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When 8 Megapixels Just Isn't Enough

squidfrog writes "AP has an interesting article on a half photochemical, half digital process to produce 2.6-gigabyte photographs at 'more than a thousand times the size and resolution of those generated by a typical digital camera for consumers.' 'A vacuum pump ensures that the film is flat to within one-thousandth of an inch, and a dual-mirror device keeps the film parallel to the lens. Sand bags strapped to the camera and tripod prevent the machine from shifting, and a reinforced aluminum cradle maintains the parts of the camera in perfect alignment.' The images are apparently higher resolution than can be reproduced on available printing technology (5' by 10'), but the designer hopes to use an 18' by 36' digital display wall to reproduce the images at their best possible resolution in the future. The camera has apparently only been utilized for landscape photography thus far."

22 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. wow by narkotix · · Score: 4, Funny

    imagine penthouse printed out in this size format....

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    We played dungeons and dragons for 3 hours.....then i was slain by an elf
    1. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah.. it would be cool - you would need some brown bag to get it out of the shop... and one hell of a big bed to hide it from your mom!

    2. Re:wow by noidentity · · Score: 3, Funny

      imagine penthouse printed out in this size format....

      It's their new response to piracy: make the images so large that it's easier to just buy the magazine.

    3. Re:wow by TheBurningDog · · Score: 1, Funny

      am i the only one thats thinking 'ew'?

    4. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      I guess less traffic is generated by one hand...

  2. Innovation? Bah! by YAJoe · · Score: 1, Funny
    The result was R1, a 110-pound, 6-foot film camera that produces what experts say are some of the highest-resolution landscape photographs ever made.
    110lb, 6 foot camera? This smells like innovation. I'll wait for Dell's model.
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    1. Re:Innovation? Bah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dell's model will be a dark gray, "curvy" 6.2-foot film camera that produces what experts say are images "a couple times larger than a 1152x768, but a little blurry". But it will only be 54 pounds because it will be built entirely out of cheap plastic.

  3. Yeah right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The camera has apparently only been utilized for landscape photography thus far.

    1. Re:Yeah right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Well, *technically*...

      I mean, I suppose "into every single open window facing Queens on that entire side of the Manhattan island skyline" is a kind of landscape...

    2. Re:Yeah right... by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Whoever said some of those landscapes didn't contain a girl and a pony?

      KFG

  4. Interesting, but... by WegianWarrior · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...110lbs of camera, vacumpump, sandbags and a specially reinforced cradle? Me think we won't see this kind of sofistication (and stunning pictures) from a consumerlevel camera anytime soon. Or at all, as he rightly points out in the article.


    Maybe as well - a 5'x10', sharply focused photo of my own fingertip wouldn't be all that interesting ;)

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  5. Room Sized Computers by Deliveranc3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Remember them, just another thing japanese business men will have on their keychain in a few years.

  6. Family portraits by tfbastard · · Score: 2, Funny

    And I thought normal-sized family portraits were bad enough...

  7. 2.6gb file online? link posted on slashdot!!?? by Whitecloud · · Score: 3, Funny

    luckily his website doesnt have a 2.6 gigabyte image file...slashdot crowd + 2.6gb file = *shudder*

    if anyone has a sample of the mountain picture post a link.

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    Do you need a website upgrade?

    1. Re:2.6gb file online? link posted on slashdot!!?? by Monoman · · Score: 2, Funny

      "luckily his website [cliffordross.com] doesnt have a 2.6 gigabyte image file...slashdot crowd + 2.6gb file = *shudder* "

      Shudder! LOL. I get it.

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  8. Released in 2006? by JC-Coynel · · Score: 5, Funny

    2.6GB files would be perfect to use as a wallpaper in Longhorn.

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    --JC
  9. 110 lbs, eh? by cei · · Score: 3, Funny

    Finally, a compact camera. Beats lugging around a 235 lb Polaroid for those snapshots you always want to take on vacation.

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  10. Imagine... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    the Goatse Guy and Tubgirl in this high resolution!

    Actually, I couldn't. I just couldn't. I felt sick even thinking of imagining them. You?

  11. Re:Pr0n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    For some reason the words "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" come to mind...

  12. The obligatory porn comment by doktorstop · · Score: 1, Funny

    I want all my "pictures" private folder to be this size!

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  13. Great... by uarch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Great, I can see it now...

    100 lb sandbags, the next must-have accessories for your 3oz, matchbox sized camera.

  14. Re:2.6gb by stephenbooth · · Score: 4, Funny

    Already got one. I have a method of storing in excess of a Gb of information on a 60mmx60mm piece of porous plastic less than 1mm thick by coating one surface of the sheet with gelatin into which is embedded silver halide crystals and certain other chemicals. Currently it's Write Once only (WORM) but given the small size and very low cost I do not see this as a problem, infact given the durability (if stored correctly) of this material I believed that it would be excellent for use as a medium to long term storage solution. No electric power or electronics are required in the storage or reading of the media, although methods using both exist and some users may prefer to use them.

    I think I'll call it........film.

    Stephen

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