Support Home User guide Restart, Reset and Update

Camera and Lumen

How do I download third-party Android apps to my L16?

We recently added options to allow you to install your favorite Android third-party apps. Please note that the L16 does not have access to the Google Play store. In order to download these apps, you must do so by downloading them from a third-party Android app store.*

*Light does not endorse or encourage the installation of any third party software or applications and does not take responsibility for any harm they may do to your L16, your photos, or your other information. Installing software that damages your L16 may void your warranty.

This update will allow you to share images directly from your L16 to your favorite social media sharing apps, edit them further in apps like Lightroom Mobile and Google Snapseed, or even do things like listen to music or upload images to a file hosting service so you can easily download them on your iOS device.

Important notes:

- Please make sure to Process images in the Light Gallery app before sharing for the highest resolution. Remember that the preview image in the gallery is only a 1.3mp thumbnail, so we recommend processing your images for higher resolution. For information on how to turn on background image processing whenever charging, please click here.

- Third-party camera apps will have limited functionality with the L16 camera. Specifically, camera capture, autofocus, flash, and preview functionality frequently do not perform as expected since they are not used to the power of 16 lenses. We recommend using only the L16 camera app to capture images.

- Apps such as Chrome may provide a better experience on 3rd party Android app sites. Certain apps (such as Google Drive or Gmail) may not work because they require Google Play services.

- Images edited in 3rd party apps are not visible in the L16 gallery app. However, they are visible in the Gallery and Photos folders.

Steps:

Install the latest update, 1.3.4.1, which allows for installation of third-party apps

Go to the home screen.
1. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the circle icon.
On the home screen, tap "update."
If an update is available, follow the prompts to download and install the update. This may take a few minutes.
1. If you need more help updating, visit this link.

Turn on “Installation of apps from unknown sources”

Access device settings.
1. From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen then tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
2. From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.
Scroll down halfway and tap “Security”
In the “Security” section, scroll down until you see “Unknown sources” and slide the toggle to the right.
Read the disclaimer and click “Ok”

Download an APK from third-party Android app store

From Browser on the L16
1. From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the full apps menu.
2. Tap on Browser, type in "android apk," choose a third-party APK site, and then search for the Android APK you wish to download.
3. Download and install.

Disclaimer: Light does not endorse or encourage the installation of any third-party software or applications and does not take responsibility for any harm they may do to your L16, your photos, or your other information. Installing software that damages your L16 may void your warranty.

How is Light processing the images in the gallery?

The images in Light's gallery in addition to those published to Light’s social feeds are processed using Light’s proprietary software, Lumen, which is powered by Light's proprietary Polar Fusion engine. The engine is comprised of sophisticated imaging algorithms which computationally fuse the many images captured by the L16 to create one incredibly high-quality image.

For more information, check out our in-depth guide to the technology behind the L16.

L16 Software Release Notes

Always improving

Every week, we make the Light L16 a little better. That's the beauty of a camera built on software: the experience never stops improving. In case you haven’t had a chance to test the latest software, we compiled a few highlights from our release notes.

Click here to learn how to update your camera.

V1.3.4.1 (1341) - May 2019

https://support.light.co/201069710-Camera/389505-how-do-i-download-third-party-android-apps-to-my-l16

Android third-party apps: We added options to allow you to install your favorite Android third-party apps. Please note that the L16 does not have access to the Google Play store. In order to download these apps, you must do so by downloading them from a third-party Android app store.*

* Note: Light does not endorse or encourage the installation of any third-party software or applications and does not take responsibility for any harm they may do to your L16, your photos, or your other information. Installing software that damages your L16 may void your warranty.

V1.3.3.5 (1335) - November 2018

spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-3-3-5

On-device depth editing: We added the ability to adjust depth effect on your L16. You can now change the effective aperture from f/15 to f/2 and add that beautiful background blur. You can also change the focal point using your L16’s touch screen.
Video recording (beta): Your L16 can now record single-camera video at 1080p and 30fps. The video is based on using either the 28mm camera or the 70mm camera, allowing you to zoom all of the way from 28mm to 150mm.
Editing presets: Customize and create presets to easily edit your images in your style - all on your L16. Presets include color and geometric edits. Any changes will carry over to Lumen and be applied to the full (up to 52MP) resolution.
Power save mode: Maximize your L16 battery life with new Power save mode in the Android menu. The advanced settings even let you customize which functionality is turned off
Capture experience: We updated the capture screen to include resolution (approximate megapixels) and handshake warning for low-light.
Lumen deletion: Now you can delete images in the L16 gallery directly from Lumen while your camera is plugged in.

Important: Some of these new features (rating system and editing on-camera) will require you to update to the latest version of Lumen Beta (v2.3.0 or later).

V1.3.2.5 (1325) - Late June 2018

spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-3-2-5

Low-light assist: When you’re shooting at a higher ISO in auto mode, your L16 will now utilize image stacking to capture significantly more detail and much less noise.
Tripod assist: The L16 now has a sixth sense. When the camera detects stability and stillness in auto mode, it will lengthen the exposure time and lower ISO to improve image quality.
Basic editing tools: We added the ability to crop and rotate your images on camera. All of your edits will save automatically and transfer to Lumen when you import.
Tutorials: We updated the L16’s onboarding tutorial to help you get up to speed faster.
Key focal length: We made it easier to zoom to 75mm, which provides the best edge-to-edge resolution.
Usability: A few of our basic camera modes got a facelift. It should be easier to see which mode you’re shooting in.
Home screen: We made a few tweaks to the L16’s home screen experience, making it easier to access settings, software updates, and the feedback app.

V1.3.1.3 (1313) - Late March 2018

spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-3-1-3

Priority modes: We added Shutter priority and ISO priority modes to give you easier access and more control when shooting on the go.
AWB presets: Choose from five different white-balance presets when composing your scene. All options—from Incandescent to Fluorescent to Daylight to Cloudy (and Auto)—are viewable in real time on the L16’s touchscreen.
On-camera editing: Now you can adjust color, contrast, tint and more as soon as you snap your photo. Bonus: These basic edits will even carry over to Lumen.
Histogram: Curious whether you’ve captured the right exposure? With the L16’s new histogram feature, you’ll know as soon as you open the photo in gallery.
Metadata: Find your photo’s EXIF data much easier in gallery mode.
On-camera rating: Pick your favorites on the go. The camera’s 5-star rating system will now carry over to Lumen.
Pocket assist: The L16 can now detect once you’ve stored it away in your jacket. It will automatically turn on standby mode to save your battery.
Image-quality indicators: We added a couple new icons in gallery mode to show you when you’re viewing a preview versus a higher quality, processed image.

Important: Some of these new features (rating system and editing on-camera) will require you to update to the latest version of Lumen Beta (v2.1.0 or later).

V1.3.0.6 (1306) - Late January 2018

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-v1-3-0-6/

Dynamic autofocus (AF-D): We added a new, more reactive AF mode that includes face detection, auto refocus, and focus Lock.
Auto refocus: If you move your camera significantly, the L16 will refocus the scene for you.
Focus lock: This new feature maintains your focus at a specific distance.
Wide dynamic range (WDR): We tuned our algorithms to capture a broader range of highlights, with a greater level of detail throughout.
Faster AF: We increased the speed of autofocus, making it easier for you to quickly capture the moment.
Preview: We created a smoother, more responsive live-preview experience.
Bluetooth shutter: Now you can trigger your L16 remotely with bluetooth shutter remote.
Autofocus icons: We updated the color so that you can see focus more easily in sunlight.

V1.3.0.4/1.3.0.5 (1304/1305) - Mid-December 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-v1-3-0-4/

Tonal range: You should notice a big difference in the rendered tones for JPEGs, particularly in shadow and highlight regions.
Image sharpness: We updated our fusion algorithms to better match each and every pixel, making your images clearer and sharper.
Zoom: Now you can hit every single focal length, especially key lengths of 35mm and 75mm, which provide the highest edge to edge resolutions.
Gallery access: The gallery icon will indicate that your camera is locked and ask you to enter your passcode before you’re able to view your images.
Feedback app: Next time you’d like to report an issue or make a feature request, you’ll notice a much easier, smoother experience.
Shutter lag: We reduced capture time in auto mode.
Bug fix: Flash settings.

V1.3.0.1/1.3.0.2 (1301/1302) - Mid-November, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-3-0-1/

Autofocus and shutter lag: We reduced autofocus speed by roughly 400 milliseconds and total capture time by more than half a second.
Image sharpness: We tweaked the position and movement of the L16’s mirrors to produce clearer photos.
Shutter: The next time you use the physical shutter button to capture, you’ll feel the difference in speed and performance. Not only did we reduce shutter lag, we also streamlined the experience so you won’t miss a shot.
Software stability: Our engineering team rebuilt the camera and gallery applications for faster and easier fixes.
White balance: Image colors are more accurate, especially in indoor lighting.
Low-light performance: We tuned our de-noising and fusion algorithms to improve sharpness, clarity, and highlight restoration. You should also see improved contrast for blacks and shadows of photos shot in low lighting.

Note: Updating your camera with this new software will require you to download a new version of Lumen on your computer.

V1.2.2 (1120) - Late September, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-2-2/

Gallery: We gave the quality of your thumbnail images a major boost. Say hello to crisper, clearer previews.
Low-light performance: We’re constantly working on the L16’s low-light capabilities. This week, we tuned our de-noising algorithms to make your dimly lit images even sharper.
EXIF bug: Your image’s metadata should be accurate now.

V1.2.1 (1110) - Mid-September, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-110/

Auto white balance: The way the L16 reads color temperature will now be much closer to what you see with the human eye.
Long-exposure performance: We fixed the way our camera handles hot pixels. The next time you’re shooting the Milky Way, you won’t need to worry about those non-celestial sparkles in your photographs.
Wallpaper: We gave the home screen a major facelift.

V1.2.0 (1100) - Early September, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-100/

Burst mode: The L16 can now capture action at full resolution. Choose between three-and-six-shot bursts to freeze your fast-moving subjects.
Lens shading: We fixed that ugly vignetting that was appearing on low-light images.
Infrared filters: We made sure the L16’s camera modules match what our eyes see.

V1.1.1 (1080) - Late August, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-080/

Audio for long-exposure shots: Now you know exactly when your L16 starts and stops capturing.
Image Quality: We optimized the L16’s mirror movements to make your photos even sharper.
Default settings: Auto mode got a whole lot smarter. Now the L16 will expose your image based on the center of the scene—and it knows exactly when to bring flash into play.
Low-light color: We modified exposure levels to give your dimly lit photos better tonal range and color contrast.

V1.1.0 (1060) - Mid-August, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-060/

Low-light performance: The L16 automatically adjusts its settings in dim lighting to maximize quality and minimize noise.
Enhanced dynamic range: When there are big differences in a scene’s lighting, it can be challenging to capture all the tones. With the L16’s improved dynamic range, your camera will now capture more light, giving your photos a wider range of highlights and shadows.
Faster and more precise AF: Getting your subject in crystal-clear focus is now just one tap (or half-press) away.
Gallery experience: Image resolution is now 3x better in the gallery mode—and up to 20x better when processed.
Flick to zoom: It’s now a lot easier to jump between key focal lengths like 35mm and 70mm.

V1.0.1 (1030) - Late July, 2017

https://spot.light.co/l16-software-update-1-030/

Touch-weighted metering
The speed and accuracy of autofocus
On-device feedback and diagnostics reporting
Capture & self-timer sounds
Exposure value scale (now it matches the proper EV scale!)

Lumen Release Notes

Click here to learn how to update Lumen.

V2.3.0.606 (Mac) - October 2019

• MacOS Catalina Support: Lumen now supports mac OS 10.15.

