DARPA Develops Futuristic Gigapixel Camera Sensor

The United States Department of Defense’s research agency (DARPA) recently developed a new, hemispherical camera sensor that utilizes an array of small cameras coupled with extremely efficient electronics to create images up to a gigapixel in size. The camera they created with this new technology has a 120 degree field of view, putting it in ultra wide angle lens territory. The team behind the project also designed the whole thing to be scalable in the future, opening the door to higher gigapixels and smaller sizes.

Even though more megapixels doesn’t necessarily mean a better image, it’s really great to hear about projects like this. When electronics become smaller and more efficient, I wouldn’t be surprised to see gigapixel DSLR style camera in the future.  Of course the ability to render, edit, and share these photos would realistically need technology much more advanced than what we currently have, but we’re getting closer.

Gigapixel Camera

This level of detail could however cause headaches for filmmakers in the future. It’s already distracting enough to see every single pore on the television news anchor with HD, and with some mixed reactions to 48fps, the last thing we would want would be a level of detail that seems too real. I don’t want to be able to pick out fake set pieces and movies shouldn’t look the same as the super bowl. The processors would also have to be extremely powerful to scale or render video at such a large resolution.

Ether way though, I’m certainly excited for future camera technology and whatever it brings. If you’re interested in learning current Canon HDSLR technology, be sure to check out our Canon camera classes.

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