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Posts Tagged ‘Huawei’

Huawei caught using DSLR images to promote smartphone cameras (again)

21 Apr

Huawei has once again been caught using an image captured with a DSLR to promote its mobile cameras. This issue was discovered on Chinese social media website Weibo, where Huawei published a video that contained multiple images allegedly snapped using its smartphones. According to the South China Morning Post, some of the images were traced back to a 500px user.

The issue was first spotted by photographer Huapeng Zhao, who recognized some of the images and traced them back to a 500px user named Su Tie. Rather than having been captured with a Huawei smartphone as the company’s promotional video claimed, Su Tie’s 500px account indicates the images were captured with a Nikon D850.

In a post on the matter published on Weibo, Huawei said that a ‘negligent editor’ had ‘incorrectly marked that [the DSLR images] were taken with a Huawei smartphone.’ The company thanked Huapeng for spotting the issue and apologized to the community. An updated version of the video without the DSLR images has been posted on Weibo.

This is not, however, the first time Huawei has been caught passing DSLR content off as images captured with its mobile phones.

In early 2019, for example, Huawei used stock images of a volcano captured with a DSLR to promote the zoom lens capabilities of its P30 Pro smartphone. Before that in 2018, the company was caught using an image captured with a DSLR to promote its Nova 3 smartphone. Sadly, this practice isn’t limited to Huawei — Samsung has also been caught passing off DSLR images as mobile images.

In 2018, Samsung Malaysia was caught using an image captured with a DSLR on the website for its Galaxy A8 Star handset, failing to state on the page that the image was not captured using its mobile camera and software. Before that, Samsung Brazil was caught using selfies captured with a DSLR to promote its Galaxy A8 model.

At this point in time, it’s unclear whether Huawei had received permission from Su Tie to use the images in its promotional video. The discovery highlights the importance of taking manufacturer promotional images with a grain of salt, particularly ones that look too good to be true. Though mobile camera technology, including both hardware and software, have improved considerably over recent years, they’re still no match for expensive professional camera systems.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei launches P40 series with Leica-badged cameras and up to 10x optical zoom

27 Mar

Chinese manufacturer Huawei has today launched the latest generation of its camera-centric high-end P-series. The P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ share the Kirin 990 5G chipset and the large 1/1.28-inch image sensor in the main camera but otherwise differ slightly in a range of areas.

The Huawei P40 Pro+

Large main camera sensor

Like for previous Huawei high-end phones, the camera assembly of the P40 series has been developed in cooperation with German camera makers Leica. The P40 offers a triple-camera setup with ultra-wide and conventional 3x tele cameras.

The P40 Pro camera cluster

The P40 Pro features the same main camera with 50MP Quad-Bayer sensor, OIS and fast F1.9 aperture lens, but adds a more powerful ultra-wide with a 1/1.54″ 40MP sensor and a periscope style tele-camera that offers 5x optical magnification and, in combination with super-resolution algorithms, a maximum zoom factor of 50. A time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for depth-sensing in bokeh mode and improved autofocus performance is on board as well.

10x optical zoom on the P40 Pro+

The P40 Pro+ tops the Pro version by replacing the 5x tele with not one but two tele lenses: similar to the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro a 3x conventional tele is used for closer distances. If you want to zoom in further a 10x optical periscope-style variant that supports up to 100x digital zoom takes over. The 10x lens reflects light five times to achieve its long focal length. AI algorithms use data from the ultra-wide camera and zoom lenses to optimize still image and video stabilization.

The main camera sensor in all three models is Huawei’s largest smartphone image sensor to date and uses pixel binning for increased dynamic range and low light performance. The new Octa PD AutoFocus offers focus capability on all pixels and the HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine is combining image data form all sensors to smoothen zoom operation and achieve optimized image quality at intermediate zoom settings.

Color temperature sensor

In addition the camera features a new multi-spectrum color temperature sensor and AI-powered white balance algorithms which, according to Huawei, improve color accuracy by 45 percent. AI methods are also deployed to optimize portrait skin tones and textures.

New camera software features include a function that chooses the frames from a Moving Picture and AI Remove Passersby and AI Remove Reflection which can eliminate unwanted subjects and glare in your images respectively.

Ultra-wide video with real-time bokeh

Bu default the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ use their ultra-wide cameras for video shooting. The 18mm focal length should be ideal for cinematic shots and the large 1/1.54-inch sensor offers a 3:2 aspect ratio. Fusion Technology supports 16-in-1 pixel binning in video mode which enables shooting at up to ISO51200 with a wide dynamic range and 7680fps ultra slow-motion video capture.

Video mode also supports real-time bokeh effects and zooming using the tele camera. In addition, the camera is capable of producing 4K timelapses and directional audio zoom lets you focus the microphones on a specific subject in a scene.

