Light's L16 camera challenges DSLRs with 16 lenses in one package

[XTankSlayerX]

 

Photography startup Light has launched L16, which the company's calling a "a multi-aperture computational camera," at the Code/Mobile conference. It's named L16, because it's equipped with 16 individual lenses, though unlike bulky and heavy DSLRs, Recode says it's just about the size of a Nexus 6 that's double the thickness. When you take a picture using the camera, all 16 lenses capture photos simultaneously at different focal lengths in order to "capture more data in every shot." Light's technology then combines all of them into a single 52-megapixel image -- you can adjust the photo's depth of field, focus and exposure after it's been captured.

The L16 runs on Android and has built-in WiFi, allowing you to post pictures directly from the device. It comes with an integrated 35mm-150mm optical zoom and a five-inch touchscreen display. If you think you'll be able to save money switching to this from an entry-level or mid-range DSLR, though, you're sadly mistaken. It might not cost as much as high-end cameras, but it'll still set you back $1,299 when you pre-order from today until November 6th from Light's website. When it starts shipping in the summer of 2016, you'll have to shell out $1,699 to get one. 

 

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/08/lights-l16-camera/

 

Light website: https://light.co/

 

First reaction will probably be... What the hell is that...

 

It's a point N Shoot with a bunch of sensors and lenses, That takes a picture and then stitches it together to create 52MP Pictures.

 

It's also the first multi-apeture computational camera, so it trades in expensive lenses and camera sensors for a computer that can stitch all the pictures taken into a picture...

 

There's a screen on the back, and it has a seemingly basic IO. It has a loop for a strap on the right and a rubberised grip as well.

 

Although it seems like it's in its early prototype stages they claim it will be water and dust resistant. It's set to currently come with 128GB on on board storage, but the spec is likely to change when they announce the final spec in spring 2016. 

 

The L16's minimum focus is 10 cm at wide angle (35mm) and 1m at telephoto (150mm), whatever that means...

 

You can register for a review unit (@LinusTech) here: http://support.light.co/hc/en-us/articles/205749343-Can-I-get-a-review-unit-

 

 

Here's an example picture... You can look at more here: http://light.co/gallery

[colinreay]

I hope they filmed that on the light. I believe Tek Syndicate said it could shoot 4k. If they didn't kinda ruins the video for me... If it was, there were some points were the video was pretty noisy/artifacty/pixelated, so I think users may want to stick to videos with a relatively short "lens."

[pit5000]

i believe video still uses only one camera tho...

[colinreay]

i believe video still uses only one camera tho...

Yeah, I think you set the camera to whatever lens you want to shoot on and are locked on that as soon as you start recording.

[Toddwjp]

rather then focusing on having one good lense of high quality they go with taking as much data as possible and number crunching it

[AHaskin14]

oooooooh. future.

[1823alex]

It's not true 52mp, and it also only uses 10 of the 16 lens at once. @OP you should probably add this to to the original post as it is kinda important info.

[Swndlr]

U WOT

[NIC ROBERTOOO]

Can you control ISO and shutter speed like on regular DSLR's? If not, even more meh

[ExcitezR]

well good luck trying to get a good DOF with a tiny sensor...

[Robin88]

Not particularly impressed tbh, some awful ISO noise artifacting even in good light, some images show large amounts of over sharpening, and others have compression artifacts and noticeable aliasing and what looks like moire patterns in others.

Give me a single large sensor with a good set of lenses any day over tonnes of shit lenses and a bunch of piss poor sensors.

This stinks of "Ooh, we can cram loads of sensors onto a device to make it thinner! Look how thin it is! Much better than those bulky DSLR's! Forget image quality, forget everything that the last 180+ years of photography has taught us, let's cram all the camera phone sensors to make it as thin as possible. LOOK AT HOW THIN IT IS!! AND CHECK OUT THE MEGAPIXELS, IT HAS ALL THE MEGAPIXELS!!!! AND IT'S THIN! DID WE MENTION IT'S THIN? CAUSE IT'S THIN!"

[ShadowCaptain]

Im more interested in lytros light field tech