Light unveils “a multi-aperture computational camera”

Android-powered cameras are nothing new, with Samsung having crafting such devices in the past.

As the renderings showed and our interviews explained, the L16 packs in sixteen 13-megapixel camera modules at three different focal lengths – 35mm (5), 70mm (5) and 150mm (6) – for a total of 52-megapixels.

Light has been quietly developing a very interesting compact, point-and-shoot camera solution that’s created to replace larger, bulkier DSLRs.

Light launched the new product at Re/Code’s Code Mobile conference in Half Moon Bay, California today.

The lenses themselves have different foal lengths, offering a variety of zoom equivalents ranging from 35mm to 150mm. The L16 can capture 4K video, as well.

Light has officially opened up pre-orders for the L16, which will set you back $200 for an immediate deposit and a remaining $1,100 (and applicable taxes) when it ships in “late summer 2016”. The discounted price will be available through November 6. The L16 is all about taking a bunch of these cameras – 16 of them – and jamming them into one dedicated device. Where the L16 makes up for this fact is in its software, where the 16 captured photos can be stitched together into 52-megapixel images, which also helps reduce noise and improve low-light sensitivity. Smartphone cameras are getting good enough to be the main camera for many mainstream consumers, and camera aficionados likely either already own a solid DSLR or would rather buy a DSLR that offers swappable lenses.

“Until the L16 camera, this required expert knowledge, heavy equipment and high prices”, said Light CEO and cofounder, Dave Grannan, in a statement.