Plenty of power and apps from Huawei’s AppGallery

All new models are powered by Huawei’s latest top-end chipset Kirin 990 5G which features 5G band support and 160MHz Wi-Fi 6 Plus technology with 2,400Mbps peak theoretical transmission speed. The Pro+ also comes with 40W wireless charging.

Like last year’s Mate 30 series, the P40 models do not come with Google apps, such as Gmail, Maps or the Play Store. Instead, apps can be downloaded from Huawei’s own AppGallery. The company says the gallery is working with global developers to expand the app selection on offer but for now, many users will see the lack of Google app as a major drawback.

Premium design and 90Hz OLED display

All the high-end tech is wrapped up in glass-covered bodies on the P40 and P40 Pro. The Pro+ comes with a nano-tech ceramic back panel for an even more premium look and feel. The Pro and Pro+ models also come with a curved edge 90Hz FullHD+ OLED display that features extremely thin bezels and an in-screen fingerprint reader.

P40 colors

Pricing and availability:

Owning a P40 series model won’t come at a bargain price. The basic P40 with 6GM RAM and 128GB of built-in memory will set you back 799 Euros (approximately $ 880). The P40 Pro with 8GB of RAM and 256GB built-in storage is 999 Euros (approximately $ 1100) and the top-end P40 Pro+ with 8GB/256GB is a hefty 1399 Euros (approximately $ 1540). Bigger-storage variants are available for each model but Huawei has not released pricing information for those yet. Currently, no further information on geographical availability has been provided either.

Press Release:

HUAWEI P40 Series Marks the Age of Visionary Photography

Housing Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor yet, the HUAWEI P40 Series delivers all-day Super Definition photography with powerful cameras, high performance 5G and cutting-edge design

26 March 2020 – Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today announced the HUAWEI P40 Pro+, HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40, the new HUAWEI P40 Series flagship smartphones featuring cutting-edge designs with ground-breaking camera innovations that radically expand mobile photography and video capture possibilities.

The HUAWEI P40 Series continues the series’ heritage of imaging excellence. The large 1/1.28-inch sensor has a binned pixel size measuring 2.44?m to massively boost light intake for enhanced low-light performance, while a new periscope design realises 10x true optical zoom. The HUAWEI P40 Series is powered by Kirin 990 5G and supports high-speed 5G and Wi-Fi 6 Plus. The advanced hardware is embedded in a beautiful and compact enclosure featuring the HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display that delivers outstanding fluidity and responsiveness.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, “The HUAWEI P Series has always been about innovative aesthetics and making premium imaging hardware accessible, representing the very best of industrial design and technology. With an outstanding sensor, camera systems that we co-engineered with Leica, powerful chipset and HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine, the HUAWEI P40 Series exemplifies our focus and offers an all-day Super Definition experience to help consumers realise their creative vision.”

Unprecedented design

The HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ are equipped with the HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display. Inspired by the art of motion, the display takes on a curved edge on all four sides, creating a shape that is reminiscent of water on the cusp of overflowing from the rim of a filled cup. The super narrow bezels and streamlined round corners ensure an ergonomic hold and a near borderless look, while an enhanced in-screen fingerprint reader offers 30 percent faster biometric authentication.

Available in three glossy glass finishes – Ice White, Deep Sea Blue and Black – and two innovative refractive matte glass finishes – Blush Gold and Silver Frost, the HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 exude classical elegance from every angle. HUAWEI P40 Pro+ features an exquisite nano-tech ceramic back panel that is kilned and polished to ensure it stands the test of time with incredible durability and timeless style. This unique design comes in two iconic colours: Ceramic White and Ceramic Black.

All-day Super Definition photography

Embedded in the HUAWEI P40 Series is the advanced Ultra Vision Leica camera system, available in triple-camera, quad-camera and penta-camera configurations. The HUAWEI P40 delivers outstanding photographic results with ultra wide-angle, wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The HUAWEI P40 Pro features an evolution of the Leica Quad Camera with a more powerful Ultra Wide Cine Camera and ToF Camera alongside 50x SuperSensing Zoom. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+ lets consumers see the unprecedented with the SuperZoom Array, which supports 10x true optical zoom and 100x maximum digital zoom.

The HUAWEI Ultra Vision Sensor included in the full HUAWEI P40 Series is Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor to date. Measuring 1/1.28 inches diagonally, it supports pixel binning to achieve a pixel size of 2.44?m and Full Pixel Octa PD AutoFocus for high-speed focus at any time of day, while the HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine integrates and processes data from multiple cameras to generate a comprehensive improvement in picture quality.

HUAWEI P40 Pro brings faraway subjects up close with 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom and 50x maximum digital zoom. For the first time ever, the 5x Optical Telephoto Camera in the HUAWEI P40 Pro includes a RYYB colour filter array to boost light intake and improve quality of zoomed shots. HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has a 100x SuperZoom Array with a new periscope design that reflects light five times, extending the light path by 178 percent to support 10x true optical zoom. The optically stabilised Ultra Vision Wide Camera and SuperZoom Array work in tandem with AI to realise Triple OIS+AIS for vastly improved photo and video stabilisation.

