A plenoptic camera is described that is based on a waveguiding structure containing an array of diffractive regions. The waveguide-based plenoptic camera has reduced size and weight as compared to traditional camera approaches, as well as an expanded entrance aperture. Compared to traditional plenoptic cameras, which have microlens arrays placed in proximity to the sensor to serve as sub-apertures for the fractional fields, the waveguide-based plenoptic camera has its sub-apertures placed remote from the sensor area, within the in-coupling region of the waveguide.