Looking back on a promising year for cameras

The article is in the 2017 summation series of technology giants in the world. Invite readers interested in following this series here Looking back at the year 2017 of technology giants in the world.

Digital photos are facing changes. The fact is that with some cameras coming out in 2017, the change has begun. Last year we were an exciting year for the camera, but the past 12 months have also shown more clear signs of fundamental change in photography. And most of them come from the advancements of computer software and photography.

Look at the 360-degree camera for ordinary users. Professionals have spent many years creating high-end VR products using high-resolution 360-degree cameras, but ordinary users still have to wait. Samsung's second-generation Gear 360 released this year is cheaper, faster and captures higher quality photos. Even so it is still quite boring. Meanwhile, Essential Phone's 360 camera records video very badly and works unstable.

But when these 3 cameras appear, everything is different: Insta360 One, GoPro Fusion and Rylo . All 3 give perfect 360 degree products. The companies that created these cameras exploited the fact that we still watch videos in rectangular form so instead of using 360 cameras to shoot raw 360 videos, they are rotating in spherical form and from there to adjust.

GoPro has become the choice for both professional videographers

These cameras 'way of working first, taking the following frame' is the core. The camera turns in many directions and when viewed again, you can take the frame as if you were behind the whole scene and decide where to shoot. Not only does it help ensure you don't miss anything, this way also opens up many creative opportunities. There are also many other useful approaches to GoPro Fusion, for example, with videos of 'small planets' or modes that make the camera look like it is in front (or next to) the subject.

These things all made it possible to shoot 360 degrees on a professional camera, but making a $ 500 camera or smartphone is a big step this year. What's even more interesting is that the potential is still untapped because smartphones use both front and rear cameras. Imagine when shooting, you don't need to focus on the subject anymore because you can cut the picture later? What will our use and relationship with 'pocket cameras' be?

Perhaps you will ask yourself the same questions, especially when leading technology companies are creating countless crazy approaches in their own way, to change the way we take photos with mobile.

Live Photos has become very hot on the iPhone

For example, Live Photos on iOS 11. Previously a cute little feature, now extremely useful and ready to use all the time. With Live Photos, if you miss a scene because someone closes your eyes or moves your child, you can choose another frame. Apple also added the ability to mix frames to create exposure shots.

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And then Google, now a leader in the computer photography revolution. The way they combine multiple photos when you press the shutter button (which started with Google Glass) has blossomed since the launch of Pixel 2 this year, making them the most respected name in today's mobile photography market. .

Surprisingly, Google also brought image processing to the 2nd generation Pixel, making people think about where computer photography will go? Is it possible to remove objects that cover the main subject in the image or quickly color the image?

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Leaving mobile photography aside, not to mention the Light L16 , the camera looks very strange with 16 camera modules, including 3 wide-angle tubes, 3 mid-range tubes, and 3 telephoto tubes. The camera uses computational photography to mix images together, producing images like those taken with tubes of 28-150mm. Again an unprecedented idea of ​​blossoming this year. It may not be long before it appears again on mobile, in fact Light is also working with a secret manufacturer.

Saying that doesn't mean 2017 only has software. There are also many traditional digital cameras that have crossed the boundaries before, like the super-fast Sony A9 and slightly slower twins Sony A7R III. Canon also released the long-awaited 6D Mark II . Nikon has D850.

All the advances these cameras bring are not comparable to the questions posed by computer photography. Will a person who uses a smartphone with a camera turn all the way with a zoom like a telephoto tube? What about a camera that makes anyone in a photo look good?

See more:

1. Compare the best photography smartphones in 2017
2. Admire the short film shot entirely by iPhone X
3. The best camera app for Android