Skin tone and texture are faithfully reproduced by a new Multi-spectrum Colour Temperature Sensor and AI AWB algorithm that boost colour accuracy by 45 percent. Deep learning algorithms provide real-time portrait optimisations that enhance lighting and detail. HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ have a 32MP AF Camera and IR Depth Camera that support autofocus and Bokeh reproduction to deliver the same outstanding portrait effects that are signature to Huawei devices, as well as IR Face Unlock for device unlock even in low light conditions. HUAWEI P40 Series also introduces HUAWEI Golden Snap, which includes AI Best Moment, a new smart photography feature that chooses the best frames from a Moving Picture. AI Remove Passersby and AI Remove Reflection can do away with unwanted subjects and glare from the frame, allowing users to easily enhance their images after the fact.

A powerful pocket-sized video camera

The 40MP Ultra Wide Cine Camera in HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has a focal length that is equivalent to 18mm and a 1/1.54-inch sensor supporting the 3:2 aspect ratio. SedecimPixel Fusion Technology is built into this camera to support 16-in-1 pixel binning, producing super pixels that measure 4.48?m to boost light sensitivity up to ISO51200 and enable 7680fps Ultra Slow-Motion video capture.

HUAWEI P40 Series supports real-time Bokeh effects for videos. Similar to the results of a wide aperture lens, this feature adds progressive Bokeh to help highlight the main subject of the footage. The telephoto camera can capture high quality zoom footage as well as 4K time-lapse videos. Directional Audio Zoom, available on HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+, allows users to zoom in on an audio source and amplify its sound at the same time.

An all-connected 5G powerhouse

The HUAWEI P40 Series is powered by Kirin 990 5G to deliver integrated 5G connectivity with the most comprehensive 5G band support, robust AI performance and power efficiency. Display responsiveness and gaming experience are taken to the next level by the upgraded graphics rendering engine making the most of the 90Hz panel on the HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+. The 160MHz Wi-Fi 6 Plus technology featured in the full line-up offers high-speed connectivity with support for 2,400Mbps peak theoretical transmission speed. The industry-leading 40W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge is available on the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ for fast and convenient charging. The chipset is given the thermal headroom to deliver exceptional performance by the advanced cooling systems, including the bespoke 4-in-1 SuperCool system in the HUAWEI P40 Pro+.

The EMUI 10.1 operating system introduces a host of new features that enable a richer, more seamless AI life. HUAWEI MeeTime[1] supports 1080p Full HD video call on Huawei smartphones, tablets and the HUAWEI Vision TV and delivers clear picture quality even in low light or weak signal conditions. Users can also share their phone screen with the other party during the video call and mark-up notes to quickly share thoughts.

Huawei Share facilitates high-speed file transfer between the smartphone and other devices such as tablets and PCs. With Huawei Share on the HUAWEI P40 Series, consumers can stream music to a smart speaker, initiate screen projection and connect to Wi-Fi by tapping the device[2] they want to connect to with their phone. New functionality added to the Multi-screen Collaboration allows users to easily answer video or voice calls hands-free directly through the PC, and open files and hyperlinks on the smartphone with native PC applications for enhanced productivity.

Working in close collaboration with global developers, Huawei offers a wide range of global and local apps on AppGallery, Huawei’s official app marketplace. Users can also enjoy a rich library of quality entertainment media on HUAWEI Video, HUAWEI Music and HUAWEI Reader, with new additions from top content providers being added on a continuous basis.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei Kirin 990 mobile chipset launches with improved image signal processor

10 Sep

Last week Samsung announced its new top end mobile chipset Exynos 980 with a range of new imaging capabilities. Now it’s rival Huawei’s turn. At its press conference at the IFA trade show in Berlin the Chinese company revealed its new system-on-a-chip (SoC) that will likely power upcoming high-end Huawei devices, including the Mate 30 Pro which is expected to launch on September 19th.

Like for the the Exynos, one of the Huawei’s Kirin 990 chipset’s new stand-out features is the integration of 5G modem. Huawei says the Kirin 990 will provide peak download speeds of 2.3 Gbit/s and upload of 1.25 Gbit/s.

Of course there’s also an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that will be tasked will all sorts of AI-applications and Huawei says the new chipset will be more energy-efficient and deliver more power for mobile gaming aficionados.

Mobile photographers will be more interested in the new Image Signal Processor ISO 5.0, though. The company says it’s 15 percent more powerful than its predecessor for faster image and video processing, and also comes with ‘professional-level’ hardware noise reduction. In addition, real-time video post-processing and rendering is based on AI segmentation and is capable of adjusting color parameters frame by frame for optimized video color.

