New phase detection AF system from Fujifilm

[Doug Kerr]

The Fujifilm F300 EXR and Z800 EXR compact cameras use a new phase detection AF system in which the AF detector sensels are scattered among the other sensel detectors on the image sensor itself.

This article gives a good glimpse at the principle:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1008/10080505fujifilmpd.asp

(The first illustration is dreadful.)

I think this can be a very important development, potentially leading to very fast AF in mirrorless, EVF cameras. I'm sure we will see other chicks of this genre hatch shortly.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

The Fujifilm F300 EXR and Z800 EXR compact cameras use a new phase detection AF system in which the AF detector sensels are scattered among the other sensel detectors on the image sensor itself.

Fuji's specialty has been to make specialized sensels, and that's the key to their long standing use of sensels just for luminance.

I think this can be a very important development, potentially leading to very fast AF in mirrorless, EVF cameras. I'm sure we will see other chicks of this genre hatch shortly.

A great possibility. I wonder how their patents might limit Canon, Nikon and the rest? To me, the chances are that computational approaches to lens focus is going to be more important. before each lens leaves the factory the camera will be blessed with a firmware that provides such complete data on each lens, that focus can be redrawn exactly according to finger gestures define what needs it on the LCD screen. This will be all worked out for cell phones before mirrorless cameras.

Asher