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We’ve seen mild subject cameras earlier than, such because the Lytro digicam, however Ok-Lens is the primary mild subject interchangeable lens to be accessible for present digital nonetheless and video cameras. The lens is ready to report a grid of photos that include details about the relative distance of various objects within the scene. This data can then be utilized in post-processing to regulate the main target level within the scene, in addition to to simply masks completely different areas to change the brightness and colours of various layers within the scene. The photographs will also be used to create reasonable 3D results that enable us to ‘see round’ objects as the images within the 3×3 grid are all recorded from a barely completely different perspective.
Every picture taken with the Ok-Lens is accompanied by a depth map that exhibits the relative distances from the digicam of various components within the scene. Lighter tones characterize nearer objects, and darker additional
Functions for this sort of know-how embody focus adjustment in video, the creation of 3D content material, dissection of the scene for animation in addition to the power to create shallow depth-of-field results and simpler distance-based modifying—corresponding to masking a background to edit it separate from the remainder of the picture.
What it’s
The Ok-Lens is constructed in three distinct sections that may be seen clearly from the surface. The fromt a part of the lens is of a daily 80mm optical building, however when the sunshine passes via it enters the second part of the lens—the mirror tunnel, which sits had been the sensor in a standard array can be. As a substitute of hitting the sensor although, the centered mild meets a sequence of mirrors within the tunnel which might be positioned at completely different angles to permit every a barely completely different view of the topic. The mirrors, together with the sunshine that passes immediately via the tunnel, create 9 particular person photos that go on to move via the rear part of the lens to the digicam’s sensor. The result’s a grid of 9 photos in quite a lot of orientations, all recorded on a single body. The impact is akin to wanting via a kaleidoscope—therefore the identify ‘Ok-Lens’.
A diagram that exhibits the trail of sunshine because it passes from the entrance of the lens via the mirror tunnel
The important thing a part of the lens is the mirror tunnel, whereas the ahead finish governs the focal size of the system and the rear finish how the scale of the picture matches the sensor dimension in use. I’m informed that altering the focal size is just a query of changing the ahead part, and that, not less than in idea, it’s potential to make this a zoom.
The lens gives a thread on the underside to permit it to be mounted immediately on a tripod. Between the lens and the digicam you possibly can see a Nikon F to Nikon Z mount adapter so I may use the lens on the Nikon Z7
The Ok-Lens thought began out as a mirror tunnel adapter that could possibly be mounted to the rear of a daily lens to suit between the principle lens and the digicam, and which might make any lens into a light-weight subject system. The principle downside with that concept although was mud entering into the mirror tunnel brought on dramatic points with misplaced knowledge. As every picture is just a ninth of the complete space of the sensor even a small piece of mud can occupy a major a part of the picture space. An additional situation was that to ship high-quality depth knowledge a lens must be sharp proper throughout the body because the system depends closely on mild gathered on the edges of the imaging circle, the place high quality fairly often drops off.
The optics used within the Ok-Lens should be of remarkable high quality and the picture must be a lot sharper corner-to-corner than common lenses would produce—which works some technique to clarify why it is so massive. The corporate tried to make use of a smaller lens however discovered the required high quality couldn’t be achieved. The system could be made smaller when used for a smaller sensor, and the corporate is presently engaged on a model for 1in sensors in industrial functions.
Wanting via the entrance of the lens you possibly can see how the picture is split up. Right here the rear opening is mirrored a number of instances within the mirror tunnel
Most mild subject cameras use an array of micro lenses to divide the picture into the constituent components however with this mirror tunnel design the benefit is that it isn’t tied to a seize gadget – so it may be integrated immediately right into a lens that can be utilized on common cameras. The workforce did additionally have a look at utilizing an array of lenses inside the principle lens as a substitute of the mirror tunnel, however that might have required a wholly new idea when it got here to designing the principle lens. Utilizing the mirror tunnel permits present lens designs for use, so the corporate didn’t have to start out the lens design from scratch. The optics within the Ok-Lens are designed by Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH in Germany, who will probably be constructing the entire lens as soon as manufacturing begins.
What does it produce?
