Sony says dual-lens camera tech launching with 'major smartphone players' in next year
Apple's image sensor supplier, Sony, is expecting its dual-lens camera technology to be launched by "major smartphone players" within the next year, according to comments by the company's CFO.
"Well, for next year, our so-called dual-lens -- dual-camera platform will be launched by, we believe, from major smartphone players," said Kenichiro Yoshida during Sony's most recent results call, as reported by Xperia Blog.
Yoshida warned however that the high-end smartphone market is "slowing down," which could impact demand and production by smartphone makers.
"So, we believe the real start, the takeoff of smartphone with dual-lens camera will be in the year of 2017," he noted.
Apple is believed to be working on a dual-lens camera based on Sony technology, which could appear in an "iPhone 7 Plus", or at least some versions of it. The second lens might be used for optical zoom functions, overcoming one of the main limitations of most smartphone cameras.
Yoshida's comments suggest that Apple could potentially hold a dual-lens system back for an "iPhone 7s," although market constraints are less likely to affect the company given the popularity and profitability of its devices.
"Well, for next year, our so-called dual-lens -- dual-camera platform will be launched by, we believe, from major smartphone players," said Kenichiro Yoshida during Sony's most recent results call, as reported by Xperia Blog.
Yoshida warned however that the high-end smartphone market is "slowing down," which could impact demand and production by smartphone makers.
"So, we believe the real start, the takeoff of smartphone with dual-lens camera will be in the year of 2017," he noted.
Apple is believed to be working on a dual-lens camera based on Sony technology, which could appear in an "iPhone 7 Plus", or at least some versions of it. The second lens might be used for optical zoom functions, overcoming one of the main limitations of most smartphone cameras.
Yoshida's comments suggest that Apple could potentially hold a dual-lens system back for an "iPhone 7s," although market constraints are less likely to affect the company given the popularity and profitability of its devices.
Comments
i want this stuff on the 7, not the 7s.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/5/8347735/this-new-camera-sensor-could-turn-your-phone-into-a-3d-scanner
It it will be very interesting to see what actually ships with the next iPhone. Given that I don't expect Apple to ship anything unless it can improve overall photographic performance. Since photographic quality is huge selling point with respect to iPhone there has to be a benefit or Apple won't do it. I also very interested to know what the trade offs will be. There are always trade offs to be made with such tech transitions.
As as for the first iteration, well I would expect a lot of new features beyond trying to offer higher quality pictures. Apples first goal with introducing new tech is always to keep things simple. We might simply see a 20 mega pixel camera advertised.
Which allows for simpler shorter optics and a thinner camera.
Doesn't light field photography require a much bigger distance between the outer edges of the lens?
If the cameras were sensitive enough you can measure shift and determine distance. This would allow you to adjust focus of an image after it's taken. Of course being THAT close, I can only imagine the depth is fairly limited. But I believe the real point here is using the second sensor to obtain more information and therefor producing a more accurate image.
Scroll to to the end of the document, "The Optimal Array"