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Posts Tagged ‘Smartphone’

DJI releases its newest smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 4

26 Aug

DJI has unveiled its latest smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 4 (OM4). Like its predecessors, the OM4 is an ultra-compact three-axis gimbal for keeping your smartphone footage as stable as possible, with a few other unique features baked in.

Visually, the OM4 isn’t much different than its predecessor, the Osmo Mobile 3 (OM3). It is a light grey instead of a darker grey, but aside from the joystick, trigger and grip being a bit more rubberized, the body of the gimbal remains largely unchanged.

The only functional difference is a new mounting system that uses magnets to hold the phone in place. Whereas the OM3 had a built-in clamp, the OM4 has a clamp that can be removed and kept on a smartphone, then snapped back into place when the gimbal is needed. There’s even a small sticker-style mounting bracket that can be semi-permanently attached to a smartphone for even faster operation.

The OM4 works alongside the DJI Mimo app to enable multiple shooting modes, including an improved ActiveTrack 3.0, Gesture Control and pre-programmed movements and modes. Three of the new pre-programmed modes include Dynamic Zoom, Spin Mode and a ‘Clone Me’ panorama mode.

Dynamic Zoom is effectively a digital dolly zoom feature, that allows you to move away from the subject while the DJI Mimo app automatically zooms in, or move in as the app zooms out. Spin mode is an Inception-inspired mode that makes it possible to rotate the smartphone for a spinning effect (although it’s not posisble to do a full 360-degree spin). The ‘Clone Me’ panorama feature is another new mode that will wait between shots of a panorama so you can move into place and be ‘cloned’ in the final image.

Even if you don’t want to use the DJI Mimo app, the OM4 can also control basic camera functions with the stock iOS camera app when connected via Bluetooth.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 4 is available to order from the DJI Store and authorized retailers for $ 149. It comes with a wrist strap, grip tripod and storage pouch.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZTE to launch the first smartphone with under-display front camera on September 1st

19 Aug

The front of modern smartphones is almost entirely occupied by the display which makes integrating the selfie camera an ever more difficult task for designers and engineers. We’ve seen solutions using camera notches, hole-punch cameras and pop-up mechanisms but none look as elegant and inconspicuous as a camera that is hidden under the display.

Some under-display prototypes have already been making the rounds but now we’ll finally have a working production model to play with. Chinese manufacturer ZTE has just announced it will launch the world’s first smartphone with under-display front camera on September 1st. The company says the ZTE Axon 20 5G ‘will be the world’s first mass-produced 5G smartphone featuring under-display camera, marking another milestone in ZTE’s exploration of the true full display smartphone.’

Xiaomi prototype with under-display camera next to a device with front camera notch

Unfortunately no other specs or pricing information has been released at this point but XDA-Developers has discovered a recent database entry by Chinese regulator TENAA that lists the Axon 20 5G as a device with 32MP front camera and a quad-rear-camera setup with 64, 8 and a pair of 2MP modules. Other rumored specs include 6.92-inch HD OLED display and up to 12GB of RAM.

Previously manufacturers Xiaomi and Oppo were the first to demonstrate technology allowing for the front camera to be placed under and capture images information through the display. Prototype devices made an appearance but in January 2020 Xiaomi VP Lu Weibing said there were still too many technological challenged to overcome and a production devices should not be expected any time soon, mainly because the high pixel-density of modern smartphone displays blocked too much of the incoming light from the camera lens and sensor.

However, not too long after this statement was made OLED manufacturer Visionox announced it was ready to start mass production of displays with under-screen cameras. The company claimed it had been successful at increasing light transmission by using different organic and non-organic film materials that offer higher transparency. It also developed a new software for correcting brightness and color casts as well as viewing angle issues to work in conjunction with the new type of display.

In addition the pixel density on the portion of the display covering the camera lens has been modified to allow for better light transmission by reducing the display resolution in the specific area where the camera is located.

At this point it is unknown if the ZTE Axon 20 5G is using the VIsionox solution or a similar approach. However, we should know more and find out what kind of image quality the first under-display front camera can deliver on September 1st.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Study: smartphone camera use on the rise among pro photographers

02 Aug

Your average consumers use — almost exclusively — the cameras inside their smartphones for picture taking these days. Professionals use big black cameras with even bigger lenses. Or, at least that’s the perception most us have when thinking about camera use. But is this actually true?

The analysts at Suite48Analytics have conducted a survey among a total of 881 professional photographers from North America and Europe to find out and published the results in a report titled Pro Photographers and their Camera Use’.

The report covers camera use in general but puts some emphasis on ‘stand-alone cameras’ versus smartphones. The results aren’t entirely surprising. Most photographs for business purposes are still captured with a dedicated camera of some sorts. However, 11 percent of the surveyed photographers use a smartphone camera for approximately 50 percent of their pro images. Smartphone use for professional images is also on the rise, with 31 percent saying they use the smartphone more now than they did 12 months ago.

