Lytro News: 'game changing' new camera

Startup Lytro have just launched what they hope will be a new disruptive technology into the world of digital imaging.

With a conventional camera, the frame is focused before the shot is taken, but with a Lytro, you can actually focus the image after the event.  Another selling point is without the need to autofocus, there is no shutter lag.  This may be very attractive when compared to compact cameras, but may not make a huge difference for a competent SLR user who will benefit from an advanced autofocus engine and high frame per second (fps).  (That said, we've all got the focus wrong on shots before!)

As a first generation product, it's inevitably going to cause some interest - and only real-world testing will show how its constant f/2 aperture 8x optical zoom lens performs.  It's also surprisingly keenly priced, at $399/$499 for 8Gb/16Gb versions.  

Without being shackled by the design considerations of a traditional camera,  they've produced a clean, simple design.  It will be interesting to see if they can maintain this simplicity in future generations - flash hot shoe, tripod mount,image stabilisation, etc...


In summary, well done to the team at Lytro - and please can I have one?!


More details at https://www.lytro.com/camera