Lytro has long discussed plans to add 3D image capabilities into their Lytro Viewer software, but little has actually been put forth into the public spotlight. Engadget Chinese, however, got a sneak peek at the new Lytro Viewer software from a company spokesperson in Hong Kong. More »
Lytro isn’t done extending the usefulness of its light field camera just because we have manual controls. Another update due by the end of the year will take advantage of that focus-independent sensor to allow a parallax-based 3D effect in photos: invoke a ‘full’ focus in reviewing shots and you can start poking around the scene in a limited way without having ever touched a dual-sensor camera. Appropriately, we’re also getting support for examining photos on 3D monitors and TVs that emphasize the added depth. The promised features come hand-in-hand with Lytro’s immediate availability in Hong Kong, where 8GB blue and gray cameras are selling for $3,888 HKD ($502 US) and the 16GB red model goes for $4,688 HKD ($605). Check out our Chinese crew’s eyes-on look at the parallax effect in a video after the break.
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Lytro camera getting parallax effect and 3D display support, lands in Hong Kong (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Lytro camera, which packs a entirely new category of camera sensor, is gaining significant features–even if you’ve already bought one. Previously, the light field camera was deceptively simple: your only option was where to point the device. Now, you can control both ISO and shutter speed–options that multiply the photographic possibilities. Of course, there was an ISO setting and shutter speed for every Lytro photo taken before, but now the photographer has manual control over both settings. The manual controls, in addition with a newly-added exposure lock, allow for some really cool low-light use cases.
Lytro cameras were re-launched widely (to retailers and Amazon) today, and all new cameras will have the updated firmware with manual controls pre-installed. The 8GB model costs $399 and the 16GB model will run for $499. That might seem a lot for a toy camera, but this is the future of photography. Current Lytro owners can download the updated firmware here.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Lytro talks up other smartphone manufacturers, CAMER:ing is a cool digital camera in a ring,
A frequent gripe of Lytro camera owners has been the hands-off nature of the photography, with that signature infinite focus about the only real fine-tuning that’s on tap. As of a fresh firmware upgrade, the light-field camera is much friendlier to demanding shooters. The unconventional point-and-shoot now lets owners manually adjust the ISO sensitivity (80 to 3,200) and shutter speed (1/250th of a second to 8 seconds) as well as lock the exposure or invoke a neutral density filter. Regardless of their precision demands, anyone who was already sold on the concept still gets a few perks with today’s refresh: the 8GB model now comes in Seaglass green and a Target-exclusive Moxie Pink, and there’s both a $30 sleeve as well as a $60, accessory-friendly case for those who’ve fully committed to the Lytro lifestyle. Neither upgrade will bring higher resolutions or video, but they’ll go a long way towards accommodating those who were at least on the fence. Check out an interactive sample of the shutter speed control’s benefits after the break.
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Lytro camera gets manual controls, new colors and accessories for exacting light-field fans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Lytro‘s innovative light field camera was announced back in June, and it promised the ability to adjust the focus on an image even after it was already taken. That’s quite a concept and one that we’re pretty excited to see in action. Lytro has finally unleashed its camera to all consumers worldwide today.
To celebrate the launch, Lytro is also introducing some new features to its camera. Users will now be able to manually control shutter speed and ISO, as well as the ability to lock in exposure and adjust a Neutral Density filter. The new controls actually don’t create a fully-manual experience, but it’s certainly a start and it’s better than no control at all.
It turns out that the more settings users change, the harder it is to achieve the unique focus effect, so Lytro was a bit reluctant to give users too much control, but the company said that manual controls was a hotly-requested feature, so they ended up putting some in the camera. The shutter speed can go as fast as 1/250th of a second, or you can do long exposures for up to eight seconds. The ISO can go from 80 all the way up to 3200.
The Lytro camera sells for $399, which is actually about the same price as a decent used mirrorless camera that comes with full manual controls. However, if you’re looking for something that allows you to change the focus after you’ve taken the shot, this is probably the camera for you. However, the target market for this device is probably only for a select few of specialty photographers.
[via The Verge]
Lytro camera launches worldwide, adds manual controls is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Today the Lytro Light Field Camera is receiving a firmware update that unlocks manual controls such as ISO sensitivity and shutter speed.
But just in case you haven’t heard of it yet, the Lytro is a revolutionary device. Instead of capturing one moment, one angle, and one set of light, you capture everything within frame, and are able to change the focus of the image after the fact.
But there are two major complaints with this new technology: one is that the images taken aren’t that high quality (currently just 1080×1080) and that more serious photographers don’t have any manual controls over the device.
