The Lytro Illum
Discussion
Is this a serious camera? I can't pick my way through the BS. Is it just providing answers to questions that don't exist? What do the files look like and how do you process them? And what are 40 megarays anyway?
I undersand it records all focal planes so you can choose the focus afterwards, but is that it?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NFTVWH8?refR...
I undersand it records all focal planes so you can choose the focus afterwards, but is that it?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NFTVWH8?refR...
I had a play with one at TheShowThatUsedToBeFocus earlier in the year. It's a fascinating piece of kit, and a new way of thinking about image capture.
I couldn't see how to make it work for me commercially though. The software for handling the images comes from the manufacturer, and I don't know if there's any third-party support for the files yet - Google may or may not provide more info.
I couldn't see how to make it work for me commercially though. The software for handling the images comes from the manufacturer, and I don't know if there's any third-party support for the files yet - Google may or may not provide more info.
From what I gathered about the earlier still camera, it doesn't capture at all distances, it captures sixteen fixed distances simultaneously. I'm pretty sure that 40 'megarays' comes from the fact that the sensor has 40 M photo receptors, but you only get a 2.5 megapixel output image because it uses sixteen photo receptors for each output pixel. All you do in software is pick between sixteen values for each pixel.
I realized all of this when you first got a chance to play with their refocusing on the web - you can't make small adjustments in the focus, just jump from one fixed plane to another.
I realized all of this when you first got a chance to play with their refocusing on the web - you can't make small adjustments in the focus, just jump from one fixed plane to another.
I bought one a year ago our of curiosity and still find it a lot of fun.
Is it the main camera I reach for when we go out? No. But do I love it for mechanical subjects: cars, bits of engines, architecture. It's absolutely fascinating.
It's not a camera for high res photos but it doesn't pretend to be. However it does allow interesting 'video' (walking through the focal point and angles) to be made that are more than acceptable on up to 40" screen. It's a tool that repays careful thought and creative planning. Point and shoot it isn't.
It was a complete impulse purchase (only went in the camera shop to get out of the rain) but I don't regret it.
Is this kind of photography the future? A lot of people say "don't see the point". But I had exactly the same reaction from people when I had a CD player and mobile phone in the car in the mid 80s and, more surprisingly, Sat Nav in the early 2000s.
Give it 10 years and it might become mainstream. Or an early adopter memory.
Is it the main camera I reach for when we go out? No. But do I love it for mechanical subjects: cars, bits of engines, architecture. It's absolutely fascinating.
It's not a camera for high res photos but it doesn't pretend to be. However it does allow interesting 'video' (walking through the focal point and angles) to be made that are more than acceptable on up to 40" screen. It's a tool that repays careful thought and creative planning. Point and shoot it isn't.
It was a complete impulse purchase (only went in the camera shop to get out of the rain) but I don't regret it.
Is this kind of photography the future? A lot of people say "don't see the point". But I had exactly the same reaction from people when I had a CD player and mobile phone in the car in the mid 80s and, more surprisingly, Sat Nav in the early 2000s.
Give it 10 years and it might become mainstream. Or an early adopter memory.
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