Distance estimation method based on handheld light field camera

A distance estimation method based on a handheld light field camera, comprising the following steps:

• S1:
• extracting parameters of alight field camera, comprising a focal length, a curvature radius, a pupil diameter, and a central thickness of a main lens of the light field camera, and a focal length of a microlens array of the light field camera;
• S2:
• setting a reference plane and a calibration point, wherein the calibration point is set on an object whose distance needs to be estimated, and obtaining a distance between the reference plane and the main lens;
• S3:
• refocusing a collected light field image on the reference plane, to obtain a distance between the main lens and the microlens array of the light field camera, and recording an imaging diameter of the calibration point on the refocused image;
• and
• S4:
• inputting the parameters of the light field camera that are extracted in step S1, the distance between the main lens and the microlens array that is obtained in step S3, and the imaging diameter of the calibration point on the refocused image that is recorded in step S3 to a light propagation mathematical model, and outputting a distance of the calibration point.