A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for
capturing digital images and a digital processing component for
detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion
blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the
apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the
image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of
nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main
image. In one embodiment the digital processing component determines the
degree of artifacts and whether to inform the user that the image is
blurred by identifying at least one feature in a single preview image
which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the
main image. In another embodiment, the digital processing component
calculates a trajectory of at least one feature in a plurality of preview
images, extrapolates such feature on to the main image, calculates a PSF
in respect of the feature, and informs the user based on the calculated
PSF. In another embodiment the digital processing unit after determining
the degree of blur notifies the photographer of the existing blur or
automatically invokes consecutive captures. In another embodiment, the
digital processing unit determines whether the image quality is
acceptable from real time analysis of the captured image and provides
this information to the user. Such real time analysis may use the auto
focusing mechanism to qualitatively determine the PSF.