$2,000 camera with 16 LENSES?!? Photography with the Light L16 

At 1000$ you can get the APS-C mirrorless camera Sony A6000 + 35mm f1.8 OSS lens. And you have at 500g (L16 has 450g) a much better camera and you still have 1000$ to travel to other countries, get great pictures and have fun. L16 is nothing more than an idea made to be bought by a bigger company.

I'd *love* to see a side by side comparison where you *A/B* the images of this camera against a DSLR or Mirror-less package in it's price range

As always, fantastic, in depth review. Thank you for all your work, much appreciated.

Excellent review. Very much appreciate the pros and cons approach here. What a great idea gone wrong. I get these guys are new to the camera business but first impressions these days are important and so its critical to get it right the first time round. Most people including professionals want ergonomics, ease of use, and reduced post production efforts.

Review is bang on. It's new tech that needs development and it needs buy-in from early adopters to fund the development. The early adopters need to be aware that the first iteration of the camera they're buying is going to be primitive. The project was well funded so clearly there were enough early adopters who had enough confidence that Light could make this work in the long run. I've had the same experience with my L16 so far but I'm hopeful that image quality and work flow will improve - indeed they both have improved already several times since the camera shipped. Is it pricey? Yes. Is it for everyone? No. Will it open up new innovations in photography? Time will tell, but you don't get there without risk and without us early adopters who are anxious to see where the concept can go.

I was waiting for this review, so much! Gonna enjoy it, right now.

I remember when they started working on this idea and thought the same thing, a great idea with an awesome resolution. They have to nail the fine details if they want to compete with DSLR and the processing software needs to up there as well. Great review on the overall design pro’s and cons along with the technical but very important details. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks👍🏼

Wow! I'm not a professional photographer, but this has to be the most articulate, thoughtful, thorough, and FAIR review of ANY product I've ever watched! Light needs to hire this guy as a technical advisor.

I can't see myself (an enthusiast) buying this camera. I can't see my mom (a point and shooter) buying this camera. I don't see where this gives a student a solid foundation for learning. A professional wouldn't choose this camera. So who is left?

I just discovered this channel and found your video so thorough and informative. Great work! 👍

It's nice to see somebody bringing something to market that's genuinely new and innovative. Given that it is so different, I strongly suspect that at some point soon, somebody will find something it can do that nothing else can. I've no idea what (I don't have one, and I'm not a good enough photographer). Whether enough people want to do that thing enough to support the production of more cameras like this is something we just don't know at the moment. It'll be interesting to see where this idea goes.

Thanks for the review, especially the detail on how the computational problem that may occur on too complex wood branches. I would love to see more of the issues with computational image such as how it handles fast moving objects, slow shutter handheld, through tunnels and stuff, and if you can discover any advantages you can actually use the computational flaws to your creative advantages.

I’m like you Ted, I like it when someone goes out of bounds and tackles a problem with a fresh look. Almost all great inventions originate from that way of thinking. That said there are many entrepreneurs who have great ideas but do not have the basic skills and notions to make their invention work (and most of them know it from the start). Going out of bounds with a great idea is DIFFICULT. In our world, there are more dreamers than inventors. And that does not end there, you not only need to have a great idea but need a team of personnel that will handle all that it takes to create the product (and it’s side products - lens, software, etc.), finance the product, and market it. The best of inventor could probably not do all of these things alone. So it’s all about team work. Lucky for you, and for us, LIGHT does not seem to take their work LIGHTLY (sorry, I had to say that) - They seem dead serious (but I hope they don’t die). Again, I feel like Groucho Marx today… My guess here, is that most of the budget for making this new camera went into making the camera. Seems simple enough but it’s not. They need to get a product out rapidly but they probably tossed aside the budget needed to improve the software. Now that they got the camera out, they know that the software is part of the weakness and my guess is that they will tackle this before changing anything on the camera, even if some ergonomic modifications are needed - like the ones you stated. Now for my thoughts: I don’t think LIGHT needs to wonder into the world of video, as of now. They must concentrate on their basic concept and must not do any trade off that might put them in peril. They must not be scared of tackling a problem from scratch if needed - which means they must avoid “patching” things. If they don’t someone will take their own concept, work at it from a different angle, and manage a better working model with a different patent. I, like you, also think that the depth of field variations look artificial. Maybe that’s because we are use to work within the limitations of ONE specific lens and accept the trade-off it gives as bonuses, like Bokeh. Hopefully Light can better their software and leave some room for the user to get those limitations back. Maybe the user could choose - in post-processing - which of the multiple images he wants to build up the results. If ten lens were initially needed, then maybe the user feels that a specific group of five does a better rendering. Maybe some preview mode can just do that and let the user experience feel as if he is in control. A user’s experience is all about feeling like he’s in control. So the ergonomic problem of holding the camera at hand when taking a picture must be tackle. Maybe they can come up with a simple solution for those who already own this version - like an add-on accessory that can be fixed to the tripod screw that will let your left hand rest so that your fingers don't cover any of the camera’s multiple lenses. All that said, I wish them the best - because in the end, if all works well, we are the ones that will benefit from this. Great objective review Ted!

