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Posts Tagged ‘equivalent’

Oppo shows off its next-generation optical zoom camera module with 85-135mm equivalent focal length

20 Aug

Oppo has announced (translated) it’s latest camera technology, a next-generation periscope zoom camera that features improved optics, a new sensor and updated image processing algorithms.

The new camera module features an 85mm to 135mm full-frame-equivalent focal length with an aperture range of F3.3 through F4.4. To achieve this, the module uses seven elements in three groups with the two rear-most groups being the ones that move for zooming and focusing.

In addition to new optics, the camera module uses a new 32MP quad-bayer-like sensor. Both the movement of the lenses and image processing will be powered by the custom-designed 16-bit image processing chip inside the module.

Sample images from the new camera module captured with the wide angle (left), equivalent 85mm focal length (center) and equivalent 135mm focal length (right).

If we’re to assume this would be used in a smartphone with a 26mm main camera — such as the Oppo Reno 10x zoom — this new camera would offer a 3.3x to 5.2x optical zoom and presumably feature the same ‘hybrid zoom’ up to 10.4x. Even though the multiplication factor is roughly the same as that found on the Reno 10x zoom, Oppo says its new hybrid zoom technology improves image quality, as can be seen in these example images (older ‘hybrid zoom’ images on the left, new technology on the right):

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There’s no mention of when we could see this new camera tech, nor what phone it might be in, but as noted by GSM Arena, details of a forthcoming Oppo phone believed to be the Reno 10x zoom successor were revealed last month.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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O-Film demonstrates smartphone camera module with 85-170mm equivalent optical zoom

17 Jun

The zoom performance of smartphone cameras has improved dramatically in the last couple of years or but still lags behind conventional cameras, despite dedicated tele lenses pretty much being the norm on high-end smartphones these days. It’s fair to say that overall, zooming on a smartphone camera is at this point still a bit of a compromise, but that could soon change, though.

Chinese camera module supplier O-Film has demonstrated a periscope-style smartphone lens that provides an optical zoom range of 85-170mm (35mm equivalent). This, in theory, should provide a more consistent image quality across the zoom range than current models.

Most tele cameras inside flagship smartphones provide magnification factors between 3x and 10x compared to the primary camera, but speaking about ‘zoom’ factors in this context is slightly misleading. In most instances, the tele camera use lenses with a fixed focal length and computational methods are used to deliver the stated zoom ratios.

At intermediate zoom settings between primary and tele cameras most models use digital zoom/cropping and other computational imaging methods that combine image data from both cameras to create an output image. This Samsung system illustrated in the video below is a good example:

In practice, this means that if you want the best possible image quality you will have to shoot at the native focal lengths of either the primary or tele camera. At intermediate settings your images will, at least under close inspection, almost certainly show a loss of detail and/or a range of fusion artifacts. For example, on some models the level of detail at the center of the frame is high because this portion of the image is captured with the tele camera. Often a lack of detail is visible towards the edges, though, as these areas of the frame are ‘filled’ with digitally zoomed image data from the primary camera.

O-Film’s solution should avoid these kind of image quality inconsistencies by providing optical zoom across the entire range of focal length from 85-170mm (35mm equivalent). The module’s aperture ranges from f/3.1 at the wide end to f/5.1 at the maximum tele setting, which is pretty much in line with the apertures on most fixed-focal-length tele cameras. At only 5.9mm the module is also impressively thin which means it should fit into the sleek form factors of most current flagship devices.

The zoom range of the O-Film module is roughly equivalent to a 3-7x zoom factor but the company claims it can also provide 3-5x, 5-8x and 3.5-9.5x variants.

Like other periscope style lenses with a fixed focal length, such as the one found in Oppo’s 5x camera module, the O-Film module uses an optically-stabilized prism to divert incoming light onto the image sensor. What’s different in O-Line’s module is a piezoelectric motor that drives a module with three lens groups to adapt the focal length. The autofocus mechanism moves with the lens elements.

If the new system works as advertised in the near future image quality on smartphones could be much more consistent across the zoom range than it is now, offering greater flexibility to mobile photographers. Unfortunately, there is no word yet on when we might see the zoom in a production smartphone.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon’s president confirms a ‘D5’ mirrorless equivalent is in the works

18 Jun

Japanese business publication Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun has shared a quote from a recent interview with Nikon’s CEO, Mr. Toshikazu Umatate, wherein he says a flagship mirrorless camera—equivalent to Nikon’s D5 DSLR—will be introduced.

