As a travel tech writer, I get asked about using smartphones when travelling. The minute we head towards the destinations with our smartphones, we’re hit with a confusing mess of technical jargon, conflicting advice, expensive roaming agreements and nonworking gear. Trying to discuss the nuances of GSM frequency bands or iPhone unlock codes with a mobile vendor in the hilly remote regions of Himachal Pradesh isn’t my idea of fun, and I doubt it’s yours either. Rather we love focusing on carrying something useful- like DSLR Camera.
But the DAYS of saying “cheese” are numbered. Soon, we may be saying “whoa” as you look into the multiple lenses of the unique Light L16 camera- which is an iPhone-sized camera that uses not one, but 16 different lenses with smartphone-sized to capture and create an image that is very close to the naked eye and computationally generated images from a DSLR.
The Light L16 packs 16 different lenses into a body the same size as a smartphone to offer photography performance that is potentially peerless, whether compared with a flagship handset or a dedicated DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses. Light claims the device is the world’s first multi-aperture computational camera. On its front side are 16 different lenses that seem to be dotted about in a random configuration while the back side is home to a 5-inch display and shutter and zoom controls.
The L16 uses breakthrough optics design with the most advanced imaging engine ever created to give you the control of a DSLR with the convenience of a smartphone. With many cameras firing simultaneously, the L16 captures the details of your shot at multiple focal lengths, and then fuses that information to create an incredible image with up to 52MP resolution. Each scene captured by the Light L16 Camera is shot by up to 10 of 16 individual 28mm, 70mm, and 150mm camera modules firing simultaneously. The individual shots are computationally fused to create an incredibly high-resolution, low-noise photograph, up to 52 megapixels in size.
L16 technology generates high-res, de-noised, frame-worthy photos from the first snap, but it also gives photographers full access to their files for further manipulation in post-processing. The device can be connected with an existing wireless network and instantly share photos on the favorite social media platforms. Photographers can also connect and share photos to their laptop, phone, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.
Rajiv Laroia, co-founder and CTO of Light have mentioned that the Light L16 camera was designed specifically to eliminate the trade-off between the quality you get with a DSLR, and the convenience you get with a cell phone. The company wanted the camera to be easy, so that anyone could pick it up and instantly get amazing pictures with that ‘magic’ quality. Light wanted it to be small and light enough to go wherever travellers go. And we wanted to design the entire camera experience around the way we share our pictures in the modern era.
The Light L16 Camera will be available for purchase in late 2017 for the cost of $1699. At this price, L16 is a great bounty for the budding or advanced photographers who are too lazy to drag around large camera equipment and bunch of lenses that needs to be changed often. We urge our Transpost Wanderers to Join Light’s email list (https://light.co/) for updates and to get notified when the company begin taking new orders.
