I'm an imaging algorithm engineer with four years of ISP algorithm experience at DJI and Insta360. This is my personal project, and I'm trying to find out whether the idea solves a problem people care enough about to buy dedicated hardware. I feel phones and modern cameras are already good enough at general image quality that more ISP tuning has less room to stand out. What I still want to explore is the experience of very shallow depth of field and the way real optics render an out-of-focus background, beyond the look I get from phone portrait modes and everyday lenses. My concept is a 4x5 optical screen-capture camera. A main lens forms an image on a 4x5-inch opaque diffuse white screen, and a small camera inside digitizes the reflected image. It would have a rear touchscreen. The aim is pronounced optical bokeh, not a 4x5 electronic sensor. The pictures are Blender design renders, including the simulated flower image on the display. They show the proposed layout, not proven image quality. Light loss, screen texture, resolution and the final optics still need hardware validation. The planned price is USD 499. That's a target, not a finalized offer; the lens/configuration and delivery timing aren't settled. If the prototypes work and the interest is real, I'd consider crowdfunding. Right now I'm looking for feedback, not taking orders. If you enjoy photography, would a camera dedicated to this look earn a place next to your phone or existing camera? What would stop you buying one at $499? And what evidence would convince you that this is a useful product rather than an interesting optical experiment? I'd especially like to hear what you currently shoot with and the situations where you want more background separation. A specific use case or a clear reason to pass would help more than a polite yes.   submitted by   /u/Substantial-Whole234 [link]   [comments]