Before & After – in low-light conditions
Eastman Kodak has developed a color-filter technology that at least doubles the sensitivity to light of the image sensor in every digital camera, enabling shutterbugs to take better pictures in poor light.
“Low light can mean trying to get a good image indoors of your kid blowing out the birthday candles. It can mean you want to take a photograph on a street corner in Paris at midnight,” said Chris McNiffe, general manager of the photography company’s image sensor business. “We’re talking about a 2-to-4-times improvement in (light) sensitivity.”
Kodak expects to provide samples of its new technology to a variety of camera manufacturers in the first quarter of 2008. The technology is likely to be incorporated first in mass-market point-and-shoot cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones beginning sometime next year.
The new method, which has been under development for more than five years, adds “panchromatic” cells that are sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light and collect a larger amount of light striking the sensor.
Nice to see what Kodak can do when they “stick to the knitting”.
Dpreview.com has a thorough breakdown on the technology.
Looks great. A few comments. I am not a photo expert.
Once you have a panchromatic sensor, the development of the new filter array from the Bayer pattern looks “obvious” to me.
This is not a filter in the old-fashioned sense that you could put it over your lens. You’ll have to buy a whole new digital camera.
At the link, there are three comparative photos, two of which have different exposure times. Naughty, naughty! So of course the bowling pins are going to look blurrier with a longer exposure. The only apples-to-apples comparison is the one at the top of this article, and it appears very much like the before- and after- photos of “noise reduction”.
I’d like to hear what experts say!
Kodak is still behind the times. Look at the Fuji Finepix f31fd on dpreview.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page13.asp
With an ISO of up to 3200, the f31fd is a superior product to what Canon, the number one sales leader, or any other manufacture can produce.
The f31fd is what many professional photographers use as their compact of choice.
What? Kodak is still around? Didn’t they use to make “Brownie” cameras or something?
Can the filter move the lady that is in the front to the back and get the hot chick in the back closer up front?
3,
Kodak actually makes some of the best image sensors on the market. It’s their consumer stuff that they were having trouble with, but even that is behind them.
#4 – That would be the Ho Filter.
#6, Hop, the Ho Filter might work if you use it with a powerful enough hose! And as an added bonus, she’ll get that “wet T-shirt” look! 🙂
http://tinyurl.com/2z5cyc
What makes the woman in the front of the photo a ‘ho,’ pray tell?
And, why are you suggesting using hoses on black people, BubbaRay? Do you have fond memories when that was done the civil rights movement?
Some of you guys are worse than Don Imus.
#8, Podesta, it was a joke about Hop’s comment and #4 Arrius comment. Gee whiz, no offense intended. No problem, I’ve got my flame and hose proof suit on. Lighten up on the weekend, OK?
And you can have Don Imus. 🙂
Why the hell is Kodak is shopping the technology around to other camera makers?? If they were smart, they’d incorporate it into their OWN line of digicams exclusively.
Oh, wait. It’s Kodak. A dying American former manufacturer. They already know their own company’s in the crapper, and they’ll make more money by selling parts or technology or licenses to camera makers with Japanese names.
Sorry. Lost my head for a moment there.