title: Can light-field photography ease focusing on the scalp and oral cavity?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Capturing a well-focused image using an autofocus camera can be difficult in oral cavity and on a hairy scalp. Light-field digital cameras capture data regarding the color, intensity, and direction of rays of light. Having information regarding direction of rays of light, computer software can be used to focus on different subjects in the field after the image data have been captured.
  
  
  METHODS
  A light-field camera was used to capture the images of the scalp and oral cavity. The related computer software was used to focus on scalp or different parts of oral cavity. The final pictures were compared with pictures taken with conventional, compact, digital cameras.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The camera worked well for oral cavity. It also captured the pictures of scalp easily; however, we had to repeat clicking between the hairs on different points to choose the scalp for focusing. A major drawback of the system was the resolution of the resulting pictures that was lower than conventional digital cameras.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light-field digital cameras are fast and easy to use. They can capture more information on the full depth of field compared with conventional cameras. However, the resolution of the pictures is relatively low.
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Departments of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors: Arash
authors: A
authors: Taheri
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Feldman
mesh_terms: D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012535:Scalp / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: camera; depth of field; digital; focusing; light-field; plenoptic