Modular System Camera

The SLD Project

The SLD Project is about designing, developing, and creating the Photowebs Modular System Camera. There are many ways you can participate in the advancement of this project.

Learn

I invite you to read the different articles presented to you on this site. If you want more insight about the Photowebs developer's thoughts and musings take a look at the Photowebs Blog.

Contribute

The software side of this project is open source.

If you are an end user, download some of the applications offered to you on this site and try them on your desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone and if you like what you have tried out, or if you have an idea to improve an application, log-in to the Projectfork Software Project and give your feedback.

If you are a software developer and would like to participate in the improvement of a particular Photowebs Application, log-in to the Projectfork Software Project and ask to join the Developer Team for the application(s) of your choice.

If you wish to leave a comment or suggestion on a particular article or blog post, feel free to do so using the appropriate comment widget. Your comments or suggestions need not be positive in nature, they should be at the least constructive.

Sponsor

Most people aren't able to live on love and fresh water alone :) The Photowebs developer is one of those people.

If you like what you see on this site and would like to see this project progress from the virtual stage to the prototype and distribution stages, consider becoming a sponsor of The SLD Project. There are three ways you can do so.

If you are an end-user, a photographer, or just a fan of The SLD Project, consider contributing a sponsorship by visiting the Photo Web's Shop. Depending on your level of contribution, an appropriate token of appreciation will be sent to you.

If you are an advertiser, you can purchase ad banner space on this site, the Photowebs Blog or the Photo Web's Shop sites. You can send an encrypted email to the developer at 4021851sathushmaildotcom and mention ad banner in the subject line.

If you are a chosen or potential component supplier, consider offering samples of the relevant parts needed to complete prototypes of the Photowebs System Camera. Either send an encrypted email to the developer at 4021851athushmaildotcom and mention supplier in the subject line or log-in to the Projectfork Hardware Project and ask to join the supplier list.

Terms and Conditions

The software offered on this site is  open source software released under the GNU/GPL License.

All product images, drawings, and designs directly produced by and for The SLD Project are Copyright 4021851 Canada Inc.

All product images, drawings, and designs directly produced by third party suppliers are the property of their respective owners.

Modular Concept

Photowebs is a modular system camera, which means that by adding or subtracting components from the base camera, the end user creates a different system camera tailored to each particular application.

Base Camera

The Base Camera in it's simplest form is the foundation of this modular system and as such is not a functioning autonomous camera until you add one or more of the following components:

Image Sensor

Each base camera has room for two image sensors; one for each of the base camera's independent sub-systems. The image sensor is a swappable module that can inserted by the end user. Only one sensor module is necessary to make a functioning camera.

LCD Screen

If you do not have a remote computer or smart-phone at hand - with the necessary Photowebs Remote Control software installed - you will need at least one LCD Screen module to act as an MMI (Man Machine Interface). The LCD Screen module is locked in place such as a lens cap and covers the lens opening of one of the base camera sub-systems to make it possible to use the opposite sub-system as a single functioning camera.

Lens system

The Photowebs System camera has it's own proprietary SE mount lenses. The only moving parts in a Photowebs lens are those necessary to adjust the aperture.

Each Photowebs system camera has it's own sensor-based focusing system which also adjusts the back flange distance of the lens presently being used, making it possible to adapt nearly any lens with an appropriate lens adapter.

Photowebs lens adapters leverages the lenses' filter thread  to make a two part lens adapter capable of inserting appropriate legacy lenses inside the camera. Larger lenses not capable of being inserted in the camera can be attached outside the latter using the Photowebs SE lens mount and SE-mount lens adapters.

Some of the features common to all base camera configurations are as follows:

Sensor-based auto-focus system: the image sensor module is set on a linear motion system enabling auto-focus capabilities when using legacy manual focus lenses and SE mount lenses.

In-camera aperture control ring drive: automatic aperture ring control is enabled via adapter on select manual focus lenses with an outside diameter up to 60 mm and with a total length up to 120 mm. SE mount lenses also use this aperture control drive without the need of an adapter.

Post-Processing unit

On its own, the Post-Processing Unit is a x86-based desktop-replacement mobile computer. As such it handles the post-processing duties of the RAW files created by the Photowebs cameras.

When two Base Cameras are attached to the opposite ends of the Post-Processing Unit, the latter is transformed into a multi-functional, multi-lens 2D and 3D system camera.

Optional Modules

Remote-viewfinder

 If you do not have a remote computer or smart-phone at hand - with the necessary Photowebs Remote Control software installed - you will need at least one remote-viewfinder module to act as an MMI (Man Machine Interface). The remote-viewfinder is locked in place such as a lens cap and covers the lens opening of one of the base camera sub-systems to make it possible to use the opposite sub-system as a single functioning camera.

As an alternative, you can install the included lens mount cap and use the processor based remote-viewfinder as a remote control.

LCD Remote

This unit is similar to the viewfinder remote. The eye-level viewfinder is replaced by a a 2.8" LCD panel.

Ring Flash

When attached in front of a Photowebs lens or lens adapter, the battery powered, Bluetooth enabled ring flash offers flash illumination suitable for macro photography. The sensor-based focusing system of the base camera makes it possible for any lens to work in macro mode.