I really really want to say thank you for your review, its one of the best that I have found so far. I have waited a long time and didn't put in a deposit, i have watch from the sidelines the launch release and people's review and post of the first L16 images, its been a few months and it looks like LightCo really has improved on the compositing algo so I just went ahead and purchased it on sale this last weekend during their president's day sale. Please keep posting on the L16 your updated thoughts, I will be watchin for them :) I believe in the company too and I hope it does succeed too!!

I loved your unbiased review , honestly I see so many people doing so many reviews ( not on this particular product) just in general, but the experience I had watching your video is awesome looking forward to many from you.. I'm a tech junkie and need reviews like this before I pull the trigger on crap I don't really need but at least with your review I won't regret the purchases

great review! pure pleasure watching it ✨

Thanks for the thoughtful review Ted!

I don't believe that it can replace DSLRs. Because a thousand small lenses cannot replace one big lens. But I do like the idea behind the camera. "Computational" photography will be a class-leading concept if implemented properly. While cameras like this cannot replace DSLRs, they can complement them in many ways for sure. I was waiting for this review to come up. Thank you, Ted! It was a very apt one!

Thanks for the nice review!

Ted this was a really relly reflected and good review. Thank you very much :)

loved the design and the idea, I have the faith too

Very informative. Thank you.

To your question -- No, they will not be able to resolve these challenges to the degree expected by anyone other than casual shooters, and they are already well served by cell phones. Unless they have a real software hero on staff, which appears unlikely based on your observations about the software, their challenges are not as much with the device as with the software that stacks and stitches images. Even with sophisticated and dedicated image stackers, you still need all the images to be at the same f stop and focal length. Imagine the finess necessary to align and adjust all those images of differing apertures and focal lengths and shot from slightly different perspectives into a single, sharp rendering free from chromatic and mozaic distortions. I'm skeptical.

Very very cool concept. Apparently not what we all expected.

Lytro all over again - cool concept, but too expensive and image quality isn't good enough.

Hey ted congrats on 400k subs. I kinda like the idea but they have too much to improve. They might be a good option in 5 years just like mirrorless now. But i still think dslrs are not out the door yet and wont be for the next 5 years. Congrats again and thank you #notificationsquad.

Great review, thank you Ted!

I had ordered an L16 and returned it and got my money back. My son who is a professional photographer tested the camera for me and told me all the bits and pieces that you highlight in your review. Facit: If someone wants something fancy looking and something to impress his/her non-professional photographer friends...OK. Thank you for your honest and qualified review! Thank you light.co for taking it back and refunding me!

Very Interesting - thank you!

Thanks for your objective review. I like seeing when companies try something new and different - even if it doesn't always work. That said, I probably won't be buying one of these myself. I think we'll be seeing more of this technology in cell phones moving forward with multiple lenses.

Now they just need to incorporate this into a cell phone...😂😂👍🏻👍🏻

Couldn't agree more. My review will be coming soon. Finishing the video edit as well as sample images. They miss the mark on so many levels. No battery or storage access. Clunky android interface. And, the post-processing software is just painful. Oh, and never once did I see a histogram. As always Ted, nice job.

Couldn't have said it any better Ted! Really nice and honest review!!! I will stick with my DSLR...I see the Future going towards Mirrorless Cameras and for the most part to Smartphone Cameras. I wouldn't even consider taking an image with that camera because of several reasons...the main reason being restrictions as in using different lenses and focal lengths or the idea of not taking images of complex objects since it doesn't render them well and also Filters such as the polarising filter or even ND Filters...does the shutter really only go down to 1/15th of a second?? And they are trying to replace Pro Cameras with this? That's a joke...

It seems an interesting concept. If you do studio-photos you don't need it! I like the idea that you don't carry around one big lens so people are feeling watched with a usual DSLR. Generally it looks more interesting for doing videos!

Really conclusive review, thank you! I think sometime in the future, this will be what we'll be using. But it seems like it just isn't ready yet - the downsides are just too big to ignore.

Congrats on 400K!

Thanks for this!

Really interesting! I find it interesting how the placement of the lenses looks kind of random but has probably a purpose. Really impressive hardware!

