The Light L16 is one of the most exciting and innovative photography products coming to market in 2016, and now Google Ventures has invested US$30 million to ensure that the L16 makes a dent in the camera industry when it finally launches.
With the L16, Light aims to create a camera that performs as well as a DSLR in a smartphone-sized package. It utilises 16 separate lenses and sensor modules to stitch together a massive 52-megapixel image, and uses what Light is calling ‘folding optics’ to give an effective focal length of 35-150mm.
The L16 isn’t cheap, costing around US$1,699, but the company sold out of preorders last October in just two days, overwhelming the fledgling company and forcing them to halt preorders early. Those customers still haven’t gotten their hands on any hardware yet, but they’ll be the first to do so when the camera launches.
Following the failure of Lytro to break the consumer market, Light is treading carefully to avoid making the same mistakes.
In a bid to increase manufacturing capability, Light has pushed the release date of the L16 back from mid 2016 to early 2017. Following the failure of Lytro to break the consumer market, Light is treading carefully to avoid making the same mistakes.
The company has partnered with Taiwanese contractor Foxconn – best known for its work with Apple on the iPhone – to license its technology to smartphone manufacturers. According to Light CEO Dave Grannan, the first smartphone equipped with Light’s camera tech should arrive in mid 2017.
“Even though cameras have improved a fair amount in smartphones, there’s still a big quality gap between smartphone cameras and standalone professional cameras,”Google Ventures partner Andy Wheeler told Forbes. “These guys are set out to close that gap. I believe this technology does that.”
aka Proplus. Constantly looking for innovative ideas. Prefers tech that doesn't waste time. Gone are the days of overclocking, cascade cooling and watercooling. Gadgets, give me more gadgets!!
