RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Oppo’

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):

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_7108124081″,”galleryId”:”7108124081″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

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)

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

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Oppo launches Find X2 Pro with periscope tele and calibrated 120Hz display

07 Mar

The Chinese smartphone maker Oppo isn’t as well known in the western world as rivals Huawei or Xiaomi, but the brand is renowned for its camera-centric approach to smartphone design and has been responsible for quite a number of innovations in mobile imaging. For example, Oppo introduced swiveling camera modules in its N-series, the first sensor-based image stabilization system on a smartphone and the first periscope-style 5x zoom on a smartphone.

Now, the company has launched its latest flagship, the Oppo Find 2X Pro, and, at least on paper, the new model has everything it needs to take on the flagship competition from Apple, Samsung, Huawei and other more established rivals.

The below video is the entire launch presentation from Oppo:

Triple camera with ultra-wide and 5x tele

The Find X2 Pro comes with a triple camera setup, that covers focal lengths from a 16.5mm ultra-wide-angle to a 5x tele with a whopping 129mm equivalent lens, making it one of the most versatile mobile cameras in the market.

The primary camera uses a 48MP Sony IMX689 Quad-Bayer sensor that produces 12MP output files. At 1/1.4″ it’s almost as large as the main sensor in the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (1/1.33″) and larger than those of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro (1/1.7″) and Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (1/2.55″). In combination with the fast F1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization this should make for very decent low light performance.

The 5x tele camera offers more reach than most rivals in the high-end bracket of the market and is only matched by the Huawei P30 Pro and Oppo’s own Reno 10x Zoom. The 1/3.4″ sensor size in this camera is in line with other high-end tele cameras. OIS is on board on this module as well but with an F3 aperture zooming in low light conditions is likely not recommended. The tele module uses image fusion and other computational methods to achieve a 10x ‘hybrid zoom’ and offers a 60x maximum zoom factor.

Like the primary module, the ultra-wide uses a 48MP Quad-Bayer sensor albeit a smaller model. Still, at 1/2″ it’s one of the currently largest sensors in an ultra-wide and only topped by the 1/1.54″ sensor in the Mate 30 Pro. The F2.2 aperture is not the fastest we have seen but in line with most rivals.

In addition, the Find X2 Pro is the first smartphone to offer a PDAF system with 100 percent focus pixels and comes with a dedicated night mode that works on all three camera modules.

4K HDR video

On the video side of things, the new Oppo comes with an upgraded image stabilization algorithm that works on both the ultra-wide and primary cameras. Unlike on some recent flagships, there’s no 8K video but the Oppo can record 4K footage at 60fps and is one of the very few devices to support HDR video.

Top-end processing power

Non-camera specifications and features are all worthy of a true flagship as well. The new device is powered by Qualcomm’s brand new top-end chipset Snapdragon 865 which supports UFS 3.0 for fast read and write speeds, as well as 5G connectivity and uses OPPO Smart 5G technology to navigate between 4G, 5G, and WiFi network environments.

The 4260mAh battery supports SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging which, according to Oppo, can deliver a full charge in only 38 minutes.

120Hz color-calibrated AMOLED display

Images can be viewed and other content consumed on a color-calibrated 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED display with a whopping 3168 x 1440 pixels. Oppo says the new screen offers, ultra-low screen reflectivity and improves smoothness as well as operation feedback, thanks to a 240Hz high touch sampling rate. To deliver adequate audio output, the Find X2 Pro comes with dual speakers and Dolby Atmos which can automatically adjust to applications, such as music playback, movie watching or gaming.

Flagship pricing

As you would expect, this innovative tech comes at a price. The Find X2 Pro with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage will set you back 1,199 EUR in Europe (approximately $ 1,355). If that sounds a little bit rich for your taste Oppo also offers the Find X2 at 999 EUR (approximately $ 1,130). It comes with the same chipset and display as the Pro version but only 256GB of internal storage and a very slightly smaller battery.

In the camera, the primary and ultra-wide are the same as for the Pro but the tele lens is a more conventional variant that offers a ‘5x hybrid’ zoom factor. Oppo has not provided much detail on this camera yet but presumably, the reach is achieved using a 2x or 3x lens in combination with super-resolution and image fusion algorithms.

Both devices will be available globally in the coming months.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Oppo launches Find X2 Pro with periscope tele and calibrated 120Hz display

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Oppo patent shows camera module that pops out of the side of a smartphone

04 Jan

Smartphone manufacturers have come up with a variety of solutions to maximize the screen surface to size ration on smartphones, including hole-punch front cameras, camera notches and pop-up mechanisms of various kinds.

In a patent filing found in the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration) database Oppo is now adding a new variant: the sideways pop-out front camera.

In the reference images, we can see a motorized camera module placed on the right-hand side of the phone on roughly the same height as the rear camera. The power button is located on the same side of the phone while volume rockers and SIM-tray can be found on the left. The speaker and USB-C connectors are at the bottom.