Very interesting review, and I totally agree with your conclusion : two years ago, it was a brilliant idea, but then, considering how far cellphones already are, there is probably no niche market for such a pricey camera with such image results.

I think we are at a new paradigm shift. I have a pixel 2 now and the photos are pretty amazing given that it is a phone. They seem to do multi-exposures and lots of computation to make up for the lens--and maybe the sensor. We might be in the era of signal processing---like our eyes do. The L16 is an interesting stop in this path.

I really want to see the second iteration of this.

Thanks for your honest review. I had been thinking of the Light 16 as a travel camera, sort of a high megapixel smart phone. Your video has convinced me to upgrade from my Sony A7 to the A7 II or III with it's 42 megapixels instead. As far as the future potential for me, if I am going to spend that kind of money I think I prefer an interchangeable lens camera which lets you use a variety of native or vintage lenses. I am attracted by the size but it sounds like it is considerable heavier than the iPhone 8 plus which I use in a pinch or when I don't feel like carrying heavy gear. Also sounds like the post processing in photoshop or light room is a pain in the ass. I look forward to your future reviews.

Sounds really good and you can put up with the cumbersome issue but at this price you need excellent quality photos. I've been waiting for this for over year and really doesn't seem much better.

I'd prefer to lug around a bag of individual lenses because how else will I cure my GAS? Great review Ted, unfortunately I dont see myself relying on the cameras processing to get the exact photo I need. If they do fix the initial bugs there certainly could be an audience interested in this all-in-one setup. A lot of social media users arnt blowing up their images or pixel peeping like we are, so something versatile like this may be the answer

The best for L16 is that Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi or any other big player buy the company Nice concept tho.

One of the most important features of a camera is how well it handles. Without good ergonomics a camera will let you down a lot of times taking the fun out of photography. This looks as comfy to shoot with as an iPad (especially considering the lenses are positioned all the way to the edge). So no, this is not going to replace a DSLR and a bag of lenses. Also it is physically impossible to replace a big zoomlens with a few small lenses and get the same result. The idea is great and the implementation looks very well done but you simply can't beat the laws of nature. So I guess I'll stick with my own camera for now but it still is interesting to see how they will improve things with firmware updates. ut I'm sure you'll keep us posted.

Very fair review. I personally love the concept and think it still holds some relevance. Hopefully they stick with it and turn this into a really shooting machine.

Still confused as to how this system works, so a fixed aperture, multiple lenses with different focal distances, I dont understand how it can stitch 2 or more images together with different focal distances?

I'm not really big on having unlimited options for each shot. My first extra lens that I bought was a 50mm and I learned to shoot with it. Then I learned that I loved to shoot with it. Because of this I used it for any paid gigs because I knew that even if it had limitations I could set up the composition the way I knew it would work and get a great photo. And that is how you create your style. Personally if you give me a device that can do anything then I would end up with a portfolio of randomness, at which I am already having a hard time learning how to simplify.

I think it won't be a device that we all go for, but it might lead to develop some kind of technology resolving or just touching some issue. It's good for the market and future devices.

With over a dozen lenses I was thinking "I wonder what this does... all the lenses are in different places so maybe it takes semi-3D photos?" Not even that... I don't mind carrying my DSLR around lol it feels comfortable and natural... I like the process of it all.

I wish i could afford to buy one to test it with an outdoor portrait session. To test the idea that it could replace my dslr and make a video of it!

I think the L16 is a concept of what smartphones will look like in 3-5 years. I love their idea and think they'll be able to overcome the difficulties. Wish I could them .

Thanks for your honest review. I've had my L16 since Nov 2017 and I feel just like you. Great company and concept. Decent pictures and easy to use camera settings. YES Lumen is not a very good program and adds an extra step before you can import into Lightroom. I hope they improve Lumen. At this time I'm thinking about selling my camera. As you say the camera is well built but the extra time you must spend processing each individual image in Lumen before being able to crop and/or adjust color/exposure just is not worth it to me. Lumen is only good a helping you decide which images are worth saving.

Even provided that they fix the processing issues and are able to resolve the fine detail correctly, they are charging a premium for a bulky "compact" camera that does not produce the image quality/low light performance to match the price. 2k buys you a hell of a mirrorless setup for the consumer crowd. For the pro crowd they might be targetting, that sort of money buys you either a nice new crop dslr setup, or a second hand full frame workhorse that can keep up with that kind of use. I can get a D3x with 24-70 for around the same price (maybe up to 2.5k total) that will run circles around this thing on all fronts. Additionally I'm not sure any clients would take you seriously if you show up with this thing, i wouldn't.