We should find out in just over a week how the new chipset performs in an actual device.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Trump lifts ban on US companies that prevented them selling to Huawei

02 Jul

President Trump has said U.S. companies that sell components to Chinese tech firm Huawei will be allowed to continue to do so.

In remarks at a press conference during the G20 summit in Japan, Trump said that he had told the Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Huawei would be allowed to buy U.S. goods once again. ‘We send and we sell to Huawei and tremendous amount of product that goes into the things that they make, and I said that we would keep selling that product’ the president said in answer to a question from the press.

Further remarks suggested the change had been in part due to pressure from U.S. suppliers who were banned from selling their goods to Huawei rather than any material difference in Trump’s position regarding national security concerns around the tech giant’s relationship with the Chinese government. Trump said that the U.S. companies were ‘not exactly happy that they couldn’t sell.’

It isn’t clear at this stage what this means or whether all those previously trading with Huawei will be able to begin doing so again. Trump implied that it was ‘Silicon Valley’ firms that he was referring to, and said of the products ‘it’s very complex, by the way, highly scientific.’ This doesn’t really allow us to determine whether the ban is lifted on all the products sold from the U.S. to Huawei or whether he is referring to physical components or software—such as the Android operating system.

The Huawei affair comes against a background of growing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, as President Trump imposed import duties on a range of Chinese products in a move he claimed was to protect U.S. industry and to counter the country’s ‘unfair’ trade deal with the Chinese. In May Trump also banned all U.S. businesses from dealing with Huawei as the company was deemed too close to the Chinese government and a security threat. It isn’t clear what has changed to reduce the threat level of the company’s activities, or whether the change of mood is more to do with internal pressure on the U.S. government from domestic firms losing business because of the ban. More will be revealed.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google suspends Android updates and support for Huawei, Intel & Microsoft join in

20 May

With devices like its recent P30 Pro flagship smartphone Huawei has managed to established itself as one of the prime manufacturers and a major innovator in the mobile imaging space within a very short period of time.

However, it looks like the company’s meteoric rise could be slowed significantly over the coming months. Over the weekend Reuters reported that the maker of the Android mobile operating system that runs on pretty much all Huawei mobile devices, will stop working with Huawei on future Android updates and device certifications. The move is a reaction to an executive order signed by US president Donald Trump and a resulting U.S. Commerce Department blacklist which prohibits US companies to do business with certain foreign entities, including Huawei.

Huawei is accused by the Trump accusation to work with the Chinese Government to install backdoors in its network equipment for spying purposes.

Companies on the blacklist are barred from purchasing equipment from U.S. companies without prior government approval. Previously Huawei devices had already been dropped by US network carriers under political pressure. Huawei is accused by the Trump accusation to work with the Chinese Government to install backdoors in its network equipment for spying purposes. However, no proof of such practices has been published so far.

The latest development is problematic for Huawei’s device division in so far that it relies on Google for access to closed portions of the Android OS and the Play Services suite. The latter has to be approved for each new Android device. According to the reports Play Services won’t be removed from existing devices but no new certifications will be issued.

That said, Huawei will be able to continue to use Android’s open-source components. The company uses Android’s open source libraries (AOSP) to build the core codebase for its EMUI mobile platform and release software updates in China, where Google Play services are not available.

Huawei has issued an official response to the developments, saying it will continue to provide security updates to all Huawei and Honor devices:

‘Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android’s key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefitted both users and the industry.

Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products, covering those that have been sold and that are still in stock globally.

We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally.

Plus, nothing has changed for HONOR. We will be having our exciting launch event tomorrow in London for HONOR 20 Series.’

Google has also confirmed that Google Play services and Play Protect will continue to work on existing Huawei devices via a tweet:

Today a range of other US companies have joined Google in severing ties with Huawei. According to a report by Bloomberg Intel, Qualcomm, and Broadcom will stop supplying their chips and modems to Huawei. Nikkei reports the same for German chipmaker Infineon Technologies and US memory chip suppliers Micron Technology and Western Digital. There is no word from Microsoft yet but the software company is expected to cease supply of its Windows operating system for Huawei’s range of laptops.

Huawei is quite well protected against some of those impacts as the company is designing and manufacturing chipsets, modems and many other components in-house. It is also reported that the company has been stockpiling chips from US suppliers in anticipation of the current events. Supplies are said to last three months which hopefully should be enough time to solve the situation.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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One month with the Huawei P30 Pro

14 May

Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone, the P30 Pro was launched just over a month ago and has since then received a lot of praise, especially for its camera. I’ve been using the device since launch day and thought now would be a good time to summarize my experience and determine if the hype around the P30 Pro camera is justified.

Focal length flexibility

A lot of that hype stems from its periscope-style 5x tele lens and the resulting zoom performance. We’ve already had a close look at the system and my early impressions have been confirmed since those first days of using the device.

