This futuristic design is determined by the innovative technology: While in a normal camera, a 2-dimensional image is stored, a light field camera captures a 4-dimensional light field. In this 4-D light field, the position and intensity of a light beam on the image sensor is next to the height and width is stored and the direction from which the light beam has been incident. Possible the light field measurement is a grid of multiple microlenses before the image sensor, which divide the incident light into different individual images from different perspectives. Since this lens but need some space arises, the elongated structure of the camera.
This technical principle is the absolute advantage of a light field camera over conventional camera systems: The image must not be brought into focus before the shutter releases. Since one has saved the spatial level of the subject, you can focus the image later on the computer as desired. Through this free choice of image sharpness, completely new possibilities for picture composition for the photographer. Depending on the choice of focus can emphasize different image details more or even achieve plastic effects.
Compared to the classic photo technique, the light field technology has thus also the advantage that the camera does not require more time for focusing, thus triggering without delay.
Because of these advantages, the light field technology already has the potential to be in the future for standard technology of photography, because the photo lay it minimizes the possibility of errors and at the same time offers the professional photographer a hitherto possible creative design diversity.
I then but only 3 stars forgive despite this enthusiastic introduction is because the Lytro is indeed the first useable for general users Lichtenfeld camera, but it ultimately brings too many disadvantages for the normal non-professional photographers:
Limited choice of motifs: For a truly fascinating Lytro photo that the benefits of the technology also uses, you also need the appropriate scene. The objects have to stagger into the depths, from a few centimeters in front of the lens. Only if this condition is met, the Lytro photos look unique and really fun. This limits the possibilities of macro photography and maybe even portrait photos in macro mode. All photo motifs that wegliegen more than a few centimeters from the lens (eg landscape photographs) no longer affects the effect.
Binding to special technique: The effects of photo technology can be used only within systems that are set up on this technique. So you are instructed to image processing on the Lytro's own image editing program. There focused photos can be exported as JPG files. With the conversion to the generally common JPG format but the effect will be lost, that is then a further shift of the Focus is no longer possible.
If you want to give other users the ability to use the effects of interactive images, you have to set them in the special Lytro site. However, it appears now that social networks like Facebook and Twitter allow uploading photos in light box technology, so that the potential uses werden.Mit in future certainly expand Apple devices can now build a wireless connection between the Lytro and the device already ,
Image Quality: The picture quality is the biggest shortcoming of the Lytro for me. Only under optimal light conditions and at close range succeed good quality photos. In all other Basic Zone modes denied the Lytro. Comparing the images with those of a normal digital compact camera, you can only be disappointed. The images are in the enlargement of focus, noise and are not true color. In low light, you should not make better use of the Lytro. Reminded me very much of the images, the quality of images of previous mobile phones.
Handling: Actually, thanks to the lack of controls easily, but the weakness is in the details. The display is a small (size: 3.9 centimeters) square touchscreen which has 49,000 pixels. (For comparison: My Nikon DSLR has a twice as large display with 920,000 pixels). The Lytro display is neither really sharp yet it leaves a large viewing angle to. But because you have an opinion on this display the subject and make any adjustments, the result is often correspondingly poor.
The objective lens at the other end of the Lytro has a focal length of 43-340mm and has an 8x zoom. The zoom is adjusted by means of a touchpad on top of the camera cuboid. By design, might that be a great solution, since such an additional switch was saved, practically mine is too cumbersome and error-prone because the zoom is very difficult to use accurately.
Memory / Battery Power: The Lytro is available with an internal memory of 8 or 16 MB, which is about 350 or 700 shots. Because normal storage media can not save images in light field technology a memory expansion is not planned. If you shoot a lot, so it should carry along his laptop so he can often times empty the memory.
The battery capacity is modest. I made about 200 pictures at the weekend with the Lytro. If you want to look at the images on the camera or the battery capacity is thus at the end. Since the battery is permanently installed, it must therefore to a battery charge is always in view and on the other the cable about the charging via the USB port always available.
200 pictures, why did I not uploaded to review?
On the one hand, because in the JPG format anyway could detect no effects after conversion, but the main reason is the nasty surprise, what has befallen me during the installation of the Lytro software. This starts automatically the first time you connect the camera and you will be asked during the installation process, if you want to allow changes to the network settings of Windows. That's what I foolishly affirmed (which I indeed had no real choice), with the result that all my network settings have been changed and was capped inter alia my previous wireless connection. After much debugging I have repaid as a radical solution that Lytro software by means of a system restore from my computer and lo and behold, everything worked perfectly again. Unfortunately then all Lytro pictures were gone. So if you want to look at pictures and want to try the effect of which was to visit the web page of Lytro.
I do not rate the times, because I do not know if that was a subject only my PC phenomenon. But if that happens to other people, then that would be an absolute knock-out criterion. My tip therefore: Before installing the Lytro software a system backup.
A conclusion very hard for me: the light field technology alone, like the grandiose design of Lytro a 5-star rating would be my own worth.
However, the best technology and the most beautiful design is useless if the camera is not suitable for everyday use. And since revealed the Lytro with the image quality and handling significant weaknesses. To me she was so as it did before the first prototype of the digital camera. Fascinating, but just for techies. The development has shown that these prototypes have both in terms of quality as well as the price improved so that the analog photography is something for nostalgic today. I believe that the technique of light field photography will someday replace the current photo technology, as it also offers immense benefits for the amateur to professional photographers.
But until then, it will probably take some time. For tech-savvy and photographer specializing in macro shooting the acquisition considering is safe now worth. The normal camera users should perhaps only await further developments in view of the high price.
The Lytro is a brave attempt, so I give her 3 stars.
