At Photokina 09/2014 I had this camera for the first time half an hour in fog. However, I felt like a beginner, because the photography is thrown with the light field technology once overboard. The really competent and friendly conversationalist able to answer many questions at the show. I was amazed by the ability to provide the pictures afterwards on any points sharp. But most likely I was convinced the 3D Fotogarfie. The camera is very valuable and relatively easy despite the size.
As a photographer I try me out like. In particular, the subject 3D photography has induced me to buy the Lytro Illum. The price of 1.599, - EUR is okay for me, but can be evaluated very differently. First, the camera has a really strong all-round light lens (30-250 mm f 2.0), which already justified the value of the camera. That conclusion is the poor image quality compared to 40 Megaray correspond as exported uncircumcised JPEG only 4 megapixels.
This can be seen already in the development of 3D lenticular sheet (microlens) at 15 x 22 cm, but the TV in 3D is absolutely top.
Photography
You have to decide exactly how you want to shoot something before that. Best suited to closely spaced objects. The aperture is fixed at f 2.0, but it can be corrected later with the software. A minimum focusing distance does not exist. The design can thus bear directly on the lens. An auxiliary button on the camera makes far and clearly as colored dots.
Living Picture
The light field camera can very well be the first one: to make the picture lively and interactive. Focus points can be individually displaced by the space recording - and after the photo was shot. For this you need in preview mode on the camera screen just to click on the desired item and already faces this area sharply. If you own a newer iPhone, provides for the Lytro Illum the opportunity to load the image wirelessly via your own wireless-circle in an app, there is a little play around and once to share via Facebook with friends. This is currently possible only with Apple iOS and you have to be patient, because the wireless connection from the camera everything is the iPhone from stable. It's probably just a bug, the well can also be shut off with an update.
Processing and development
The LFR files (Lichtfeldroh files) are very large. Also recommended is a powerful computer. A 6-core i7 with SSD and lush memory has to do a bit. Especially the image import to a shooting may take some time. The free software is not extensive, but can accommodate smaller gadgets. A raw image development, as they are known, for example, by Adobe Lightroom is not possible. Error can not reasonably temples, nor can you adjust the direction lights or even between editing in Photoshop. The work is done either in 2D or in 3D Red / Cyan, or 3D SidebySide. The aperture can be set by software to f 16 in retrospect. Result is an almost entirely sharp image, which can be ideal export as 3D image. Images can be saved in different formats (JPG, JPS, tiff, LFR). With additional programs are therefore MPO files be created (for 3D images on lenticular sheet).
In summary: Horny, this light field camera. The wow factor you for presentation purposes guarantees on his side. But rather than supplementing toy for professional photographers with very well-equipped hardware. Who it is aimed to manufacture trendy normal JPEG, should leave it alone.
2 star deduction because of poor resolution, poor post-processing options with the free software, or lack MPO-export and the faulty app for the iPhone. Another trigger point is the dependence on Lytro server that makes the gimmick Living-Picture possible.
Still, I love this part ;-)