The P30 Pro is by far the best current smartphone for zooming. While the focal length of ‘traditional’ single-lens smartphone cameras (typically somewhere between 25 and 28mm equivalent) is great for street and landscape photography and similar genres, it’s not ideal for any photographic situations that require wider or more narrow angles of view.

16mm equivalent, ISO 400

The super-wide-angle allows me to squeeze more of this cathedral ceiling into my frame than would be possible with a more conventional smartphone camera.

16mm equivalent, ISO 50

Playing around with the ultra-wide-angle and looking for suitable scenes is a lot of fun.

125mm equivalent, ISO 160

At the other end of the zoom spectrum the 5x tele allowed me to capture the detail in this stained glass window.

125mm equivalent, ISO 50

This type of cityscape would not have been possible to capture with the same levels of image detail on most other smartphones.

The P30 Pro’s camera setup covers equivalent focal lengths from an ultra-wide 16mm to a 125mm tele, allowing for much more flexibility in your framing and more creative freedom. If you’re happy to accept some loss of image quality, you can zoom in even further but everybody’s tolerance threshold is different in that respect.

Image quality is best at the individual cameras’ native focal lengths

While there’s no doubt that the P30 Pro beats the current competition in terms of zooming, there’s still some obvious room for improvement, however. The hybrid-zoom technology processes captured image data from one or more lenses, then uses computational imaging methods to achieve a seamless zoom experience for the user. This means that image quality is best at the individual cameras’ native focal lengths.

This shot was captured at a zoom setting of around 3.5x. It is softer than the 5x image, especially close to the edges of the frame, ISO 50

If you shoot at intermediate zoom factors, images can look soft. Between 1x and 3x, the P30 Pro uses its 1x main camera and progressively crops in, using a multi-frame based super resolution algorithm to improve results. For 3x to 5x zoom factors, the tele camera is used for the central portions of the image, with crops from the 1x camera upscaled (again using super-resolution) to fill in the outer portions of the image. This means that image edges at these intermediate zoom factors are noticeably softer than central areas of the frame.

This isn’t much of an issue if you post your images on Instagram, of course, but it will be noticeable when viewing at larger magnifications.

The zoom is also limited by its AF system. So while you might be able to nicely frame a soccer player in the game, don’t expect the autofocus to lock on, at least not before the subject has moved out of the frame. You can get good results with some practice and trial and error, but expect a lot of out-of-focus-results with moving subjects as well.

Out-of-focus, 125mm equivalent, ISO 50 In-focus, 125mm equivalent, ISO 50

Night shots are a breeze

Moving away from zoom, the P30 Pro is also a great smartphone for photography in low light, especially for static scenes and when using the built-in multi-frame night mode. It’s pretty amazing that a smartphone is now capable of capturing hand-held night shots which not too long ago would have required long exposures, manual settings, probably some manual frame stacking in Photoshop, and definitely a tripod.

Night mode, 27mm equivalent
Night mode, 27mm equivalent

Night mode can record usable results in near darkness, even capturing starry skies, and is capable of nicely balancing bright and dark parts of the frame. It can be used with all three cameras but the results are by far the best on the primary unit. If night shots are your thing, this is pretty much a must-have feature. Just don’t expect a consistent color response when shooting in near darkness. As you can see, the camera’s auto white balance system produced quite different results for the two samples above.

The P30 Pro also performs well in low light in its standard camera mode but the results are much more in line with what you’d expect from other high-end smartphone cameras.

27mm equivalent, ISO 250

Low light image quality in standard mode is in line with other high-end smartphones.

125mm equivalent, ISO 3200

Zooming, low light and moving subjects are not a good combination.

Low light image quality is best on the primary camera, however. Both the super-wide-angle and tele lag behind in terms of detail, exposure and dynamic range. The tele is definitely taken beyond its limits when you try and capture moving scenes in low light, so don’t expect tack-sharp concert close-ups or action shots in a dimly-lit gym from the P30 Pro.

Video stabilization for steady-cam-like footage

When shooting video on the P30 Pro, I generally found the footage to show pleasantly warm colors and decent dynamic range, capturing good detail in bright skies and high-contrast scenes. Noise reduction can be a bit aggressive, though. Distant foliage and other low-contrast textures can appear a little mushy. I was particularly impressed by the image stabilization, which allows for super-steady shooting even when hand-holding the device.

However, stabilization is not without its artifacts. It can lead to blurring in-sync with your steps, visible in the fence behind the subject near the end of this clip. There can also be a judder effect – where the video skips ahead for a brief instant. This can range from subtle (my panning clip below) to fairly distracting. These artifacts are either absent or more subtle on the latest iPhone and Pixel phones.

