I'd be interested if this lens would transmit more light than a traditional lens stopped down to f/13 and focussed to hyperfocal distance. If that's the case, it could find application in photography for low-light photography.
Not sure I understand this statement.
The depth of field spans a distance both in front and back of the focussing range where all objects are in equivalent focus. To focus all objects of interest spanning a set of ranges, the appropriate approach is to focus on an element roughly in the middle of the set, then increase the depth of field until all elements are in roughly equivalent focus. One does not focus at the hyperfocal distance and step everything down.
If all objects are at or beyond the hyperfocal distance, one can focus the lens to infinity and be done with it. All objects will remain in focus regardless of the size of the aperture as all rays incident on the lens from a given object are quasi-parallel.
EDIT: Quasi-parallel from the object, not quasi-parallel to the optic axis.
It depends on the focal length, the chosen aperture, and to some extent on the resolution of the camera.
What I want to say is, if these new lenses transmit light at a high rate (let's say 1:2.8) while being hyperfocal from 0 mm to infinity all the time, you could take pictures at night more easily without having to focus or stop down to get larger scenes fully in focus.
Thus being actually useful in traditional photography.
Landscape photography could be another application.
