Story perspectives

CMU's Lens Breakthrough Promises Revolution in Photography

12/30/2025

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) developed a lens technology that enables multi-distance focus.
The system, called spatially-varying autofocus, uses a Lohmann lens and a phase-only spatial light modulator for per-pixel lens adjustment.
It employs two autofocus methods: Contrast-Detection Autofocus (CDAF) and Phase-Detection Autofocus (PDAF).
Although not yet commercially available, the technology could revolutionize photography and aid microscopes, virtual reality, and autonomous vehicles.

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Story summary

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) developed a lens technology that enables multi-distance focus.
The system, called spatially-varying autofocus, uses a Lohmann lens and a phase-only spatial light modulator for per-pixel lens adjustment.
It employs two autofocus methods: Contrast-Detection Autofocus (CDAF) and Phase-Detection Autofocus (PDAF).
Although not yet commercially available, the technology could revolutionize photography and aid microscopes, virtual reality, and autonomous vehicles.