Contact Lenses, Now with 2.8x Wink Zoom
What Would a 'True' Digital Rangefi nder Be Like?
T
he sight device of the future, these
contact lenses were developed by
scientists at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
De Lausanne (EPFL) to aid the visually
impaired. Each of the lenses gives a
2.8x zoom. This is done by using a thin
refl ective telescope embedded into the
lens. Small mirrors are used to bounce
light around, thus magnifying the view
for the wearer. Despite this the lens
remains 1.55mm thick.
The zooming function is controlled
by winking. Winking the right eye gives
users the 2.8x zoom, while winking the
left eye takes you back to a 1x zoom.
To do so, it uses a special light polarising
technology that switches the contacts
between the normal and telephoto mode.
A statement by the researchers says,
"It's very important and hard to strikea balance between function and the
social costs of wearing any kind of bulky
visual device. There is a strong need for
something more integrated, and a contact
lens is an attractive option."T
hat is exactly what new startup
Konost aims at fi guring out with their
cameras. Where these cameras will differ
from the Leica digital rangefi nders, is that
the Leicas still use a mechanical range
fi nder system
of mirrors and
prisms. Konost
wants to create
the rangefi nder
digitally by
using a sensor
that gives you
a digital image
overlay to
aid focusing.
You won’t be mistaken if you think this
sounds a little too close to what Fujifi lm
X100 cameras can do. However, sinceKonost won’t launch till at least 2016,
we still have a year to wait and fi nd out
the difference.
The cameras will launch as three
versions—FF (Full frame), AP (APS-C)
and Junior
(1-inch sensor).
The FF and AP
cameras will have
aluminum alloy
construction,
RAW capture,
a Leica M lens
mount, and ISO
from 100–6400.
Junior, on the
other hand, can only shoot JPEG, has a
plastic build, features a fi xed 35mm f/
lens, and only has auto ISO.Konica Minolta's Training
Program for Customers
K
onica Minolta conducted a Colour
Management Seminar for its customers
in Bangalore. The program shared details
with customers on how they can maintain
the consistency and reproduce accurate
colour. It strove to solve the various queries
from customers about fi le generations,
formats and the fi nal printed outputs.
The seminar was aimed at teaching
customers the best ways to create colour
profi les and set parameters for their fi les.28
KEM Photo Contest
Winners Announced
T
he winners of Diopter, a photography
contest by the students of KEM Hospital
and Better Photography, were declared on
4 March. The theme of the contest was Street
Photography–Friendship. In addition to the
grand prize winner, Shreyas Mandhare, fi ve
runners-up were also announced. They are
Akshaj Sharma, Apoorva Bhaga, Dr Mansij
Biswas, Mubasshir Sayed and Yash Kedia.
All the winning images will be showcased on
http://www.betterphotography.in.the grand prize winning entry shows two friends
relaxing after a game of gully cricket.Despite fi tting a zoom module into the lens, it still
remains much tinier than a coin.Shreyas MandhareImage Source: Eric Tremblay and Joe Ford (EPFL)SNAPSHOTSBETTER PHOTOGRAPHY APRIL 201528