A method for reducing the size of captured light field image data using a light field image capture device , the light field image capture device including at least one sensor and processing circuitry , the processing circuitry configured to process captured light field image data to generate visual output, the method comprising: capturing light field image data at the at least one sensor, the light field image data representing output of a microlens array ; and characterized by : determining a read-out mode of the at least one sensor, wherein the read-out mode comprises subsampling, binning or resampling; pre-processing (503; 602) the captured light field image data in accordance with the determined read-out mode to reduce the data size of the captured light field image data by subsampling, binning or resampling when the determined read-out mode is subsampling, binning or resampling respectively, wherein pre-processing the captured light field image data comprises filtering the captured light field image data prior to performing sub-sampling, binning, or resampling the captured light field image data and wherein the filtering is spatially varying; the pre-processing further comprising using at least one of variable bit depths and variable pixel maximum values based on the light field coordinates of at least one pixel on the at least one sensor; and sending the pre-processed captured light field image data to the processing circuitry. capturing light field image data at the at least one sensor, the light field image data representing output of a microlens array ; and characterized by : determining a read-out mode of the at least one sensor, wherein the read-out mode comprises subsampling, binning or resampling; pre-processing (503; 602) the captured light field image data in accordance with the determined read-out mode to reduce the data size of the captured light field image data by subsampling, binning or resampling when the determined read-out mode is subsampling, binning or resampling respectively, wherein pre-processing the captured light field image data comprises filtering the captured light field image data prior to performing sub-sampling, binning, or resampling the captured light field image data and wherein the filtering is spatially varying; the pre-processing further comprising using at least one of variable bit depths and variable pixel maximum values based on the light field coordinates of at least one pixel on the at least one sensor; and sending the pre-processed captured light field image data to the processing circuitry. determining a read-out mode of the at least one sensor, wherein the read-out mode comprises subsampling, binning or resampling; pre-processing (503; 602) the captured light field image data in accordance with the determined read-out mode to reduce the data size of the captured light field image data by subsampling, binning or resampling when the determined read-out mode is subsampling, binning or resampling respectively, wherein pre-processing the captured light field image data comprises filtering the captured light field image data prior to performing sub-sampling, binning, or resampling the captured light field image data and wherein the filtering is spatially varying; the pre-processing further comprising using at least one of variable bit depths and variable pixel maximum values based on the light field coordinates of at least one pixel on the at least one sensor; and sending the pre-processed captured light field image data to the processing circuitry. <EOS>