See, the Lytro is a bit like a Christmas present to a photographer. There are a whole new set of rules, an entirely new world of photography to explore with this technology, and changing focus is only the beginning. But to make the Lytro accessible to everyone, from a pro to a novice, the original implementation excluded any manual controls, like ISO or Shutter Speed.
With the firmware update, which you can access by plugging in your Lytro and clicking “yes” to the prompt, users will now have full control over ISO sensitivity and shutter speed. Since these settings affect one another, the Lytro will automatically set the one the user doesn’t change.
For instance, if you increase ISO sensitivity, the Lytro will automatically decrease shutter speed, and vice versa. However, photogs have the option to change both, and the Lytro will allow for it.
The manual controls are accessed through a drop-down table within the user interface, and adjusted entirely with touch controls. Along with ISO sensitivity and shutter speed, the update will also unlock auto exposure lock and the neutral density filter, which is displayed in a little ND icon above ISO and Shutter dials.
However, these unlocked controls don’t necessarily mean there will be new modes besides the already-available Everyday and Creative modes. Lytro still wants to keep it simple for the noob photographers. This also means that users will have to enable manual controls in the settings, as the company knows that only a subset of owners will want to use manual controls.
All in all, this is meant to allow for better low-light performance and the ability to take high-speed shots, which proved to be the case in my testing.
Note: Feel free to click around on these pictures. You’ll adjust the focus.
Along with the new controls, Lytro is also announcing new colors, and some new accessories. Target will have an exclusive Moxi pink model, which comes with 8GB of internal storage. This is a part of Lytro’s recent retail expansion to Target, Amazon, Best Buy, and select CityTarget locations. But the company is keeping the new Seaglass green model (also 8GB) to itself as a Lytro.com holiday exclusive.
In terms of accessories, you’ll find a camera sleeve for $29.95 and a travel case, complete with an accessories wallet and magnetic folding cover, for $59.95.
When the Lytro light field camera made its way into the hands of consumers earlier this year, it did something no camera had previously done: absorb all the light rays in its field of view, making it possible to refocus the image anywhere the photographer desired. But its controls were (perhaps intentionally) simplisitic, which meant that hardcore photgraphers lacked control over the fine details they’re normally used to. More »
Innovative camera company Lytro is kicking off international sales from early October, along with broader availability across the US. The so-called light field camera – which allows the focus in the resulting images to be re-set, despite what the photographer was paying specific attention to when originally framing the shot – will hit Target, Best Buy, and Amazon US online from October 9, with CityTarget in-store availability from November.
Further afield, however, shoppers in Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore will also get their chance to snatch up the Lytro. Canada’s Future Shop will offer the camera from October 9, while Australia will get retail availability from October 10.
Mid-October, meanwhile, will see sales begin in Hong Kong and Singapore. Those outside of the currently-announced countries can register their pre-interest and hope that Lytro sees fit to bless them with a camera at some point.
Lytro differs from existing cameras by capturing not only the light hitting the sensor, but the angle at which it hits. By preserving that data, the photo can subsequently be manipulated by calculating different focus settings; so, you can switch the point of focus between a subject in the foreground and what’s behind that subject, simply by clicking on different parts of the image.
However, while early reviews of the camera praised its innovation, the actual photo quality itself proved less impressive. That’s likely to change as Lytro rolls out more professionally-minded models; the first camera was built to target a relatively unthreatening price point of $400, given its unknown status in the market.
Lytro goes big: In-store US and international launches in October is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
It’s about to become a heck of a lot easier to get your hands on a consumer light-field camera. The Lytro, that marvel of post-picture-taking-focusing, is finally expanding its reach well beyond the confines of its own site. The camera will be hitting Amazon and Best Buy and Target’s sites come October 9th. That same day, Canadians will be able to pick the lipstick-shaped device up via Future Shop, followed by retail availability in Canada on the 10th. In mid-October, it’ll be hitting stores in Singapore and Hong Kong, swinging back around to the States in November for availability in CityTarget stores in select locations.
Continue reading Lytro light-field camera hitting Amazon, Target and Best Buy sites next month
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Lytro light-field camera hitting Amazon, Target and Best Buy sites next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Few products make everyone here at Engadget quite as giddy with excitement as Lytro’s light-field camera. Given how regularly we need to photograph things, we were desperate to know if this was going to revolutionize the way we snapped pictures. It had more than a few things going for it, innovative product design, great engineering, it was fast, responsive and had a great UI. However, the pictures themselves were of a low resolution, and the depth-of-field trickery only works with extreme close-up-and-background shots where you can mess around with your bokkeh. As nice as it is in theory (and practice, on a well-lit day), it’s certainly not going to replace your DSLR any time soon — but given that the company’s presumably working on version 2.0 of the device, what would you suggest they tweak?
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How would you change the Lytro? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 22:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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