Greetings! I recently rolled the dice on an eBay purchase for a Light L16 camera. The device appears to have had some serious OS problems/botched root/adb commands/I am honestly not quite sure what has gone wrong with it, but it is not even showing the OS as LightOS (the camera OS). I was wondering if any of you might have the firmware laying around somewhere, or any experience flashing these devices with AOSP/variants?
Light L16 Firmware
- Thread starter Sormaus
- Start date
I wish I could help. I'm in the same boat with a recent eBay L16 purchase. The one I received appears to be one of the early Beta cameras. It does boot. But the firmware is really old, so the camera won't save any images. I was able to sideload Open Camera, but it just crashes. I'll keep on looking for some updated firmware/ OS. Unfortunately, I believe finding that is highly unlikely once Light stopped all work on the camera and the Nokia Pureview. No one who worked on the project is even associated with Light any longer. Will post anything I possibly locate.
Thanks for the reply! I reached out to Light via the email addresses, but I'll be shocked if anyone replies. I tried reaching out to a couple of employees on LinkedIn as well, same result.
I think I got enough information pulled from adb to maybe attempt a LineageOS port. Is your device missing a ton of system options as well? I'm having to hammer this thing through command line.
I think I got enough information pulled from adb to maybe attempt a LineageOS port. Is your device missing a ton of system options as well? I'm having to hammer this thing through command line.
Yes, mine is missing many options, based on what I know of the camera software's evolution. I had purchased one of the early production cameras back in 2017; since sold it when Light got out of the business.
My unit has LightOS-1,2,2_1 and firmware 428992. The biggest issue for me is the format of the lri RAW files changed over time and can no longer be read by the current Lumen software (can't find the old versions), basically making the camera useless.
I'm not very technical when it comes to Android, so you'd be doing a great service if you can make any headway. Thanks.
My unit has LightOS-1,2,2_1 and firmware 428992. The biggest issue for me is the format of the lri RAW files changed over time and can no longer be read by the current Lumen software (can't find the old versions), basically making the camera useless.
I'm not very technical when it comes to Android, so you'd be doing a great service if you can make any headway. Thanks.
I've also had this problem recently,,, and it looks like that Light have completely abandoned the maintenance and support for L16, but I think since light L16 is an Android based device, then if we can get access to the firmware for the later models we should possibly being able to try and flush it in. I really don't know much about Android though....Anyway, so I hope that someone can find a solution for this as I really have no clue about it.
I have a production, working L16 with latest software -- in addition to what I believe is one of the early beta units from eBay. I'm not experienced enough to attempt to pull the firmware and software from the working one; all the commercial solutions fail. They seem to require an application to be loaded to the camera, which doesn't work.
I'm more than willing to devote more effort, if someone has a reliable solution, and could post the files.
I'm more than willing to devote more effort, if someone has a reliable solution, and could post the files.
I'm in the same boat as y'all. I just received an L16 I bought off of eBay with LightOS version 1.3.0.3-057 and camera firmware version 0039C80D. When I try to update it in the settings app I just get a "You have the latest software, there is no new update available." message.
If someone had the final V1.3.4.1 update files that we could download that would be amazing.
If someone had the final V1.3.4.1 update files that we could download that would be amazing.
Hello, I also recently bought one off eBay. Interestingly enough, my error when trying to update is 'failed to query software information'.
LightOS-1.3.2.5-098 and Camera firmware 00624245.
Kernel version 3.18.20-perf-g40a11f1, root@hq-ubandroiddev01 #1, Thu, Jun 21 18:35:48 PDT 2018.
It would be awesome to get the latest version.
Edit-spelling and links*
LightOS-1.3.2.5-098 and Camera firmware 00624245.
Kernel version 3.18.20-perf-g40a11f1, root@hq-ubandroiddev01 #1, Thu, Jun 21 18:35:48 PDT 2018.
If you have the latest (last) version of the firmware (1.3.4.1) you should be able to 'enable unknown sources' in the settings (see more info here) and then install APKs via the browser. This way you can install any companion app needed to dump the firmware.
