Explanation of SynthCam app

Explanation of synthetic aperture photography and the SynthCam app for the iPhone 4, 3GS, and iPod Touch 4G. This app is available in the iTunes app store for free. For my second video, explaining multi-point and tilt-shift focusing, look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1tLoFVl6a8. The SynthCam app and these videos were created by Marc Levoy. Also check out the app's web site: http://marclevoy.com.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• synthcam
• synthetic
• aperture
• photography
• depth-of-field

[diesel828]

The problem is that it doesn't work that well. Even the subject is slightly blurry and it's not very sharp. Regardless of how slowly you move, or if you keep it on a perfect plane without tilting (I used a small sheet of glass), it just doesn't produce sharp photos. The subject is usually less blurry than the background, of course, but blurry nonetheless.

[marclevoy]

@diesel828 - You might not be aiming at a feature with sufficient texture for the tracker to lock on. If you send me an image (synthcam@gmail.com), I'll try to diagnose your problem. -Marc Levoy

[widdma]

Really neat idea and a nice app! With a bit of practice you can get some pretty nice pictures.

Would it be possible to account for rotations in the plane of the image (ie. about the iPhone's z-axis) using the gryos?

I look forward to future versions!

[marclevoy]

@widdma Thanks for the nice comment. Yes such a correction is possible. The accelerometer suffices, because if time-averaged it gives an accurate gravity vector. I have implemented this correction in version 1.1, which should be available in iTunes within a day or so. It can correct for roll (rotation around Z) and pitch (rotation around X), but not yaw (rotation around Y). The gyro or compass might help for this; I'm looking into it. -Marc

[BedededeII]

This app record a video? Or is a simple image? Answer! Buy

[marclevoy]

@BedededeII - The app captures video, but combines the images on the fly. The output is a single image, but with the bokeh of a single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera.

[MsJlopez2]

Wow I didn't know how to do this or use this app now I do kool so how do yu get rid of the bokeh I don't want that little black box there ?

[glenneu]

Works great with a bit of practice! Amazing app you made there!

[tunemon]

Neat, Complete & can't be beat.

[Rallynumanair]

I just got this app and this video helped me figure out how to use it. You explain the concept clearly (it's a neat concept and a good execution).

[j0sephcarthur]

I just bought this app for my iphone. Will it also work for my IPAD 2? will it work any better? will the ratio user interface be greater.. other than having a small iphone size ui?



[shesdoinit]

i bought this app today. genius. thank you!

[samin2012]

nice idea....