As one would assume, smartphone use is higher for personal photography. 29 percent take 50 percent of their non-work photos with a smartphone. 36 percent take even more than half of their personal pictures with a phone.

Despite Android phone makers putting a lot of emphasis on their devices’ camera capabilities, the iPhone is still the clear favorite among pro professionals, with 86 percent using an Apple model.

So for what type of work do pro photographers use their smartphone camera? Interestingly smartphones are mostly used in situations that don’t involve a client present at the scene. 58 percent use the smartphone to take photos that support their own business, for example, website photos or social media posts. 20 percent use phones for behind the scenes type of work.

In those situations when professional photographers do use a dedicated camera the trusty DSLR is still the most popular choice with 53 percent, but at 30 percent mirrorless full-frame cameras are getting closer. Medium format cameras get some use, too, but all other types of cameras are represented in a fairly minor way.

Professionals who use smartphones do so predominantly because they have less gear to carry and the phone allows you to ‘catch moments’ because it is always within reach. On the other hand, phone use is still much lower than it could otherwise be because professional photographers have concerns about the optical quality of smartphone cameras, even those on high-end models, but also client perception. It seems in some people’s minds it’s still the camera that makes the pro and that also has an impact on gear choice among professionals.

You can find a summary and the full (paid) report for download on the Suite48Analytics website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Report: Google looking to stop smartphone manufacturers from adding built-in ‘beauty’ modes

21 Jul

According to a report from XDA Developers, Google might be making changes to its Camera API in Android 11 that will prevent them from using algorithms to smooth skin, change skin color or alter the facial geometry of subjects.

Sharp-eyed XDA Developers Editor-in-Chief, Mishaal Rahman, noticed in Google’s Android 11 Compatibility Definition Document that the company is banning equipment manufacturers from ‘implementing facial tweaking algorithms during image processing.’ Although the relevant section — [C-0–12] in particular — has been removed from the documentation, the below screenshot from Rahman shows it said the ‘facial appearance [can] NOT [be] altered including but not limited to altering facial geometry, facial skin tone or facial smoothing.’

This stipulation targets smartphone manufacturers who are suspected of adding these types of ‘beauty filters’ to the first-party camera app, even after turning off specific ‘Beauty’ modes, such as the one found on the Vivo X50 Pro.

Based on the wording of the documentation, it appears as though third-party apps that offer these kinds of ‘beauty’ features and filters won’t be affected — only the manufacturer’s first-party app. However, that hasn’t been confirmed at this point.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The ShiftCam ProGrip wants to turn your smartphone into the ultimate camera rig

19 Jun

Shiftcam is a maker of smartphone imaging accessories best known for its 6-in-1 lens slider cases and ‘Pro’ line of accessory lenses which were all launched via successful crowdfunding campaigns.

Now the company has returned to Kickstarter with a new project: the ShiftCam ProGrip. The ProGrip is a smartphone grip designed to emulate the ergonomics of a larger camera, like a DSLR or mirrorless model. Shiftcam says it wanted to create a product that combines the accessibility and convenience of mobile phones with the familiarity and control of a traditional camera.

Landscape orientation

In addition to a quite substantial hand grip the ProGrip features a Bluetooth shutter button and a pivot construction that allows for quick rotation of the phone from landscape to portrait orientation or vice versa. This means you can shoot photos or video in any orientation without altering your hand position on the grip.

Portrait orientation

Other camera-like features include a cold shoe mount that allows you to attach lighting accessories or external microphones, and a 1/4″ tripod mount. The ProGrip also comes with a built-in battery and can charge your device wirelessly using the Qi standard. ShiftCam says the battery’s 5200 mAh capacity roughly doubles your phone’s battery life.

ProGrip with accessories

Unlike previous ShiftCam cases the ProGrip is not meant to be used with a specific smartphone model but designed to work with a long list of devices including most recent Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, Huawei and Xiaomi high-end models. ShiftCam also says that ‘based on market intelligence from our case manufacturer’ the new grip will be compatible with the yet to be launched Apple iPhone 12 series.

The ProGrip doubles as a hands-free dock with charging capability when not used for image or video capture. Thanks to the pivot design it can adjusted for content consumption or video calls.

The ProGrip doubles as a charging stand.

The ProGrip will be available in two colors, Charcoal and Putty, and backers can choose from a range of pledging options on the project’s Kickstarter page. $ 99 secures you a basic grip. The $ 119 version includes some basic accessories, like a strap or pouch. For those who have more money to spend there are also dedicated photo, video, macro and ultra-wide kits that come with accessory lenses, with pricing around the $ 200 mark. The $ 399 Pro kit includes pretty much all available accessories and a total of seven lenses.