Overall, with some careful consideration to shooting technique – bending your knees and walking softly, and panning slowly – the Huawei can be a great device for mobile video capture without the need for any additional equipment, such as gimbals or other external stabilizers.

The best smartphone for imaging right now? Probably.

The P30 Pro isn’t just a very good camera phone, however. It’s also very nice to use as a general device. The body design with its rounded display edges and smooth lines looks and feels premium. Thanks to the high-end chipset there are no performance lags whatsoever and Huawei’s EMUI user interface is much less cluttered than it used to be on previous device generations, making for an overall very pleasant user experience.

No other smartphone camera offers as much flexibility in terms of focal length and framing

The camera is this device’s unique selling proposition, though, and it does deliver. No other smartphone camera offers as much flexibility in terms of focal length and framing. That doesn’t mean that the zoom system is perfect, but it is the best you can get on a smartphone right now.

The P30 Pro captures pleasantly natural colors in most situations, 27mm equivalent, ISO 50

The P30 Pro performs well in most other photographic respects as well, delivering very good still image and video quality across the board. Night mode is excellent and the camera is capable of capturing a decent simulated-bokeh shot.

Portrait mode, 27mm equivalent, ISO 50

As always, there is still room for improvement but a couple of software updates have already been provided since launch. We can be sure that Huawei and other manufacturers will be working hard to make the next device generation even better, with improved image quality and more intelligent features.

In the fast-paced smartphone world it will likely only take a few months for a better option to come along, but until then the Huawei P30 Pro is my undisputed go-to smartphone camera.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei P30 Pro video teardown lets us peek inside the 5x periscope-style tele lens

22 Apr

We have already seen reports on the components used in the Huawei P30 Pro’s innovative multi-camera setup. Thanks to a new video-teardown by Youtuber JerryRigEverything we are now getting a very detailed look at the camera and especially the periscope-style 5x tele lens and its internal components.

Looking at the video it is quite impressive how Huawei has managed to squeeze this much technology into the P30 Pro’s thin smartphone body, particularly considering that the huge 4200 mAh is taking up a large proportion of the available space.

The only way to achieve a 5x optical zoom factor was to install the tele-module sideways inside the phone, using a 90-degree mirror to divert incoming light into the lens and onto the sensor. The Huawei is the first phone to use this technology but most certainly not the last. Unfortunately the tele-lens is being sacrificed in the process of recording the video but given the close looks we are getting at the internals it’s all worth it.

Fast forward to 5:36 in the video if you want to jump directly to the section about the camera module.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Report: Huawei P30 Pro uses Sony image sensors and technology from Corephotonics

17 Apr

With its quad-camera (triple-camera plus ToF-sensor) the Huawei P30 Pro is, from an imaging perspective, definitely the most exciting new smartphone this year.

The analysts from French company System Plus Consulting now have had a closer look at the camera hardware, which was co-designed with Leica, and talked about their findings with EE Times. According to costing analyst expert Stéphane Elisabeth, all four image sensors have been supplied by market leader Sony.

The primary camera module uses a RYYB color filter (Red, Yellow, Yellow, Blue) instead of the usual RGGB, which increases light sensitivity, while the wide-angle and tele camera units still rely on an RGB filter. The green channel is usually used to make up the luminance (detail) information in an image so yellow filters, which let in red as well as green light, would give cleaner results than an RGGB sensor, at the cost of some ability to distinguish between colors.

Unlike some other devices, the time-of-flight (ToF) sensor is not only used for augemented reality applications but also to measure subject distance for autofocusing. Signals from all three cameras are processed to create a map of a scene and let the photographer focus on a specific object.

Arguably the most innovative element of the camera is the periscope-style tele lens, though. It is placed horizontally inside the body and a mirror angled at 45 degrees channels light into the optics and onto the sensor. This allows for an extended optical unit – generally a requirement for telephoto lenses. The result is the first 5X tele zoom in a smartphone. Super resolution and computational techniques allow for 10x digital zoom using the 5x tele unit, though image quality drops. The analysts also believe the entire camera unit has been assembled by Chinese company Sunny Optical Technology using IP from Corephotonics in Israel. The latter is particularly interesting as Corephotonics has just been acquired by Huawei rival Samsung.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei P30 Pro: The new benchmark for smartphone zoom

04 Apr

The P30 Pro, Huawei’s brand new high-end Android smartphone, comes with a whole bunch of innovative imaging features but to many users the most exciting one will arguably be the new device’s innovative zoom system.

The P30 Pro offers a 125mm equivalent periscope-style tele lens and uses image fusion and other computational methods for seamless zooming between the 16mm equivalent focal length of the camera’s super-wide-angle module, the 27mm primary module and the tele.

At the long end reach is extended to an approximately 250mm equivalent focal length using a super resolution algorithm that stacks several frames for increased detail capture. The camera apps even allows for a maximum 50x zoom factor but it’s probably best to limit yourself to 10x for usable results.

