Cameras are evolving, quickly. Only a few short years ago did we begin having cameras in our phones, and now you can take HD video from your cellphone, edit the photo with photo editing software on your phone then email it to yourself.
As cameras continue to evolve we are going to see two major trends:
- The End of Megapixel Mania – Most new cameras being released have upwards of 10 megapixels–due to the demand put on camera makers to cram an increasing number of megapixels into their camera. But megapixels alone do not take nice pictures as they can still come out blurry, patchy or dark. Without a good lens to capture the light, megapixels don’t mean much.
Likely what we will see in the coming years is a move away from this megapixel mania, and into a focus on better quality parts like sensors and lenses.
- Software Focus – Now that our cameras and camera phones have onboard computers we will see a new focus on software. Software and apps can fill the gaps in both ability and parts. Soon our cameras will feature software to instruct us on how to take better pictures, and other apps will help us fill gaps in hardware with software.
Currently the Pelican photography company is introducing the following software-led features in its cameras: 3-D depth, gesture control, and an ability to manipulate the image both before the picture is taken and after.
Cameras of the Future
Artefact WVIL
The Artefact WVIL camera is the camera equivalent of the concept car.
The Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens (WVIL) consists of two pieces, a large lens and a second detachable piece about the size of a smartphone. The lens piece combines the lens and sensor together while the body is focussed more on software and being a mini computer that can focus on smartphone-like apps for photographers. Apps that can teach you how to shoot better and that can be used to improve overall picture quality.
Pictures on the Artefact can be shared on the internet, just like smartphones.
Canon’s Wonder Camera
Canon’s concept-car-like camera is their Wonder Camera. The Wonder Camera is a video camera that doesn’t take pictures per se (unless you count stills—which are HD photos), but that takes such high resolution videos that you can zoom into your shot AFTER you leave without losing noticeable image quality. The Wonder Camera is bringing features like mega-zoom, mega-stabilized, and a perpetual-focus lens.