Multi Target Auto Focus Technology
The digital camera automatically decides seven points of focus and executes high-speed continuous shooting. It is possible to take pictures from close-in to infinity in one go.
What is multi target auto focus technology
Multi target auto focus is a technology that enables a digital camera to automatically decide seven points of focus and execute high-speed continuous shooting. It is possible to take pictures from close-in to infinity in one go.
For instance, there are plum blossoms and a torii in photographs 1(a) and (b). Previously, to focus on both, you would have had to shoot two or more pictures while changing the point of focus. With this new technology, the digital camera focuses on each subject automatically and only one push of the shutter is needed to take pictures.
Since this technology allows the digital camera to focus on many subjects automatically, the incidence of useless pictures in which nothing is in focus is reduced.
For instance, there are plum blossoms and a torii in photographs 1(a) and (b). Previously, to focus on both, you would have had to shoot two or more pictures while changing the point of focus. With this new technology, the digital camera focuses on each subject automatically and only one push of the shutter is needed to take pictures.
(a) Focus on the torii
(b)Focus on the plum blossoms
Photo 1: Focusing on each subject automatically and taking pictures only by pushing the shutter once
Click here to view large images
In multi target AF technology, the picture is divided into two or more areas, and the digital camera obtains focus points of each area as shown in Figure 1. From the focus points of many areas, the digital camera decides which focus points to use.Since this technology allows the digital camera to focus on many subjects automatically, the incidence of useless pictures in which nothing is in focus is reduced.
Multi target AF prevents misfocusing in macro mode
Multi target AF is also useful for macro mode. Even if subjects have great depth, the digital camera with multi target AF focuses on seven points and takes pictures when the shutter is pushed only once. When pictures are played back, the digital camera indicates the areas focused.
Figure 2 is an example of indicating the areas focused. The digital camera superimposes rectangles on a focused yellow flower in Figure (a), on a focused purple flower in Figure (b) and on a focused background in Figure (c). It is possible to select the areas that you wish to focus on by using this indicator.
No matter how great the depth becomes (from 1cm to infinity), the digital camera focuses each subject automatically and takes pictures when the shutter is pushed only once. It is possible to select preferred pictures later.
Figure 2: Example of focus point indicator
Pictures 2 (a) - (b) are examples of pictures with great depth. In Picture (a), bears and Santa Claus are focused. In Picture (b), a sled, a coin and a dog are focused.
Figure 2 is an example of indicating the areas focused. The digital camera superimposes rectangles on a focused yellow flower in Figure (a), on a focused purple flower in Figure (b) and on a focused background in Figure (c). It is possible to select the areas that you wish to focus on by using this indicator.
No matter how great the depth becomes (from 1cm to infinity), the digital camera focuses each subject automatically and takes pictures when the shutter is pushed only once. It is possible to select preferred pictures later.
Figure 2: Example of focus point indicator
Pictures 2 (a) - (b) are examples of pictures with great depth. In Picture (a), bears and Santa Claus are focused. In Picture (b), a sled, a coin and a dog are focused.
(a)Focusing on a far point
(b)Focusing on a near point
Photo 2: Example of great depth
Taking artistic pictures by changing focus points
It is possible to take artistic pictures by changing focus points with multi target AF. Picture 3 features the same scene as Picture 2 but from a different direction. Changing focus points by zooming emphasizes the pictures. Change the focus points from bears with a present, to Santa Claus, children riding a sled, and a dog, and it is like suddenly finding yourself in a miniature world. If you take pictures of a model railway or a miniature house (unsuitable subjects for a large single-lens reflex camera) with a compact digital camera equipped with multi target AF, the result will be new artistic pictures that make you feel as if you were actually in a miniature world.
(a)Focusing on bears with a present
(b)Focusing on Santa Claus
(c)Focusing on children riding a sled
(d)Focusing on a dog
Photo3: Example of zooming and macro mode
Click here to view large images
The proposed technology is applied in the Ricoh CX1 digital camera.