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Posts Tagged ‘superwideangle’

Huawei P30 Pro features super-wide-angle, 5x optical zoom and ISO 409,600

27 Mar

One year after launching the P20, Huawei has announced its new P-series high-end smartphone models: the P30 and P30 Pro. As usual, the Chinese manufacturer is at the forefront of smartphone camera development and the P30 Pro in particular has some real innovation to offer in the camera department.

The top-of-the-line device comes with a triple-camera setup (Huawei calls it a quad-camera, counting the time-of-flight (ToF) sensor), covering a focal length range that has previously been unheard of on a smartphone. The primary camera features a 1/1.7 40MP quad sensor that puts out 10MP images. The optically stabilized lens comes with an 27mm-equivalent focal length and F1.6 aperture. If you want to go wider there is also a 20MP 16mm-equivalent super-wide-angle option but the P30 Pro’s real highlight is the stabilized 5x (125mm-equivalent) periscope-style tele-camera with folded optics.

Huawei P30 Pro

The concept is very similar to OPPO’s prototype zoom system and allows for a much longer reach than would be possible with a conventional lens in a thin smartphone body. In addition Huawei also uses clever software algorithms to further enhance the P30 Pro’s zoom performance. In combination with a super resolution algorithm which merges several RAW frames into one high-resolution image that is then cropped to produce a zoomed image, a maximum zoom factor of 50x can be reached.

During the presentation Huawei CEO Richard Yu also put a lot of emphasis on the the camera´s low light capability, claiming a maximum ISO of 409,600 and the capability to capture well-exposed images in near darkness (1 Lux). This is made possible through the use of an RYYB sensor in the primary camera. According to Huawei the chip is 40 percent more light sensitive than a conventional RGB sensor. Combined with OIS and a fast F1.6 aperture the new Huawei should be one of the best performing smartphone cameras in low light we have seen.

There is also an improved portrait mode that creates a background-blurring bokeh effect. A first depth-map is created using data from the super-wide and primary cameras. It is then refined with the help of the ToF-laser that can precisely measure subject distance in all ligh conditions. Other imaging innovations include adaptive frame rates in video mode – the camera shoots at 60fps in bright light and with camera motion and reduces to 30fps in lower light or when the camera is held still – and HDR video recording on the front camera.

Other key specs include a Kirin 980 chipset, 8GB RAM, a 6.47-inch display with minimal bezels and FHD+ resolution as well as a 4,200mAh battery with fast charging. The Huawei P30 Pro is available from today but unfortunately isn’t quite a bargain. Pricing ranges from 999 ($ 1130) Euros for the 128GB version. You’ll have to invest 1249 Euros ($ 1410) for the 512GB top-of-the-range model.

Huawei P30 Pro key camera specifications:

  • Triple-camera setup
  • Primary: 40MP, 1/1.7-inch quad sensor; F1.6 aperture, OIS, 27mm-equivalent
  • Tele: 8MP sensor, folded optics with F3.4 aperture, OIS, 125mm-equivalent
  • Super-wide: 20MP, F2.2 aperture, 16mm-equivalent
  • PDAF/Time-of-flight (ToF) autofocus
  • LED flash
  • 32MP front camera, 26mm equivalent, F2 aperture, HDR video
Huawei P30

The P30 is the Pro version’s mode affordable cousin. In the camera department it lacks the 5x optical zoom and comes with a similar camera setup to last year’s Mate 20 Pro. The primary camera uses the same sensor as the Pro but has to make do without an OIS system. The super-wide comes with a lower 16MP resolution and the conventional tele ‘only’ offers an 80mm equivalent focal length.

Other differences include a smaller 6.1-inch OLED display and a lower capacity 3650 mAh battery. The Huawei P30 comes with 6>GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and will set you back 799 Euros ($ 900).

Huawei P30 key camera specifications:

  • Triple-camera setup
  • Primary: 40MP, 1/1.7-inch quad sensor; F1.8 aperture, 27mm-equivalent
  • Tele: 8MP sensor, F2.4 aperture, OIS, 80mm-equivalent
  • Super-wide: 16MP sensor, F2.2-aperture, 16mm-equivalent
  • PDAF/Time-of-flight (ToF) autofocus
  • LED flash

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LG V40 ThinQ first smartphone to offer super-wide-angle and tele cameras

28 Sep

Multi-camera setups with a variation of focal lengths are pretty much the norm on high-end smartphones these days. However, thus far you’ve had to decide if you want a super-wide-angle module (like on most recent LG models) or a tele-camera (like on the iPhone X, Huawei P20 Pro or Galaxy Note 9) next to the camera’s “standard” wide-angle lens.

