OMG - Photography reinvented once again: Sony DSC-HX1

peterblaise · March 3, 2009

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See:

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp</a>

"... Using the high-speed shutter ... sensor technology, the new model takes six shots within a fraction of a second. Combined with the ... imaging processor, it immediately superimposes them into one picture. The camera calculates the position of objects in each frame and composes the sharpest picture possible, resulting in clearer, sharper images ..."

</blockquote>

... and:

"... Using the fast-speed ... sensor, the camera continuously shoots full-resolution images at a high speed. Using the ... imaging processor, it automatically stitches the pictures together to create one ... panoramic photo ..."

</blockquote>

I read into this at least two things:

1 - Take a panorama by swinging the camera rather than stitching a series of stills -- so panoramas will increase in popularity, making us all hate our narrow screens and upping the sales of 13 x 44 inch paper - hahahaha! Maybe!

2 - Low light shots can be captured with less blur by the camera auto combining 6 super fast sequence shots and auto selecting the sarpest parts of each and superimposing them into one final putput image -- so the questions and previous answers of

Q: what is a photograph? A: A moment in time.

</blockquote>

... and:

Q: Does the image from in the camera represent the equivalent of eye-witness testimony? A: So long as it's an un-retouched latent image!

</blockquote>

... are pretty much becoming toast!

Cool!

I want an optical recorder implant next! ;-)

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john schroeder · March 3, 2009

What you failed to notice is that this camera is not using a Carl Ziess lens. It is using a Sony G series lens. Sony has always been very proud of their association with Ziess. I wonder if something has changed. Still very cool camera. I look forward to playing with it.

peterblaise · March 3, 2009

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Earlier: "... this camera [sony DSC-HX1] is not using a Carl Ziess lens . It is using a Sony G series lens . Sony has always been very proud of their association with Ziess . I wonder if something has changed ... "

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Thanks, John, but the points I picked up from the story at

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp" target="_blank">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp</a>

that I thought were "revolutionary " were the in-camera auto "stitching" of panoramas, and auto overlaying multiple shots to recompose one final result , and so the selection of a Zeiss-logo'd or Sony logo'd lens didn't seem all that "revolutionary" to me, though it does imply that Minolta is still making gear for whomever is wiling to pay the bills, eh?

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jerry thirsty · March 3, 2009

You'd think if they went to all that trouble, they'd add a manipulation that's probably a lot more useful than in-camera panorama stitching: selectively compositing multiple images to get huge depth of field.

john schroeder · March 3, 2009

This camera is very feature packed. By omitting the Carl Ziess lens it may have let Sony meet a price point. Of course Minolta 'G" series lenses were exceptional performers. This may be a move my Sony to create brand recognition for their own (Minolta) lenses. I wouldn't call the feature set of this camera revolutionary. I would call it evolutionary. I find it hard to get excited about features anymore. I Sony managed to squeze a couple of stops more dynamic range from a sensor then I would get excited.

robert_paul1 · March 3, 2009

I agree with John, this is hardly 'revolutionary'. In fact, I'd put this below 'face recognition' and 'smile detection', as software to stitch pictures together has been around for years.

markci · March 3, 2009

I guess you could toss the thing off the top of a hill and get one very long crash-o-rama shot. So it's good for something.

peterblaise · March 3, 2009

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Yes, probably the only "revolutionary" thing is:

"... Using the high-speed shutter ... sensor technology, the new model takes six shots within a fraction of a second. Combined with the ... imaging processor, it immediately superimposes them into one picture. The camera calculates the position of objects in each frame and composes the sharpest picture possible, resulting in clearer, sharper images ... "

</blockquote>

... since some of the other features and benefits have been available in after-capture software somehow, including combining multiple shots for deepest depth of subject field focus. Waiting for subjects to smile has already been incorporated into earlier consumer cameras. I missed that when first introduced a generation ago since I don't care.

Yet, the ability of the camera to compile many shots and hand you one finished shot immediately after merely clicking the shutter button is revolutionary. The ability to make one clear still from a broad sequential grab of a much longer moment then we ever thought photographically graspable before, THAT is the revolution of which I speak.

I do not expect anyone who does not care to agree with me, just as I did not care about smile recognition had someone mentioned it to me a generation ago. I do not expect near-term change in the way most photos are taken as a result of this, BUT I see this entering the camera phone system soon enough, then it will become wide-spread and expected that camera phones will grab anything and everything and report it back in surprisingly resolvable detail in spite of the traditional 1/focal-length shutter speed, sunny-16 malarkey rules that have served "still" photographers for so long.

Every rule we used to depend upon is falling by the wayside. Perhaps those who say this is not revolutionary are right -- it's evolutionary , and we'll be addicted to it and expect it everywhere before we know it, as we expect anti shake now. Remember when we expected auto wind, then auto rewind, yet now those terms are meaningless? The same will happen with auto focus and auto exposure and auto development and auto optimization -- all these will fall by the wayside.

I LOVE photography. I read my Ansel Adams and Andreas Feininger from 50 years ago, and I read Sony/Panasonic/Samsung/et al form today/tomorrow, and I just LOVE photography!

Wow, did we pick a fascinating (pre)occupation or what? =8^o

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joseph_wisniewski · March 3, 2009

You'd think if they went to all that trouble, they'd add a manipulation that's probably a lot more useful than in-camera panorama stitching: selectively compositing multiple images to get huge depth of field.

