Isn't this basically the same as coded aperture technology? It's the technology used in large flat metal "lenses" that some space telescopes use to create images in the x-ray and other non-visible regions. It's something that looks like a huge 2D barcode. Coded apertures in cameras are a smaller version of these and can sit between a conventional lens and the sensor, and allow you to focus on different regions of the scene. It's pretty magical stuff - way over my head mathematically, but fascinating. Great to see someone trying to develop it into a commercial product, although I can't quite see it's really going to be as popular as they make out. But hey - it takes "fix it in post" to a whole 'nother level!

Here is a good video explanation of that technology applied to photos (and it has some examples):



EDIT: Just realised this video is isn't that helpful! The lightfield camera uses a different technique. Anyway, for the mathematically-inclined, a quick google search on Coded Aperture will while away a few hours!

Nice video - I love the refocussing through a still of a splash of water. Clever!!

The Lytro picture gallery is fun (click on bits of the photos to make them change focus, if you haven't already worked that out). The problem is, if those cameras become popular I can see them spawning a whole genre of "throw focus" videos, just like the "still-pictures-that-are-video-with-narrow-depth-of-field-and-cheesy-film-look-plus-aimless-music" genre that we currently "enjoy"!

Hmmm... Lytro body, Lytro lens, Lytro file format, Lytro online storage. No compatibility whatsoever with any other gadgets and standards. Definitely... not my liking.