The kaleidoscopic view introduced by the Ok-Lens data a grid of 9 photos in numerous orientations and from barely completely different views, all recorded on a single body
Wanting via the viewfinder when this lens is connected to your digicam, you see a grid of 9 photos in numerous orientations—which is usually a little bit of a shock. The recorded image will look this fashion too, on the again of the digicam and in regular software program. When the picture is fed into the corporate’s SeeDeep software program software, it will get analyzed and the 9 photos are used to create a depth map that charts the completely different distances represented within the scene utilizing a spread of tonal values. As soon as that is performed, the ‘regular’ picture and its depth map could be loaded into Photoshop, or any program that enables a depth channel, and we are able to use the depth map to individually edit objects at completely different depths within the scene.
A depth map produced of a tree. Its leaves are behind it so are represented with a darker tone. The wall within the background is darker once more to display it’s additional away
The SeeDeep software additionally combines the data from the 9 photos to create what the corporate calls a Tremendous Decision picture which is half the decision of the full sensor output. With out this selection the ultimate picture can be only one/ninth of the decision of the sensor, which clearly would make the entire train a lot much less worthwhile.
It is also fascinating to notice that the software program can nonetheless create a depth map even when the 9 particular person frames aren’t all entire. That is essential as most cameras will report video from the 16:9 crop of the sensor. The SeeDeep software program can nonetheless generate sufficient depth data utilizing the higher a part of the decrease photos and the decrease components of the higher photos. Some cameras, just like the Lumix S1H, can present video from the entire of the body which clearly offers extra knowledge and a extra correct depth map. Additionally of notice is that when used with the S1H in 5.9K mode the 9 particular person photos created could have HD decision.
What can it’s used for?
Nobody goes to purchase this Ok-Lens and use it as a daily lens, so clients will probably be those that can benefit from the depth data it creates. The obvious makes use of are within the space of depth-based modifying the place the consumer desires to regulate the main target place or add blur to things at sure distances to create a shallow depth of subject impact.
The Lens Blur function in Photoshop can choose up the depth map when it’s loaded as a channel. The function then permits us to click on on the item we wish in focus and permits us to blur the remainder of the scene. On the left is the unique picture, within the heart the main target is shifted to the background and on the precise the main target is on the foreground
When including blur utilizing the depth map the diploma of blur will probably be proportionate to the tonal worth of that space of the depth map, so extra distant objects will mechanically be extra blurred than nearer ones in the identical method actual optical blur seems. The depth map could be adjusted in software program to magnify or cut back the ‘depth’ and objects could be added to, or eradicated from, any distance by altering their tonal worth within the depth map.
Right here I used the depth map to determine the world behind the topic so I may heat it up with out altering the coloration within the topic
The depth data will also be used to isolate particular distances for brightness or shade modifying, so a topic could be warmed and something behind made cool – for instance. In fact this may be performed with regular photos in software program once we create picks, however the thought right here is that the layer masks are mechanically fashioned by the depth knowledge within the depth map. This comes into its personal in video modifying, as creating masks to observe transferring topics and backgrounds is far more troublesome. In video the power to make focus changes can be extraordinarily helpful and might save capturing a scene once more if the main target was missed the primary time. Focus pulls will also be achieved in post-production, which might be inconceivable to do with out the depth data the lens offers.
The colour modifications from body to border within the video above won’t function within the last product.
The completely different views recorded by the lens will also be used within the creation of 3D content material the place reasonable variations in a perspective are sufficient for the required impact. Because the digital baseline for 3D is only one.5cm the lens works finest in 3D with very shut topics and for macro pictures because the baseline will be capable to ‘see round’ objects higher than when topics are additional away. The closest focus distance of the lens is 80cm, however it will also be used with macro extender tubes. Normally although, depth knowledge is most correct and dependable in topics nearer than 10m. The diploma of 3D can be nearly sufficient to create ‘3D’ photos on Fb of the sort some smartphones may also produce from a number of lens preparations.
The digital baseline (the angle shift between photos recorded on the edges of the nine-image grid) is dependent upon the aperture of the lens, the mirror dimensions and the magnification of the pick-up lens. So it is going to be completely different for various focal lengths. The impact will probably be extra exaggerated in longer lenses, as long as the bodily dimension of the iris opening stays the identical.