Pretty soon you’ll be able to have both. LG just “pre-announced” its new LG V40 ThinQ on its Korean website and confirmed the triple-camera setup that reportedly comes with a super-wide angle and tele next to the main camera. The latter will feature a very fast F1.5 aperture.

The official announcement of the device is scheduled for October 3rd, and unfortunately information on other specifications is rather sparse at this point. All we know is that the display will measure 6.4 inches and, looking at the teaser video, will feature some kind of soft-touch surface for increased grip.

We will let you know as soon as more information on the LG V40 ThinQ camera specs and features becomes available.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZTE launches Axon 9 Pro with super-wide-angle dual-cam setup

04 Sep

ZTE is one of the few smartphone manufacturers who have decided to launch their 2018 flagships at IFA in Berlin. The Chinese manufacturer announced the Axon 9 Pro at the show and with its super-wide-angle dual-camera setup the device looks like a viable alternative to LG’s G7 THinQ and V30/V35 – the only current high-end phones with a similar camera concept.

The secondary camera is an ultra-wide-angle with a 130-degree field of view and 20MP resolution

The ZTE’s main module uses a 1/2.55″ Sony IMX363 sensor with 12MP resolution and 1.4 µm pixel size in combination with a F1.75 aperture. Optical image stabilization and dual-pixel AF are featured as well. The secondary camera is an ultra-wide-angle with a 130-degree field of view and 20MP resolution. Its image data is also used to create a background-blurring “fake-bokeh” effect in portrait mode.

Software features include AI-powered intelligent motion and facial recognition functions, as well as smart portrait compositions. At the front the device features a 20MP selfie camera with F2.0 aperture and fixed focus. The front module can be tasked with face recognition duties but there is a fingerprint sensor on the back for added security as well.

All the components are housed in a body with scratch-resistant glass back and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance

Other specs include a Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot. The large 4,000mAh battery supports fast charging and the 6.21-inch 1080p+ AMOLED display is HDR10-capable and features an RGB sensor for optimized color balance.

Like previous Axos generations, the 9 Pro comes with Dolby Atmos-enabled stereo speakers but with the new model you have to make do without the 3.5mm headphone jack. All the components are housed in a body with scratch-resistant glass back and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

The ZTE Axon 9 Pro will first be launched in Europe and set you back 650 Euros (approximately $ 755). Availability will expand to other markets in the future but no detailed information has been provided yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S10 triple-cam to offer super-wide-angle and 3x tele

07 Jul

We’ve already heard rumors about Samsung launching three models for its upcoming Galaxy S10 flagship smartphone generation, including one featuring a triple-camera on the back.

Now more information has surfaced about the specifications of the Samsung triple-camera and if the rumors turn out to be true, mobile photographers will have something to look forward to.

According to German website AllAboutSamsung, the South Korean manufacturer’s upcoming flagship will be the first smartphone to combine a super-wide-angle and a tele-lens with the primary camera. The super-wide-angle is expected to come with a 123-degree angle of view, the tele lens with a 3x magnification, offering a wider zoom range than any other smartphone.

If the rumored specs are close to the real thing… the new Samsung could be the smartphone for photography in 2019

The only current smartphone with triple-camera on the market, Huawei’s P20 Pro, doesn’t come with a super-wide-angle option and instead opts for a monochrome sensor for increased low light capabilities and a native monochrome shooting mode. The main options for smartphone users who want a built-in super-wide-angle, LG’s recent models, have to make do without a tele-zoom.

The rest of the rumored Samsung specifications sound promising, too: the super-wide-angle is expected to come with a 16MP resolution and F1.9 aperture, the primary camera will supposedly feature a 12MP sensor and dual aperture, and the tele uses a 13MP imager and F2.4 lens. No OIS or autofocus will be available on the super-wide-angle but given the angle of view those features might not be missed.

