Lytro camera now in Canada, just in time for new 3D ability

It's been a year since the Lytro camera was introduced to the world, and it looks like Canadians will finally be able to join in the "picture revolution."

Starting in early November, Canadians will be able to pick up their own Lytro light field camera, and can almost immediately take advantage of the 3D update coming to the technology.

The company who makes the small, square camera says that their camera will change the way people take pictures, giving them the ability to focus the camera after they've already recorded the picture. You can see a demonstration in this YouTube video by the company:

As The Canadian Press explains, the Lytro is a light field camera, which is how users can change the focus of a picture after it's already been taken; the way the photo is recorded using the Lytro, all the light in the space at that time is recorded.

"The light field is defined as all of the light travelling in every direction at every point in space — and the key component there is direction," explains Eric Cheng, Lytro's director of photography.

"Light field is what travels through a traditional camera but (the camera) throws away most of the information, you have a bunch of different light rays hitting one point and they all get averaged into a colour. But if it were possible to separate those light rays out, the data you'd be capturing would be this rich light field data they've been talking about in computer graphics theory for decades."

Earlier this week, the news came that the Lytro camera will be available in Canada, although you'll only be able to get one at Future Shop (either online or in store). You can choose between the 8GB model in Graphite or Electric Blue ($399.99 CAD), or the 16GB model in Red Hot ($499.99 CAD). According to the Future Shop website, the camera is currently open for pre-orders.

The Lytro won't be for everyone: at the same price as a higher-end traditional point-and-shoot camera, you're sacrificing some of the features those traditional cameras would have for the ability to "shoot first, focus later" as the company's tagline goes. You won't be able to print the photos you snap in high resolution, as the pictures it takes are only 1.2 megapixels.

Then again, that's not what the Lytro is about. In exchange, though, you can not only edit the focus of your pictures long after the fact, but you can also share them with your friends, who can also refocus the 'living pictures' as they like. There's also the 8x optical zoom packed into a very portable-sized camera. And once the next firmware update hits, you'll be able to take 3D pictures, too.

Announced at the debut of the Lytro in Singapore, CNET Asia reports users will be able to shift the perspective of a photo, making it appear 3D. Those who have 3D compatible laptops and televisions will be able to see the photos in actual 3D. Engadget got a demonstration of the technology, which you can see here:

The Lytro light field camera will be available in Canada on November 9.

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