Smartphone cameras have improved tremendously over the years. From devices that were used only in last-resort situations, our handsets are quickly replacing point and shoot cameras for a lot of users.
In 2011, the iPhone grew to become the most popular camera on Flickr. Last year, top of the line devices moved to backside-illuminated sensors allowing for smartphone cameras to perform noticeably better in low light. In 2013, optical-image stabilization is becoming a common feature improving night shots and video.
Further on, we expect to see even more revolutionary advances in smartphone cameras in the following areas:
- faster auto-focusing
- Lytro-like technology that will allow you to choose your focus after you shot the image
- live HDR and a lot more processing happening on the device
- double the low-light performance
- DSLR-like dynamic range- an always connected camera
We'll take a look at all those in the
next pages, so stick with us and don't forget to take a look at our conclusion to see what the ultimate
cameraphone of the future may look like.
What the future holds for smartphone cameras
What the future holds for smartphone cameras
1. MEMS cameras should bring much faster auto-focus to smartphones
2. You'll be able to select the focus after you take the image like in Lytro cameras
3. The Lytro effect can happen in various ways
4. Nvidia's upcoming Chimera on Tegra 4/4i will bring live HDR
5. Chimera is a powerful and open photographic engine
6. Dynamic range could improve with a new type of 'Binary Pixel' sensors
7. Low light performance could double if we ditch the Bayer filters
8. Here is the Panasonic Color Splitters technology that will make this possible
9. MEMS cameras are much better than our current smartphone camera technology
10. Working MEMS prototypes were shown at MWC, and they could be coming soon