We’ve had a few days to try the P30 Pro’s zoom since the device was launched and are so far seriously impressed. By managing to pack an extremely useful zoom range into the thin body of a high-end smartphone the new Huawei is bound to make an important impact on mobile photography and the smartphone market alike.

At the long end reach is extended to an approximately 250mm equivalent focal length using a super resolution algorithm that stacks several frames for increased detail capture.

Let´s start by having a look at the actual zoom range that is covered by the device. The four samples below were shot form the same position, using different zoom settings in the camera app. The super-wide-angle offers, as you would expect, a very wide field-of-view. At 16MP the image is larger than the 10MP output of the primary camera and offers decent detail. There are the usual distortions and softness around the edges you would expect on such a wide lens, and some low-contrast detail is being smeared.

Overall, the camera does very well though, considering these samples were captured on a very gloomy afternoon. The exposure system deals especially well with the bright over cast sky, capturing good detail in the clouds without underexposing the landscape elements of the scene. Below are comparison images showing the difference in quality between the P20 Pro and P30 Pro (the P20 Pro didn’t offer a super-wide camera, so there’s only a P30 Pro photograph for that image).

Super-wide-angle, 16mm

At 27mm equivalent the primary camera offers a typical smartphone field-of-view. The image has a lower 10MP pixel count than the super-wide-angle output but still manages to squeeze better detail out of the scene. We are not talking DSLR-level here but detail rendering is pretty good for a smartphone and more than sufficient for any kind of web use and social sharing.

Full-size images: P20 Pro, P30 Pro

The 5x zoom level (using the primary camera as a reference) is where things get really interesting. Yes, image purists will detect some blurring of fine low contrast detail but the quality of this shot is a large step ahead of the 5x zoom output of any other current smartphone. Detail is decent, dynamic range is excellent and the corners are sharp. This is the first 5x zoom on a smartphone that is genuinely usable for general shooting.

Full-size images: P20 Pro, P30 Pro

Even the 10x setting, which combines the image capture of the tele lens with the effects of a super-resolution algorithm is capable of producing usable results. Some years ago most of us would have been happy with this kind of image out of a travel compact camera. Now you can get it from your smartphone camera, along with all the other useful functions of a high-end device.

Full-size images: P20 Pro, P30 Pro

It’s very reassuring to see that the system continues to deliver good results when light levels go down. The primary camera is actually one of the best we have seen on a smartphone in terms of low light capabilities. If you click through to the full-size version of the night show below you’ll see the camera captures excellent detail and manages to keep noise levels at bay. The exposure system also works very well, balancing the high contrast of the scene and avoiding highlight clipping in the brightest parts.

Primary camera, 27mm, night shot

Thanks to very efficient optical image stabilization and excellent image processing the tele camera still performs well in dim conditions, allowing to zoom into some architectural detail in this night shot.

Tele camera, 125mm, night shot

Detail is getting softer at the 10x zoom factor but the image below is definitely still usable in social media and smaller viewing sizes in general. Given the tele-camera has to capture and stack several frames in low light to achieve these results, this is quite an impressive feat.

Only in very dim light does the camera give up, producing severely underexposed images at the 10x zoom setting. At 5x, when no frame stacking is required, it can shoot for longer in low light, however.

Tele camera plus super-resolution, 250mm, night shot

Shooting with the tele lens that offers more than 2x or 3x magnification is an entirely new experience on a smartphone. The zoomed-in scenes look great on the P30 Pro’s large OLED display and a very efficient combination of electronic and optical image stabilization ensures easy hand-held framing at all focal lengths.

The longer lens compresses the scene a lot more than the wider conventional smartphone lenses and offers a field-of-view that most of us will be familiar with from travel compact cameras. This opens up new possibilities for smartphone photography. You can capture street scenes without getting uncomfortably close and create perspectives that simply aren’t possible with a conventional wide-angle smartphone lens.

Tele camera, 125mm
Tele camera, 125mm
Tele camera, 125mm
Tele camera, 125mm

Overall, it’s fair to say that in terms of zoom performance Huawei is currently light years ahead of the smartphone competition, and for me that’s a good enough reason to make the P30 Pro my go-to device for the foreseeable future — a least until other brands can follow suit and make similar zoom technologies available in their devices.

That said, it would be unfair to reduce the P30 Pro to its zoom system. It’s a high-end smartphone with an excellent all-around camera that shines especially in low light (as long as you stick to the primary module). You can find a wide range of samples across focal lengths and light conditions in the gallery below. For more information on specs and technologies please read our original P30 Pro news story and closer-look article.

Sample gallery

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don’t abuse it.

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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A closer look at the Huawei P30 Pro, a quad-camera smartphone with plenty of power

28 Mar

Hands-on with the Huawei P30 Pro

Huawei has launched the P30 Pro a new Android smartphone powered by a Kirin 980 chipset and 8GB of RAM — and we’ve gotten our hands on it for a closer look.