V2.3.0 (Mac & Windows) - November 2018

Remote delete L16 images: Now you can delete images on the L16 directly from Lumen while your camera is plugged in. Easily manage your L16 gallery and storage in a few clicks.
Batch editing: Create and apply your style quickly to multiple images. Create presets or apply edits from one image to another. Editing options include everything on the right side of Lumen, including color, tone, and geometric edits.
Video import: Added support for video during import. Download your videos from the L16 for easy playback in your favorite video application.
Histogram: We improved the editing functionality by adding a histogram. Now you can see the tonal distribution and make changes more easily.
Improved import experience: We have made the import experience faster and easier.
Mojave support: Lumen now supports macOS 10.14.1.

V2.2.1 (Mac & Windows) - Late September 2018

Mojave support: Lumen now supports MacOS 10.14.
Ease of use: We added new tabs to more easily navigate between the L16 and your gallery.

V2.2.0 (Mac & Windows) - Late June 2018

Auto-processing: Lumen will automatically process your images in the background to cut down on image loading time. You should notice a big shift in how quickly you can access tools like depth effect and focus.
Crop and rotate: We added some basic editing tools to give you more creative freedom in post production.
Time zone: The time stamp on your images will now match the time zone they were captured in.
Feedback: We implemented the same feedback system that’s in our camera in Lumen. Now you can send our team crash reports, and even LRIs that will help us troubleshoot and make your experience better.

V2.1.0/2.1.1 (Mac & Windows) - Late March 2018

Rating system: Tag and sort your favorite photos with our 5-star scoring system. We even integrated a few keyboard shortcuts (0-5) to make this easier.
Import flow: We redesigned the way Lumen imports your images so that your desktop experience is not only easier to navigate, but more intuitive.
Recent folders: Now you can can seamlessly switch between images by accessing any of your recently opened folders from the top menu.
Basic adjustments: Any edits you make on the camera will carry over to Lumen.

V2.0.84 (Mac & Windows) - Late January 2018

Keyboard Shortcuts: We made it faster and easier to edit and organize your images. (See the shortcuts here.)
Compatibility check: Whenever we see files that are using old software, we’ll flag them and recommend upgrading your software.
Recent folders: Now Lumen will remember the last images you opened and reopen in your gallery.
Depth tools: We added a feathering option to soften your depth adjustments and create a more realistic look.

V2.0.76 (Mac & Windows) - Mid-December 2017

Tonal range: You should notice a big difference in the rendered tones for JPEGs, particularly in shadow and highlight regions.
Gallery selection: Now you can select multiple images at once for batch operations such as export or delete.
Image deletion: You asked, we answered. You may now delete images from Lumen (as subject to your operating system policies).
Image compression: We reduced the size of DNGs by approximately 50% to make them easier to maneuver.
Software support: Our DNG files are now compatible with more photo editing applications, like Apple Photos, Polarr, and even Snapseed.
Transfer: We squashed some import bugs so your images should load more consistently.
Basic editing: You’ll notice a major upgrade in the performance of the slider tools. Your images should update faster and smoother.
Gallery: You may now hide the gallery film-strip to see an image at a larger size.

V2.0.58 (Mac & Windows) - Late November 2017

OS Support: Lumen now supports Mac OS X 10.10.5 (Yosemite). We also improved Lumen's support of Windows 7 and 10 operating systems.
Compatibility Check (Windows): After you install Lumen, you can now check to make sure your computer and current operating system will work with our software.

V2.0 (Mac & Windows) - Mid-November 2017

Speed: Lumen has an all-new need for speed. We chopped exporting time in half and gallery loading speed by 70%, so that you never have to wait for your images again.
Focus: Want to pick a new focal point? Need to rescue a soft subject? We’ve got you covered. Simply shift the focus to another point near the original focal plane.
Depth: If you’re bokeh-obsessed like we are, you’ll be extra excited for this feature addition. We extended aperture adjustments all the way to f/2! Now you can add as much natural background blur as you want.
Basic Adjustments: Let the beautification begin. Adjust color, optimize exposure, tune sharpness, and more—all with fine, precise control. Your photos will thank you.
OS support: Folks on Windows 8.1 and Mac High Sierra can now enjoy all that Lumen has to offer.
Low-light performance: We tuned our de-noising and fusion algorithms to improve sharpness, clarity, highlight restoration, and contrast in shadows.

V1.2.4 (Mac) and V1.0.3 (Windows) - End of September 2017

Thumbnail Quality: We gave the quality of your thumbnail images a major boost. Say hello to crisper, clearer previews.
Low-light: We’re constantly working on the L16’s low-light capabilities. This release, we tuned our de-noising algorithms to make your dimly lit images even sharper.
Refine Edge: We corrected a few inconsistencies in our Refine Edge tool.
Crash reports: We added crash reports so that our team can understand and fix the issues happening inside the application. (Windows only)

V1.2.3 (Mac) - Mid-September 2017

Image clarity: Our processing algorithms are now better optimized for detail at all levels of ISO.
Tone curve: Your photos will have a more accurate range of highlights and shadows, which should allow for easier editing and retouching.
Long-exposure performance: We fixed the way our software handles hot pixels. The next time you’re shooting the Milky Way, you won’t need to worry about those non-celestial sparkles in your photographs.
Super-resolution: We refined the alignment of the 10+ images that are fused together to form each photo.

V1.2.2 (Mac) and V1.0.2 (Windows) - Early September 2017

Clarity of details: We tuned our processing algorithms to give your images sharper and more consistent definition.
Low-light: The next time you shoot in dim lighting, your photos will have truer colors, more realistic lighting, and better tonal range.
Infrared filters: We made sure the L16’s camera modules match the colors our eyes see.
Multiple DNG sizes: Now you can export smaller DNGs to maximize storage space on your computer.

V1.2.1 (Mac) and V1.0.1 (Windows) - Late August 2017

Image quality: Our new sharpening algorithms create clearer photos with more detail.
Exporting experience: Now all of your exported files are based on the original, 52MP-resolution image, so you get high-quality photos, no matter what size.
Export time: Download JPGs and DNG files 10% faster.
Low-light color: Wait till you see the much improved tonal range and color contrast in your dimly lit photos.
Zoom speed: You no longer have to wait for the entire image to load when you’re trying to focus on a tiny detail.
A locked-device issue: Lumen wouldn’t recognize images on the L16 if it hadn’t been unlocked.
Gallery experience: Thumbnail images no longer have to reload every time you click away, so navigating through your images should be much faster and easier.
Transfer failure: Lumen crashed whenever there wasn’t enough space for L16 files on a hard drive or computer.

V1.2.0 (Mac) - Early August 2017

Onboarding experience: We added an extensive tutorial to guide users through our proprietary depth editing tools, showing them how and when to use each of our unique features.
Shortcuts: We included keyboard shortcuts and more menu options for easier maneuvering.
Depth tools: Refine Edge and Blend Area tools are now separate to simplify workflow.

V1.1.0 (Mac) - Mid July 2017

Tone curve: We updated the tone curve for processed photos
User Interface: We improved the user interface of our depth tools.
Speed: Improved image loading speed on zoom and depth editing.
Stability: Hello smoother experience, goodbye crashes.

How do I download Lumen?

Follow these instructions to download the latest version of Lumen:

If you already have Lumen and want to update to the latest version, see instructions here.

Mac

Install Lumen:

Go to https://light.co/lumen and click the Mac download button.
Once the download is complete, open the installer (called ‘lumen.dmg’).
In the pop-up window, drag Lumen to the Applications folder. Your installation is complete.
Open the Applications folder and double-click Lumen to launch the app.

Windows

Install Lumen:

Go to https://light.co/lumen and click the Windows download button.
Once the download is complete, click the installation file (called lumeninstall.exe) to open the setup window.
Click "next" to walk through the installer setup until you reach the installation page. Click install.
Once complete, click finish and open Lumen v2.0.

How do I submit feedback about the L16?

We want to hear from you (yes, you!) on how we can make the L16 a better camera and a better overall experience. We’ve designed the Feedback app on the L16 to be the quickest and easiest method to share your thoughts. It’s simple – you enter some feedback on a form, and the L16 automatically sends any and all relevant information to our software team for further inspection.

Here’s how you can navigate to the Feedback app to submit feedback:

Swipe down once from the top of the screen.
When the Android menu appears on the right, tap the Circle icon to go to the home screen.
On the home screen, tap the app called "Feedback."

First, you’ll be asked what kind of input you’d like to share with our team. Select one or multiple options and hit next. If none of the options seem quite right, you can hit “other,” and we’ll take it from there.

Once you’ve made a selection, you’ll be asked to enter your email and to type in your feedback. Simply enter any relevant feedback you’d like to share with the team here.

Whenever you’re finished, just hit “Done.”

Your L16 needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to send feedback, so if you aren’t already connected, you will be prompted to do so. Tap “connect to wi-fi now” to connect your camera to the internet. If you’re away from Wi-Fi, don’t worry – just tap “save and send later” and we’ll automatically send the log the next time you’re back online.

Once you’ve connected, hit the triangle icon on the right side of the screen to be taken back to the feedback app.

To exit, just tap “done” again and you’ll be returned to the camera’s home screen. Thank you for helping improve the L16 for the future!

FAQs about L16 technical specifications

Below you'll find answers to questions about video, storage space, dimensions, and more.

You can find the full technical specifications for the L16 on our camera page under tech specs.

FAQs

What are the camera's physical dimensions?

Dimensions - H x W x D

6.5 x 3.3 x .094 in. (165 x 84.5 x 24.05 mm).

How much storage / media space is there on the camera?

The L16 has 256GB of onboard storage.

How many photos does the L16 hold?

The L16 holds just shy of 1300 full size raw photos and their accompanying jpeg previews.

Does the L16 shoot wide-angle?

The L16's widest focal length is 28mm. You can see examples of images shot at 28mm in our gallery. To see an image's focal length, just click to open it full screen.

Can the camera take macro or close-focus photography?

The L16's minimum focus distance is 10cm at 28mm, 40cm at 70mm, and 1m at 150mm. Since our brand of computational imaging uses lenses of different focal lengths to capture images, there are some best practices for getting macro shots with the Light L16. Check those out here!

Can the L16 shoot video?

Yes. your L16 can now record single-camera video at 1080p and 30fps. The video is based on using either the 28mm camera or the 70mm camera, allowing you to zoom all of the way from 28mm to 150mm.

Note: At this time, no image-fusion is being performed on video captured by the L16.

Is the camera dust and water resistant?

The L16 was designed to meet a water and dust resistance rating of IP52:

"Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical."

Caution: We do not recommend getting the L16 wet.

What is the equivalent crop factor of the L16?

The L16 uses multiple lenses and sensors; there is no crop factor equivalency like on some DSLR or Mirrorless cameras. However, the 28mm to 150mm focal length range is stated in 35mm film / full-frame equivalence for both quality and field of view. Click here to learn more about crop factor on the L16.

What image formats can the Light L16 camera output?

The L16 camera outputs files in our proprietary raw format, LRI. Lumen, our desktop software, will output files in JPEG and DNG.

Does the L16 have flash?

The L16 camera has a built-in dual-tone LED flash. The first iteration of the product does not have a flash sync port or hot shoe.

How long does the battery last?

The L16's 4120mAh Lithium-ion polymer lasts up to 8 hours.

What is the ISO sensitivity range?

100 to 3200.

What is the shutter speed range?

1/8000 to 15 seconds.

How much does the camera weigh?

435 g (less than 1 pound).

Does the L16 have a tripod mount?

The L16 has a standard-sized 1/4"-20 tripod mount.

How are photos created?

Using proprietary Light algorithms, the Light imaging engine combines 10+ images with up to 130 megapixels of data in order to render each photograph. Adjustments to depth of field can be made after the shot is captured.

Check out our brief explanation video.

For more information, check out our in-depth guide to the technology behind the L16.

For an in-depth look at how the camera works, watch our CTO and co-founder, Rajiv, give a speech on the camera’s technology.