It would be awesome to get the latest version.
Edit-spelling and links*
Last edited:
Update:
Reached out to Light on email and Twitter to see if we can get a offline update image/dump/apk.
Reached out to a few users on GitHub that owned L16 related repositorys to see if they still have their cameras and could create a firmware dump.
Had a look at the Android logs and can see that the updater is trying to reach out to this URL for an update: https://www.c2dms.com/api/v1/SWImage/SystemUpgrade
The website has shutdown by Google on July 30th, 2015, but before then the URL was changed to ota.c2dms anyway.
Reached out to Light on email and Twitter to see if we can get a offline update image/dump/apk.
Reached out to a few users on GitHub that owned L16 related repositorys to see if they still have their cameras and could create a firmware dump.
Had a look at the Android logs and can see that the updater is trying to reach out to this URL for an update: https://www.c2dms.com/api/v1/SWImage/SystemUpgrade
The website has shutdown by Google on July 30th, 2015, but before then the URL was changed to ota.c2dms anyway.
it seems to have gone away in the last 2 weeks. It was here:
support.light.co
I have a Mac copy I downloaded a few weeks back if it helps you.
Light support - User guide | Light
Light's Support Center provides an in-depth FAQ to help customers find answers to their questions, as well as how-to guides and step-by-step tutorials for the Light L16 camera and associated Light software.
support.light.co
I have a Mac copy I downloaded a few weeks back if it helps you.
Better than nothing haha. I can always spin up a Mac VM on one of my servers if I don't find the Windows package.
*edit* And I guess that explains why I can't find it posted anywhere if they took it down so recently.
It appears that though the page linking to them has been taken down, the actual files are hosted on dropbox, and can be found using the wayback machine. Linked here:
Mac
PC
light.app.box.com
These may disappear soon too, so I am including a zip of both of them here as well.
Edit: Adding a link to the most recent Wayback Machine save of the download page
web.archive.org
Mac
PC
Box
light.app.box.com
Edit: Adding a link to the most recent Wayback Machine save of the download page
Light Lumen Download
web.archive.org
It appears that though the page linking to them has been taken down, the actual files are hosted on dropbox, and can be found using the wayback machine. Linked here:
Mac
PC
These may disappear soon too, so I am including a zip of both of them here as well.Box
Edit: Adding a link to the most recent Wayback Machine save of the download page
Light Lumen Download
Thanks so much.
I'm receiving brand new ones, no idea the firmware that will be. If I can help get a firmware image off them, I will.
Does this prevent you from doing anything? Does the Lumen software not support the image format used by this firmware version?
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1Hi there L16 owners! I've picked up one of these cameras, and I'm super interested in tinkering around with, and as some others have mentioned, dig around the camera to escape LightOS.
I am curious though, would anyone be interested in using a Discord server to share around findings/work/photography from their camera? Currently, finding resources for this camera is a little all over the place, so I'd love to see a centralized spot with all the information!1
I think this would be great to get set up! Please let me know about the details. -
6I have got the firmware for 1.3.5.1.
I have added it to the GitHub repository here, under releases.
(BTW anyone can upload to this repo, please add anything that might be of use to other users)
Backstory about this:
A user called Jerome2023 joined XDA and posted in this thread that he had the firmware and would share it for $30 transfer via PayPal, obviously this screams of scam.
The only evidence was a screenshot of a zip file (not even the files inside).
When I asked for more info or photos as proof it was legit (Like the ones I have included below), he refused claiming he was insulted by my lack of trust... on the internet...
He was then banned from the forum by admins.
He claimed the total cost to get the updater was $150 from a local camera store, I already know of 2 other people who have sent him $30 so if it really did cost $150 then at least he has made $90 back.
Honestly I don't know why he want about it in this way, I am sure everyone here would have got together the reimburse him for the cost and effort he went to get it.
I do not want anyone to be out of pocket for finding the firmware, especially since that firmware should have been made available for free by Light, but I suspect he was trying to make some money out of it.