Images, which are captured on an impressive quad-camera array, can be viewed and composed on a 6.47-inch FHD+ OLED display with very thin bezels, keeping the overall dimensions of the IP68-certified device at bay. The large 4,200mAh battery packed inside should provide plenty of run time and comes with quick charging. The P30 Pro also features reverse wireless charging and an in-display fingerprint reader.

As impressive as all the specs are though, it’s the camera that has caught all of the attention, and rightly so — it’s packing a lot of camera tech into a considerably small package. Click through the gallery to dig through the details of the device and its imaging capabilities. In the coming days we’ll have a sample images and a follow-up article on the details of its photographic capabilities.

Quad-camera

The P30 Pro comes with three camera modules and a single time-of-flight (ToF) laser sensor — Huawei counts the ToF sensor when calling it a quad-camera. The ToF-sensor is used to measure subject distance for better AF performance and more precise depth maps in bokeh mode. The primary camera features a 1/1.7-inch 40MP sensor that puts out 10MP images.

The lens is optically stabilized and features a fast F1.6 aperture. The equivalent focal length is 27mm. The primary module is accompanied by a 20MP 16mm-equivalent super-wide-angle (not stabilized, F2.2) and a 125mm equivalent 8MP tele with folded optics, OIS and F3.4 aperture.

Folded optics

OPPO has been teasing a similar concept for a couple of years now but with the P30 Pro Huawei is the first manufacturer to bring folded optics in a smartphone to market. The system allows to squeeze a much longer zoom reach into a thin smartphone body than would be possible with a conventional lens design.

Like with OPPO, the image sensor is placed vertically in the phone and the optical axis of the lens runs across the phone body instead of outwards. A mirror is used to reflect incoming light into the lens and onto the sensor at the right angle. This allows for a 125mm equivalent focal length – more than any other current smartphone and approximately a 5x zoom factor over the primary camera. With the help of clever software this can be expanded to a whopping 50x magnification.

Field-of-view fusion

The Huawei does not only rely on innovative hardware for zooming, however. Computational imaging methods play an important role as well. Field-of-view fusion combines the optical zoom with super-resolution algorithms that stack multiple frames for increased levels of detail.

The system intelligently adapts to the zoom factor selected by the user. Up to a 3x zoom factor it only uses super-resolution on the primary camera. At zoom factors between 3x and 5x an image is captured with the tele lens for best possible detail. The areas around the edges of the 5x frame are then filled in using image data recorded with the primary camera. Detail in those areas is improved by reconstructing textures and fine detail using a deep learning algorithm.

This is quite impressive as white balance, focus and other camera parameters have to be in perfect sync for good results. At a 5x zoom factor only the tele camera is used. For even longer reach super-resolution is applied to the tele camera for a maximum 50x zoom factor.

Low light capabilities

The image sensor in the primary camera is of the RYYB type and according to Huawei offers 40 percent better light sensitivity than a conventional RGB sensor. A fast F1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization, which is an industry-first for a sensor of this size in a smartphone, also allow for better light gathering in dim conditions. Huawei says in default mode the camera is capable of delivering good exposures at extremely low light levels of 1 lux and can reach astronomic equivalent ISO values of 409,600.

Improved bokeh mode

Like virtually all high-end smartphones these days the P30 Pro comes with a background-blurring portrait mode. Huawei’s camera engineers have implemented a couple of solutions that should provide better than usual results, however.

Super-resolution is used on the primary camera to capture good detail at a 2x zoom factor, providing a field of view that is more suitable to portraiture than the primary camera’s native 27mm.

An initial depth map of the scene is then generated using data from the primary and super-wide-angle cameras. The ToF-sensor, which can precisely measure subject distance in all light conditions, is then used to refine the depth map, providing better subject isolation and blur gradient and therefore a more realistic overall result.

Video improvements

There’s no 4k video recording at 60fps available on the P30 Pro but the device comes with a range of improvements for its video mode. Huawei says image stabilization has been improved significantly, making the phone usable as an action-cam replacement. Video capture in low light has been improved as well, with the P30 Pro achieving good video exposure at candle light.

There are a couple of other new video features as well. On the main camera adaptive frame rates have been implemented to ensure good sharpness and smooth footage in all conditions In bright light and when the device´s gyro detects camera motion footage is recorded at 60fps. In lower light, when longer shutter speeds are required, and/or the device is held in a very stable fashion, frame rates drop to 30 fps. We’ve previously seen a similar feature on the Google Pixel 3.

Additionally the 32MP front camera is capable of recording HDR video. Currently Apple’s iPhone XS Max is the only other device with this feature. The P30 Pro front camera used a quad-sensor and a single-frame HDR effect is achieved by using different exposures on different pixels on the sensor.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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