Great review, thanks a lot. I looks like It is very hard to compute those from different lenses images into one. The tiny details go all over the place making blurry spots. How to better stretch different focus length distortions into one would be the solution. Apple cannot figure it out with two lenses in 'photo mode' and they have to do it with seven or ten. Great idea, but not consumer ready yet.

Fixing focus in post, perhaps more perfect/ active HDR, selecting DOF in post and maybe even auto stacking and many other possibilities with this idea are tantalizing... It's too bad it didn't have SOME feature or image so exciting that they could start building real support. I think the idea is great. I hope they can keep going till it's everything it can be!

I can't wait to a waterproof case for it to come out it would be awsome 😃

Big Camera companies would probably go and ask them for the Light L16 blueprint and the few years later, boom! The New L16!

Oh wow, you're local to me. Noticed the picture of Klyde Warren Park!

With 16 lenses, how would you handle adding a polarizing filter for landscape (or other) photography? I'll admit that I don't quite understand the finer details of a polarizer works, but if you had one large filter that covered the entire camera, wouldn't the affect be different depending on the placement of each lens? The only other option I see from there, is having 16 individual polarizers that you'd have to adjust one at a time. I fear this design is more kitsch than practical. PS- is it weather sealed at all? Thanks!

I think in 5-10 years, this concept is going to be amazing, and may even take over. That said, there will be growing pains, not only for this company, but for others dabbling in the same concept. The journey will be rough, but the destination will be mind blowing.

@TedForbes I test drove the Lytro and one thing that stuck out to me was that it performed slowly unless it was very bright out and had a REALLY hard time focusing in low light unless held perfectly still. Did you get any sense of how well L16 does in motion and in low light?

inevitably, a good review. :)

congrats on 420K

I absolutely want one. Will I pay 2 grand? Nah...Maybe 500?

I actually hate taking pictures, but I found this video really entertaining.

Excellent review. I couldn't imagine this camera working very well. Even if it's possible to get software to do something, why take the risk when you can get a lens that does it for real. You can't burst with the effects, but you can with a Lensbaby or a shallow depth of field. No need to restrict because the information is already there.

Try to have a photoshoot with it! Maybe a model and some lighting. Will it sync with a flash through any means?

What's the camera/setup you're shooting this with? Awesome review by the way! :)

Great review. Part of reason for Fujifilm's success in the last few years is that people want to pick up and use their cameras, because of how they look and feel in their hands. I love holding and shooting with my x-pro1, would I love walking around with, essentially a massive phone? No.

:O the first thing I really want over my analogic Nikons :O hope they achieve better details in the future!

Computational photography is going to be a next big step for digital imaging. I'd like to see how far they get.

I see focus stacking. Each of lens, take a different focal point. I wish them success .

Thanks for the review and invitation for comments. I have been following Light since the start, but not ready to jump in. I am interested in lunar photography. Light says they're working on infinite focus toward that end. Would you take some moon/night/moonlight shots please?

Are you planning to keep it and see where firmware takes it or sell it off before it completely loses value?

Is that an Ableton Push I see in the distance?

Hi Ted, I know you like black and white, does the software do an ok job on black and white? As you say, sounds like they're doing the best they can, 2 yrs may be a lot for cell phones, but not for 'from scratch' r&d. They may have application for security cameras, I don't see myself ever getting one to replace my full frame mirrorless.

I'm not particularly fond of the design but at least the concept is fascinating. Wonder if there will be a second version of this. Anyways, this was a very informative breakdown.

As you said, the concept is awesome, but I didn't expect it to be waw especially for the first iteration, if they didn't surrender and continued to develop I think it's gonna be special in like 5 years giving the fact that they don't have big R&D unit.

Would love to know if there has been any progress on the L16 since this review which is now 4 months old. I notice they are discounting it heavily

Just out of curiosity could make a video about what camera and lens types you would want in a smartphone to have to be professional grade I think that would be pretty cool.

And of course thank You that You buy it before anyone else. Now it's clear what's going on.

I think the future will be software processing images from tiny camera sensors to HQ images. There was already an article how software could process a blury/pixelated image into something usable. Even the google pixel 2 processes depth information with only one camera and produces mind blowing images in the right conditions.

How small can you go with this? I would like to see how it shoots macro photography, (insects specifically) where the depth of field is very small. In labs we get around this but using software that takes multiple images and then takes the image stacks and stitches them together using the various layers that are in focus. Which I assume is exactly what this camera does.

It sounds like a great concept. I think your feedback and the feedback of others would be really important for Light to zero-in on identifying the problem areas. If they can take ownership of the flaws and really narrow down who this is for, it would be great to see if this could attract some investment. It seems like it would need to withstand spills, knocks, and and a certain amount of water pressure to appeal to the transient photographers of the world.

