Canon Wonder Camera concept uses video to take photos

updated 09:45 am EDT, Tue July 6, 2010

Canon Wonder would have instant focus, huge zoom


Canon at the Shanghai World Expo has shown a rare camera concept that outlines its plans for the future. Only called the Wonder Camera so far, it would completely drop the notion of separating stills and video. An extremely high-speed focus would always keep the shot in focus and, along with large amounts of storage, would provide static images simply by picking one of the video frames.

The device would also have a very high (though unspecified) resolution that photographers could crop without losing practical levels of detail. Canon also believes it could deliver a camera with fast wireless networking, face detection that could cover many more subjects, and super telephoto ranges even with a fixed-lens camera. Image stabilization could be strong enough to handle shots at the far end of the zoom range.

Canon ostensibly claims that the Wonder Camera is a preview of what the company could do 20 years into the future, though it's already believed that much of the technology could be implemented much sooner, at least in DSLRs. [via Gizmag]








By Electronista Staff

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Previous Comments

  1. malax

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2006

    +1

    Makes sense

    Why on earth would this take 20 years? Three or 4 sounds more reasonable, with a much smaller camera. I find it nearly impossible to believe than any consumer camera will be that big and bulky in 2030.


  1. eldarkus

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2004

    -4

    And...

    Who really wants to wade thru 1800 shots of video stills (30fps x 60 seconds) just to get the shot you need?


  1. Treuf

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 1999

    +3

    Try to shoot dolphins

    Last time I took pictures of dolphins with a telephoto (560mm on a 1D MK2) - I thought that this was exactly what I would need ...
    Try to aim, focus and shoot with a long lens on moving subjects - which appear at the last instant (when they go our of water) and you will understand.
    Birds are easy, you can follow them - but those were ... complicated.


  1. eldarkus

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2004

    -5

    @Treuf

    while this may be nice, it also eliminates the need for skilled photographers. And where is the challenge/fun in pointing a video camera?

    I have seen hundreds of pics of dolphins.. so the shots can obviously be done. I was able to capture some last year with a 50D and 100-400mm. While still not as close as I would have liked, I was easily able to get the shots.


  1. coffeetime

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2006

    +1

    nice idea but....

    look at the size of that thing... looks like something straight out of hospital x-ray room.


  1. legacyb4

    Mac Elite

    Joined: May 2001

    +1

    Looks more like a portable urinal

    ...


  1. facebook_Dan

    Via Facebook

    Joined: Jul 2010

    -1

    Red

    Just buy a Red Scarlet this fall.....


  1. ASIMO

    Mac Elite

    Joined: May 2002

    -1

    Speaking of dolphins...

    This thing looks like a dolphin, except ugly and retarded looking. h***, in 20 years, I want an iphone to be able to do what Canon expects their cameras to be doing in 20 years, and still take calls and surf for p*** while being chauffeured by ASIMO in my electric Bentley.


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