The quote, translated via Google from Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun’s paywalled coverage (translated), reads:

Nikon to introduce a top-end model of the mirror-less camera. Time is a non-published, but Umatate Toshikazu president was revealed in response to the interview of the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun. Top-end model of the digital single-lens reflex camera “D5.”

No specific time-frame was given for the impending release, but this marks the first time anyone from Nikon has officially confirmed a pro-style mirrorless camera designed to replace Nikon’s flagship D4/D5 DSLR lineup.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm X70 puts 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens into compact X100-style body

17 Jan

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Fujifilm has announced the X70, a fixed-lens compact camera designed in the spirit of the company’s X100-series.

The X70 takes the design of the X100, shrinks it down, and adds a 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens (compared to the 35mm equiv. F2 optics on the X100). The cool hybrid viewfinder from the X100 is gone, but in exchange users get Fujifilm’s first touchscreen LCD (3″ in size), which can also tilt 180 degrees. The X70 has direct controls for aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation, just like its big brother.

The guts of the camera are similar to that of the X-T10, meaning that the X70 has a 16.3MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor and Hybrid AF system. The AF system offers 49 points in single-point mode and 77 in zone and wide/tracking modes. The lens itself has nine rounded aperture blades and a minimum focus distance of 10cm. The mechanical shutter stops at 1/4000 sec but the electronic shutter goes all the way to 1/32000 sec.

The X70 has a standard ISO range of 200-6400, which expands to 100-51200. It can shoot continuously at 8 frames per second, though only for ten photos. Naturally, it has the full set of Film Simulation Modes, save for the new ACROS mode on the X-Pro2. Video can be recorded at 1080/60p, with a maximum bitrate of 36Mbps. As one would expect, the X70 also has built-in Wi-Fi with remote control from your smartphone.

The X70 will be available in all-black or silver and black in February at a price of $ 699.95.

Online resellers are selling the X70 for $ 799 – Fujifilm tells us that the $ 699 price in the press release is indeed correct.

FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES NEW ADDITIONS TO THE X-SERIES LINE OF CAMERAS AND LENSES

X-Pro2, X-E2S, X70 and XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR join the X-Series; all-weather FinePix XP90 gets the shot from sand to slopes

Valhalla, N.Y., January 14, 2016 FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a leader in digital imaging, today announced new additions to the award-winning X-Series line of premium fixed and mirrorless cameras, and ultra-high quality lenses, including: the FUJIFILM X-Pro2, FUJIFILM X-E2S, FUJIFILM X70 and FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR.  Fujifilm also introduced the new rugged and waterproof FinePix XP90, perfect for capturing amazing images everywhere, from underwater to mountain tops.

FUJIFILM X70

The FUJIFILM X70 is a newly designed premium fixed lens digital camera that features a FUJINON 18.5mmF2.8 lens (28mm in 35mm format equivalent), suitable for a range of applications from landscapes to everyday snapshots. The new X70 elegantly combines simple manual operation with superior image quality and versatile picture-taking functions, and is the first X-Series camera to offer a touchscreen display that rotates 180 degrees, enabling users to shoot from up high, down low and capture selfies.

The compact FUJIFILM X70 uses a 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II Sensor for extraordinary image resolution, and gives photographers milled aluminum dial controls, as well as aperture settings in 1/3 stop increments, and the new Auto Mode Switch lever for selecting its fully automatic Advanced SR Auto mode. In this mode, the camera automatically chooses the optimum settings for great results on any scene.

The new FUJIFILM X70 features a responsive touchscreen – a first for the X-Series. Now, photo enthusiasts can use the Touch Panel for operations during shooting and playback modes. For shooting, users can select their focus area and touch-to-shoot. During playback, users can swipe their finger to scroll through images, double-tab to enlarge images, and drag to view different points on the picture, and pinch-out and pinch-in to enlarge and reduce the image view.
Users can also disable the touchscreen functions at any time by turning the Touch Panel Settings to “off.”