As usual, there is no way of knowing if this idea ever makes it into an actual production device but it’s good to see manufacturers are looking into new ways of optimizing space in the thin bodies of modern smartphones.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Oppo patent shows camera module that pops out of the side of a smartphone

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Oppo demonstrates its under-display front camera in prototype devices

13 Dec

Back in June Chinese smartphone maker OPPO announced a device with an under-display front camera at MWC Shanghai. This allows for the design of display without a ‘notch’ or front camera ‘pinhole’ but also means that incoming light has to first travel through the display before it hits the camera lens.

To make this possible the display section above the camera is made of a highly-transparent material and comes with a redesigned pixel structure that is optimized for the transmittance of light. In addition, the camera comes with a bigger than usual sensor to further make up for any loss of light and white balance and HDR algorithms have been customized to reduce the transparent display’s impact.

This week, Oppo now finally shared prototypes of devices with the new in-display camera with press and media and thanks to a Twitter post by David Imel from Android Authority we can see the new design fully in action.

The new under-display camera system is hardly visible on the front of the device and only becomes slightly visible when viewing the phone at certain angles. Of course, it’s way too early to make any judgments on image quality but in terms of usability, the new system appears to work just like any other smartphone front camera.

Just like their rear counterparts, front cameras have taken huge steps forward in terms of image quality over the last couple of years or so. However, manufacturers have not only been focused on image output but also the integration into the device. We’ve seen notches and pinholes as well as motorized pop-up and flip-up front cameras. If Oppo’s concept catches on 2020 might well be the year of the under-display front camera.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Oppo demonstrates its under-display front camera in prototype devices

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Oppo reveals world’s first smartphone with under-display front camera

27 Jun

Earlier this months both OPPO and Xiaomi teased technology that allows the front camera on a smartphone to be located under the display, avoiding any notches, pinholes or other screen interruptions.

Today OPPO has shown a first device with the feature at MWC Shanghai and provided more information about the under-display technology. In order to make things work both customized displays and camera modules are required.

The display section covering the camera is made of a highly-transparent material and features a redesigned pixel structure that is optimized for the transmittance of light. Still, some light will be absorbed by the display, so the camera comes with a bigger sensor with bigger pixels and a larger aperture than you’d find in conventional front cameras.

There are also customized white balance and HDR algorithms to help boost camera performance and to further reduce the transparent display’s unavoidable detrimental impact on image quality OPPO has developed a haze removal algorithm for sharper and clearer image output.

In its announcement OPPO said it is developing a “futuristic, notchless, unibody and highly-recognizable smartphone,” but has not provided any detailed specs or information on pricing or availability.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Oppo reveals world’s first smartphone with under-display front camera

Posted in Uncategorized

 

OPPO patents foldable phone with pop-up camera

12 Jun

Back in February at the 2019 Mobile World Congress, we saw the launch of a new form factor for smartphones: several manufacturers showed phones with folding displays, including Samsung with the Galaxy Fold and Huawei with the Mate X.

OPPO’s foldable prototype got less media coverage but the company had already filed for a foldable-phone-patent with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) back in October 2018. Now the patent has been published, including several design sketches and full color renders.

The new design’s stand-out feature is the pop-up camera that allows for reduced bezel sizes and means that pictures and videos can be recorded in both in the phone’s folded and unfolded states. Additionally, the camera hardware could be used for selfie-shooting although camera control and image processing would likely have to be modified for front camera use.

As this is a design patent no specs are available but, like with the MWC prototype, the screen folds outwards and there’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Samsung’s foldable phone has been delayed indefinitely due to technical issues and the Mate X has not made it into shops yet. This said, it’s likely a temporary delay and it’s only question of time before consumers will hold foldable phones in their hands. We are looking forward to seeing how other manufacturers will design camera implementations for the new form factor and how the design can help take mobile photography to the next step.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on OPPO patents foldable phone with pop-up camera

Posted in Uncategorized

 

OPPO and Xiaomi demo under-display front cameras

04 Jun
Xiaomi Mi 9 prototype with under-display front camera (left)

Front cameras are an essential component in mobile devices and used for a range of tasks, including selfie captures, video calls and face-unlocking. However, they can stand in the way of clean device design, taking up space on the front of the phone and requiring bulky top-bezels, display holes or a front camera ‘notch’.

Recently several manufacturers have come up with creative design solutions that ensure an uninterrupted almost bezel-less display. Pop-up and rotating cameras are mechanical solutions, however, that are subject to wear and tear. Now it looks like Chinese manufacturer OPPO has found a solution that does not require any moving parts: a camera that is hidden under the display.

OPPO VP Brian Shen shared a video clip on the social network Weibo, showing what appears to be a smartphone without any visible front camera holes or notches on a desk. When the camera app is launched a live preview of the room’s ceiling is displayed. The demonstrator also moves their finger over the area where the camera appears to hidden.

