Lytro 3D

Lytro Illum 3D Effect - Christmas Ornaments

I got a Lytro Illum to try out not too long ago. I'm really not sure if I am going to keep it, but it is interesting to play with. Gif was created on http://depthy.me/ using  single image and depth map exported from Lytro Desktop.

Lytro Illum 3D Effect - Backyard

I have not seen such animations from a Lytro before.

The only issue I have with such plenoptic cameras is the maximum interaxial is limited to the size of the lens aperture (too small, except for macro/close-up subjects, such as the ornaments).

Yep, I agree... there is still interest in the camera for microsopy/macro work in the scientific world. I would find the camera much more interesting if the depth maps were more accurate... but as it stands I will probably be selling it.

I did not realize the Lytro utilized depth mapping.  I shouldn't have to, as all the info is there to make true stereos from the light field capture.  A "depth map" is a crutch (IMO).

Turbguy1 wrote:

I did not realize the Lytro utilized depth mapping. I shouldn't have to, as all the info is there to make true stereos from the light field capture. A "depth map" is a crutch (IMO).

Lytro doesn’t use depth maps, it outputs them for people who want them, and it uses them to produce stereo output that exceeds the inter-objective of the subdivided lens.

The actual computations are big matrix inversions that use essentially all the information you can garner from the sensor.

Subdividing the lens limits how much (and just plain "how" each pixel contributes to the image, which increases noise and decreases dynamic range.