When it comes to capturing images, Nokia is pushing their Windows Phone handsets to the edge. The Finnish smartphone manufacturer currently offers the Nokia Refocus app for the existing Nokia Lumia PureView devices such as the Lumia 1520, 1020, 928, 925 and 920 where users can focus on numerous levels from a single image captured.

"The Nokia Refocus app performs similarly to the Lytro camera. The application allows you to shoot between two and eight photos, dependent on available focal planes in view of your shot," the ZDNet report reads. In order to maximize the Nokia Refocus software, smartphone owners are required to move the device closely to focus on the object until it is visually clear with a steady hand and they will have a captured image that can be refocused and shared with others.

"As the camera moves closer to the object, everything becomes clear. That function is designed to help users know how close they can get to an object before taking the shot. The Refocus app is designed for scenes with lots of contrast in the depth of field such as macro shots," Nokia explains.

The Nokia Lumia PureView device owners must be very still during the capture process that takes only a few seconds. The Nokia Refocus will be performing a "focus sweep" and then produce a depth map where computational photography is used.

Using the Nokia Refocus app in capturing an object will be able to result 2-8 images depending on what object is in the view. "Each of the images is five-megapixel resolution and are taken at a different focus that are aligned together to make a single image. The result is that you can tap on any part of the image to shift the focus to that particular spot," the SlashGear report reads.

Additionally, the Nokia Lumia users can have the whole image in focus. The Nokia Refocus app includes other features such as the Nokia Color Pop utility from the other Nokia camera apps where users can select a colour to apply in sections of the image while the rest turns to black and white.

A sharing functionality has been integrated as well in the Nokia Refocus app and the captured images can be shared to SkyDrive with an exclusive page created at Web site refocus.nokia.com. The site will host the shared images and people can interact and change focus straight from their Web browser.

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