Rival Xiaomi did not take long to respond to the OPPO video, posting its own under-display camera demo. Company’s president Lin Bin shared a video clip in which an under-display camera was added to a Xiaomi Mi 9 prototype.

In contrast to mechanical solutions users of an under-display camera would not have to worry about wear and tear but in a follow-up post to the demo, Shen says that the technology is still in an early development phase. ‘At this stage, it’s difficult for under-display cameras to match the same results as normal cameras, there’s bound to be some loss in optical quality,’ Shen writes. ‘But, no new technology jumps to perfection right away.’ Neither OPPO nor Xiaomi have said when the new technology will be released.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on OPPO and Xiaomi demo under-display front cameras

Posted in Uncategorized

 

OPPO launches Reno smartphone with periscope tele lens

25 Apr

OPPO had been teasing its new flagship for quite a while but now it’s official: The OPPO Reno has been launched globally and will be available as a version with periscope-style tele lens, making it only the second current device with this technology, after the Huawei P30 Pro.

The top-of-the-line model is called ‘OPPO Reno 10x Zoom’ and comes with a 6.6” OLED display and, thanks to a pop-up 16MP selfie-cam, does away with the dreaded display notch. Of course, from an imaging point of view the device’s key feature is the periscope-style tele lens.

Despite the official model name the lens offers ‘only’ a 6x optical magnification. A 10x factor is achieved using computational methods to generate a hybrid-zoom. Both primary and tele camera come with optical image stabilization. Below are a few sample photos provided by OPPO:

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_1490626563″,”galleryId”:”1490626563″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

OPPO says the ultra-wide lens comes with a ‘0.6x zoom factor’ which is an unusual way of describing things but we are assuming the equivalent focal length is around 16mm.

Thanks to a Snapdragon 855 chipset there is enough processing power to allow 4K video recording at 60 frames per second. 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage are on board as well. Other interesting features include Audio Focus, which uses multiple microphones to keep video and audio in sync as you zoom in, an in-display fingerprint reader and stereo speakers.

The standard OPPO Reno 10x zoom will be available in Europe in June for €800 ($ 890). You’ll be able to get your hands on a 5G version through certain carriers one months earlier. Be prepared to shell out €100 ($ 110) more than for the standard device, however.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on OPPO launches Reno smartphone with periscope tele lens

Posted in Uncategorized

 

OPPO teases Reno device, shows 10x zoom samples

14 Mar

OPPO has been talking about its 10x periscope smartphone zoom lens for what seems like an eternity but now we are finally seeing some action after all the talk. The Chinese brand will be launching its new OPPO Reno line of devices on the 10th of April and has been teasing some information ahead of the event.

We’ve seen an allegedly official image of the device that shows the triple-camera with 48MP main module and 10 x periscope zoom on the rear posted on the social network Weibo. Other specs are so far largely unknown but it seems there will be models with Snapdragon 710 and 855 chipsets and a large 4,000+ mAh battery.

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_3942518271″,”galleryId”:”3942518271″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

The company has also posted a number of images combining an image captured with the wide-angle camera with an inlay from the 10x zoom. The images are not full size, so aren’t any useful for judging image detail, but they do give you a pretty good idea of the range of focal lengths that the camera will be covering. And if the samples are anything to go by 2019 might be the year in which the long range smartphone zoom will be taking off.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on OPPO teases Reno device, shows 10x zoom samples

Posted in Uncategorized

 

OPPO has started mass production of 10x zoom smartphone camera module

27 Feb

OPPO has been teasing its periscope-design smartphone tele lens for two years now, but those who expected a product launch at MWC 2019 were disappointed once again. That said, we now at least know when a production device with the company’s 10x zoom system will be commercially available.

OPPO announced it has started mass production of the system and will launch a device with the 10x zoom camera in the second quarter of this year. There’s a slight caveat though: unlike most manufacturers, OPPO bases the zoom factor on the 16mm equivalent super-wide-angle. The tele lens comes with a 160mm equivalent focal length, hence a 10x zoom.

A rendered illustration from the above video showing the construction of the optical elements and sensor inside the periscope-style zoom lens.

Most other manufacturers don’t include the super-wide-angle in the zoom factor and instead use the primary camera, which on the OPPO model comes with a 48MP sensor and likely a 28mm focal length, as a reference.

The periscope design features a prism that reflects incoming light by 90 degrees and makes it possible to include such a ‘long’ lens in a thin smartphone body. The prism is also used for image stabilization. The primary comes with OIS as well and OPPO says the system is 73 percent more efficient than the previous iteration.

In addition the engineers have been able to maintain the dimensions of the older 5x prototype system, despite adding a super-wide-angle and using larger sensors.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on OPPO has started mass production of 10x zoom smartphone camera module

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries