Create Your Own Lytro-Style Changeable Focus Photos with the SLR You Already HaveS

Cameras like the Lytro are great because they let you snap photos and then adjust the depth-of-field and focus after the photo's already been taken. It does this by collecting all of the focus data it needs at the time the photo is taken, which is great, but Lytro cameras are close to $400. If you already have an SLR you love, there's a way to get the same effect right now without buying anything extra, thanks to the folks at Chaos Collective.

The trick is to use your SLR to take video of the space you want to capture, slowly changing the focus on your camera as you go. This way your camera collects the same data the Lytro does, just over time. The Lytro works because it actually takes tons of images at once thanks to its micro-lens array, and each of those images includes different focus and DOF data, so you can refocus the image whenever you want, long after you've taken the photo.

Chaos Collective notes that the best cameras for the job here SLRs and lenses with wide apertures, and walks you through the process of collecting your video and uploading it to their tool at the link below. You'll probably need a tripod, but aside from that, if you have the camera already you're good to go, and the process takes just a few seconds—much better than dropping $400 on a shiny new camera. Hit the link below to try the tool out, and see examples of the kinds of images we're talking about.

Camera HACK: DOF-Changeable Photos with an SLR | Chaos Collective via TechCrunch

Photo by Lai Ryanne.