I can't find it now, but I remember reading about something with what seems a lot more boring than the articles I find about "metamaterial lenses". Maybe someone has a pointer for what it's actually called.

It was something reproducing a sort of "solar furnace" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_furnace) at a micro scale, coordinated with electronics. Think creating a dynamic lens by redirecting light from many micro lenses (mirrors?).

The upside being dynamic focal lengths using extremely short lens (the whole thing being microscopic).

Am I day dreaming? I can swear I read something or saw a documentary somewhere.

Or is what I'm describing just another name for metamaterial lenses? Based on what I've read about metamaterials, right now, I don't think it is, but I can very easily be wrong.

Edit:

Ah, maybe microlenses? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microlens

Does anyone know if they're applicable to camera lenses?