How the Lytro Camera Works

howstuffworks.com ^ | by Jonathan Strickland

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

• 1

  Introduction to How the Lytro Works

• 2

  Focusing on the Problem

• 3

  Fields of Light

• 4

  Faking Depth

• 
  

  Lytro cameras have a simple touch-screen interface and LCD display.

  Courtesy Lytro

  Taking the perfect photograph is part art and part science. In the old days, when film was the only medium you could use, you had to make sure you had the right lens, lighting and type of film for the shot. As digital cameras took center stage, lens choice and lighting remained important. Equally as important was a familiarity with editing software. The right tools can help you adjust the color balance, contrast and other features of the image.

  Even

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Now the news item:

Toshiba to make Lytro-style camera for smartphones

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Since the release of the incredibly cool Lytro camera, the big question has been when we will see this kind of technology in our existing mobile devices. According to Toshiba, we need only wait until the end of 2013 to see this tech in smartphones and tablets.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The way we take photos with smartphones, it stands to reason that most of us could benefit from a camera that allowed us to adjust focus after the image was captured. That’s the power of the Lytro camera, being able to shift focus even after the photo has been taken. Some have even used this to create images that reveal more when you shift focus, placing some items out of view intentionally for fun. Lytro cameras, however, are roughly the size of a can of Red Bull. It can’t be easy to shrink that experience down and maintain even close to the same quality. Toshiba seems convinced that they can fit the technology into a 1cm cube to replace the rear camera on smartphones being released late next year.

[SunkenCiv]

You’d need a magnifying glass just to change the film in these newfangled, infernal things. ;/)

[Portcall24]

The CIA had a camera that fit inside a pen and the pen still worked. Took a 8” X 11” picture while using your arms as the tripod. One old man in the states could load the camera and he suggested they find others to replace him. They tried and had a very hard time finding anyone that could do the job he was doing.

[jonrick46]

The Lytro Camera uses no film. These would be perfect for surveillance. You could get a crisp sharp focus on anyone.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds like a market opportunity for some manufacturing company.

[353FMG]

Ansel Adams would shudder.

[Theo]

Shutter?

[Marine_Uncle]

One would think some companies will perhaps pick up on this technology. But will it be an American company. Whatever that even means half the time anymore. :(

[SunkenCiv]

Maybe I was too subtle.

[SunkenCiv]

Maybe they should have recruited someone with small hands, just for that job. In fact, maybe they did...

“Carnies. Circus folk. Nomads, you know. Smell like cabbage. Small hands.” — Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery

[SunkenCiv]

Not if the spokesmodel had a nice frame.