Shoot First, Focus Later with the Lytro (UPDATED)

This is one of the most revolutionary cameras of our time. With a new camera, a bunch of lenses focus on your subject first, then it snaps the photo. The Lytro lets you focus the photo after you take the picture. It does this by recording the "light field". Essentially, it not only records the light hitting the sensor, like a typical digital camera, but it also records the direction of the light ray. In doing so, they've created a camera that uses more software than physical parts, and allows you to take one photo, and produce multiple photos with different levels of focus later.
You can check out examples here. Below, I have more info, as well as an example of a photo changing focus after the photo was taken.

Focus on the butterfly on the left, background flowers on the right

It's pretty incredible. If you'd like to learn a bit more about how the camera does this, you can check out their explanation of the inner workings here. It's really mind blowing. The camera is available for preorder now. The 8GB model holds 350 photos, and costs $399. For $499, you can get the 16GB model, which holds 750 pictures. It's got an 8x optical zoom lens, and a 1.43" square touchscreen on the back. The resolution is 11 megarays, which doesn't exactly translate into megapixels. Personally, I'd wait for a review, but if you're too excited for all of that, jump over here to preorder the first light field camera. It will begin shipping in early 2012.

The Lytro software is Mac only right now. The Lytro needs the software, so it will not work with a PC. They are working on a Windows version of the application, but it's not ready yet. It may not be available by the time the camera ships, so you may want to hold off on buying one if you're a Windows user. It feels good to be able to say an app was available on Mac OS before Windows.

It looks like a great idea, and it could revolutionize how we take photos. And, if I'm being honest, I want one.
via CultOfMac



Update:
Engadget got their hands on one earlier than expected. Unfortunately, they didn't think too highly of it. Also unfortunate, they didn't state exactly what their issue with the camera was. After looking at the photos online, I'd say the camera may have trouble focusing at great distance, and there may be some issues with clarity. Of course, the quality of these photos may have been downgraded when they were uploaded, so it's hard to say.
But, the technology is there, and with any luck, this technology improves in the upcoming years, because I think they're on to something. The camera looks unique, and it's got one killer feature: fast shots, and choosing what you'd like to focus on later.