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How is the L16 different from other cameras?

The Light L16 camera is the first multi-aperture computational camera. The L16 makes it easy for anyone to take DSLR-quality images. Light’s technology combines folded optics with sophisticated computational imaging algorithms to deliver the highest quality images from the smallest possible device.

A traditional DSLR uses one lens to focus light onto one sensor in order to capture a photo. The Light L16 uses multiple apertures and sensors, in conjunction with state of the art computational imaging, to combine those images into a single, higher-quality photo with up to 52 megapixels.

Check out our brief explanation video.

For more information, check out our in-depth guide to the technology behind the L16.

‍

For an in-depth look at how the camera works, watch our CTO and co-founder, Rajiv, give a speech on the camera’s technology.

‍

How is focal length used to enable zoom?

The Light L16 has 16 camera modules at focal lengths from 28mm to 150mm. Depending on the zoom level chosen, a subset of those camera modules is used to capture images for the desired field of view.

The concept is uniquely L16 so we've put together an in-depth article about it here.

Where can I find sample files to try out in Lumen?

There are three sample LRI (Light Raw Image) files at the bottom of the Lumen download page.

Note: LRI files can only be downloaded from a desktop computer.

How do I transfer photos from my L16 using Bluetooth?

At the moment, Bluetooth transfer from the L16 only works on Android devices. However, a future software update will allow for transfer to iOS devices. For now, we have a work around for transferring photos to an iPhone, which can be found here: Transfer photos to iPhone

Keep track of our software updates here.

Transfer photos from your L16 to an Android device:

1. Enable Bluetooth on both your L16 and Android devices.

To enable Bluetooth on your L16, swipe down from the live preview screen three times and tap the gear icon in the top right corner. Tap the Bluetooth icon to toggle on and connect to a device.

2. Go to your L16 photo gallery and select the photo you want to transfer.

For a single photo, tap the photo to open in full screen.

For multiple photos, go to the camera gallery and tap the grid icon in the upper left corner. Tap the check mark at the top of the screen to enable multiple photo selection.

3. Once you’ve selected your photo, tap the the share icon .

4. In the window that appears, tap the Bluetooth option.

5. If you have not already processed your photo, it will now automatically process to 13 megapixels – optimized for your device and social sharing.

Note: Processing on the L16 creates a higher resolution photo by combining 5 of the 10+ images captured. Since processing high-resolution photos takes lots of power, we reserved the ability to develop full-resolution photos (52+ megapixels with 10+ images) for Lumen.

6. Once your photo has finished processing, you will be asked with which device you want to share the photo. Select your device.

7. Your Android device will get a notification asking you to accept or decline. Tap accept.

8. Your photo will automatically be transferred and saved to the default location of the selected device. Default location varies from each device, so check your device settings if you aren’t sure where the photo was saved.

9. Your L16 will notify you when the transfer is complete.

Offline Installer Guide

What is an offline installer?

An offline installer allows a program, such as Lumen, to be downloaded to your computer when an internet connection is available, and then later installed when an internet connection is no longer available. In other words, you do not need to be connected to the internet to complete the installation.

If you are a Windows user, there is a separate offline installer located on the Lumen download page for Windows. For Mac OS, there is not a separate installer—the same installer can be used for both online and offline installation.

Advantages of an offline installer

The offline installer is a stand alone setup of Lumen. Besides the original installation file, you will not need to download anything from the internet to install successfully.
You can install Lumen to a computer in the field when internet access is not available.
Since installation is faster, the offline installer might be beneficial if you have a slow internet connection.
You can pause and resume the installation of Lumen at any time.

Disadvantages to an offline installer

The installer’s file size is larger.
If your computer is not connected to the internet, you will not be notified automatically when updates to Lumen are available, and the updates will not be automatically installed.

How to use the offline installer

Download the offline installer for Lumen on Windows or Mac.

Windows: Click here.

Mac: Go to the Lumen for Mac download page. Click the blue, Mac download button.

2. Once downloaded, you can move the installation file to an external hard drive or flash drive to carry with you, or you can disconnect from the internet and begin your installation at anytime.

If you are ever in a scenario where there is no internet access and you are using a computer without Lumen previously installed, you can transfer the installation file to your computer and install Lumen.

Can the L16 shoot video?

Yes. your L16 can now record single-camera video at 1080p and 30fps. The video is based on using either the 28mm camera or the 70mm camera, allowing you to zoom all of the way from 28mm to 150mm.

Note: At this time, no image-fusion is being performed on video captured by the L16.

How do I transfer photos from the L16 to an iPhone?

While a future software update will more easily allow L16 photo transfers to iOS devices, it is currently possible to transfer to an iPhone by using an Apple Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter. Keep track of our software updates here.

Pro tip: We recommended processing the photos on your L16 before importing to your iPhone. Doing so will provide a 13 megapixel image on your iPhone. Unprocessed images will result in a ~1.3 megapixel image.

What you'll need:

USB-A to Lightning cable
Apple Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter
Light USB-A to USB-C power cable and adapter

Transfer photos from your L16 to an iPhone:

Plug a USB-A to Lightning cable into the provided Light power adapter. This is the same charging cable used for your iOS device.
Plug the Lightning side of the USB-A to Lightning cable into the Apple Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter.
Plug the provided Light USB-A to USB-C cable into the camera adapter.
Plug the camera adapter into the Lightning port on your iPhone.
Make sure your iPhone is charging. If not, try a different outlet or flip the adapter over in the Lightning port on your iOS device.
Plug the USB-C side of the provided Light USB-A to USB-C cable into your L16 camera.
Open the photos app on your iPhone. A new option will appear in the bottom menu bar labeled “import”. Tap the icon to go to the import screen.
You will now be able to see previews or file names of your L16 photos. You can either individually select which photos to import or select all photos to import. Once you’ve selected your photos, tap the import option to begin importing to your iPhone.
The photos are now on your iPhone in the Photos app.

Note: This is a temporary workaround and has not been designed by Light. This process will only work with your iPhone and only works with an Apple brand dongle.

Reservation Information

When will I receive my L16 camera?

Good news – if you placed a reservation for the L16 in the US, your camera is ready to be shipped!

By now, we’ve reached out to everyone who reserved a Light L16. In order for us to ship your camera, we’ll need you to follow the unique link in your email to complete your order. The sooner you do this, the sooner your new Light L16 arrives.

What if I can't find the email?

No sweat—we know emails can get lost in the ether. Please email our support team at hello@light.co and we’ll send you a new link.

What if I reserved an L16 in the UK?

Check out our UK reservation information page.

How much do I owe?

Your remaining balance was reflected in your original order email. If you cannot locate that email, please contact us at hello@light.co and we will resend it.

How can I update my credit card details?

When the time comes to ship and charge the final amount of the camera, we will reach out to everyone to make sure their card info is correct. At that time, you'll be given the opportunity to change your card securely through our site.

Orders

Where is the L16 currently available?

The L16 is currently available for purchase in the following countries:

United States	Greece	Norway
Andorra	Iceland	Poland
Austria	Ireland	Portugal
Belgium	Italy	San Marino
Cyprus	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Denmark	Luxembourg	Spain
Estonia	Malta	Sweden
Finland	Monaco	Switzerland
France	Montenegro	United Kingdom
Germany	Netherlands	Vatican City

How do I purchase an L16 camera in one of the countries above?

1. Click here.

2. Be sure to change the country selector in the footer to your location. (This should happen automatically, but if you're having trouble, this would be the first thing to check). If you are having trouble changing the country in the selector, watch this video: http://take.ms/ibwdG

3. You must enter a valid shipping address for the country you are ordering from.

How much does the L16 cost?

£1850 (UK)

$1950 (US)

€2050 (EU)

When will the L16 be available in my country?

We are working on opening reservations in other countries. We will provide updates on all other international markets as details and timing become available.

We strongly encourage you to sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date on all things Light.

Where is the L16 currently available?

The L16 is currently available for purchase in the following countries:

United States	Greece	Norway
Andorra	Iceland	Poland
Austria	Ireland	Portugal
Belgium	Italy	San Marino
Cyprus	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Denmark	Luxembourg	Spain
Estonia	Malta	Sweden
Finland	Monaco	Switzerland
France	Montenegro	United Kingdom
Germany	Netherlands	Vatican City

How do I purchase an L16 camera in one of the countries above?

1. Click here.

3. You must enter a valid shipping address for the country you are ordering from.

How much does the L16 cost?

£1850 (UK)

$1950 (US)

€2050 (EU)

Can I buy an L16 from the UK?

Great news! As of March 19th, we are open for UK orders!

How do I purchase an L16 camera in the UK?

1. Click here.

2. Be sure to change the country selector in the footer to UK. (This should happen automatically, but if you're having trouble, this would be the first thing to check).

3. You must provide a UK shipping address.

How much does a UK order cost?

£1850.

What’s my order status?

Your items will ship when available

We will ship your order as soon as all of the items in your order are available. If some items in your order are not available at the time of your order, we will wait to ship the entire order together.

If you would like to ship parts of an order separately, shoot us a message at hello@light.co (or click the “contact us” button in the bottom right corner) and we’ll see what we can do.

Shipping estimate

When you place your order, a shipping estimate is displayed. We will make every effort to ship your order on or before the estimated shipment date.

Order confirmation, shipping confirmation

After placing your order, you will receive two emails from us: an order confirmation email when your payment has been received and a shipping confirmation email when your order has been shipped.

If you don’t receive one of these emails from us, don’t fret. First, check to make sure the message didn't go to your spam or junk folder. (Gmail users will want to check their "promotions" folder.)

If you still don’t see an email from us, shoot us a message at hello@light.co (or click the “contact us” button in the bottom right corner).

Tracking your package

The second email you receive from us will provide a tracking number and link so that you can keep tabs on the status of your package.

Note: the tracking link will not show any information until UPS has scanned your item into their system. This can take up to a day to happen, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t see tracking information right away!

Return Policy

Reservation return

You can get a refund for your reservation deposit anytime before your camera ships. Just send us an email at hello@light.co.

Return period

All L16 cameras purchased through Light after July 1st, 2018 are eligible for our 30-day return guarantee.

Initiate a return

L16 camera returns

To be eligible, all cameras must be returned in their original packaging with no damage.

Please contact our customer support team at hello@light.co. Make sure you have your original order ID or the serial number of your camera available. (To find the serial number of your L16, power on the camera and go to Settings > About L16 Camera > Status > Serial number. It is also located on the back of your camera’s packaging.)

You can read full instructions for returning your L16 camera here.

L16 accessory returns

To be eligible, all accessories must be in unopened and new condition.

Please contact our customer support team at hello@light.co to initiate a return.

Was your camera damaged in shipping?

Cameras ordered through Light that arrived damaged or are not working correctly can be returned or exchanged by contacting our customer support team at hello@light.co. (Or click the “contact us” button in the bottom right corner.)

L16 Camera Warranty

Light offers a one (1) year warranty on all orders purchased through http://light.co. You can read the full terms of our warranty here.

Can I buy a refurbished camera?

Light Certified Refurbished products are available from our refurbished store:

Shop Refurbished L16s

FAQs

What is the warranty for a refurbished L16?

Refurbished L16s have the same warranty as regularly ordered L16s.

Light offers a one (1) year warranty on all orders purchased through http://light.co. You can read the full terms of our warranty here.

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How much does a refurbished L16 cost?

Refurbished L16s cost $1650 (USD).

What is the return policy for a refurbished L16?

Refurbished L16s have the same return policy as regularly ordered L16s. You can read about our return policy here.

How do I change my order once it has been placed?

You may change your order at any time. For now, the best way to do that is by emailing us at hello@light.co

How much does shipping cost?

Shipping in the US is free.

Shipping in all other countries will be based on local postal service and delivery rates.

How do I return my L16 camera?

Am I eligible for a refund?