I have heard that he did genuinely wanted to help people but sending the money was a 'trust' exercise.3Hi!
I recently purchased a cheap brand new L16 as well. It came with version 1.3.0.5. I have also been searching everywhere for a newer firmware. So far the only lead I found is a Bilibili video of a person demonstrating how to offline update the camera. They seem to have a copy of firmware 1.3.5.1 and could simply update the camera by placing the firmware file into the internal storage(which is how HMD/Nokia devices update as well).
I have DM'd the video host to see if he is willing to share or sell the firmware package. Will report back once I get a reply. Here a link to the video in case you are curious: 【Light L16相机 固件升级指南】 https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1J...eb&vd_source=ee675b02079b99672e60053aa4c88611
Please do not harass the video host, last thing we want is to piss off that one guy who might have the firmware files.3Alright I confirmed I was completely incorrect in my first post about unlocking the bootloader
this will work to unlock the bootloader/install twrp/magisk root
You might need to reset the camera, so back up your pictures/data
setup adb and fastboot (guide)
download and extract VIKIROOT from here
download magisk apk from here
download material files apk from here
download twrp.imgfrom this postfrom here
put all the files in the same folder as the adb command
open a terminal/cmd window in the adb folder
adb push exploit /data/local/tmp
adb shell
cd /data/local/tmp
chmod +x exploit
./exploit 2222
you need to toggle Bluetooth if it is stuck on "waiting for reverse connect shell"
if you get "unknown kernel" reboot and try again
It will say ===TERMINAL=== if it worked, whoami should return root.
the prompt will probably be blank
dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot of=/storage/emulated/0/boot.img
dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/recovery of=/storage/emulated/0/recovery.img (for safety)
exit
exit
If the camera becomes disconnected before you exit the root prompt, temporary root does not appear to work until the camera is factory reset from recovery. This is not necessary if boot.img was dumped successfully as temporary root is not needed again.
adb install Magisk-v25.2.apk
adb install "Material Files_1.5.2_Apkpure.apk"
Open the Magisk app on the camera and press install near the top left. Press next, select and patch a file, open the menu on the left and select material files, scroll down and select boot.img, and then press LET'S GO ->
after it completes check what file name it saved as and change the file name bolded below
(or open material files and check the download folder if you closed Magisk)
adb pull /storage/emulated/0/Download/magisk_patched-XXXXX_YYYYY.img magisk_patched.img
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot oem devlock off
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img (not required but nice to have)
fastboot reboot
The camera will reboot to android, and magisk should have the superuser tab available.
Changing to root in adb shell now can be done with su instead of the temporary root (there will be an approval prompt on the camera)
The bootloader will now allow flashing different system versions
please tell me if you have any problems
(to just unlock the bootloader)
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot oem devlock off
fastboot reboot2I have a damaged production unit with 1.3.0.3-57 ( i see now that
V1.3.4.1 (1341) - May 2019 - is last release in the light website release notes )
at point where I have vikiroot on it.
have older unit with old firmware... is defaulted to root on debug shell.
so i guess the plan is try to sideload a rom app and pull a backup rom of the older firmware then update the older unit. anyone been down this route yet? pitfalls / successes to share?
older firmware on 'good' unit is 1.2.2_1
newer firmware on damaged unit is 1.3.0.3-57
EDIT:
Into recovery mode on both units. No fastboot =/
God I really dislike how android OS builders always go out of their way to screw over their customers.
EDIT 2:
Initial plan is to side load busybox as static compiled target to 1.3.0.3-57 unit. execute VIKIROOT exploit to escalate to root. And do a netcat dump of the OS disk block to another node. IF that works I'll do the same for the older node. At least have a full image dump of both devices.
I am tempted to attempt to do an overwrite of the disk block on the older device with the newer firmware exported image. But that's chancey. If it goes wrong the device will brick. =/2I will also mention I have a few of these devices on the way that claim to have the latest firmware. If they do, I'll happily work on cloning them and post it.
