Flat Lens Technology

[boojum]

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You may have seen this, perhaps some have not. Currently working only in the infra-red spectrum but expandable to the light spectrum.  This is pretty exciting.  Is Leitz working on a version?  Or how about other lens manufacturers?  This may be the future of lenses.  Imagine, a lens thinner than a drink coaster.

https://scitechdaily.com/mit-engineers-completely-flat-fisheye-lens-this-isnt-just-light-bending-its-mind-bending/

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[farnz]

The key point here for me is that the flat lens is only working in the infra-red spectrum so there's no way to tell whether the optical aberrations that complex camera lenses correct have been corrected by the flat lens because none of us can see in the infra-red spectrum.  It would be interesting if did correct aberrations effectively but I won't be holding my breath.  All good stuff though.

Pete.

 

[boojum]

2 hours ago, farnz said:

The key point here for me is that the flat lens is only working in the infra-red spectrum so there's no way to tell whether the optical aberrations that complex camera lenses correct have been corrected by the flat lens because none of us can see in the infra-red spectrum.  It would be interesting if did correct aberrations effectively but I won't be holding my breath.  All good stuff though.

Pete.

 

All true.  But do you remember how puny the original transistor was?  It was a proof of concept that attracted a lot of research and look at the industries which have grown from this simple first effort.  IIRC the team with this flat lens technology is working on a visible light lens.  We cannot predict the speed of progress but we can be sure there will be progress.  Remember what Adm. Grace Murray Hopper used to say about computers?  Words to the effect that what we saw then was nothing, that we were just at the edge.  We have pocket computers that make phone calls, take photos and movies, keep records and do a host of other things.  All in a slim shirt pocketable computer.  Consumer photography will never be the same.  What will it do in Leica World?  This is exciting stuff, at least for me.  I hope they come in an M mount.

Edited September 21, 2020 by boojum