Hitachi might not be known for its image-capture technology, but a new press release details the workings of a lensless camera technology the company is working on that’s capable of focusing the image after it’s already been captured.
The details in the press release are rather verbose, but in its simplest form, Hitachi’s camera uses a specialized piece of film in front of the image sensor to direct the light onto the sensor in a particular pattern.
The information captured by the sensor is then used to reconstruct the image with the help of specialized algorithms. Since depth information is captured in addition to overall exposure, Hitachi says the technology allows the image to be refocused after capture, similar to how Lytro’s light field cameras work, albeit at a much smaller level.
It’s safe to assume the quality of the image won’t be nearly as impressive as those captured with traditional cameras. But Hitachi’s goal isn’t to replace traditional cameras. Instead, Hitachi hopes the small size of these cameras will enable manufacturers to place cameras in places where it was previously unfeasible due to size and weight constraints.
Specifically, Hitachi said it expects the cameras to be used in automated driving, human-behavior analysis, robotics, and mobile devices. Mobile devices could technically be a reference to smartphones, but it’s more likely Hitachi is referencing other handheld devices for more commercial purposes.
This isn’t the first time a lensless camera has been developed. There are already lensless cameras designed for smartphones, but given how small more traditional camera systems have become, the decrease in quality doesn’t make up for the reduction in size.
Fujifilm just gave its most popular instant camera a serious digital upgrade. The Instax Mini Evo 2 now comes with a touchscreen, larger sensor, and a video feature that captures four seconds before each photo. It is set to arrive by the end of November for $289.95.
What's new with the Instax Mini Evo 2?
Full-frame cameras tend to be chunky beasts, but Sigma wants to prove that big imaging doesn't need a big body. Enter the Sigma FP2, the successor to its tiny, boxy fp mirrorless camera. It keeps the same modular design but packs in some serious upgrades, including a 24.5-megapixel partially stacked full-frame sensor, improved autofocus, 6K video recording, and 70GB of built-in storage. Sigma calls it the world's smallest full-frame camera, and while it might be tiny, the same cannot be said for its price tag.
Sigma FP2 brings faster shooting and 6K video
A phone thermal camera is one of those tools you don’t think you need until the first time it saves you from an expensive problem, and the Thermal Master P3 just got easier to try. For Halloween, it’s discounted with the code THERMCAM10, a 10% cut that works out to $107 off the total. It’s also fresh off a win at the 2026 Tom’s Guide AI Awards for best phone thermal camera, which is the kind of third-party nod that separates a serious tool from the cheap clip-on sensors that flood this category.