DCD - Computer Enhanced Lens Performance

Graham_of_Rainham · #1 11-07-12

I can understand Fly-by-Wire aircraft, the computers do what the pilot wants and enhance an inherently unstable machine to perform correctly.

When it comes to needing software corrections for lenses, have we come to expect too much from the compromised designs of multi function zooms, at a price that we are prepared to pay, and is this the only way to achieve the standards that are expected and/or believed to be needed.

When was the last time you noticed any of these distortions

I doubt that you would see them in a landscape and I'm fairly sure I don't notice them in any of my art nude images,

(but then I am using one of the best lenses there is.)

"Distortion control data are used to correct barrel and pincushion distortion during shooting and editing"
http://www.nikonimglib.com/dcdata/index.html#note-01

Ian · #2 11-07-12

I'm actually all in favour of software correction for lens optics - indeed it could be hard-wired into DSPs digital signal processors) for ultra fast hardware correction of both lateral chromatic aberration and geometric distortion, and why not vignetting too? Such auto correction will mean less expensive, less bulky and heavy, and more ambitious designs for camera lenses.

Ian

Graham_of_Rainham · #3 13-07-12

I guess the distortion (hopefully what little there is) can be programmed into the camera and taken care of "in-house". Although with some subjects, having the middle of the top and sides adjusted may cause even more problems, so hopefully the adjustments will be confined to stretching/compressing the corners.

Because of the difference in the amount of shift of the red element of the light over that of the blue and the vast variations that will arrise purely from the what spectral content of the light is passing through the lens, I doubt that any predetermined algorithm could effectively work to correct this. It would be optimised to a set of criteria that may well not suit the subject and lighting.

But that's why we have RAW files, so that the subjective assessment of what is wanted or needed to be done to make the image look the way we want, can be undertaken in the post processing. Therefore an "On/Off" switch will be an essential feature of this firmware.