A camera array captures plural component images which are combined into a single
scene from which "panning" and "zooming" within the scene are performed. In one
embodiment, each camera of the array is a fixed digital camera. The images from
each camera are warped and blended such that the combined image is seamless with
respect to each of the component images. Warping of the digital images is performed
via pre-calculated non-dynamic equations that are calculated based on a registration
of the camera array. The process of registering each camera in the arrays is performed
either manually, by selecting corresponding points or sets of points in two or
more images, or automatically, by presenting a source object (laser light source,
for example) into a scene being captured by the camera array and registering positions
of the source object as it appears in each of the images. The warping equations
are calculated based on the registration data and each scene captured by the camera
array is warped and combined using the same equations determined therefrom. A scene
captured by the camera array is zoomed, or selectively steered to an area of interest.
This zooming- or steering, being done in the digital domain is performed nearly
instantaneously when compared to cameras with mechanical zoom and steering functions.