</blockquote>

That's commonly called "focus stacking". Having written algorithms for both purposes, I can say that focus stacking requires something on the order of 1000 times more processing power than panorama stitching. It also requires much more perfect scene alignment: no motion of either camera or scene elements. A panorama, on the other hand, given enough pieces, is surprisingly tolerant of changes in the scene.

peterblaise · March 4, 2009

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Actually, I wonder if it's possible to crank the aperture quickly while capturing the sequence and get the hyperfocal effect in camera a la Helicon Focus <a href="http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html">http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html</a> ... I can't wait to play with the camera at some store (if they could only stay in business).

So, last year, THESE were my top 3 camera's of the year votes:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

for 1/2 frame DSL/EVF with interchangeable lens, many direct input/readout KNOBS.

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcg1.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcg1.asp</a>

Sony Alpha DSLR-A900

for affordable (comparatively) highest resolution full frame AND in-built anti shake (lost points due to no inbuilt flash and remote control of accessory flashes as the Minolta 9 had). <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dslra900.asp"></a>

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dslra900.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dslra900.asp</a>

Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1

for movie-like still capture up to 1,200 full-resolution frames per second (Sony chip, by the way). <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Casio/casio_exf1.asp"></a>

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Casio/casio_exf1.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Casio/casio_exf1.asp</a>

</blockquote>

Now begins the new year, and these two:

Sony CyberShot DSC-HX1

for in-camera image stacking and stitching

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp</a>

Samsung NX

for 66% frame DSL/EVF

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030201samsungnxsystem.asp">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030201samsungnxsystem.asp</a>

</blockquote>

... seem to be promising that this year should be yet another exciting one for photographic gear innovations, if not revolutions!

What camera gear impresses you all, if not my choices?

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starvy · March 4, 2009

are the zeiss lenses in the sony point and shoot cameras and for that matter mobile phones, same grade as the 24-70 zeiss lens?

ricardovaste · March 5, 2009

What camera gear impresses you all

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Click<a href="http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43368&get=last#466187"> here</a> . It's pretty!

peterblaise · March 11, 2009

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More on this SOny chip discussed by perennial Minolta Photographer David Kilpatrick:

<h2 ><a title="Permanent Link to Sony CMOS sensor background revealed" rel="bookmark" href="http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2009/03/04/sony-cmos-sensor-background-revealed/" title="Permanent Link to Sony CMOS sensor background revealed">Sony CMOS sensor background revealed</a></h2>

<a href="http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2009/03/04/sony-cmos-sensor-background-revealed/">http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2009/03/04/sony-cmos-sensor-background-revealed/</a>

"... There seem to be some interesting techniques employed, multi-plane synthesis to combine several frames for low light and HDR capture ... has an 11.8% better photo-electron efficiency per unit area ... Might be a sign that Sony is improving the process and design used to make their CMOS chips ... "

And more:

<h2 ><a title="Permanent Link to HX1 Cyber-shot with EXMOR CMOS and G Lens" rel="bookmark" href="http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2009/03/03/hx1-cyber-shot-with-exmor-cmos-and-g-lens/" title="Permanent Link to HX1 Cyber-shot with EXMOR CMOS and G Lens">HX1 Cyber-shot with EXMOR CMOS and G Lens</a></h2>

<h2 ><a href="http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2009/03/03/hx1-cyber-shot-with-exmor-cmos-and-g-lens/">http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2009/03/03/hx1-cyber-shot-with-exmor-cmos-and-g-lens/</a> </h2>

"... supports full-resolution shooting at an incredible 10 frames per second (max) using a mechanical shutter ... Outpacing many pro-spec digital SLR cameras ... supports two new shooting modes that reduce image noise when you’re shooting in low light ... capturing static subjects, new Handheld Twilight mode grabs a high-speed burst of six frames, combining them to create a single optimised image with dramatically reduced noise levels ... If your subject is moving, Anti Motion Blur mode also superimposes six frames to produce one crisp, composite image with less subject blur .

... ‘Sweep Panorama’ is a brand-new shooting mode that captures ... landscapes, city scenes ... hold down the shutter button and swing the camera horizontally (or vertically) . The Cyber-shot HX1 seamlessly stitches together a high-speed burst of frames to create an extra-wide, high resolution image. Panoramas can be viewed as a scrolling preview on the three-inch LCD screen or new S-Frame digital photo frames or previewed on a PLAYSTATION®3 ... "

See? PLAYSTATION INTEGRATION ! =8^o I told you there was a revolution going on via Sony Photography! ;-)

Thanks, David.

Everyone, please also join Photo Club Alpha <a href="http://www.photoclubalpha.com/">http://www.photoclubalpha.com/</a> and subscribe to the great PRINT magazine there!

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peterblaise · March 11, 2009

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Hey, the combination of 6 frames in the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX1 is like the combination of 7 frames (sequential apertures) on the Minolta Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum 7 STF Smooth Trans Focus function, right?

Maybe the Mind of Minolta hasn't gone that far from us after all!

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ruth_kohn · August 27, 2009

i love all your comments concerning the panoramic details for the camera, and cant wait to

buy it myself...but will someone tell me which price makes more sense: the BH or amazon...

though the difference is still 20 bucks...who offers more to go with the HX-1??? Inever seem to be

able to get it down right...thanks! RKB

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