The Most Random Camera Ever Sold Is Why I'm So Excited About The Pixel 6 Pro
You’ve probably never heard of the L16 by Light. Released in July 2016 — It was considered both a gimmick and a logical step forward for photography. Originally retailing for $1,950, the L16 had drawbacks that made that price untenable for most. The main drawback was that the camera couldn’t export full-size photos without the use of some pretty terrible software. The idea behind the software was phenomenal, but setup and maintenance were definitely too technical for the average user. However, I wasn’t the average user…and there’s also this —
With good lighting (Read: Really Good) you can take incredible photos anywhere between 28–150mm. From a device the size of 3 cellphones stacked together, this seemed like a magical proposition. The icing on the cake was that the device ran a bare-bones version of Android OS. My reasoning was as follows: The one thing Android Open Source Project (AOSP) allows device manufacturers to do is easily update their software. Samsung has proven lately that providing timely updates for your devices is a matter of choice not chance. I figured the L16 would get regular updates if not annual ones, and at the end of the camera’s life cycle, the manufacturer (Light) would provide us with a root tool and let us run wild.
The camera was already running stock android. All Light had to do was get their camera array working with the Android Camera API — preferably in the form of an Application, and the L16 would then be able to improve as google’s algorithms did. Instead, we got a device that was rarely updated, and “opening it up” simply meant allowing users to install APK’s manually. The L16 could never have the cult following of some other devices. Especially on the Android side — the openness of a device directly relates to its longevity in the Modding Community. Light the company, never really invested in the L16 beyond proving their concept for computational photography was legitimate. To be fair It was Legit
Here’s the rub… The pixel 3xl probably (And 4XL Definitely) does everything the L16 Does except for situations where a 50+ MP photo, pin-sharp zoom, or lowlight motion shots are needed. Like the L16, Pixels can add blur/depth to any photo you take. The battery in a pixel phone lasts longer and of course…it’s also a phone. (You can use VOIP apps on the L16 btw) To get a single full-size photo from the L16 You’ll need at least 10 minutes. I hate doing things in batches so I was proper fucked. (Like when zee German’s get here — Turkish)
The confirmed specs for the Pixel 6 Pro check all my boxes when it comes to a digital camera. Even a DSLR.
Supreme Portability, 50MP Sensor, 120hz Screen, Flagship Quality PPI Screen, 4x Zoom, Automatic Cloud Uploads at varying resolutions. Dedicated software for simulating depth after a photo is taken, Auto Photo Enhancement, Auto Landscape Photo Stitching, Auto Cataloging and sharing based on faces, Auto Video Enhancement, Portrait Video, HDR Video, Optical Text Recognition
Google is even purposefully improving its visual algorithms for darker skin tones (about damn time.)
I’ve really started to appreciate every photographer’s or creative's individual use case and I’m a guy who’s obsessed with depth, portrait, and lowlight shots. Google’s next flagship will do incredibly well in those specific areas. The writing on the wall says that this device will be embraced by the geekiest of Googlers. A modding community that is happy to see google refine its hardware while providing bleeding edge software seems pretty ecstatic to get back to having both. So in half a decade — just like the original Pixel — the Pixel 6 Pro will still have a thriving community to learn from and save me when I inevitably brick the phone while tinkering.
The Nexus 6P certainly had its problems, but its design was far from boring. It was clear that Google was open to trying new shit and seeing what developers could do with quirky hardware. The last time I thought Google had the perfect match of software and hardware was the Samsung Galaxy S4 with the Google Experience Rom. Let’s be clear — I love my Pixel 4xl and it’s the first phone I didn’t immediately upgrade to the next version. If you don’t already have a Pixel and want one today you should absolutely go with the Pixel 5. In my opinion — Google’s combination of software, hardware, and pricing is still the paragon of technology products. I wasn’t waiting for the Pixel 6 specifically. I definitely wasn’t planning on buying a thousand-dollar mobile device. Now I’m doing both.
