I am sure you remember Light, the maker of the mind-boggling 16 lens camera called L16 – the camera that has the potential of triggering a panic attack with trypophobia? Just last year, the young camera maker who have some prominent investors, including the likes of Leica and Softbank, announced that it is venturing into making mobile phone and as it turns out, part of that plan is to hold hands with a couple of big names in the smartphone industry.
It has formally announced that it is collaborating with Sony and Xiaomi to develop with multiple cameras on the back. Previously, Light said it will work with Sony for smartphones “with four or more cameras,” but it looks like even five cameras now aren’t quite shocking as Nokia 9 PureView has already beaten Light, Sony and Xiaomi to the game. The question now is, who’s multi-camera setup can do better? Anyways, it is worthy to note that, unlike the partnership with Sony, the agreement with Xiaomi wasn’t specific how many sensors the two companies will be packing the handset(s) with.
Meanwhile, the partnership with Sony will see Light combining its multi-camera technology with Sony’s image sensors to create new reference designs that will pave way for smartphones with four or more cameras. While it is not specifically detailed anywhere, nor is there any official link between the two separate collaborations, we thought the decision to partner with Xiaomi comes as a no brainer as Xiaomi has been leveraging on Sony’s mobile imaging sensors the whole time. So, it kind of makes sense to work with Xiaomi because, you’d be working on the similar imaging technology.
Of course, I am not saying that there is a definite link. I am just saying, with Light working with Sony, it does make sense to working with a handset maker who has been using Sony’s mobile imaging sensors exclusively because, Light did be doing more with less, or something like that. Does that sound logical to you too? I sure does to me. Anyways, brace yourself for a lot of lens on future smartphones. Also, trypophobics will need to be prepared for the worst because, in near future, trypophobics will be greeted with what they rather not see more often.
I wonder what Google’s take on multi-camera trend? Speaking of Google, it really boggles my mind how Google is so insistence on going with single lens shooter and the search giant’s overzealous praise of what software could squeeze of that lone lens. No doubt Google has proven the methodology works. But seriously, I don’t see why Google should do that. Not like the space it saved from not having more sensors result in a breakthrough phone design.
I see no thinner Pixel, nor is it any lighter than most of the phones out there. What I see is a poor excuse to minimize the cost on hardware components and maximizing profit. Software, algorithms and whatnot are just a front for that excuse. Period.
Images: Light.
Source: PetaPixel [1] [2].