The corporate says gadgets such because the Lume Pad and Wanting Glass shows additionally work nicely with photos recorded utilizing the Ok-Lens, and 3D results could be considered utilizing Google’s Cardboard. Reduction printing, the place the picture is printed in 3D, can be an software, as is lenticular printing.
In use
The squeezed space of the barrel makes it apparent there’s something completely different about this lens, and that is the place the mirror tunnel is housed. The lens proven here’s a very pre-production model, and the aperture scale is reversed. The longer line although signifies the place the corporate recommends we set the iris – within the 75% closed place
The lens is loads larger and heavier than a daily 80mm after all and it’s best used on a tripod – although it isn’t so awkward it may’t be handheld. Whereas the scale and weight are good causes for tripod use on their very own, one other is the small apertures required to get probably the most from the lens. There’s a scale on the iris however it isn’t marked with f/numbers as the corporate says conventional aperture markings aren’t related. There’s a bigger marker the place the corporate says the lens works at its finest, and that is with the aperture closed to 75%. This delivers an intensive depth of subject and allows the main target to be shifted extra simply in software program afterwards and offers one of the best depth knowledge.
We’re informed that the aperture is only a means to let in mild, to not management depth of subject or out-of-focus highlights, and it’s higher to extend the ISO of the digicam than to open the aperture extra. There isn’t any details about most or minimal aperture settings, however I do know the iris makes use of 15 blades for a extremely rounded aperture.
An elective further, the Ok-Lens monitor mechanically presents solely one of many 9 photos created by the lens. This makes composition and focusing a lot simpler, although it additionally provides to the majority of the system
Wanting via the viewfinder we’re introduced with a kaleidoscopic view of the scene in entrance of the lens. This makes focusing and composition fairly arduous, so we have to enlarge the view till one of many 9 photos fills the finder – the picture on the high left is within the right orientation. Another is to make use of the elective HDMI monitor offered by Ok-Lens which shows this a part of the picture by default.
Utilizing the depth map as a layer masks permits fast and straightforward modifying of areas at completely different distances from the digicam. Right here, for demonstration, I’ve used the masks to make the background darker
When the pictures are fed into the corporate’s SeeDeep software program we get a daily color picture and a depth map returned. I used the Nikon Z7 which has a sensor decision of 45MP. Every of the 9 photos is 5MP, however the software program can create Tremendous Decision photos which might be about half the decision of the sensor, so on this case the Tremendous Decision picture and the depth map are 17.6MP. The Tremendous Decision photos look superb, as they aren’t created by normal interpolation however through the use of all the data within the 9 smaller photos to fill within the particulars that should be added to extend the decision. The identical Tremendous Decision strategies could be utilized to video footage, permitting SeeDeep to supply resolutions of as much as 4K.
Conclusion
The lens hood is fairly uncommon, with a heavy lip on the entrance finish. This one is pre-production and 3D printed however the manufacturing design will keep the identical. I could not get rationalization for its form, however was informed the design was specified by Carl Zeiss Jena as a part of the optical design.
That is clearly a really specialist lens that will probably be helpful in a extra restricted vary of functions than common lenses, however which actually does provide one thing new. The world obtained very excited in regards to the Lytro cameras however the thought was in the end undone not by the shortcomings of the know-how however by reliance on a devoted cameras and the low decision of the pictures it produced. This idea permits customers to make use of the cameras they have already got and all of the options they provide, in addition to far more sensible working resolutions. The truth that any full body digicam can be utilized opens the market to a a lot wider viewers, will increase the incidence by which it may be used and reduces the quantity of studying required.
The lens I used was very pre-production and I couldn’t get to make use of SeeDeep myself, however even in with these limitations I used to be in a position to get an thought of the results that may be created, and the relative ease with which they are often achieved. The Ok-Lens actually has promise and I stay up for seeing what photographers within the subject can create with it. As soon as this one is off the bottom it is going to be fascinating to see what different focal lengths the corporate will provide, and the way the know-how will develop. I’ve been informed that Ok-Lens hopes to have the ability to combine ND filters into the mirror tunnel to allow one-shot HDR imaging by recording a variety of exposures in a single shot – which might be one other helpful function.
