A High-End Camera in a Small Package at DVinfo.net

Rich Adrion · October 8th, 2015, 07:06 AM

Do you think that this advancement would work in a video camera body as well

Mark Fry · October 8th, 2015, 08:20 AM

This isn't a smart phone as well, is it? The reason people take pictures on their phones all the time is that they have their phones with them. If you had one of these, you'd have to carry it around as well as a phone, so you're only going to get one if you feel the need for a compact camera in addition to your phone, and if it's significantly better and/or cheaper than a top-notch pocket camera from Panasonic, Nikon, Canon, et al.

Would this work for video? Maybe, but it's going to have to do all those smart image computations 25 or 50 times a second, and run the results through a decent compression routine, whilst keeping everything cool enough to hold. That may be a bit more than the technology can support just at the moment - at least, at an affordable price. Give it a few years...

Edit: just looked at the web site. Under Frequently Asked Questions is this:
"Does it take video? Yes, the Light L16 camera takes up to 4k video from a single camera module at 35mm, 70mm or 150mm effective focal length"
So no fancy computational zoom and user-selectable depth-of-field. More like those nice old cine cameras with a choice of 3 fixed lenses on the front.

Dylan Couper · October 8th, 2015, 08:38 AM

Their website does a bad job of telling us why we should give a damn.

Rich Adrion · October 8th, 2015, 09:33 AM

It would be nice to be able to dial in a lens on a video camera similar to how you can dial in your ND filters

Peer Landa · October 9th, 2015, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

Their website does a bad job of telling us why we should give a damn.

Yea, what's going on here -- where is the spec...?!

-- peer

Dylan Couper · October 9th, 2015, 03:42 PM

"What kind of sensor?"
Yes!

"What kind of lens?"
Lots!

"What codec?"
It has bubbles on it!

Dan Brockett · October 9th, 2015, 09:46 PM

It's really a $1,300.00 proof of concept for gadet-philes. Cool idea but far from practical at this point. It's too expensive for consumers who can mostly take great images on their iPhone 6s and Galaxies and it's not capable enough for pros (no way to trigger external flashes, limited focal range, consumer build and ergonomics, etc.) It will be interesting to see if it flops or has some success. I give them props for at least innovating, it's definitely outside the box thinking.

It's kind of like the Nikon One and the competing Ricoh that each had a 1" sensor in a P&S package a year or two ago. Great technology that flopped because it didn't appeal to consumers (too expensive and who wants a P&S when cell phones can shoot decent snapshots these days?) and it didn't appeal to pros (yes, cool 1" sensor but still fixed lens, expensive for what it was, etc.)

It remains to be seen if this Light concept solves more problems than it causes.

October 8th, 2015, 07:06 AM	#1
Rich Adrion Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: New Milford NJ Posts: 56	A High-End Camera in a Small Package Do you think that this advancement would work in a video camera body as well The Light Story on Vimeo https://light.co/

October 8th, 2015, 08:20 AM	#2
Mark Fry Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 425	Re: A High-End Camera in a Small Package This isn't a smart phone as well, is it? The reason people take pictures on their phones all the time is that they have their phones with them. If you had one of these, you'd have to carry it around as well as a phone, so you're only going to get one if you feel the need for a compact camera in addition to your phone, and if it's significantly better and/or cheaper than a top-notch pocket camera from Panasonic, Nikon, Canon, et al. Would this work for video? Maybe, but it's going to have to do all those smart image computations 25 or 50 times a second, and run the results through a decent compression routine, whilst keeping everything cool enough to hold. That may be a bit more than the technology can support just at the moment - at least, at an affordable price. Give it a few years... Edit: just looked at the web site. Under Frequently Asked Questions is this: "Does it take video? Yes, the Light L16 camera takes up to 4k video from a single camera module at 35mm, 70mm or 150mm effective focal length" So no fancy computational zoom and user-selectable depth-of-field. More like those nice old cine cameras with a choice of 3 fixed lenses on the front. __________________ Steam Age Pictures - videos in aid of railway preservation societies.

October 8th, 2015, 08:38 AM	#3
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: A High-End Camera in a Small Package Their website does a bad job of telling us why we should give a damn. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 8th, 2015, 09:33 AM	#4
Rich Adrion Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: New Milford NJ Posts: 56	Re: A High-End Camera in a Small Package It would be nice to be able to dial in a lens on a video camera similar to how you can dial in your ND filters

October 9th, 2015, 03:42 PM	#6
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Re: A High-End Camera in a Small Package "What kind of sensor?" Yes! "What kind of lens?" Lots! "What codec?" It has bubbles on it! __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 9th, 2015, 09:46 PM	#7
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: A High-End Camera in a Small Package It's really a $1,300.00 proof of concept for gadet-philes. Cool idea but far from practical at this point. It's too expensive for consumers who can mostly take great images on their iPhone 6s and Galaxies and it's not capable enough for pros (no way to trigger external flashes, limited focal range, consumer build and ergonomics, etc.) It will be interesting to see if it flops or has some success. I give them props for at least innovating, it's definitely outside the box thinking. It's kind of like the Nikon One and the competing Ricoh that each had a 1" sensor in a P&S package a year or two ago. Great technology that flopped because it didn't appeal to consumers (too expensive and who wants a P&S when cell phones can shoot decent snapshots these days?) and it didn't appeal to pros (yes, cool 1" sensor but still fixed lens, expensive for what it was, etc.) It remains to be seen if this Light concept solves more problems than it causes.