If you think Huawei’s decision to place three cameras on the back of its P20 Pro smartphone is overkill, you might be amused to hear one company is reportedly working on a handset with a whopping nine rear-facing lenses.
The company that makes the unique Light L16 camera, named after the number of lenses dotted on the back, is turning its attention to smartphones, the Washington Post reports.
The concept design shown to the Post reporter is capable of combining all of the images to take 64-megapixel photos, with superior low-light performance and better depth effects.
According to the report, the phone may end up with between five and nine lenses and will be announced later this year.
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A word of caution though, the pocket-friendly L16 camera costs $1,950 (£1,850), so it’s unlikely that the firm’s phone will be heralded for its affordability.
The L16 was announced all the way back in 2015 and uses the 16 lenses to capture the one image at different focal lengths and exposures. Users are able to adjust things like depth of field, focus and exposure after the fact.
The camera is already some way towards being a smartphone as it runs Android and boasts built-in Wi-Fi. That makes it easy to upload photos directly from the device, while Android apps and the five-inch touchscreen surface assist with editing.
In our first look earlier this year, James Laird wrote: “Taken all together, the Light L16 proposes an enticing combination of DSLR-esque image quality, CSC-like portability, and the ease of use reminiscent of smartphone cameras. GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are all on board, and battery life for non-continuous use is tipped at well over a day.”
But does this tech belong in a smartphone?
How many cameras is too many cameras? Is the rumoured Light phone immediately on your radar? Drop us a line with your thoughts @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.