"Light-field, or plenoptic, cameras capture more light than traditional models by using an array of micro lenses. They can therefore allow an image to be refocused after it has been taken, or to create ‘living images’ that can be refocused long after they were first captured.
The Lytro camera launched in America last year, and features an 8x optical zoom and f/2 lens in a rectangular (sic). It will be available from next week from £399 for an 8GB model in Harrods, Dixons Travel and John Lewis online. The camera also offers a selection of filters, and wireless connection to an iPhone app. A 16GB version is also available for £469". The mini review also includes quotes from another longer review in The Verge by one David Pierce in which he states "There’s no doubt in my mind that Light Field cameras are the future of photography, or at least part of the future. Light Field photography gives you photos that are so immersive and manipulable that it’s quickly easy to forget that 2D photos are useful at all." So, amazing stuff. Sadly however David also says "But the first iteration of the Lytro isn’t quite there yet: it’s hard to use, its display is terrible, and outside of a few particular situations its photos aren’t good enough to even be worth saving.”
