BY: TREVOR HEWITT
A new L16 camera, created by the company Light, pushes the boundaries of photography, combining 16 lenses to create DSLR-quality images – all while fitting in your pocket.
The L16, which the California startup describes as “the first multi-aperture computational” device of its kind, combines DSLR quality and capability with increased mobility. While the $1,299 price tag (the price goes up to $1,699 on November 6) might seem high, the L16’s capabilities combine what would normally be around $6,000 worth of photography equipment into a device the size of an iPhone 6. The exterior contains 16 different lenses ranging from 35mm to 150mm.
“It’s like having a 5D Mark III with a telephoto lens and three different prime lenses at 35, 70 and 150mm,” CEO Dave Grannan told reporters outside the 2015 Code/Mobile conference earlier this month, where the camera was officially announced.
The L16’s radical reduction in size, cost and weight makes it much easier for people to capture DSLR-quality images without the inconvenience of lugging around heavy equipment.
When the L16 takes a photo, 10 of the 16 lenses fire simultaneously. Depending on the user’s settings, the camera uses an algorithm to combine the images for the specifically desired effect.
The android-compatible device can shoot at focal lengths ranging from 35mm wide angle to 150mm telephoto. It also shoots video in 4k. Features include a tripod mount, automatic mode for the novice user and a manual mode that allows the user to adjust settings such as ISO, aperture and shutter speed.
Currently available for preorder, the L16 begins shipping late Summer 2016.
“The point and shoot camera market died … Half of all people who have bought a big DSLR don’t use it anymore. When you ask them why, they say ‘because it’s too big and inconvenient to take with me,’” said Grannan at the 2015 Code/Mobile conference.
With the rise of social media and digital technology, sharing of multimedia – especially photo and video – is at an unprecedented amount.
Here’s hoping that the increased mobility of the L16 combined with its innovative use of collaborating lenses allows for a more seamless and comprehensive sharing of the modern-day explorer’s visual experience.
Image sources: theverge.com, techoffside.com, nbcnews.com
