The unique Panono uses
36 3-megapixel sensors to capture fun 360° panoramic images.
LAS VEGAS—It's been a slow CES on the digital camera side of things, but there's at least one product here that's a truly original concept. The Panono is a sphere with 36 3-megapixel image sensors placed around it. Throw it up in the air and it captures a single image, stitched together from all of those sensors. A quick bit of multiplication tells you that the final product is a whopping 108 megapixels.
There's a lot more to a camera than sheer pixel count, but the resolution does get you a spherical image that
you can spin around (via your Web browser or a special app on your tablet or
phone) and zoom into to see more detail. The image quality isn't top-end; the
test shots I've seen show a lack of dynamic range and some softness exhibited
by the fixed-focus lenses that the device uses. But the cool factor of
capturing a scene in a new way is there. You can judge for yourself if the
image quality makes you happy by checking this sample image that the inventor
of the device, Jonas Pfeil, captured today outside the Las Vegas Convention
Center where CES is being held.
you
need more light in order to keep the shutter speed quick enough to throw the
ball up in the air and get a blur-free shot. But you could place it on a
surface and use the Android or iOS app to trigger the device for a longer
exposure (the Panono supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), use a special stick
accessory or monopod to hold it steady in the air, or opt for a tripod if
desired.
The current working version of
the camera is a prototype that Pfeil designed and built as part of his Master's
thesis at the Technical University of Berlin. It's a large green ball that
looks like it could be used for soccer in a pinch. The inventor stated that he
wanted to capture images in a unique way that encompasses the entire scene,
including the photographer, without having to sacrifice candid moments to take
a group photo.
The production model (pictured above) is going
to be smaller, and can be had in an all-black design or a black and green color
scheme. The company is raising funding via Indiegogo, and has already achieved
its $900,000 goal. You can still pre-order a Panono ball through this Saturday
for $499. When it hits retail it will sell for $599. The target release date is
this September.
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