All L16 cameras purchased through Light after July 1st, 2018 are eligible for our 30-day return guarantee. All cameras must be returned in their original packaging with no damage.

1. Initiate a return

Contact our support team at hello@light.co from the email used to place your order. If you have it handy, you can include the order number found in your order confirmation email.

2. Print your shipping label

After contacting us, we’ll share a UPS return shipping label to append to your package.

3. Prepare your camera for shipping

Pack the camera in its original packaging—white Light box inside brown cardboard box.

If you no longer have the original packaging, wrap the camera in bubble wrap and pack in a snug fit box. Please be sure to include all accessories.

Once your camera is securely packaged, tape the return shipping label on the top of the box. Make sure the label is completely covered with tape to protect it from the elements or damage during shipping.

4. Drop off your return package

Drop off your sealed and labeled package at the nearest UPS Location. To find the UPS location closest to you, go here: https://www.ups.com/findlocations

5. Return completed

Once we receive the package and it passes inspection, your return will be complete. Please note, once we receive the package at our fulfillment center, it takes 48-72 hours for processing and inspection. Funds should be returned to your credit card in 5-10 business days.

*If a deposit was placed for a pre-order, this deposit may need to be returned to you in the form of a check.

What types of payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards.

UK & EU: VAT (Value Added Tax)

Why does Light charge VAT?

In order to better serve our international customers with faster shipping times and lower costs, Light partners with a distribution center in the European Union (EU).

Any order made from the Light store in the United Kingdom (UK) or the EU will be shipped from our partner’s distribution center in Ireland. EU law requires that Light charge VAT (Value Added Tax) on orders that are shipped to the UK or EU, and VAT rates will be determined based on the shipping country. The selling price as reflected in the online store is inclusive of VAT.

Our EU partner is currently registered for VAT in 12 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. If we are shipping to a country in the EU that is not listed above, Irish VAT will be charged.

What is Light’s VAT number?

Since VAT rates vary, depending on the shipping country, your invoice will list the applicable VAT number. The invoice containing the VAT number will be included in the shipping package.

What if I already have a VAT number?

If you already have a VAT number it likely means you are a business. This means you are exempt from paying VAT on purchases from other businesses that have a VAT number.

Unfortunately, Light can not accept and apply your VAT number on purchases. This means you will still be charged VAT on your order.

When you receive your order, there will be an invoice in the package for your purchase. That invoice will show the amount of VAT you were charged and you can use this invoice to reclaim the VAT from your local government.

You can find useful information on how to reclaim VAT for the UK here and for the EU here.

Email us at hello@light.co for any questions.

Troubleshooting L16

Help! My camera won't turn on

Please try these steps to get your L16 to turn on again:

Plug the L16 into a power outlet in the wall using the supplied Light cable and black power adapter. Sometimes, USB chargers may not give it enough of a charge to turn on.
Note: It's important that you use the supplied Light USB-C cable and 3.0 Quick Charge adapter. If you have lost either, shoot us a note and we'll get a new one sent to you right away.
Wait at least 30 minutes to let it charge.
Unplug the cable from the camera and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
Once you get it to turn on, leave it on and charge it to 100%.

If the above instructions do not help, please email us at hello@light.co

How do I update my L16 camera?

Follow these steps to update your camera to the latest L16 software:

1. Make sure your camera is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

2. Access the device settings menu:

From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen to access the Control Center (quick settings). To access the full menu, tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.

3. Scroll to the bottom and tap About L16 Camera > Software update > Update.

Your camera will look for any available updates. If an update is available, you will be prompted to download and install the update.

Depending on what version you are currently using, you may need to perform more than one update to get to the latest version of the software.

Note: Your camera must have more than 40% battery power to install a new update. If you do not have enough battery power, your L16 will download the update and wait to install until you have sufficient battery power.

Pro tip: Click here to see the release notes for each L16 software update.

How do I connect my camera to a wireless network?

Connect to Wi-Fi:

1. Access the device settings menu:

From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen to access the Control Center (quick settings). To access the full menu, tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.

2. In the Control Center, tap the Wi-Fi symbol . In the full settings menu, tap “Wi-Fi” to open the available wireless networks menu.

3. If it isn't already on, tap the activation switch to turn Wi-Fi on.

4. Your Light L16 will search for nearby wireless networks. When you see the name of your wireless network, tap it to connect. If the network is secured and you need a password, you'll see a lock symbol next to the network name.

5. "Connected" will appear under the network name when you've successfully joined. That Wi-Fi network will now be a "saved network" and will automatically connect when in range, as long as Wi-Fi is enabled.

What if I see "authentication problem" ?

If you see "Saved" followed by "Authentication Problem," it means your wireless network password was entered incorrectly.

To re-enter your password:

1. Tap your wireless network name.

2. Tap "Forget."

3. Tap your wireless network name again and you will be prompted to re-enter your wireless password.

How do I remove the passcode on my camera?

If you have elected to lock your camera with a pin, passcode, or pattern, you will notice a lock icon appear over the gallery when your camera is locked.

If you want, you can remove the passcode on your camera so you don't need to unlock it every time you want to see your photos.

To do so:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen 3 times to reveal the Control center.
2. Tap the gear icon to open the camera's settings menu. You will need to enter your passcode at this step.
3. Tap Security.
4. Tap Screen lock and enter your current passcode again.
6. Tap "None" then "Yes, Remove."

Tip: If you have forgotten your pin, passcode, or pattern, you can reset your device.

Help! I forgot my pin, passcode, or pattern

If you forgot your pin, pattern, or passcode, follow these steps to regain access to your camera.

Factory reset your device

Unless you have previously transferred the photos on your device to your computer, there isn't a way to save your device's data. You'll need to erase your device, which deletes all of your photos and settings. Follow these steps to complete a factory reset and unlock your camera.

Press and hold the power button and shutter button together for 10-20 seconds.
Let go when you see the Light logo appear. The camera will start up again.
Push the shutter button once to scroll down the list to "Wipe data/Factory reset."
Push the power button to select.
Push the shutter button once more to highlight "yes."
Push the power button to wipe data and factory reset your device.
After the reset is complete, you will be returned to the previous screen. Push the power button to "reboot system now."

Once the camera reboots, you will be able to go through the welcome flow again and choose a new passcode. Alternatively, you can skip entering a passcode if you don't want one. We recommend not using a passcode if you aren't worried about the security of your camera.

Known issues (Beta video)

We are excited to add video functionality to the L16! A few known issues are listed below, and please feel free to reach out to us with feedback as you use it. As always, you can submit feedback directly from the L16.

Limited Electronic Image Stabilization and tuning
Minor instability and occasional frame loss, especially when switching between 28mm and 70mm
150mm camera modules not enabled yet (digital zoom only)
Slight audio noise over 70mm
No AE lock
1080p at 30 fps only. No 4k video
25 minute maximum recording. In most scenarios, the L16 will automatically generate new file and continue recording, although this functionality does not work all of the time
AF only focuses in the center
No touch AF options
Occasional AF challenges in macro and low-contrast scenes

General

Can I participate in a beta test?

We have had an overwhelming number of applicants for the L16 Beta Program and are not able to accommodate additional participants at this time.

What's the latest update on the camera?

You can read about the latest software updates to the camera here.

The latest information on our camera over at our blog. We will be posting regular updates going forward as well as emailing our mailing list.

And don't forget to check out our software roadmap!

Additionally, you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up to date on all things Light!

Depth Collective FAQs

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply, but you must be able to provide a U.S. or U.K. address. At the moment, we’re only certified to ship Light L16 cameras to these countries. If you’d like to have us ship the camera to a family member or friend in one of these places, that works for us. We’ll open shipping to other countries soon.

Who is reviewing submissions?

We’ve assembled a panel of experienced Light photographers and photojournalists—including National Geographic’s Dan Westergren—to review all Depth Collective applications.

Do I need to apply by a certain date?

Nope. We’re accepting applications on a rolling basis.

How soon will I know if I’m in?

You’ll receive a confirmation email as soon as you submit your application. We’ll notify you of your application status within one week.

When will I get my new L16 camera?

We’ll ship your camera within one business day of you placing the order. You’ll receive the complimentary Peak accessories in separate package within a few weeks.

Tell me more about this reporting grant.

Any photojournalist who joins the Depth Collective will have the opportunity to apply for a $5000 grant to pursue a story that matters. Further details will be released at a later date.

Can I get a review unit?

We are not providing free or discounted cameras for testing or review at this time.

If you are a professional photographer and would like to submit a proposal for collaboration, please fill out this questionnaire.

Is Light going to be at any upcoming events?

Check out our calendar to see our upcoming events.

How do I replace my official Light accessory?

While official Light chargers, cables, cases, and wrist straps are not currently available for purchase, our Support team will be able to assist you in replacing your accessory.

Email Light Support

Contact our Support team at hello@light.co. Let us know what Light accessory needs to be replaced, provide us with the best mailing address, and we’ll send you a replacement accessory.

Troubleshooting Lumen

What should I do if Lumen isn't working properly?

Step 1: If you are experiencing any issues with Lumen, the first step in troubleshooting is to make sure you have the latest version. We're constantly releasing bug fixes so it's imperative that you keep Lumen up to date!

Step 2: Check and make sure your computer meets the minimum software requirements for using Lumen. If your computer does not meet these requirements, Lumen may not be compatible with your computer.

Note: If you are unable to update or install Lumen, send us a message at hello@light.co (or click the “contact us” button in the bottom right corner).

How do I crop in Lumen?

To crop in Lumen, double-click a photo from the gallery to open it in full screen. Click "crop" to open the cropping options. Click the downward arrow to change the aspect ratio.

Lumen says my camera is locked

To unlock your camera, follow these steps:

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal the Android circle and triangle on the right side of the screen
2. Tap the circle button. It will bring up the unlock screen.
3. Enter your passcode, pin, or pattern.

If you have forgotten your passcode, pin, or pattern, you can reset it.

Why doesn't Lumen recognize my camera on Mac OS X 10.14.1?

In Mac OS X 10.14.1, Apple introduced changes that prevent Lumen from recognizing the L16 to import your images. This issue was resolved in Lumen v.2.3.0, so make sure to update Lumen and the issue will be resolved.

Getting Started

Welcome

Light L16 User Guide

Navigate the user guide to learn about your Light L16.

Follow our easy guide to set up and start using your L16 camera right away.

Quick start guide

Click the menu icon in the top left to navigate the user guide and learn about your Light L16.

Quick start guide

Follow our easy guide to set up and start using your L16 camera right away.

Quick start guide

Downloads and updates

PDF User Guide

Download the User Guide (PDF)

Lumen

Download Lumen.

Download Lumen (Beta)

Update Lumen.

Click here to learn how to update Lumen.

Lumen release notes.

Click here to read the latest Lumen release notes.

Light L16

Update your L16.

Click here to learn how to update your Light L16.

L16 release notes.

Click here to read the latest L16 release notes.

L16 overview

Power on, power off, sleep, wake

Turn on your Light L16. Press and hold the power button until the Light logo appears on your screen. The camera interface will appear shortly after.

Turn off your Light L16. Press and hold the power button until the Power off option appears on your screen. Tap it to power off.

Sleep the Light L16 display. Tap the power button once to put Light L16 to sleep. (The display screen will turn black.)

Note: By default, the display will sleep automatically after 2 minutes of inactivity. You can adjust this in device settings.

Wake to your last activity. Tap the power button once to wake up your Light L16 and resume your previous activity.

Double-click or swipe to camera mode. If the Light L16 wakes to the lock screen, double-click the shutter button or press and swipe up from the camera icon to open the camera mode.

Charging and battery life

Charge your Light L16. Plug the small end of the included USB-C cable into the USB-C port on the bottom of your Light L16. Next, plug the opposite end of the cable into the included power adapter, then plug the adapter into a power outlet.

