Multi-focal video fusion with a beam splitter prism

Abstract

This paper addresses the feasibility of using inexpensive, compact consumer-oriented cameras to resolve fundamental issues in capturing video footage of biological interactions in the field for quantitative analysis. The strengths and weaknesses of using a multi-camera beam splitter system to capture closely align video footage and its applications for studying biological interactions are discussed. The strength of the approach is that the closely aligned video streams are readily focal stacked to increase spatial information in a frame. Weaknesses include the limitation of the system in low light conditions where the beam splitter reduces the light captured by the cameras. Our novel system lends itself to incorporation into a camera array to capture large amounts of biological information.