Even more on EDoF - higher tech than you might think

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You'll possibly have spotted some remarks of mine in the comments to yesterday's smartphone spectrum post, in which I referred to Nokia's EDoF cameras as 'cutting edge'. I've written several times (e.g. in my Nokia C7 review part) on how these work, but to emphasise the technology and tolerances involved, check out a post yesterday on Nokia Conversations, in which Damian Dinning waxes lyrical about both the challenges involved in making EDoF lenses and the possible benefits for the end user.

As someone who spends a portion of almost every day reading comments on twitter, discussion forums, tech blogs etc, following the recent introductions of the Nokia E7, C7 and C6, it’s become evident that we need to take time out to explain the technology behind the Nokia Full Focus cameras used in these products.

The big misconception goes something like this. Low tech = cheap = poor performance. Well, let’s explain more and see if that’s the view you have in a few minutes…

Fixed focus cameras have no moving components and have simple cost-driven optics. That’s true. So based on this background, I can understand why people come to such conclusions. After all, fixed focus cameras have been around for years, right? And they’ve always been used in cheap, uninspiring products, right?

However, the only similarity between fixed focus cameras of days gone by and Nokia’s Full Focus cameras is that they have no moving lens elements. That’s where the similarity ends.

More over in the full article.