Lytro: The Camera With A Different Focus Altogether

Lytro certainly does not look like your typical compact camera, but the distinctively blocky design is not the reason why it’s set to be a huge game-changer in the world of photography.

You might wonder how a camera with a measly 1.52-inch display can even come into production these days. But what initially seems a rather disappointing feature in fact reveals a great deal about Lytro’s simple ethos. As the first consumer light field camera, it allows the user to snap a picture without messing around with focusing. All you need to do is frame your photo and click a button.

The magic starts in editing. With the supplied software, you will be confronted with an array of blurry photos: seemingly any photographer’s nightmare. And then, as if by divine intervention, one click means you’ve decided your focus point. Interested in the cat in the foreground? Tap on its conniving yet dozy eye. Drawn to the daffodil in the background? Hit that lush yellow petal. Amazing!
In many respects, the specs are pretty average. While you get a decent 8x optical zoom, the fixed aperture of f/2 might seem restrictive in conventional terms. That said, it does seem like Lytro has an impressive depth of field. Unfortunately memory is not expandable, only internal, with either 8GB or 16GB depending on model. Although it would be nice to give details of the megapixel count and the sensor size, Lytro has not been forthcoming with these, apart from claiming HD quality. Instead they explain that the Light Field Resolution is 11 Megarays. In case you don’t know what a Megaray is--it's OK, nobody does--Lytro defines it as ‘a light ray captured by the light field sensor’. Let’s assume that 11 is an impressive amount then.

For those of you used to the ergonomic grips of a dSLR, the long cuboid shape of Lytro may come as a shock. The extruded anodized aluminum structural skin and sub-8oz weight will nonetheless appeal if you appreciate solidity and stability. Sadly, there are no 16x9 shots here; only matter-of-fact and rather unexciting squares. That means no sweeping panoramas of the American sunset. And if you like to filter through photos on your camera’s screen before editing, the Lytro’s tiny offering is probably not for you. Oh, and if you’re intent on looking like a sensible adult and not a kid with a toy camera bought by your parents on your eighth birthday, perhaps you should stay away from Lytro, or at least stick to the black version.

The company behind Lytro puts a big emphasis on being able to ‘experience’ pictures.  They want photographers to ditch their auto-focus motors, shutter lag, knobs, dials and settings in favor of a clean and easy-to-use package with instant power on. That way, you can spend hours looking at your photos and not waste precious seconds taking them. Perhaps that’s a little concerning for all the photography enthusiasts out there that appreciate taking your time for each shot. Either way, Lytro is bound to keep disturbing the photographic waters.