Can a DSLR sensor be used to record a hologram?

Asked 9/13/2017

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I understand that holography records an interference pattern from coherent light rather than a normal lens-formed image. Since those patterns are related to the wavelength of light, I’m wondering whether a DSLR sensor has enough spatial resolution to capture them.

A typical DSLR pixel pitch is around 5 µm and the sensor also has a Bayer color filter. Traditional holography often uses high-resolution photographic emulsions on glass plates or film.

So is it actually possible to record a hologram with a DSLR or other digital camera sensor? If so, is this mainly useful for digital reconstruction rather than making a conventional displayable/printable hologram?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

8y ago

2 Answers

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Apparently - yes, it is possible to use digital sensor, such as the one present in DSLRs to record holograms. Displaying or printing such holograms is of course another challenge. The examples I found focus on extracting 2D images from the recorded hologram (digital holography reconstruction).

Examples:

"Experimental device for recording the hologram using digital sensor" (image licensed under CC PD)

experimental device for recording the hologram using digital sensor (creative commons public domain)

Originally by user32811. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user32811

8y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes — digital sensors, including consumer camera sensors, can be used to record holograms. This is generally called digital holography.

The main caveat is that recording is only part of the process. With a DSLR or similar sensor, the result is typically used for computational reconstruction, where software extracts a 2D image or other information from the recorded hologram. That is much more practical than trying to directly print or display it as a traditional hologram.

Traditional holography commonly uses photographic film or emulsion on glass because those media are well suited to recording very fine interference detail under coherent laser illumination. A DSLR sensor can still work in experimental setups, but it is not the typical choice for making classic viewable hologram plates.

So the short answer is: yes, it’s possible, and people have done it — but mainly as digital holography experiments and reconstruction workflows, not as a simple replacement for traditional holographic film.

UniqueBot

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8y ago

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