Lytro yesterday announced the introduction of Lytro Cinema, a new camera, storage, processing and software system for the capture of Light Field data, which will allow filmmakers to make creative decisions in post-production that would usually need to be locked in on set. This includes changing the focus plane, depth of field and relative positioning of the camera. It may also allow for object isolation, eliminating the need for a green-screen in some instances.
"We are in the early innings of a generational shift from a legacy 2D video world to a 3D volumetric Light Field world,?" said Jason Rosenthal, CEO of Lytro. ?"Lytro Cinema represents an important step in that evolution. We are excited to help usher in a new era of cinema technology that allows for a broader creative palette than has ever existed before.?"
To achieve such flexibility, Lytro Cinema uses an ultra high resolution 755 RAW mega pixel sensor to capture rich Light Field data, including color, directional and depth propertires of each pixel, at up to 300 frames per second with up to 16 stops of dynamic range and a wide color gamut. This combined with ?integrated high resolution active scanning essentially produces a 3D model from each live action frame recorded. With this Light Field master recording, the integration of visual effects into live action footage becomes much easier. For instance, capabilities like Light Field Camera Tracking and Lytro Depth Screen allow for accurate keying of each object in the frame without a green screen.
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?"Lytro Cinema defies traditional physics of on-set capture allowing filmmakers to capture shots that have been impossible up until now,"? said Jon Karafin, Head of Light Field Video at Lytro. "Because of the rich data set and depth information, we?re able to virtualize creative camera controls, meaning that decisions that have traditionally been made on set, like focus position and depth of field, can now be made computationally. We?re on the cutting edge of what?s possible in film production.?"
The Lytro Cinema's Light Field Master also enables creators to render content in multiple formats — including IMAX®, RealD® and traditional cinema and broadcast at variable frame rates and shutter angles — and the entire system integrates into existing production and post-production workflows.
"Life?," the first short produced with Lytro Cinema in association with The Virtual Reality Company (VRC), will premiere at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference on Tuesday, April 19 at 4 p.m. PT in Room S222. ?"Life"? was directed by Academy Award winner Robert Stromberg, Chief Creative Officer at VRC and shot by David Stump, Chief Imaging Scientist at VRC.
Lytro Cinema will be available for production in Q3 2016 to exclusive partners on a subscription basis. For more information on Lytro Cinema, visit www.lytro.com/cinema