This lens is not going to be mass-produced, so consumers can request the mount they need. Preliminary samples are in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, however Ok-lens says most different mounts will probably be straightforward to accommodate
The lens will retail for round €3599/$4199, however could be had at a forty five% low cost with an ‘early fowl’ provide. The elective monitor will value €299/$339, however once more is €199/$229 in the meanwhile. Manufacturing is because of start in January 2022, and delivery will begin in August 2022. For extra data see the Ok-Lens web site and the corporate’s Kickstarter marketing campaign web page.
Press launch:
Ok|Lens unveils the Ok|Lens One, the world’s first mild subject imaging lens, with Kickstarter orders starting on November 29, 2021
Ok|Lens is delighted to announce that the primary orders of its revolutionary Ok|Lens One lens are to be taken on Kickstarter as from November 29, 2021.
The Ok|Lens One, which the Germany-based start-up is designing and producing in cooperation with Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH in Germany, will probably be delivered to clients by summer time 2022.
As a product, the Ok|Lens One has generated huge ranges of pleasure amongst photographers, videographers and 3D artists worldwide due to its ground-breaking mixture of state-of-the-art lens and software program know-how, and its promise to open up new worlds of creativity to customers.
Appropriate for all full-frame cameras, the Ok|Lens One is the world’s first mild subject imaging lens, and it really works for each nonetheless photos and movies. Every picture or video shot with the Ok|Lens One offers the taker with further knowledge no different lens on the earth can provide, specifically wealthy mild subject knowledge within the type of depth maps, level clouds and 9 separate viewpoints of every picture/video.
Contained in the Ok|Lens One, a mirror system initiatives 9 barely completely different views of the scene on the digicam sensor concurrently, like wanting on the scene with 9 cameras on the similar time. The mirror system works equally to a kaleidoscope – therefore the identify Ok|Lens – and successfully offers the consumer the possibility to shoot a scene from 9 viewpoints with just one single publicity.
As soon as the 9 photos or movies are recorded, the consumer can switch them to the pc, the place the actual magic occurs. Bundled with the Ok|Lens One is Ok|Lens’ in-house software program, “SeeDeep”, which calculates the depth in area of each single pixel in each shot, and makes that data accessible in post-processing as depth maps, depth channels and/or level clouds – and it may then be processed in all normal post-processing packages.
The artistic prospects of the Ok|Lens One are limitless: depth-based modifying, focus pulls, re-focusing, prolonged depth of subject and simplified segmentation are just the start. Ok|Lens One pictures and movies are additionally an ideal match for all 3D shows, be it stereo, holographic, or mild subject. As well as, light-field content material could be built-in into net functions to offer for a vivid and full of life consumer expertise. On high of that, customers at all times have entry to a number of views of their scenes to create with.
Matthias Schmitz, CEO of Ok|Lens, stated: “We’re so excited for the world to expertise the Ok|Lens One! Our passionate workforce has been tirelessly engaged on the challenge for 5 years now, and eventually it’s time to unleash this subsequent evolutionary step within the worlds of pictures and videography. The Ok|Lens One will revolutionize how artistic minds take into consideration and produce visible arts, and the way shoppers work together with them, and we are able to’t wait to see the primary leads to 2022!”
The Ok|Lens One Kickstarter package deal comprises the Ok|Lens One mild subject imaging lens with a lens clamp and the Ok|Lens SeeDeep software program. A devoted 5” monitor with native software program to assist in picture composition could be ordered as an add-on.
The Ok|Lens One Kickstarter marketing campaign begins on November 29, 2021, with a brilliant early fowl pricing beginning at €1,799 (presently approx. $2,049). The longer term RRP of the product will probably be €3,599 (presently approx. $4,099).
Hyperlink to the Kickstarter marketing campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/initiatives/k-lens-one/k-lens-one
For extra data, go to the official Ok|Lens web site: https://www.k-lens-one.com
Be aware/disclaimer: Keep in mind to do your analysis with any crowdfunding challenge earlier than backing it. Pledges to crowdfunding campaigns are usually not pre-orders. DPReview doesn’t have a relationship with this, or any such marketing campaign, and we publicize solely initiatives that seem reputable, and which we take into account will probably be of real curiosity to our readers. You possibly can learn extra in regards to the safeguards Kickstarter has in place on its ‘Belief & Security’ web page.
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