exciting look at the future of photography

One thing first: I would love to publish this review without rating. That leaves the review system of Amazon but unfortunately not. The reason is quite simply because there is no comparison. I tested several cameras in my life. These experiences bring to test the Lytro Illum nothing, or almost nothing.
Especially since the date but elemental for the photographer part of photography, namely the focus, you focus on this camera is practically no longer necessary.

You can focus on any point of the recording to a resolution by the manufacturer of about 4 megapixels in retrospect.

What makes this camera different from those we know so far?

At first glance, not at all. Or maybe such that the camera looks really attractive. The optics will not begin to play by the product photos. Impressively, the processing at the highest level in conjunction with a surprisingly low weight. Even fiddling with the camera falls despite or perhaps because of the low weight easily.

But what is that now, the light field technology?

You can express it perhaps simplified so that existing photographs freezing a scene / an object or whatever was in space and time. Therefore, it also plays a role in conventional photography, which part of the recording is in focus.

The light field camera detects the direction from which came the light and the processor created from virtually a 3D scene. Better I can not formulate in one sentence. One may like to leave a supplement in the comments.

The camera has no viewfinder classic, but an excellent 4-inch LCD screen.

It is operated using a few buttons and a scroll wheel. This solution has proved to be very convenient for my liking. The lens with a range of 30-250 mm is excellent and gives you the flexibility to be as well equipped in the ants department at the zoo, such as on an airshow. Apparently at least, but more on that later.

Unless one is to experiment on, you can let show the display via an auxiliary button on the camera colored dots that show you how well the later result is. I think after some experimenting, you yourself get the look for optimal use and can do without this auxiliary button. But this also makes clear again that the camera for snapshots is less suitable (subject airshow). Because of the immense amount that needs the camera once digest and thus are shooting, for example, a plane taking off, not possible. At least the end result will be better with a reasonably current smartphone.

But this must not be understood as a criticism you. I see no electric car with a 12-cylinder gasoline engine. Or praise the flexibility of a jumbo jet compared to a space shuttle.

The camera is now even provided for special shots and who look at the photos on a 3D TV, which will be flashed.

Now we come to the problems that has this pioneering camera still. These are mainly on the software that will allow the subsequent processing and with this type of camera is more important than any conventional camera. The software is sluggish, permanent danger of collapsing and this is not due to the computer hardware. I have risen for video editing a highly equipped computer system a few weeks ago, but the loading / importing the data is very time consuming. I could accept even if not, the program would be frozen twice.

For the camera itself has at least done no such failures, apart from small breaks after recording when dieDaten be shoveled into memory.

Rating:

The camera is something for solvent amateur photographers and semi-professional professionals who want to look into this new world of photography or need. Whether the price is justified, I can not say.

Say I can already likely that this camera will be an exciting insight into the future of photography. How long it will even be future proof, that depends certainly on future updates. A real forecast can be to not give. At least I lack to the expertise, but I'm happy about every comment of professionals who love to comment.

I would deduct 1.5 star rating because of poor companion software makes 3.5 stars rounded up. 4

It is exciting to deal with the camera, I can not wait to continue to experiment at the earliest opportunity so. Let there be no doubt, however, clear. 1600 Euros is a lot of wood.