This DSLR Add-On Will Bring The Power of a Lytro (And More) to Your Camera

Researchers from Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany have proposed quite an awesome attachment for the standard DSLR that would bring the power of a Lytro and more to the cameras already in the marketplace. Their design proposes a configurable, removable camera add-on for high dynamic range, multispectral, polarization, and light-field imaging called the KaleidoCam. And it works.

"We propose a non-permanent add-on that enables plenoptic imaging with standard cameras which we refer to as KaleidoCamera. Our design is based on a physical copying mechanism that multiplies a sensor image into a number of identical copies that still carry the plenoptic information of interest. Via different optical filters, we can then recover the desired information. A minor modification of the design also allows for aperture subsampling and, hence, light-field imaging. As the filters in our design are exchangeable, a reconfiguration for different imaging purposes is possible. We show in a prototype setup that high dynamic range, multispectral, polarization, and light-field imaging can be achieved with our design."

You should check out all the details and information regarding their project at their website. This is amazing technology and if the Lytro's tech surprised you, the KaleidoCam will change the way you think of photography if it ever comes to market.

Seriously. You have to check out their full project. It's amazing. I only wonder how this affects image quality or the way that we are used to shooting with a DSLR.

[Via Gizmodo]