Hawkeye indipendent viewfinder for digital cameras

Summary:
By enlarging a selected area of the picture for the viewfinder, while the camera itself is still aiming at the whole subject, it is possible to take the snapshot at the right moment, avoiding undesired movements of the subject.

Full Description:
With a digital camera, having the possibility of shooting a much larger number of cheaper pictures, I'm trying to improve my photo skills. I realized that there should be a small improvement to apply on this type of camera in order to enable the ordinary photo-amateur, like me, to improve pictures.

Let me explain with an example: suppose you are pointing to human subjects.
The subjects are not so close to the camera because they are many, or because you want also some landscape in the picture, and so you cannot easily observe each movement in the image without an hawkeye.
In another example also children are not steady during snapshots, so sometimes you have to take some continuous shots and discard those that you don't like.
It should be very nice if you could observe some portions (say the faces) of the subjects enlarged, immediately before taking the photo, obviously keeping the original image frame as it was.
Observing the enlarged image you could wait and decide when the subjects are in the best shape for taking the picture.
Obviously you could also tele-zoom on the subjects, return to the original view and shoot, but this takes time and the subjects would move during this process.
I think that this function should be realized on a digital camera with modifications only on the camera firmware.
Indeed I think that when you "zoom" an image the movement of the lenses in the viewfinder is indipendent from the motion in the front lens. That is, there is no mechanical link between the two actions, only two indipendent micro servo actuators for the two set of lenses.
Suppose that setting a "Portrait mode" program with a distance to the subjects (center area) greater than say 2,5 meter automatically enables this new function.
Pressing halfway the shutter button, the camera focuses on the subjects, as usual. Then it "knows" (from Portrait mode + distance> 2,5 m) that enlarged subjects details are needed. So the camera enlarges the subject (center) area only in the viewfinder and displays it. The front lens doesn't move and the camera is ready to capture the original image.
Now all you have to do is to observe the details on the viewfinder (you can still see the full image on the LCD screen) and decide the best moment fully pressing the shutter button. After taking the picture the viewfinder will return in sync with the image from the front lens.

Problem this idea/invention addresses:
When pointing to human subjects, if the subjects are not so close to the camera because they are many, or because you want also some landscape in the picture, so so you cannot easily observe each movement in the image without an hawkeye.

Attached files:
Image_as_is.jpg
Image_crop.jpg

Asking price: [CONTACT SELLER]
Available for consultation? Yes

Invention #10321
Date posted: 2007-09-24


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