A Thought/Idea
As we look forward to a 'resurgence' in ML development (fingers crossed and thanks to a1ex's tenacity) I would like to try out an idea, but first the usual caveat: forgive me if others have thought of this and/or tried it.
The idea is to create a pseudo ND feature using FRSP.
I say pseudo as it it will not behave like a true ND, but, with the right approach it should be pretty good.
I'm aware of a similar, frame averaging, feature in the XF IQ4, eg
https://www.dtcommercialphoto.com/why-the-xf-iq4s-new-feature-update-makes-it-the-most-average-camera-in-the-world/Then there is a slightly different approach in the OMD cameras, ie Livebulb.
If my understanding is correct, the current FRSP goes like this:
1. Enable the FRSP module and set shutter to between, say, 0.2 and 15s
2. Using the FRSP module take the FRSP
3. The FRSP module reads out the LV image into an 'image buffer', which takes about 200ms (say)
4. The FRSP module reads out a DNG to the card, which takes many seconds
5. You can now take another FRSP
My 'idea' is to ask the developers if we could implement the following:
1. Enable the FRSP module and set shutter to between, say, 1 and 10s (say). The module will check shutter times and provide feedback re acceptability
2. Using the FRSP module start taking the pseudo ND FRSP
3. The FRSP module reads out the 1st LV image into the 'image buffer', which takes about 200ms (say). This is a dead time in picture taking, which is why one needs the minimum shutter to be relatively long, eg 1-2s, say
4. The FRSP module now takes the next frame and the previous frame remains in the image buffer
5. Once the second frame is taken, the FRSP module merges the current frame into the image buffer, using a simple median statistic at each photosite
6. The FRSP module carries on doing steps 4 and 5 until the ND time is reached
7. The FRSP module reads out a DNG to the card, which takes many seconds
8. You can now take another FRSP or ND FRSP
Photographers will only need to carry a minimum number of NDs, ie sufficient to get into the 1-10s zone, from where the FRSP ND feature will allow them to 'dial in' longer ND times.
As I'm not a developer or fully understand C coding, I'm not sure how practical the above is. However, if it can be implemented, I believe it will give ML another killer (photography) feature, ie similar to the XF IQ4's frame averaging.