A revolutionary new type of digital camera

[Steve Foss]

It's the Lytro Light Field Camera. Just listened to an interview with its creator on "All Things Considered" on MPR. Google LIght Field Camera. Wow.

A camera that takes an image, and you can select the focus point on your computer after the image is downloaded.

I'm still researching it, and they won't be available until early next year. They also don't last lone. You get a certain number of images per camera, and that's all. It also will only work on a Mac, though Windoze compatibility is coming. And the software engine that captures/interprets the image actually is embedded in and travels with the image. If I understand it right, doing the math on the cost of the camera and the image number limits, it's somewhere from 60 cents to a bit over a buck per photo. That makes them $400 to $500 disposable cameras.

In short, instead of capturing and interpreting a single plane of light, as our current cameras do, it captures the whole light field of the scene within the frame.

I'd like to see more info on it. Like just what kind of shutter speed or shutter speed equivalent is possible. If it's a very slow shutter speed, well, there are some advantages but also limitations. If shutter speed is widely flexible, then not having to focus is a big advantage, since it's fast-action situations requiring fast shutter speeds that most challenge our current camera/lens combos.

Really interested to see how this camera, and the way it's sold/priced, evolves.

Hmmmmm.

[pulsar_nx]

Engadget has some videos of it also. Two buttons (on/off, shutter) and a optical zoom slider plus a touch screen so I doubt that it is much more than a fun toy right now. Also looking at a image on there Facebook page leaves room for improvement in the resolution dept. kindof fun messing with the focal point though.

I don't think Dslr will switch to this technology but it may be the future on point n shoots.

[mainbutter]

You get a certain number of images per camera, and that's all.

Most terrible idea ever, and why I'm boycotting this camera.