Have you heard about this new camera that lets you focus the picture after it’s been taken? It’s called the Lytro camera, and it was dreamed up by a genius from Stanford who wants to help you capture perfect moments on film without having to wait for the focus. Instead, you can choose any focal point you want after the fact. My mind = blown.
I could attempt to explain how it works, but to a non-photog expert like me, it’s all Greek. All that matters is that somehow the camera manages to capture the entire light field of whatever’s in front of it — in three dimensions. And somehow, this doesn’t take up any more file size than a traditional digital photo would.
Check out this demo image, and loads more of them over at Lytro’s website:
Click on different parts of the image, and it will instantly change to focus on that part of the picture. For the full effect, try clicking on one of the figures in the foreground, and then click one of the trees in the background.
Imagine the freedom that this will offer to photographers! “Point and shoot” will finally be a 100% applicable term. If you’re using a 3D-friendly camera and screen, you’ll even be able to shift the image’s orientation in three dimensions.
The first Lytro camera is scheduled to launch sometime later this year, and its price tag is supposed to be comparable to other digital cameras currently in the market.
From what I understand, this technology actually dates back to 1995 but the miniaturization to make this happen is only possible now. I have heard reports that this company plans to only make its own camera but, if so, they probably have no chance of breaking into the camera world when there are so many top manufacturers out there and now most phones that take photos and are always with people. They really need to license the technology so that real camera companies and even smartphone makers can get this to market for them. THEN, they will have a winner.
Can’t wait to try it however, wish it didn’t have to be film based.