When your camera begins charging, a charging symbol appears on the screen and the blue light around the shutter button begins to pulse.

The Light official quick-charger. In the box with your Light L16 is a Light official USB 3.0 Quick Charge adapter. Charging with the Light official adapter ensures a proper and speedy charge.

Charging statuses. There are three ways the Light L16 can charge:

“Charging Rapidly” appears when using the Light official USB 3.0 Quick Charge adapter. Charging with this method produces a full charge in around 90 minutes of time.
“Charging” appears when using a charger that does not support 3.0 Quick Charge.
“Charging Slowly” appears when charging with devices that have restricted power output. For example, you might see this while connected to your computer.

Note: Power delivery methods from other vendors may not produce desired charging results. It’s recommended that you always use the provided Light official 3.0 Quick Charge adapter. If you lose the Light official adapter, contact us and we’ll help you out!

Turn on or off the battery indicator (device status). Open the Toolbar , then tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap the switch next to “device status” to toggle on or off the battery percentage indicator. Along with battery percentage, toggling device status on will also show your total images remaining.

Check remaining power. If you do not wish to turn on the battery indicator, swipe down from the top of the touchscreen to open the Control Center. In the top right corner of the Control Center, you see a battery icon and percentage remaining.

Preserving battery power.

When not shooting, it’s best to keep your Light L16 screen off.
If you know you won’t be using your Light L16 for an extended period of time, fully power down the camera before storing it in your case.
Even if you're not using them, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can consume power. You can turn both off from the Control Center by swiping down twice from the top of the touchscreen.

Pro Tip: For information on Light L16’s lithium-ion battery, read Care for your Light L16's lithium-Ion battery.

Low battery notification. When battery power drops below 10%, your Light L16 will alert you with a low battery notification.

Note: Camera functionality requires a minimum power level of 10% in order to move mirrors and focus lenses properly. Below 10% power, other features such as the gallery and sharing are still available.

Home screen

The Light L16 is built on Android^TM with the Light camera running as an app. Aside from the Light Camera app and the Light Gallery app, the Light L16 has several other pre-installed apps.

Access Android controls. Swipe down from the top of the touchscreen to reveal the Android controls on the right.

Square: Tap the square icon to show your open apps. Swipe up or down to rotate through them. To close an app, tap the X in the top right corner, or swipe the app to the left or right. (The square icon will only show up if you have unlocked your device.)
Circle: Tap the circle icon to go to the home screen. Depending on your security settings, you may need to unlock your device.
Triangle: Tap the triangle icon to go back to the previous screen.

Close the Light Camera app. Swipe down from the top of the touchscreen to reveal the Android controls on the right. Tap the square icon to show your open apps. Tap the X in the top right corner of the Light camera app.

Note: If you don't see the square icon, you need to unlock your device. Tap the circle icon, then swipe up from the bottom and enter your pin, passcode, or pattern. The square icon will appear on the right.

Access other available apps. From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the full apps menu.

(Device) Settings – Personalize your device with settings for brightness, sound, Wi-Fi, etc.
Update – See, download, and install available Light L16 software updates.
Feedback – Send feedback to Light. If you are not connected to Wi-Fi, your feedback will be saved until you are back online.
Help – Browse the Light L16 User Guide directly on your device.
Browser and more – Connect to the web and share images to social media, access the clock, and more. Tap the arrow icon on the right to open the full apps menu.

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

Device settings

Access device settings:

From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen to access the Control Center (quick settings). To access the full menu, tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.

Wireless & networks

Airplane mode

Turn Airplane mode on or off:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. From the Control Center, tap the Airplane mode symbol to toggle airplane mode on or off.

3. From the full device settings menu, tap “more” under the wireless and networks.

4. Tap the activation switch to toggle Airplane mode on or off.

Bluetooth

Turn Bluetooth on, pair a device:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap the Bluetooth symbol to toggle Bluetooth on and open the Available Devices menu.

3. Your Light L16 will search for nearby devices. When you see the name of your device, tap it to connect. Your Light L16 will then connect with the device.
Note: Bluetooth does not yet work with Mac or iOS devices.
Turn Bluetooth off:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap the Bluetooth symbol to open the Available Devices menu.

3. Tap the activation switch to toggle Bluetooth off.

Wi-Fi (wireless)

Turn Wi-Fi on, connect to a network:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Wi-Fi” to open the available wireless networks menu.

3. Tap the activation switch to turn Wi-Fi on.

4. Your Light L16 will search for nearby wireless networks. When you see the name of your wireless network, tap it to connect. If the network is secured and you need a password, you'll see a lock symbol next to the network name.

5. "Connected" will appear under the network name when you've successfully joined. That Wi-Fi network will now be a "saved network" and will automatically connect when in range, as long as Wi-Fi is enabled.
Turn Wi-Fi off:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Wi-Fi” to open the available wireless networks menu.

3. Tap the activation switch to turn Wi-Fi off.

Data usage

View data usage by date:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap the data usage icon to open the data usage menu.

3. Tap the date at the top left to view data usage by another date range.

Device

Display

Adjust brightness level:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Display.”

3. Tap “Brightness level” and drag the slider left or right to adjust the screen brightness.
Turn Adaptive brightness on or off:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Display.”

3. Tap the activation switch next to “Adaptive brightness” to toggle on or off.

Note: The Light L16 has an adaptive brightness sensor to determine and optimize your brightness level for your surroundings. It is recommended that you keep adaptive brightness on.
Change the wallpaper on your home screen:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Display.”

3. Tap “Wallpaper” then tap to open the wallpapers folder. You can use the default Light wallpaper or choose a photo from your gallery.
Adjust display timeout:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Display.”

3. Tap “Sleep” then choose your desired amount of time: 2 minutes (default), 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes.
Daydream. To control what happens when your camera is docked and/or sleeping, turn Daydream on:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Display.”

3. Tap “Daydream,” then tap the activation switch to toggle Daydream on.

4. Pick your desired option and adjust the settings for that option using the gear icon .
Adjust device rotation:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Display.”

3. Tap “when device is rotated” and select either “rotate the content of the screen” or “stay in landscape view.”

Sound & notification

Adjust L16 shutter volume:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Sound & notification.”

3. Drag Notification volume slider right or left to increase or decrease the shutter volume.
Turn Do not Disturb on or off:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Sound & notification.”

3. Tap the activation switch next to do not disturb to toggle on or off.

Apps

Access app information:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Apps.”

3. Tap an app to view app-specific information.

Battery

View battery information:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Battery” to open the battery sub-menu and view battery charge information.

Personal

Location

Turn on device location:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Location.”

3. Tap “Mode” to change location modes.

Security

Lock your Light L16:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Security.”

3. Tap “Screen lock” and choose your preferred screen lock option:
- None
- Swipe
- Pattern
- Pin
- Password
Note: If you forget your pattern, pin, or passcode, there's no way to reset it without losing all photos stored on the camera. If you have forgotten your pattern, pin, or passcode, contact us and we will help you unlock your camera.

Backup & reset

Reset your network settings:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Backup & reset.”

3. Tap “Network settings reset” then the reset settings button to reset all of your Light L16’s saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.
Factory data reset:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Backup & reset.”

3. Tap “Factory data reset” then the reset camera button to erase all data from your L16 camera’s internal storage. This includes all system data and settings, photos, and other user data.

System

Date & time

Set date and time automatically:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Date & time.”

3. Tap the activation switch next to “Automatic date & time” to use network-provided information.
Set date and time manually:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Date & time.”

3. Make sure the activation switch next to “Automatic date & time” is toggled off.

4. Tap “Set date” to set your camera’s date.

5. Tap “Set time” to set your camera’s time.
Select a time zone:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Date & time.”

3. Tap “Select time zone” to set your camera’s time zone.
Use 24-hour format:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “Date & time.”

3. Tap the activation switch next to “Use 24-hour format” to toggle on or off.

About L16 Camera

Check for software updates:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Scroll to the bottom and tap “About L16 Camera.”

3. Tap “Software update.”

4. Tap “Update” to check for any available updates.

Note: To find available updates, your Light L16 must be connected to a wireless network (see Wi-Fi above).
Turn on or off automatically check for updates:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “About L16 Camera.”

3. Tap “Software update.”

4. Tap the checkbox next to “Auto update” to toggle on or off whether Light L16 checks for updates automatically.

Note: Your Light L16 will only check for updates when you are connected to a wireless network (see Wi-Fi above).
User Experience Program:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “About L16 Camera.”

3. Tap “User Experience Program.”

4. View privacy statement or tap “diagnostics report” to enable or disable the anonymous sharing of diagnostic and usage data of your device.
Locate your Light L16 serial number:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “About L16 Camera.”

3. Tap “Status.”

4. Scroll down until you see “Serial number.”
Read the Light L16 Legal information:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “About L16 Camera.”

3. Tap “Legal information.”
Check your Light L16 software package:

1. Access the device settings menu (see above).

2. Tap “About L16 Camera.”

3. Scroll down until you see “LightOS version.”

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

Photo Capture

At a glance

With your Light L16, you can take pictures in one of four modes: auto, ISO, shutter, and manual. In each mode, you have the ability to adjust exposure and preview your adjustments live on screen.

Additional control options like self-timers and display grids can be found in the Toolbar.

Take a photo

Choose a capture mode. Tap the up arrow to open the Toolbar. Above it, you see four capture mode options: auto, ISO, shutter and manual. Swipe up or down to highlight your preferred photo capture mode.

Take a photo. Tap on the screen to focus on your desired subject. After focus is achieved, press and hold the shutter button to take a photo. The screen will flash black when a photo has been taken. After a moment, you see a new thumbnail appear in the gallery icon in the screen’s upper right corner.

Auto exposure mode

Auto mode sets exposure (ISO and shutter speed) automatically. Depth of field (the amount of blur before and after your subject) for images taken with Light L16 is adjustable after your images are transferred to Lumen, the Light desktop software. There is no native aperture control on Light L16 – click here to learn more!

Adjust exposure in auto mode. Auto mode automatically adjusts exposure based on the scene in front of you. If you’d like, you can make adjustments to the calculated exposure before taking a photo. Press and hold the exposure button on the right side of the screen to open the exposure slider. While holding the button, move your finger up or down to set exposure to your desired value. As you drag up or down, you see a live preview of your changes.

Note: The exposure slider is measured in 1/3rd stops of light. Click here to learn more about exposure values (EV).

Tip: If you want to use another capture mode, tap the up arrow to open the Toolbar. Above it, you see four capture mode options: auto, ISO, shutter, and manual. Swipe up or down to highlight your preferred mode.

Smart assistants

Smart assistants on the Light L16 automatically assess your surroundings and camera settings to provide tips on getting the best shot.

Low-light assist. When shooting in low-light situations (above ISO 2000), the Light L16 utilizes an image stacking process to capture significantly more detail and much less noise. Instead of taking one 10-shot capture, the L16 instead shoots multiple 10-shot captures and stacks them together to reduce noise. Shooting this way creates a slight shutter delay, so keep steady to prevent unintended blur.

Tripod assist. When using a tripod, the Light L16's internal gyro senses that it is being held still. When tripod assist appears, the Light L16 will capture using a lower ISO and shutter speed to create a more detailed and less noisy photo.

Note: Smart assistants are only available in auto mode.

ISO priority exposure mode

ISO priority mode allows you to adjust exposure through two capture controls: ISO and exposure .

Adjust ISO in ISO priority mode. Press and hold the ISO button on the right side of the screen to open the ISO slider. While holding, move your finger up or down to set your desired ISO value. Learn more about ISO.View your current ISO value. Press and hold the ISO button to open the ISO slider. Your previously used ISO value is indicated by a hollow carrot .

With exposure information turned on, you can see your ISO value in the info bar on the left side of the screen. For more information, read Exposure Information.