Shipping expected for November 2020. More information is available on the ShiftCam website.

Press release:

ShiftCam ProGrip: A Reassuring Battery Grip for Mobile Phone
A Smart Charging GRIP for Mobile Content Creators

ShiftCam’s latest release of an innovative ergonomic battery grip will take mobile photography to the next level. Transforming Your Mobile Device into a Professional Camera in Seconds

San Francisco, CA — (June 12, 2020) – ShiftCam, a global mobile photography gear company, has announced the launch of their latest product — ProGrip — that will be a game-changer of mobile photography for both enthusiasts and professionals. The ShiftCam ProGrip Launch will live on Kickstarter on June 16 at 1PM EDT (url: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shiftcam/progrip-areassuring-battery-grip-for-all-mobiles). This is ShiftCam’s 6th crowdfunding campaign and will be the company’s most ambitions launch yet. ProGrip will be available in two colors, Charcoal and Putty. Backers will also have the option to purchase bundle packs which includes accessories such as lenses and strap to complete the ultimate mobile photography and videography experience.

With the launch of the ProGrip, ShiftCam is on the rise to become one of the trend setters of the Mobile Photography Industry. Understanding that as the cameras on our mobile phones become more advanced and intricate with each new model, external lenses will eventually be replaced in the process. To stay ahead of the game, the designers of ShiftCam went back to their photography roots and asked themselves what is missing from the picture.

The designers recognized that one of the major differences experienced when it comes to
shooting on their phones is that it just doesn’t provide the security and balance of a traditional DSLR camera, especially while shooting for long periods of time across different locations. That is why during product development, the ShiftCam team focused on creating something that focuses on comfort and functionality to further optimize the mobile photography and videography experience. They wanted to create a product that can close the gap by combining the accessibility and convenience of mobile phones, along with the familiarity and control of a traditional camera. Thus, the creation of the ProGrip, an innovative reassuring ergonomic battery grip for your mobiles.

ProGrip is designed as a camera-like grip that allows users to securely and comfortably carry and shoot on their mobile phones. With a built in Bluetooth shutter button, you even can click and photograph like you would with a traditional camera. ProGrip also doubles as a Qi wireless battery bank which can charge your mobile phones as you shoot so you are ready to take on your next adventure. With a universal fit and a built-in pivot rotation, ProGrip can be seamlessly snapped onto most of the mobile phones and rotated to take the perfect shot. In addition, the designers also incorporated features such as cold shoe mount and 1/4″ tripod screw to the ProGrip, so you can attach your favorite accessories to complete the ultimate mobile photography and videography experience. As a bonus feature, ProGrip can also be used as a charging hands free dock for those Netflix marathons or video calls.

“We started ShiftCam with the idea to provide the tools to help safeguard the ophisticated
emotion called life and the memories that make us who we are,” said KL, founder and CEO of ShiftCam. “It is our passion for ShiftCam to be your help with the making of memories. After all, the best part of memories is making them, which is why we strive to create the best possible tool for our customers to do so, with their mobiles on the go.”

Over the last three years, the ShiftCam team has worked diligently to perfect their products. Their previous campaigns include the MultiLens cases for iPhones, as well as the ProLens Series which feature 6 distinct professional grade lenses that can be attached to mobile phones. Also, ShiftCam was notified as an honoree of the 2020 CES Innovation Awards. Prior to that, the company was honored as a recipient of the 2018 Red Dot Design Award winner and CES innovation Awards winner. ShiftCam has also been recognized by well-known media such as Mashable, CNET, Forbes, Tom’s Guide and D Preview etc. With the launch of ProGrip, ShiftCam will establish itself as one of the industry’s top players.

To learn more about ShiftCam’s ProGrip launch visit: https://progrip.shiftcam.com/

Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

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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Sony confirms pricing, availability for its flagship Xperia 1 II camera-centric smartphone

25 May

Sony has announced the price and expected availability date in the United States for its newest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 II (pronounced ‘mark two’).

Announced back in February, the Xperia 1 II is packed full of pro-level photo features, including a triple-camera array, a Sony BIONZ X image processor, Zeiss-branded lenses, continuous shooting up to 20fps and even Sony’s animal and human Eye AF feature. Sony followed up the announcement with an in-depth breakdown explaining the details of the impressive collection of camera tech inside the flagship device.

This new information from Sony is to confirm that pre-orders will start on June 1 with the first units set to ship on July 24. The Xperia 1 II will retail for $ 1,200 and all pre-orders made before June 28 will receive a free pair of Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless noise-cancelling earbuds as an added bonus.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Six DIY smartphone camera rigs made from household objects

24 May

The Cooperative of Photography, better known as COOPH, has released its latest YouTube video showing how to make the most of your smartphone footage by creating six different smartphone rigs using materials you likely have sitting around at home.

