L-16 Goes Video

Posted January 08, 2019

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About a year ago, we got our hands on one of the very first Light L-16 cameras.

It was in Beta Test then, and it took a while to wrap our heads around how it worked, but once we did, it was pretty amazing.

Unlike conventional SLR cameras (or any other camera for that matter), the L-16 uses 16 different lenses, all embedded in the front of the camera (which looks like a larger phone) - and ALL the variable exposuers and focal lengths are captured at the same time on the same file.

This was an amazing advance on conventional photo technolgy and design.

Every camera, since the very first cameras in the 19th Century, were based on the same idea - one single lens captured the image and focused it on a focal plane.

This was true of Matthew Brady's view camera in 1863 and it remained true to my own Hasselblad H4D.

Light changed everything, and you can see the impact of this on the latest smartphones, which have multiple lenses - even if only 2 or 3.

Light is way ahead with 16.

One of the great things about the L-16 is that once you have the hardware, you are done. Unlike my iPhone, each new iteration is software only. Last week, I uploaded the latest iteration of the software - the phone connects direclty to WiFi, and I was able to download their beta version of video.

Yes, video.

It's still in beta, but so far, so good.

The camera and its rather remarkable resolution now shoots video as well as stills.

The stills were mind-blowing.

I expect no less of the video.

Once I figure it all out.

Stand by.

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