Sony patents sensor for a light-field photography camera

Sony is rumored to be working on a light-field photography camera that might take on the Lytro Illum camera, which was announced earlier in 2014.

One of the most innovative companies in the digital imaging world is Sony. The Japan-based company revealed some interesting products in 2013 and it is planning to launch even more in the near future.

The latest Sony patent is describing an image sensor that would be able to capture refocusable shots. Light-field photography is no longer a novelty and it has managed to gain more traction in the digital world.

Either way, it appears that Sony is ready to launch a dedicated light-field photography camera, making this a very exciting part of the digital imaging market.

Sony patents image sensor aimed at an innovative light-field photography camera

This is the patent describing Sony’s light-field image sensor. It could make its way into a dedicated camera soon.

Curious eyes and minds have discovered a Sony patent describing a light-field sensor that could be added into a future camera. The device would have to be built with the sole purpose of capturing photos that can be refocused at a later time.

The sensor has been patented in the United States and it would be an evolution of the Lytro technology, which is available in the new Illum camera.

Sony is claiming that the pixel arrangement in its sensor will be different from the Lytro’s arrangement, which is referred to as “useless”.

Embracing a “stereo function” is the cause of the decrease in resolution and quality of light-fields, says the patent. However, Sony’s sensor is said to fix these issues, so we may be capable of capturing refocusable shots at a higher quality in the near future.

Lytro officially announced Illum light-field camera earlier this year

Earlier this year, Lytro introduced Illum. It consists of a larger, dedicated camera that features a “40-megaray” sensor, a fast image processor, and an 8x optical zoom lens offering a 35mm focal length equivalent of 30-250mm.

The Lytro Illum will begin shipping at the end of August 2014 for a price around $1,500. This light-field camera is available for pre-order at Amazon for the aforementioned price.

Meanwhile the company is rumored to be working on an Android-powered camera that will become official during the third quarter of 2014.

By the looks of it, the light-field market is about to grow, meaning that things are about to get really interesting, so stay tuned for more information!