Mirror or Camera: Which is the Truest Reflection of Our Perception?

[shredder666]

Which one is a more accurate representation of the image? (i.e. what we see with our own eye)

I've read that camera's actually flatten out the 3d image, but I have no clue what the consequence of this would be, while I do know that mirrors flip the image but I think that's the only thing that it does.

 

[mishrashubham]

The closest we could get to actual human vision artificially is through stereo cameras which have two lenses and produce 3d images.

 

[|squeezed>]

The two cases that you describe work in more-or-less the same way. "Modern cameras" also use a special kind of mirrors, called pentamirrors*. The "accurate" representation of an image depends on many parameters.

*High-end cameras use pentaprisms. Pentamirrors are used in order to decrease the cost. Mirrorless cameras have been recently introduced (~last year).

The only way to get a (peudo-)3d perspective in your photos is by using lenses with very shallow depth of field which allow you to isolate the focused object from its background.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm

 

[mishrashubham]

"Modern cameras" also use a special kind of mirrors, called pentamirrors*.

*High-end cameras use pentaprisms. Pentamirrors are used in order to decrease the cost. Mirrorless cameras have been recently introduced (~last year).

I think what he meant by mirror is the normal plane mirror used in everyday life instead of the pentamirror used inside a camera.

 

[sardar]

Both mirrors and modern cameras have their own unique ways of representing images. However, neither can be considered a completely accurate representation of what we see with our own eyes.

Mirrors reflect light and create a flipped image of the original scene. This means that the left and right sides of the image are reversed. Additionally, mirrors only reflect a limited amount of light, leading to a darker image compared to what we see with our own eyes. However, mirrors do preserve the 3D aspect of the image, allowing us to perceive depth.

On the other hand, modern cameras use a complex system of lenses and sensors to capture and record an image. These images are not flipped like in a mirror, but they do flatten out the 3D aspect of the scene. This means that objects in the foreground and background may appear to have the same level of depth, even though our eyes would perceive them differently. Additionally, the colors and lighting in a camera image may not accurately reflect what we see with our own eyes.

In conclusion, while both mirrors and modern cameras have their own ways of representing images, neither can be considered a completely accurate representation of what we see with our own eyes. As scientists, it is important to understand the limitations of these tools and use them in conjunction with our own observations to gain a more complete understanding of the world around us.