As you would expect for these rather primitive homemade solutions, the DIY rigs aren’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing but based on the resulting footage, hopefully your video will be. The six-minute video covers how to make a DIY gimbal, a DIY timelapse rig, a DIY stabilizer, a DIY automated slider, a DIY ‘spinning’ rig and a DIY Gorillapod-style tripod.

It’s quite the adventure, but considering there’s a good chance you’re still on some sort of lockdown or stay-at-home order, these DIY projects might be just what you need to keep your creative spirit alive in seclusion. You can find more videos from COOPH on their YouTube channel.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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OnePlus is disabling the near-infrared ‘Color Filter’ camera on its 8Pro smartphone over privacy concerns

23 May

OnePlus has announced it’s working on an update for its OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone that will disable the 5MP near-infrared camera that was able to see through certain materials, including some clothing, when used with a ‘Photochrom’ mode in the native camera app.

The Color Filter camera onboard the 8 Pro has been known since the smartphone’s announcement back in April. However, not much was shared about the particular camera module at the time. It wasn’t until 8 Pro units started hitting the front doors of reviewers when it became clear what the 5MP near-infrared camera could see.

Last week in particular, a number of high-profile reviewers and pundits shared examples of just how much the Color Filter camera onboard the 8 Pro could reveal. Most notably, the below video, shared by YouTube channel Unbox Therapy, showed that beyond being able to see through the plastic IR shields built into numerous electronics, it could also see, at least to some degree, underneath certain clothing when stretched unusually thin.

Unsurprisingly, the see-through capability of the 8 Pro brought up privacy concerns, not unlike those that led to Sony recalling more than 700,000 ‘HandyCam’ camcorders back in 1998 when it was revealed the ‘Nightshot’ mode on its TRV 615 XR camcorders was revealing more than the general public was comfortable with.

OnePlus heard the response loud and clear and in an effort to get ahead of any further controversy, OnePlus announced, via Weibo, that it is temporarily disabling the Color Filter camera via a software update within the next week. In the post, OnePlus writes (machine-translated, edited with brackets for clarity):

‘When planning the [color] filter lens of OnePlus 8 Pro, we hope[d] to use this lens to perceive the characteristics of infrared light to provide users with a unique texture photography style effect. But recently, based on user feedback, we have found that under very specific environmental conditions, the filter lens may have a slight perspective effect on special materials at very close distances […] In order to eliminate the impact on user privacy under possible extreme circumstances and eliminate everyone’s concerns, we decided to temporarily disable the filter function through software upgrades.’

OnePlus doesn’t elaborate on how temporary this solution is or what the long-term fix will be, but it’s a start. It’s also unknown whether this will be a forced update or something optional users can opt out of to keep the near-infrared capabilities.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Vivo shows its ‘gimbal-like’ smartphone camera stabilization system

21 May

In February Chinese smartphone maker Vivo showcased a concept phone that featured a ‘gimbal-like’ stabilization system on its rear camera. Now the company has published further information about the system that will first be commercially available on the Vivo X50 Pro which is scheduled to launch on June 1.

Vivo calls the system ‘micro cloud’ and claims it is more effective than conventional stabilization systems without quantifying the difference. It certainly looks more complex. Instead of a lens element, like on most current smartphone stabilization systems, on the Vivo the entire camera module is stabilized using a double-ball suspension which allows for movements of +/- 3° which, according to Vivo, is three times the angle of more conventional systems.

Like on most high-end stabilization systems, the mechanical motion is combined with electronic image stabilization (EIS) methods that typically slightly crop the frame in order to correct for camera shake.

Motion is powered by two voice coils and the ribbon cable connecting the camera to the main device board is folded twice in order to allow for the movements of the camera unit. One downside of the system is space-requirements, though. The system is 4.5mm thick and occupies 363mm² board space which is more than the cameras in most other current devices.

Given the X50 Pro system is the first of its kind it’s probably fair to assume following generations can be designed with smaller dimensions, and first samples look indeed promising, although the comparison device chosen for the video below appears to have a particularly bad stabilization system.

In addition to the innovative stabilization system the X50 Pro will feature a new color filter that offers 39 percent higher light transmission. Vivo says that combined with the stabilization system the camera will capture 220 percent more light than the Vivo X30 Pro. Presumably this is because the stabilization system will allow for more frames to be combined using computational methods, and/or simply lets the auto exposure system use slower shutter speeds.

If the micro cloud system works as well as advertised it should provide both super-smooth video footage and low light photos with good exposure and detail in very low light. We should find out when the X50 Pro is launched in June.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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