matter how much software they throw at it.

There's a big difference between perceived sharpness and actual detail.

Terry