Adjust exposure in ISO priority mode. Press and hold the exposure button on the right side of the screen to open the exposure slider. While holding, move your finger up or down to set your desired exposure value. Learn more about shutter speed.

Note: The exposure slider is measured in 1/3rd stops of light. Click here to learn more about exposure values (EV).

Shutter priority exposure mode

Shutter priority mode allows you to adjust exposure through two capture controls: shutter speed and exposure .

Adjust shutter speed in shutter priority mode. Press and hold the shutter speed on the right side of the screen to open the shutter speed slider. While holding, move your finger up or down to set your desired shutter speed value. Learn more about shutter speed.

View your current shutter speed value. Press and hold the shutter speed button to open the shutter speed slider. Your previously used shutter speed value is indicated by a hollow arrow .

With exposure information turned on, you can see your shutter speed value in the Info bar on the left of the screen. For more information, see Exposure Information.

Adjust exposure in shutter priority mode. Press and hold the exposure button on the right side of the screen to open the exposure slider. While holding, move your finger up or down to set your desired exposure value. Learn more about shutter speed.

Note: The exposure slider is measured in 1/3rd stops of light. Click here to learn more about exposure values (EV).

Manual exposure mode

Manual mode allows you to adjust exposure through two capture controls: ISO and shutter speed . What are ISO and shutter speed?

Adjust ISO in manual mode. Press and hold the ISO button on the right side of the screen to open the ISO slider. While holding, move your finger up or down to set your desired ISO value. Learn more about ISO.View your current ISO value. Press and hold the ISO button to open the ISO slider. Your previously used ISO value is indicated by a hollow carrot .

With exposure information turned on, you can see your ISO value in the info bar on the left of the screen. For more information, read Exposure Information.

Adjust Shutter Speed in manual mode. Press and hold the shutter speed button on the right side of the screen to open the shutter speed slider. While holding, move your finger up or down to set your desired shutter speed value. Learn more about shutter speed.

View your current shutter speed value. Press and hold the shutter speed button to open the shutter speed slider. Your previously used shutter speed value is indicated by a hollow arrow .

With exposure information turned on, you can see your shutter speed value in the Info bar on the left of the screen. For more information, see Exposure Information.

Note: The Light L16 does not have native aperture control. You can adjust aperture after transferring images to your computer. Click here to read more about why Light L16 doesn’t have native aperture control.

Focus

Tap to focus. In manual or auto mode, tap your desired focus subject on the touchscreen to focus the camera at that location and distance. An animated white box indicates the camera is focusing and a final yellow box indicates that focus has been achieved.

After 3 seconds, the yellow focus box fades at your previous focal point.

Half-shutter press to focus. Instead of tap to focus, you can also half-press the shutter button to start the focusing sequence at your current focal point (indicated by a faded, white box). An animated box indicates the camera is focusing and a final solid, yellow box indicates that focus has been achieved.

Lock focus at a specific distance. Tap and hold or half-press and hold to lock your focus at a specific distance. If you are using the shutter, you can hold your focus lock by keep your finger half-pressed. If you are using tap-to-focus, the L16 will keep your focus lock until you tap a new point.
Turn on or off af-d (Dynamic autofocus). Open the Toolbar and tap the af-d icon to toggle on or off. Turning af-d on enables two added focus features:

Face detection: When the L16 finds a face in your scene, it will automatically run the focus sequence on that face.
Motion sensitivity (auto refocus): If you move your camera significantly, the L16 will refocus the scene for you.

Note: The L16 uses mirrors to position lenses based on where you tap to focus. Because of this, if you are ever unsure whether you have focused properly, just tap again, or half-press the shutter button, to refocus.

Zoom

There are multiple ways to zoom on Light L16.

Press, hold and slide to zoom. Place your thumb on the screen and slide up or down to zoom in or out respectively.

Flick to jump. Place a finger on the screen and swipe up quickly to jump to the next prime zoom level. Flick-to-jump will stop at the following values: 28mm, 35mm, 75mm, and 150mm.

Pinch to zoom. Place two fingers on the screen and pinch open or closed to zoom in or out respectively.

Note: By default, Light L16 will boot up to a 35mm zoom level. To learn why, check out our article on variable resolution.

Burst mode

To help you capture action shots and motion, the L16 has a burst mode. When on, pressing the shutter button will capture multiple frames in rapid succession, helping freeze fast-moving objects.

Turn on burst mode. Open the Toolbar and tap the burst mode icon to show the available burst mode options: 3 or 6.

Note: If burst mode is on, you will see a burst mode icon in the bottom left corner of the camera screen . Depending which burst mode option is selected, the icon will appear with either a 3 or a 6.

Tip: You can quickly change or turn off burst mode by tapping the icon in the lower left corner of the capture screen.

White balance

In tricky lighting situations, you may want to control how Light L16 perceives the color of light in a scene. Light L16 has five white balance options for use in various environments.

Choose a white balance mode. Open the Toolbar and tap the white balance icon to open the white balance options. Choose your desired white balance setting then tap the down arrow to close the Toolbar.

White balance modes.

By default, Light L16 is set to auto white balance mode . In auto mode, Light L16 chooses a white balance based on the light coming into the camera from the scene. In the event that Light L16 doesn't correctly identify the white balance of the scene, you can use one of the following options to adjust the white balance to fit the conditions:

Tungsten
Fluorescent
Daylight
Cloudy

Self-timer

Turn on the self-timer. Open the Toolbar and tap the self-timer icon to show the available self-timer options: 3, 5, 10, or 20 seconds.

Note: If self-timer is on, you will see a self-timer icon in the bottom left corner of the camera screen.

Flash

Choose a flash mode. Open the Toolbar and tap the Flash icon to show the the available flash options.

Flash On : Fires the flash every time you take a photo.
Flash Off : Flash will not fire.
Flash Auto : The Light L16 will determine if flash is necessary to provide a proper exposure. Flash Auto is only available in Auto mode.

Note: If Flash is set to Auto or On, you will see a Flash icon in the bottom left corner of the camera screen.

Grid

Turn on the Grid. To display grid lines over your Light L16’s live preview, open the Toolbar and tap the Grid icon to show the available grid options.

Grid options.

Thirds

The thirds grid divides the screen into a 3x3 grid of equal rectangles. This grid helps you follow the Rule of Thirds when composing.
Golden Ratio

The Golden Ratio grid divides the screen into sections based on the golden ratio. This grid helps you follow the Golden Rule when composing.

Camera Settings

Metering modes

In order for the L16 to determine proper exposure, it measures the available light in a scene using a built-in light meter. You can choose between two types of metering to adjust how the L16 measures the light in a scene.

Choose a metering mode. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap "metering mode” to open the metering mode sub-menu. Choose your desired metering mode:

Touch-weighted

Metering is determined by reading the light at your selected focus point and the area surrounding it. Use this option to meter more specifically for your focus point.
Center-weighted

Metering is determined by reading the light at the center of your L16's frame. Use this option to meter more broadly for the entire scene.

Exposure information

Light L16’s Exposure Information allows you to view important information about your current capture settings, including exposure information, shutter speed, ISO, and focal length.

Turn on or off Exposure Information. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap the switch next to “exposure info” to reveal the exposure information on your capture screen:

exp – Exposure shows how much you have increased or decreased your exposure.
iso - Shows your current ISO value.
s – Shows your current shutter speed value.
mm – Shows your current focal length or zoom level.

Note: In auto exposure mode, shutter speed and ISO are automatically calculated. To set your ISO and shutter speed manually, see manual mode.

Device status

The Light L16’s device status shows information about your camera’s current battery percentage and remaining storage.

Turn on or off device status. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap the switch next to “device status” to toggle on or off the battery percentage indicator and number of photos remaining.

Reverse exposure scroll direction

The Light L16 has several exposure controls that are controlled by scrolling up or down. Depending on your preference, you can reverse the direction of the exposure controls.

Reverse exposure scroll direction. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap the switch next to “reverse exposure scroll direction" to toggle on or off.

Haptic vibration

The Light L16 is equipped with a haptic vibrator to give you feedback while shooting, adjusting controls, zooming, and more.

Turn on, off, or adjust haptic vibration. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap “haptics” to open the haptics settings menu and view the available options:

Off
Normal (default)
Strong

Audio

The Light L16 plays audio noises to give you feedback while shooting and using the self-timer.

Choose an audio option. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap “audio” to open the audio submenu. There are three audio options:

Classic
Modern
Off

Adjust shutter volume. First, access device settings:

From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen then tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.

Scroll to the Device section then tap Sound & notification > Adjust volume. Drag the Notification volume slider left or right to increase or decrease the volume.

Replay tutorials

The Light L16 has several tutorials that appear when you first start using your camera. After a tutorial has finished, it will not appear again. If there are any tutorials you would like to see again, you can use the replay tutorials feature.

Replay tutorials. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap “replay tutorials" to access the available tutorials.

Process images while charging

The Light L16 has the ability to generate 13mp processed versions of your images to give you a better preview of how your final photos will turn out. You can do this manually for any photo in your L16's gallery, or you can have your camera do this for you while it is charging.

Turn on or off process images while charging. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap the switch next to “process images while charging” to toggle on or off.

Pocket power save

In order to preserve battery power, the Light L16 is equipped with a pocket power saving mode. When all of the L16's ambient light sensors are blocked, pocket power save will turn off the live preview. Live preview will turn on once the ambient light sensors are no longer blocked.

Pocket power save. Open the Toolbar and tap the gear icon to open the camera settings menu. Tap the switch next to “pocket power save" to toggle on or off.

Gallery

View your photos

Within your Light L16 gallery you can view, organize, process and edit your photos.

View your photos. Tap the gallery icon in the top right corner of your screen to access the gallery. Swipe left to see your previous photos. Tap a thumbnail in the filmstrip to view a photo. You can swipe down hide the filmstrip.

Note: If you have elected to lock your camera with a pin, passcode, or pattern, you will notice a lock icon appear over the gallery when your camera is locked. Tap the lock icon and enter your passcode to enter the gallery.

Zoom in or out. Double-tap or pinch a photo open or closed. Drag to see other parts of the photo.

View histogram, exposure, and capture information (metadata). Tap the information icon below any image to open the information view. You can swipe left or right to view other images and their corresponding metadata.

Change or minimize the histogram. Tap the histogram to cycle between one of two display options:

Black and white
Color

Browse collections. Tap the grid icon in the upper-left corner of the gallery to see all of your photos organized by date. Tap “all” in the top left corner to change which photos are displayed. There are several sorting options:

All – show all of your photos excluding deleted items.
Rated – show photos only with a star rating.
Unrated - show photos only without a star rating.
Processed – show only your developed photos.
Deleted – show your deleted photos.

Organize your photos

Favorite a photo. While viewing a photo, tap the stars to expand them. Tap again to choose a rating. Solid stars indicate a photo has been favorited.

Favorite multiple photos. Tap the grid icon to see all of your photo, then press and hold on an image to select it. Tap to select any other photos then tap the star icon to display all five stars. Tap again to choose a rating.

View your favorite photos. Tap the grid icon to see all of your photos, then tap “all” in the top left corner followed by “rated.”

Delete a photo. While viewing a photo, tap the trash icon to delete it. If you accidentally delete a photo, you can tap “undo” to bring it back.

Delete multiple photos. Tap the grid icon to see all of your photos, then press and hold on an image to select it. Tap to select any other photos then tap the trash icon to delete them.

Recover deleted photos. Deleted photos are placed in your deleted folder. To access the deleted folder, tap the grid icon to see all of your photos, then tap “all” in the top left corner followed by “deleted.” From the deleted folder, press and hold on a photo to select it, then tap “restore.” You can restore multiple photos at once by selecting more photos before tapping “restore.”

