Panasonic develops Time of Flight,"PERFECT autofocus system"

[PhotoPhart]

Panasonic determined to carve out a little slice of the action?

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/...-camera-sensor-for-a-perfect-autofocus-system

Panasonic is developing a Time of Flight camera sensor that would deliver "a new PERFECT autofocus system", superior to even the best hybrid contrast and phase detect systems, according to a new report.

While the story states that the new technology is being developed for Panasonic's line of Micro Four Thirds cameras, it would stand to reason that the manufacturer ultimately plans to bring it to the S1 series of full-frame bodies.

"Panasonic is working to on [sic] their ToF sensor from the Vivo Nex Dual phone to implement it on a new AF system in their MFT line!" reports 43 Rumors, quoting a reliable source. "But I am not sure when it will go live

 

[Mark9473]

It's not a camera sensor, it's an AF sensor. More background in the thread on the m43 forum.

 

[jnd]

Is it really new? There are already phones with ToF sensors as well as many advanced laser AF systems. Smartphones got beyond CDAF or PDAF some time ago while dedicated cameras rely only on these two. Panasonic went for DFD instead of PDAF which shows a little more computational approach however the rest of the field doesn't show much advancement.

 

[Jonas Palm]

Is it really new? There are already phones with ToF sensors as well as many advanced laser AF systems. Smartphones got beyond CDAF or PDAF some time ago while dedicated cameras rely only on these two. Panasonic went for DFD instead of PDAF which shows a little more computational approach however the rest of the field doesn't show much advancement.

The major drawback of DFD being that it requires per lens parameterisation, which Panasonic only provides for their own brand lenses.

Basically it kills of third party lens AF compatibility, even with mount partners such as Olympus.

 

[Mark9473]

DFD

kills of third party lens AF compatibility, even with mount partners such as Olympus.

Completely wrong.

 

[Jonas Palm]

DFD

kills of third party lens AF compatibility, even with mount partners such as Olympus.

Completely wrong.

How so?

Note well - I own both Olympus and Panasonic bodies (DFD capable) and Olympus and Panasonic lenses. DFD is not functional with Olympus lenses, the advances they claim with their own lenses (which evaporate a bit in the light of actual use), are completely missing with the Olympus lenses and C-AF is predictably abysmal.

 

[Mark9473]

DFD

kills of third party lens AF compatibility, even with mount partners such as Olympus.

Completely wrong.

How so?

Note well - I own both Olympus and Panasonic bodies (DFD capable) and Olympus and Panasonic lenses. DFD is not functional with Olympus lenses, the advances they claim with their own lenses (which evaporate a bit in the light of actual use), are completely missing with the Olympus lenses and C-AF is predictably abysmal.

You said it 'kills AF compatibility' and that is just wrong.

 

[bob5050]

[...] superior to even the best hybrid contrast and phase detect systems, according to a new report.

Just trying to remember the last time I heard a leak saying "Yeah--we're working on a totally new approach that will be clearly inferior to what's already out there."

IOW, what else would they say?

bob5050

 

[Jonas Palm]

DFD

kills of third party lens AF compatibility, even with mount partners such as Olympus.

Completely wrong.

How so?

Note well - I own both Olympus and Panasonic bodies (DFD capable) and Olympus and Panasonic lenses. DFD is not functional with Olympus lenses, the advances they claim with their own lenses (which evaporate a bit in the light of actual use), are completely missing with the Olympus lenses and C-AF is predictably abysmal.

You said it 'kills AF compatibility' and that is just wrong.

I concede that my language was too sweeping.

That said, everyone and their pet dog can do accurate, and these days pretty fast CDAF. Thus, that’s not where expectations and competition is at. It is reliable face/eye detect and following for both stills and video. Now DFD has serious real world problems with this, but that’s kind of expected as this is a field under development. But what they have, and potential improvements are still limited to those of their own lenses that support it.

Lenses from other manufacturers gain no benefit from DFD whatsoever. Which Panasonic of course (and some "reviewers") fail to point out.

It’s a customer hostile way to sneakily achieve brand lock-in.

 

[zephyrprime]

Does this work the same way as the Xbox Kinect sensor>

 

[BJL]

Is it really new? There are already phones with ToF sensors as well as many advanced laser AF systems.

What's new (if the rumor is true) is bringing ToF AF technology to interchangeable lens cameras. Camera tech evolution is driven by a lot of "trickle up" lately! (Mirrorless being another example.)

 

[PhotoTeach2]

Just another example of what is future/potentially possible w/ ML, (compared to dSLR's limited by "mirrors").

 

[Revenant]

Just another example of what is future/potentially possible w/ ML, (compared to dSLR's limited by "mirrors").

Since a DSLR essentially is a mirrorless camera when you use it in live view mode, there's no AF technology or other sensor-based features that couldn't also be implemented in a DSLR. You can't use the OVF in live view, of course, but that's another matter.

 

[Mika Y.]

Just another example of what is future/potentially possible w/ ML, (compared to dSLR's limited by "mirrors").

While mirrorless offers options that would be difficult or plain infeasible in practical terms to implement on a separate optical path, would this actually technically be one?

(no, I don't really know myself; I'm honestly asking)

 

[Funny Valentine]

Another lie. Panasonic developing ToF autofocus ? Organic sensor ?

No, instead we got a full frame camera that nobody asked for. And the L mount alliance's sells are abysmal: https://www.43rumors.com/looks-like-l-mount-alliance-isnt-going-as-well-as-expected/