Comments on: Stanford Photo Scientists are Teaching the Camera New Tricks

By: brukins

brukins — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

Let me play …
Let me play Armchair skeptic for a few more minutes
Desire:
100% customizable and hackable device with a full lists of parts & exploded embly drawings.
Result 50% of Desire

Reasons for shortfall:
Limited appeal of device
High cost of research means Researchers
a. Must much go commercial with the project in short order
b. Must retain some propriety rights with which they can barter.

By: stereoroid

stereoroid — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

Some of this is …
Some of this is already commercially available e.g Pentax already has in-camera HDR (K-7). In general, I agree it’s about time cameras were opened up to hackers, just as we’re seeing with music hardware, such as Arduino-based effects pedals (OpenStomp, MIDIfoot).

By: olschoolrider

olschoolrider — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

The difference is …
The difference is that it would be legal. Others are great but, they are hacks. I’d love to add features to my new 500D but don’t know where to start. I looked at the CHDK and it’s not trivial…

By: brukins

brukins — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

I concur but I was …
I concur but I was speaking to the point of the Firmware on Commercial DigiCams being closed it is only true in part. Canon especially has released the SDK to it DigiCams into the Wild Since the early days of the DSLR and 1st gen was based a slightly modified well researched OS.

By: RobTFirefly

RobTFirefly — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

There’s a …
There’s a difference between hacking a proprietary off-the-shelf unit, and building a new platform from the ground up that is made specifically to be hackable.

Both are valid, but the latter is truly revolutionary in the field of digital photography. This is very exciting!

By: macianG5

macianG5 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

yeah! Finally some …
yeah! Finally some REAL development in photography. I’m very excited!

By: brukins

brukins — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

True I like how the …
True I like how the professor told a little lie.
They just made a more complete programmable camera.
There are many hacks been sold and given away already, some even making use of Large Format over a stock Sensor with just OTS Parts.

Still this is good if it sees production a reasonable price.

By: shinji257

shinji257 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

Actually alot of …
Actually alot of canon cameras can be hacked by hooking into the debug firmware segments. Search “CHDK” on google and take the first hit.

By: heritagekeymedia

heritagekeymedia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

Pretty awesome. We …
Pretty awesome. We can’t wait!!

By: eastmanweb

eastmanweb — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:22 +0000

This idea of …
This idea of changing the focus after you take the picture is brilliant.