Capturing Digital Images (The Bayer Filter) - Computerphile

How do digital cameras turn light into the data that computers can handle? In this second part of our computer vision series, Image Analyst Mike Pound explains the Bayer Filter.

This video was filmed and edited by Sean Riley.

[xedasxedas]

One thing that's great about this aproach on learning this....is that, after you understand it on this "higher" level it's much more easy to get into the algorithm implementation part and the mahematical part. You get into it with a purpose, with a visual idea of your goal....and spend much more time in the abstract world without losing focus (pun intended).

[jal]

Had an assignment last year to implement a Bayer filter on an FPGA which I failed because my professor couldn't explain what the filter was doing in terms I could understand - he insisted on trying to explain everything in terms of matrices: You've just explained it with perfect clarity in about 5 minutes.
[Tears out hair] University sucks, Computerphile & YouTube FTW.

[aggelosgr]

Almost lost my sleep over how a sensors captures images. I couldn't find any information on how the sensor compensates for the extra green or what happens in the in betweens. This video helped me better understand all of this and even more. Thank you so much!

[TheMan]

Great explanation. Most explanations online provide only a surface level. This answered every question I was grasping for. Thanks!

[trylleklovn]

It might be a good idea to explain the antialiasing filter that tries to prevent demosaicing artifacts by blurring the lines between the color pixels. 

[Disthron]

You know, when I was doing research into how they made color movies before color film was developed I found out that they would split the light beam into it's component colors and they would have 2 or 3 rolls of film all going through the camera at once, taking black and whit film.
They would then tint the film with it's respective color and then put them together. Some times gluing them, some times using a processes to make a kind of stamp. It's pretty interesting.

I'm sure if you wanted to get a more accurate picture you could do something similar and have a beam slitter with 3 separate sensors.

[kacperbardecki]

I've been looking for detailed information like this everywhere. Bryce Bayer bless this video. You guys are the best.

[RodrigoVzq]

this is great. as a photographer and an technician I am loving this series

[Robertlavigne]

Excellent video!! Please bring Mike back for more, He is a very articulate presenter and I would love to see more of him.

[helena]

So many videos just to picture (eheh) the sensores and the filter... I got to Computerphile and understood it in the first minute... I've seen you for my Informatic Security exam, now for my optics exam.... You got it all. Thx a lot

[Sgt_Peppe]

I knew about the bayer filter but it is very interesting to hear about it more in depth. It's almost completely useless for camera operators like me to know, but my god it's so well explained and more knowledge never hurts.

[joshinils]

I want to know more about this. Thank you

[kieferonline]

Very nice graphics in this video. The content of the discussion is very interesting too!

[xarisfil]

I'm studying now electrical and computer engineering and all that technics are part of the courses that I have taken. Very nice presentation Congrats!

[quarkplankton]

I love the whiteboard marker you used, it's so smooth and soothing...I wish all my teachers used it :)

[xavinitram]

More videos about graphics, 3D and CGI please!!!! :D :D Loving it so far!!!

[DanielLopez-upos]

And the Lowered Color Resolution is why Space Probes use a Black and White (Luminance) Camera and then just Physically put a Big Filter infront of the whole camera one Color at a time, so you get the full resolution for each color.

[farazshababi]

U saved me 3 hours before my exam! Thanks

[euphoricanimal]

You should include more simplified diagrams & visuals for better learning. Its a huge topic to cover in a 6 minute video but I think it could've been clearer. Thanks for such informative videos & keep up the good work. (y)

[IstasPumaNevada]

I'm just getting into photography and astrophotography so this is of extra interest to me now (on top of the generally interesting topics that you tend to cover). Thanks!