FUJIFILM X70 key features:

  • 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II Sensor
    • Fast AF of up to 0.06 seconds
    • Start-up time of 0.5 seconds
    • Shutter time lag of 0.05 seconds
    • Shooting interval of 0.5 seconds
  • Uses the FUJINON 18.5mm F2.8 lens with 7 elements in 5 groups, and  2 high-performance aspherical elements
    • 9 blade aperture
    • FUJINON’s unique HT-EBC coating
  • High-definition, touchscreen 3” tilting (180o) LCD display with 1.04 million dots
  • Maximum ISO performance up to 51200 sensitivity
  • New  AF system offers the 49-point Single Point mode for fast, precise focusing, and a  new Zone and Wide/Tracking modes with a 77-point area to capture moving subjects
  • Up to ±3 stops of exposure compensation on the top-plate dial
  • 8 function buttons (1 customizable)
  • Latest CLASSIC CHROME Film Simulation mode that delivers muted tones and deep colors
  • Interval timer for shooting time-lapse sequences of one second to 24 hours, up to 999 frames
  • Completely silent electronic shutter capable of exposures up to 1/32,000 second
  • Digital teleconverter offers additional focal ranges of 35mm and 50mm
  • Full HD video 1080p at 60fps; bit rate of 36Mbps for clear capture of delicate movements; frame rates of 60 fps, 50fps, 30fps, 25fps and 24fps, supporting worldwide motion picture formats
  • Free FUJIFILM Camera Remote application and Wireless Communication function allows users to remotely shoot images from smartphones and tablets via WiFi
  • Photos can be sent to the INSTAX Share Printer using the free INSTAX Share App (iOS and Android) SHARE Smartphone Printer
  • Advanced creative filters

 

The FUJIFILM X70 will be available in February 2016 for USD $ 699.95 and CAD $ 899.99.

Fujifilm X70 specifications

Price
MSRP $ 799/£549
Body type
Body type Large sensor compact
Sensor
Max resolution 4896 x 3264
Other resolutions 3:2 (3456 x 2304, 2496 x 1664), 16:9 (4896 x 2760, 3456 x 1944, 2496 x 1408), 1:1 (3264 x 3264, 2304 x 2304, 1664 x 1664)
Image ratio w:h 1:1, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 16 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 17 megapixels
Sensor size APS-C (23.6 x 15.6 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Processor EXR Processor II
Color space sRGB
Color filter array X-Trans
Image
ISO Auto, 200-6400 (expandable to 100-51200)
Boosted ISO (minimum) 100
Boosted ISO (maximum) 51200
White balance presets 7
Custom white balance Yes
Image stabilization Unknown
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Fine, standard
File format
  • JPEG (Exif v2.3)
  • Raw (RAF format, 14-bit lossless compressed or uncompressed)
Optics & Focus
Maximum aperture F2.8 – F16.0
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Phase Detect
  • Multi-area
  • Center
  • Selective single-point
  • Tracking
  • Single
  • Continuous
  • Touch
  • Face Detection
  • Live View
Autofocus assist lamp Yes
Digital zoom Yes (35mm, 50mm digital teleconverter)
Manual focus Yes
Normal focus range 10 cm (3.94)
Number of focus points 77
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Tilting
Screen size 3
Screen dots 1,040,000
Touch screen Yes
Screen type TFT LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type None
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 30 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Maximum shutter speed (electronic) 1/32000 sec
Exposure modes
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
  • Aperture priority
  • Manual
Built-in flash Yes
Flash range 7.90 m (at ISO 1600 (5.5m at ISO 100))
External flash Yes
Flash modes Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Synchro , Suppressed Flash, Commander
Drive modes
  • Single
  • Continuous (hi/lo)
  • Self-timer
  • Interval
Continuous drive 8.0 fps
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Exposure compensation ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing ±1 (at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing Yes
Videography features
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Format MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone None
Speaker None
Storage
Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port No
Headphone port No
Wireless Built-In
Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n
Remote control Yes (Wired or via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description NP-95 lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 330
Weight (inc. batteries) 340 g (0.75 lb / 11.99 oz)
Dimensions 113 x 64 x 44 mm (4.45 x 2.52 x 1.73)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
Timelapse recording Yes
GPS None

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Citizen Finetech Miyota creates 3.69m dot equivalent EVF

11 Apr

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Citizen Finetech Miyota has developed an LCD panel for electronic viewfinders of digital cameras its claiming is the highest resolution available. It offers a 1280×960 pixel display (equivalent to 3.69 million dots). This exceeds the 2.36m dot (1024 x 768 pixel) resolution of the current Sony OLED and Epson LCD units. It uses a field-sequential design, showing red, green and blue information in sequence rather than being able to show them all at the same time, but the panels 120Hz design should avoid color breakup (tearing) the company says. The panel will enter mass produced in summer 2013.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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