Light L16

The Light L16 is the world’s first multi-aperture computational camera. It houses sixteen camera modules of varying focal lengths. Pressing the shutter combines multiple captures to make one high-resolution image with depth data that allows adjustment of focus and depth-of-field in post. The device promised photographers DSLR quality photos from a highly portable device.

As the lead designer on this project, I managed and made hands-on contributions to all phases of the project, from research and prototyping to final sample reviews and product visualization.

While the L16 hardware was an engineering marvel, it was the wrong application of the technology and the product was eventually shelved. Light has since pivoted to using their tech in self-driving vehicles and was acquired by John Deere in 2022.

Designed at Bould Design 2014-2018
Team: Fred Bould, Anson Cheung, Dayne Tanner, Joy Young
My contributions: Industrial design, program management, product visualization
Recognition: IDEA Gold Award, Red Dot Product Design Award

Anson Cheung
Industrial Designer
San Francisco, CA
© 2023