Impressive! I'm thinking that the many lenses should be put on something like a rotary selectors in order to reduce the need and complexity of the stitching or focus stacking. Maybe one rotary for macro and close up lenses, one for telephoto lens and one for normal to wide angle. The files could then be similar to regular jpegs or even raw. Maybe these rotary selectors could themselves be set on a rotary selector too, this way a set of a few lenses could be brought in front of a composition of sensor inside the camera. To allow more of the stitching, but a little amount of a higher quality sensors, disposed in a more relevant array of shooting direction minimizing this way the stitching problems. Now I can easily envision the rotary selectors to be mechanically rotating as the camera is brought to a far zoom bringning the telephoto lens in front of the sensors with the appropriate telephoto lense rotating themselves to get say 4 lens in front of the 4 APS-C sensors and as the zoom keeps pushing the weakest loup would be put asside while the other 3 would keep climbing to the sensors with higher teleconversion range. Eventually the stronger lens would sit alone on the sensor with the strong teleconversion as the camera reach it's zoom capability. At that point the stitching and details in the picture would be limited, but still the photo would be possible and an electronic pixel enlargement could still work. Reversly the same principle could apply over the same 4 sensors for macro and for wide angle! Simple isn't it? Get at it!! Ah! Ah! I want one please!

It looks really neat but I feel like the whole experience of photography has been removed from me. Half the fun for me is taking a film camera and seeing it in my head to dial it in or taking a DSLR/Mirrorless and having everything I can control. That and the ergonomics of it are sterile. As a brick I just don't feel like I'm part of the process. To me this camera is trying to be "your camera takes nice pictures" camera. It is literally trying to be the whole process and you just point it at something.

Thanks for this thorough overview. I was pretty sure this camera would be DOA and this confirms it. They created a solution to a problem that did not exist. Use a smartphone or a mirrorless. This camera is WAY larger than a smartphone.

So if I'm getting my picture taken, what's the lens I should look at? 🤔

I have a light 16 also and recently bought a Huawei Mate SE phone and the images are already much better on my phone disappointingly, I think the l16 might be better for certain applications like landscape photos or ?? but... I already prefer the phone images. I really hope they are able to figure out the software, not impressed so far though. Thanks for your video, it's spot on.

Generally, I like the idea. Their concept is similar to what large arrays of radio telescopes do to create an image of space. You hit on the main technical problem; how can you stitch multiple complex images together and keep the depth of field information? If they can solve that problem, they will have a chance. If not, they will go the way of Lytro, which surprisingly has a similar problem. (BTW, I believe that they can solve the low-light issues you mentioned.) Note that if they work out these issues, this camera would be for serious photographers, not those who take snapshots and post on Facebook. The workflow is similar to what professional photographers already do. Adding support for things like replaceable memory cards and batteries are relatively simple to implement if that is what blocks users from adopting.

I absolutely think this is relevant. I hope they keep pushing. Cameras have had a lot of Innovations, but I think this could be the smartphone of the camera world. Smartphones put telephones on their ass, and changed our very definition of communication. Cameras have always been either big and fixed, or small with a body and a lens (at least the good cameras). This would be small, and no separate lens, it could truly cut out interchangeable lenses entirely if this gets better. Tests I would like to see, portrait in a dark room, landscape with an overcast sky, and maybe a snowy day and a dog running.

I think this works well as a proof of concept, and if they licence the technology out to bigger companies (including ones that produce smartphones), the technology itself can have a decent future. We already see the dual camera designs in the high-end smartphones, and triple camera was rumoured to pop up this year, so i think others are also seeing some advantage of such en imaging system.

Proof of concept as you say. If you want to check out something really cool, Madventure V 360 camera. 360 photo and video may be the next big thing in photography.

Very interesting tech, and I was watching, thinking the interferometric combination of lenses would be applied to smartphones in a lesser degree. The VLT telescope in Chile uses multiple an array of four refractor telescopes to increase its theoretical first element diameter.

Hello Thanks for the review, i can see Ableton Push in your desk, maybe you are also like me music producer. Cheers

You need to review this with the updated firmware! :O

Hahahahaha! Thanks for making it clear at the end. It’s an interesting concept but I don’t know what they’re trying to solve. Form factor? Smart phones have it beat there. DSLR replacement? I don’t see it. Maybe video and being able to rack focus in post. That might be kinda cool. Nothing compelling though. Thanks for volunteering as tribute so to speak.

What about the DXO One mounted on an iPhone, like the 8Plus?