A transparent hole patterned liquid crystal microlens array is designed and fabricated via ultraviolet photolithography and wet etching based on nematic liquid crystal materials for its anisotropy and birefringence. An optical testing system is set up to evaluate its focusing performance and focal length, and the relationship between the focal length and the applied voltage is given. The array is coupled with a main lens and an image sensor to constitute a prototype of dual mode imaging camera, which can switch instantly between plenoptic imaging and normal imaging by turning on or off the applied voltage signals. Raw images are acquired in the two modes. It is obvious that the camera can capture three-dimensional plenoptic images in the plenoptic mode, as well as normal images in the normal mode.