Permanently deleted photos. Tap the grid icon to see all of your photos, then tap “all” in the top left corner followed by “deleted.” To delete all photos, tap “remove all.” To delete only selected photos, press and hold on a photo to select it, then tap “remove.” You can remove multiple photos at once by selecting more photos before tapping “ remove all.”

Process photos on Light L16

When you take a photo with your Light L16, 10 or more images are captured at once. In order to maximize battery power, only one camera is used to generate a thumbnail in the preview screen and gallery. The process option on your L16 allows you to create a higher resolution photo (13 megapixels – optimized for your device and social sharing) with just 5 of the 10+ images. Since processing high-resolution photos takes lots of power, we reserved the ability to develop full-resolution photos (52+ megapixels with 10+ images) for Lumen, the Light desktop software.

Process a photo. Tap the gallery icon in the top right corner of the camera screen to access the gallery. Navigate to the photo you wish to process and tap the process icon . You'll see a progress bar appear at the top of your screen while your photo is fusing its different images together. This may take a minute.

Your Light L16 will produce a 13-megapixel photo to replace your original unprocessed photo in the gallery. When finished processing, the icon changes to indicate the photo has been processed .

Note: Processed photos cannot be unprocessed. However, your original photo will be unchanged. What you see in the gallery is simply a medium-resolution preview of what your final image will look like. Once you transfer your images to Lumen, you can process full-size versions of your photos.

Color and tone edits on Light L16

Open the photo editor. While viewing a photo, tap the edit icon . There are seven color and tone editing options available:

Exposure
Contrast
Temperature
Tint
Vibrance
Saturation
Sharpening

Edit a photo. Tap on one of the seven available editing options to select it. Using your finger or thumb, press and slide up or down to increase or decrease. Your changes will update your photo in realtime. You can tap to select another editing option.

Undo edits. After making an adjustment, a back arrow appears in the top right corner. Tap the back arrow to undo your changes one by one.

Redo edits. After undoing an adjustment, a forward arrow appears in the top right corner. Tap the forward arrow to redo your changes one by one.

Save edits. When you are finished editing a photo, tap the check mark in the top right corner to save your changes and go back to the gallery screen.

Revert all edits. Tap the edit icon on a photo with saved edits to open the photo editor. Tap the revert button in the top right corner to revert to the original, unedited photo.

Tip: Since the L16 captures images in a raw format, edits made on-camera will not permanently change your photo. Read more about the L16's raw image format.

Change or minimize the histogram. Tap the histogram to cycle between one of three display options:

Black and white
Color
Minimized black and white

Geometric edits on Light L16

Open the photo editor. While viewing a photo, tap the edit icon . Tap the geometric edits icon to view the four geometric editing options:

Mirror
Flip
Rotate
Crop

Edit a photo. Tap on one of the four available editing options to select it. Continue tapping until you reach the desired effect.

Revert all edits. After making an adjustment, a revert button appears in the top right corner to revert to the original, unedited photo.

Pro tip: Since the L16 captures images in a raw format, edits made on-camera will not permanently change your photo. Read more about the L16's raw image format.

USB OTG (On the Go)

One option for getting images off the Light L16 and onto the computer is USB OTG (On the Go). Plug in a USB-C flash drive to the camera to offload pictures directly to the drive and free up storage space on your L16.

Getting started. Plug the USB-C drive into the camera and go to the camera gallery to select images for transfer. You can transfer a single image or you can select multiple images to transfer.

Select single image for transfer. Go to the camera gallery and tap on an image. Tap the share icon . Tap the USB option and the camera will prompt you to start transferring images.

Select multiple images for transfer. Go to the camera gallery and tap the grid icon in the upper left corner. Tap the check box at the top of the screen. Either tap "select all" to select all the pictures in the gallery or tap "select date" to select only the photos for that date. Once images are selected, tap the share icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap the USB option and the camera will prompt you to start transferring images.

Eject your USB-C drive. After transfer is complete, go to the live preview screen and swipe down from the screen twice. Eject the drive properly by tapping the eject icon.

Note: Be sure to wait a few seconds for the drive to finish ejecting. If not, there is a chance that some or all of your files could be corrupted.

Lumen

A quick look

Lumen lets you transfer your images from your camera to your computer, after which our algorithms fuse together each set of 10+ images to form your high-resolution photos. You can fine-tune your photos by adjusting depth of field and sharpening or blurring certain areas. Once you’re finished polishing, Lumen allows you to export your L16 photos as JPGs for immediate sharing, or DNGs to finish refining in your favorite photo editor.

System requirements: Lumen

Lumen is where our computational processing magic happens. The desktop software uses proprietary algorithms to fuse 10+ images together and create one exquisite photo. To use Lumen, your computer will need to be up to speed with our supported operating systems and system requirements.

Windows

Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1), Windows 8.1, or Windows 10
2012 machines or newer
8 GB or more of RAM (16 GB recommended)
200MB of available hard-disk space (1GB recommended)
64-bit processor

Mac

Mac OS X version 10.10.5 (Yosemite) or higher
2012 machines or newer
8 GB or more of RAM (16 GB recommended)
200MB of available hard-disk space (1GB recommended)
64-bit processor

Intel chipset requirements
Nehalem, Westmere, Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell, Skylake

AMD chipset requirements
Jaguar, Puma, Bulldozer, Piledriver, Steamroller, Excavator, Zen

Note: We're trying to support as many operating systems as possible. You may choose to run Lumen on a different machine, but performance may be compromised.

Import photos

Import photos. With Lumen on your computer, connect your Light L16 to your computer's USB port via the included USB-C cable. When your L16 is connected, the grey button in the top right corner will change to blue and read "import from L16." Click the button to open the import dialog.

Note: If your camera is locked, no images will appear in the import dialog. Once you unlock your camera, you will see your images appear.

Import all photos. In the import dialog, click "All" to select all photos on your L16. Click the import icon in the top right corner to choose where to import your photos. Click "import" to begin importing your photos.

Remove imported files from camera. Click this check box if you want to remove your photos from your camera as they are being imported.

Import selected photos. If you want to select specific images to import, click photos to select them individually. Click the import icon in the top right corner to choose where to import your photos. Click "import" to begin importing your photos.

Note: A blue dot next to the import icon indicates your import is happening. Additionally, you can hover over the icon to see the current progress of your import.

View imported photos. Click the back arrow to close the import dialog. Click File > Open folder... and choose the folder where your imported files were saved. With the folder highlighted, click Open.

Light raw files – LRI & LRIS

LRI (.lri) files. When transferring your photos to your desktop, you may notice that the file names include ".lri" at the end. Because the Light L16 captures 10+ images at once—and because we save the fusing of these photos for the desktop—the Light L16 bundles all of the information about your capture into a Light Raw File (LRI).

.LRIs function similarly to how other RAW files work: any changes you make to the photo in Lumen, or on-device, doesn't affect the original raw file. This means you can edit and export multiple copies of your photo without making any changes to the original file.

LRIS (.lris) files. Whenever you edit an LRI file on your desktop, Lumen will create a new "LRIS" file with an identical name as your original LRI file. This LRIS file contains your depth-editing information. You can think of this file as a sidecar for your original file that contains all of the information about how you edited the photo. When you are done editing and decide to export a photo, Lumen will read your LRIS file and your LRI file together and process a single JPG or DNG (depending on your preference).

Move LRI files. When you move LRI files around on your computer, or if you move them to an external hard drive, be sure to keep the LRI and LRIS files together. If you separate them, you will lose any depth edits you have made to your photos.

Rename LRI files. When you rename LRI files on your computer, or if you rename them on an external hard drive, be sure to also rename the corresponding LRIS files. If you they have separate names, Lumen will not recognize the edited LRIS file associated with your LRI.

Curate your work

After transferring your LRI files, Lumen lets you view folders of photos in a gallery for easy browsing and sorting. Thumbnails displayed in Lumen’s gallery view are based on a quick fusion of 5 of your 10+ images per photo. You can see full-resolution versions of your photos by processing or exporting.

Open a folder of photos. There are two ways to open a folder:

Click File > Open folder... and navigate to your folder of Light Raw Files (.lri). With the folder selected, click “Open.”
Click the Light logo in the top left of the application window, navigate to your folder of Light Raw Files (.lri), select it, and click “Open.”

Adjust the size of your gallery thumbnails. Drag the zoom slider left or right to see your photos bigger or smaller.

Sort capture time or folder and file name. Click the icon in the bottom left corner next to the zoom bar to choose how your files are sorted. You can sort by capture time time or folder and file name .

Select photos. Click on a photo to select it. While holding shift, click on multiple photos to select them.

Mark photos as favorites. With your photo or photos selected, click a star icon in the bottom right corner to choose a rating from one to five. Solid stars indicate a photo has been favorited.

Favorite multiple photos. Holding shift, click to select multiple photos then click the star icon in the bottom right corner to choose a rating from one to five.

Delete photos. With your photo or photos selected, click the trash icon in the bottom right corner of the application window.

Process photos

The real magic of our computational photography can be seen when processing images. Processing a photo uses Light’s proprietary algorithms to combine 10+ images (captured every time you press the shutter button) into one final, high-resolution photo.

Process a photo. From the gallery, double-click a photo to open it in full screen. Lumen will switch from gallery mode to processing mode and a processing progress bar will appear.

Preview full resolution by zooming in or out. Scroll up or down on your trackpad, or drag the zoom slider in the bottom left corner to the left or right to zoom.

Fusing 10+ images takes some time. As you zoom in on your photo, Lumen will process the area you have zoomed in on in real time. If you see the progress bar appear, Lumen is still processing the area you have zoomed in to. Processing for the entire image is saved for when you export your photos.

Choose another photo from the filmstrip. In processing mode, you can switch which photo you are processing by selecting a different photo from the filmstrip. Just click once on a new photo to open it.

Hide the filmstrip. To maximize the viewing size of your currently displayed photo, click the white arrow in the upper middle part of the filmstrip to hide it. Click again to open it.

Adjust depth effect

One of the most revolutionary concepts to come from computationally fusing 10+ images together is the ability to change depth of field long after a photo has been taken. Even if you’ve been shooting and editing photos for years, you’ve most likely never been able to edit depth of field after capturing your images.

Click here to learn more about how we’re able to generate depth information for your photos.

Adjust depth effect. After opening a photo in processing mode, Lumen will process your photo. When processing is finished, the Depth Effect tool will change from grey to white, indicating you can use it. The depth effect slider is given in aperture values or f-numbers. To increase depth effect, drag the slider to the right. As you increase depth, the area around your focal point begins to blur. The closer you get to the right side of the slider, the more out-of-focus the areas in front of and behind your focal point will be, simulating the shallow depth-of-field effect of a wide-aperture lens.

Note: You may notice the f-numbers are different from photo to photo. That's because the f-numbers match to your focal length and are the equivalent aperture Lumen can generate for that given zoom.

Reset depth edits. If at any point you want to start over with your depth edits, click Edit > Reset depth edits.

Revert to original. If at any point you want to start over with an unedited photo, click Edit > Revert to original.

Fine-tune focus

Depth effect on the L16 allows you to create dramatic photos with subjects that stand out from their backgrounds. However, applying depth effect can sometimes make your subject appear blurry. In these situations, the focus tool can be used to adjust the focus of your subject and make a soft focal point sharp again.

Adjust focus. Click focus to activate the focus tool. When activated, a grey shaded mask may appear over parts of your image. The shaded mask indicates which areas of your photo were not in focus when your photo was taken. Any areas that were not in focus when your photo was captured, cannot be in focus with depth effect applied.

The unshaded areas of your photo show where you originally focused when you took the photo. If your subject is shaded, that means your subject was not in focus when you took the photo

Click a point in the unshaded area to adjust to be in focus.

Note: You can disable the grey shaded mask by unchecking "show focal region" below the focus tool.

