Method and apparatus for hemispheric imaging which emphasizes peripheral content

A system for electronic imaging of a hemispheric field of view includes a camera for receiving optical images of the field of view and for producing output data corresponding to the optical images. The camera includes an optical assembly for producing images throughout a hemispheric field of view for optical conveyance to an imaging device or photographic film. The optical system assembly has lens components that selectively emphasize the peripheral content of the hemispheric field of view. An electronic imaging device within the camera or a film-to-digital date conversion system provides digitized output signals to input image memory or electronic storage devices. A transform processor selectively accesses and processes the digitized output signals from the input image memory according to user-defined criteria and stores the signals in output image memory. The signals in the output image memory can then be displayed according to the user-defined criteria.