Edit depth - refine edge

Adjusting depth effect can occasionally create inconsistent edges on larger, in-focus objects. The refine edge tool creates a more definitive and accurate difference between two varying depths along an edge. Use this tool to make jagged boundaries smooth.

Access the refine edge tool. Apply some depth effect to your photo to activate the refine edge tool. Click “refine edge."

Adjust your brush size. Scroll up or down with your mouse wheel or drag two fingers up or down on your trackpad to increase or decrease the size of your brush.

Edit an area using refine edge:

Zoom in on the inconsistent area or object you would like to edit.
Pick a brush size that’s big enough to generously cover the inconsistent edge. It helps Lumen to have information from both the foreground and the background.
Paint over the area.
Let go of your cursor: Lumen will automatically smooth your jagged edge.

Edit depth - blend area

Sometimes there may be inconsistent blur in your photos—especially in areas that stretch across multiple depths, such as roads, walls, or tables. Use the blend area tool to smooth the transition between depth gradients.

Access the blend area tool. Apply some depth effect to your photo to activate the blend area tool. Click "blend area."

Adjust your brush size. Scroll up or down with your mouse wheel, or drag two fingers up or down on your trackpad to increase or decrease the size of your brush.

Edit an area with blend area:

Zoom in on the inconsistent area or object.
Pick a brush size that’s big enough to cover both the inconsistent part and the surrounding region.
Paint a boundary around the inconsistent blur and then fill it in. Lumen will pull the depth gradients from both the consistent and inconsistent areas and then average them together.
Let go of your cursor: the average depth gradient will be applied to the selected area.

Edit depth - match depth

Fusing together the Light L16’s 10+ images creates a depth map that aligns all of the objects in your photo. Occasionally, these depth maps contain inconsistencies, especially when there are similar colors or patterns that overlap. In these cases, Lumen’s algorithms have difficulty determining what should be in focus and what should be blurred. In addition to the refine edge and blend area, match depth can be used to fix some of these inconsistencies.

Match depth

This tool lets you apply the same level of depth to separate areas of your photo. You can use this tool for all sorts of creative edits.

Access the match depth tool. Apply some depth effect to your photo to activate the match depth tool. Click "match depth" to display the match depth toolbar near the top of your image.

Change your selection method. Click the icon to the left of plus-minus in the pop-up toolbar and choose a selection tool:

Quick select – Drag to paint. Lumen will make a smart selection based on the area you are painting over.
Brush – Drag to paint exactly what you want to edit.
Lasso – Click to draw a polygonal shape around the region you want to edit.
Free lasso – Click to freely draw around the region you want to edit.

Adjust your brush or point size. Scroll up or down with your mouse wheel or drag two fingers up or down on your trackpad to increase or decrease the size of your brush. Or click the brush size and drag the slider left or right.

Adjust the feather of your lasso or free lasso tool. After making a selection with the lasso or free lasso tool, you can adjust the feather of your select. Click the feather size and drag the slider right or left to feather more or less of your selection.

Make a selection. Select or paint the area you would like to change. For brush and quick select, after painting, a pink mask appears over your selected area.

Edit a selection. To remove parts of your selection, click the “–” icon in the pop-up toolbar and paint the area you want to take away. To add more to your selection, click the “+” icon in the pop-up toolbar and paint to add to your selection.

Pick a source depth. Once you're finished refining your selected area, click on the eyedropper tool and choose a point in the image where you would like to match the depth. Click "apply" to match your selected area to your source depth.

Undo and redo depth edits. If you make a mistake or want to revert a change, you can click Edit > Undo depth edit or Redo depth edit.

Reset all depth edits. If you want to start over with depth editing your photo, click Edit > Reset depth edits. This will reset all edits except for depth effect. To reset depth effect, choose Edit > Revert to original.

Export as JPGs and DNGs

Exporting photos from Lumen writes a new file type and simultaneously processes the entirety of your photos with Light’s proprietary, computational algorithms. When exporting, you have the freedom to choose your preferred file type and image size.

Export a single photo. Select the photo you want to export and click the Export icon in the bottom right corner of the application window.

Change your filename. If you are exporting just one photo, you can change the photo’s filename in the export dialog that appears.

Export multiple photos. From the gallery, hold shift and click to select the photos you want to export. Click the export icon in the bottom right corner of the application window.

Choose where to save your photos. In the export dialog, click the field next to ‘save to” to select the folder where you would like to export your photo.

Choose your desired file format. You can choose between 3 options:

jpg – For quick and easy sharing on social media or email, choose jpg.
dng – If you would like to export the maximum quality file and edit your photos in another application like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, choose dng.
jpg + dng – If you prefer to have both, choose jpg + dng.

Choose your jpg file size and quality. For jpg files you can choose how large of an image you would like and at what quality you would like it:

8mp – Print up to 8” x 10”.
13mp – Print up to 10” x 13”.
full – Print up to 25” x 34”.

Keyboard shortcuts

Action	Mac	Windows
Open files...	Command + O	Ctrl + O
Open folder...	Shift + Command + O	Shift + Ctrl + O
Save current file (update thumbnail with changes)	Command + S	Ctrl + S
Select all	Command + A	Ctrl + A
Select/Deselect current image (gallery view)	Space	Space
Open current image for editing (gallery view)	Enter	Enter
Select a range of images	Shift + arrows	Shift + arrows
Filmstrip navigation	Left or right arrow	Left or right arrow
First photo in filmstrip	Command + left arrow	Ctrl + left arrow
Last photo in filmstrip	Command + right arrow	Ctrl + right arrow
Export	Command + X	Ctrl + X
Delete currently selected image(s)	Delete	Delete
Close images	Command + N	Ctrl + N
Preferences	Command + ,	Ctrl + ,
About	Shift + F1	Shift + F1
Support	Command + F1	Ctrl + F1
Check for updates	Shift + Command + F5	Shift + Ctrl + F5
Undo depth edit	Command + Z	Ctrl + Z
Redo depth edit	Command + Y / Shift + Command + Z	Ctrl + Y / Shift + Ctrl + Z
Reset depth edits	Command + R	Ctrl + R
Reset color and exposure edits	Shift + R	Shift + R
Revert to original	Shift + Command + R	Shift + Ctrl + R
Zoom out	Command + -	Ctrl + -
Zoom in	Command + +	Ctrl +
Fit photo to window	Command + 0	Ctrl + 0
Center photo	Command + \	Ctrl + \
Toggle the filmstrip	Alt + F	Alt + F
Toggle the focus tool	F	F
Toggle focus mask	H	H
Toggle refine edge	E	E
Toggle blend area	B	B
Toggle match depth	M	M

Restart, Reset and Update

Update Light L16

Light L16 over-the-air (OTA) updates.

The Light L16 camera has the amazing ability to update software over the air. OTA updates allow the Light L16 to acquire new features, better processing, and increased performance and speed. When new software updates are released by Light, and when your Light L16 is connected to Wi-Fi, a notification appears at the top of your screen to let you know that a software update is available.

Update Light L16. Just tap the update notification at the top of your screen and your Light L16 will download the latest software. After downloading, you will be asked to install it. To be safe, we recommend transferring your photos from the camera before installing a new software package.

Note: Depending on what version you are currently using, you may need to perform more than one update to get to the latest version of the software.

Check for software updates manually. If you miss an update notification or you have turned off “automatically check for updates,” you can check for a new update manually:

Access device settings.
- From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen then tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
- From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.
Scroll to the bottom and tap “About L16 Camera.”
Tap “Software update.”
Tap “Update” to check for any available updates.

Note: To find available updates, your Light L16 must be connected to a wireless network (see Wi-Fi in device settings).

Turn on or off “automatically check for updates.”

Access device settings.
- From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down twice from the top of the touchscreen to access the Control Panel for access to quick settings. To access the full menu, tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
- From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.
Scroll to the bottom and tap “About L16 Camera.”
Tap “Software update."
Tap the checkbox next to “Auto update” to toggle on or off whether Light L16 checks for updates automatically.

Note: Your Light L16 will only check for updates when you are connected to a wireless network (see Wi-Fi in device settings).

Update Lumen

Update Lumen. When a new update is available, Lumen will notify you with a pop-up. Simply click update to install and relaunch with the latest version.

Check for an update. To manually check and see if you are on the latest version of Lumen, in the menu bar click Lumen (Mac) or Help (Windows) > Check for Updates...

Restart Light L16

If something isn't working correctly, there are two ways you can try to restart your Light L16.

Restart the Light L16 Camera app. Swipe down from the top of the touchscreen to reveal the Android^TM icons on the right.

Tap the square icon to show your open apps. Tap the X in the top right corner of the Light L16 Camera app to close it.

Restart your Light L16. The easiest way to restart your Light L16 is by power cycling it. Press and hold the Power button until the Power off option appears on your screen. Tap it to power off.

If you are still experiencing issues with your camera, please contact us and we will help you troubleshoot.

Reset Light L16 settings

Reset Light L16 settings. From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the device settings menu. Go to Personal and tap Backup & reset > Factory data reset.

Tap the reset camera button to erase all data from your L16 camera’s internal storage. This includes all system data and settings, photos, and other user data.

Safety, Handling and Support

Care for your Light L16

Storing your Light L16. Included with your Light L16 is a soft case for storing the camera. The outside of the case is made of durable eco-yarn to protect the camera when it’s in your pocket or bag. The inside of the case is made of microfiber cloth to help clean your Light L16.

How to clean your Light L16:

Inside the soft case is an attached microfiber cleaning cloth. To access the cloth, put your finger inside the case, find it, then pull straight out. The cloth stays attached to the case.
The Light L16’s glass surfaces are made of extremely durable Gorilla Glass. To clean the front or back surface of your Light L16, wipe in circular motions with a lint-free, non-abrasive cloth. If necessary, you can also lightly dampen the cloth with water.

How NOT to care for your Light L16:

Do not use cleaning products or compressed air when cleaning your Light L16.
It is best not to clean Light L16 while it’s charging.
Do not dry your Light L16 using any external heat source, such as a blow dryer.

Care for your Light L16’s lithium-ion battery

Like many other electronic products, the Light L16 is powered by a lithium-ion battery. We’ve heard all kinds of advice on how to retain battery life, so we wanted to clear up some of the confusion. Here are a few good habits that will optimize your battery’s lifespan:

Your battery is under less stress when it’s between 40% and 80% charged. Whenever possible, try to stay in that range. This is especially helpful to remember if you’ll be storing your camera for long periods of time.*
Frequently draining your battery to 0% can hurt your battery’s long-term health. Completely discharging your battery once a month, however, helps the camera stay calibrated.
Leaving your camera plugged in even when the battery is full can hurt battery life. Once you notice your camera’s battery is at 100%, go ahead and unplug it.
Keep your camera in cool and dry environments, particularly for extended periods of storage. This will help keep your battery in tip-top condition.

*Keeping your battery in the range of 40%-80% is ideal, but not necessary. Your battery won’t be destroyed if it goes above or below this range.

Help Light make the L16 better

We want your Light L16 to get better over time. You can help by automatically sending diagnostic reports to Light. These reports are incredibly helpful for us to know what is working and what to improve. (And it's all anonymized.)

Turn on diagnostic report.

Accessing device settings:
- From the camera or gallery modes, swipe down three times from the top of the touchscreen then tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
- From the home screen, tap the arrow icon on the right to open the apps menu. Tap the Settings app to open the full device settings menu.
Scroll to the bottom and tap “About L16 Camera.”
Tap "User Experience Program."
Tap the check box next to "Diagnostics report" to turn it on.

Technology Partners

Light has partnered with several world-class partners in order to create the L16. Some of those partners include: Qualcomm, Global Unichip, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

TouchSense © Technology licensed from Immersion Corporation. TouchSense and other Immersion software contained herein are protected under one or more of the U.S. Patents found at the following address: www.immersion.com/trademarks-and-patent-markings/ and other patents pending.

This product uses Assertive Display technology by Apical Limited.