If the rumored specs are close to the real thing and Samsung’s engineers manage to merge image information from all three sensors in an efficient way, the new Samsung could be the smartphone for photography in 2019. We will know more in a few months time.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LG unveils G7 ThinQ smartphone with super-wide-angle lens

03 May

After a few months’ delay (the reasons of which are not entirely clear) LG is the last of the big mobile manufacturers to finally unveil its new 2018 top-end smartphone. The new model is called the G7 ThinQ, and comes with most of the photography features and characteristics you would expect from a current flagship device.

An almost bezel-less 6.1-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels is combined with Qualcomm’s latest top-end Snapdragon 845 chipset, and embedded into an IP68 dust- and water-resistant body. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack with a quad DAC and a microSD slot for memory expansion. The device is available with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage or 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

In the camera department, LG is sticking to its strategy of differentiating itself from most competitors by offering a super-wide-angle lens in the dual-camera setup. Both sensors now offer a higher 16MP pixel count, compared to the G6’s 13MP, with the main camera boasting a 71-degree field of view, fast F1.6 lens, optical image stabilization, and an autofocus system that uses both phase detection and laser.

The super-wide-angle has to make do with a slower F1.9 aperture and without OIS. It also only comes with a fixed focus. Like on the V30S, camera operation is enhanced by LG’s artificial intelligence technology that can detect objects and scenes and auto-adjust camera settings accordingly. Additionally, there is a “smart pixel-binning” mode for lower noise and better exposure in low-light shots.

Finally, we also get a “fake-bokeh” portrait mode on an LG flagship, which can artificially blur the background in portrait shots taken with both main camera and super-wide-angle.

LG is late to the game for 2018, and we’ll have to see if consumers are interested in the brand’s super-wide-angle camera concept when most other manufacturers bet on telephoto lenses in their dual-cam setups. In any case, it’s good to have one more option in the high-end bracket of the Android smartphone market.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Motorola Moto X4 brings a dual-cam with super-wide-angle to the mid-range segment

01 Sep

Lenovo has introduced the Motorola Moto X4 at its IFA 2017 event and closes the gap in its line-up that was created after the Moto X series went into hiatus with the launch of the Moto Z models last year.

The Moto X4 is an upper-tier mid-ranger that slots in between the Moto Z and Moto G series and aims to offer a comprehensive feature set at an attractive price point. 400 Euros (no US pricing has been revealed yet) get you a 5.2″ 1080p IPS display, a sleek metal body with glass back, IP68 water-resistance, Snapdragon 630 chipset, Amazon Alexa integration and a dual-camera.

The latter combines a 12MP main camera with an 8MP 120-degree super-wide-angle, a similar concept to what we’ve seen on more recent LG high-end devices. The main cameras features a 12MP sensor with 1.4um pixel size, F2.0 aperture and PDAF. The super-wide angle has a smaller sensor with 1.12um pixels and F2.2 aperture. Bokeh effect and 4K video recording are on board as well.

The front camera specification looks quite impressive for a device in this class as well: a 16MP sensor is accompanied by a F2.0 lens and a front LED flash. A 4MP low-light mode uses pixel-binning for reduced noise in dim lighting conditions.

We are having our hands on a test unit and first impressions are promising. The device feels very solidly built and, as always with Moto devices, the lean Android implementation feels smooth and responsive in operation. The super-wide-angle lens looks like a useful addition to the main camera but we’ll have to do some proper testing before commenting on image quality. The Moto X4 will be available in Super Black and Sterling Blue this fall worldwide.

Motorola #motox4 with dual-cam and glass-back, looks like a contender in the upper mid-range #ifa2017

A post shared by Lars Rehm (@larsrehm) on

Key specifications:

  • Dual-camera with 12MP main camera and 8MP 120 degree super-wide-angle
  • 1.4um pixel size, F2.0 aperture and PDAF on main camera
  • 1.12um pixel size and F2.2 aperture on super-wide-angle
  • 4K video
  • 16MP / F2.0 front camera
  • 5.2″ 1080p IPS display with Gorilla Glass
  • Snapdragon 630 chipset
  • 3GB RAM, 32GB storage
  • 3,000 mAh battery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LG launches V30 with super-wide-angle and advanced video features

31 Aug

LG has launched its V30 flagship phone at IFA in Berlin and like its predecessors in the V-series the V30 puts a lot of emphasis on camera and video features and performance. LG goes as far as to promise a “whole-new video experience”.

Like on most recent LG models, the V30 dual-camera combines a main camera with a 71 degrees angle of view with a secondary 120 degree super-wide angle. On the main camera a Sony IMX 351 1/3.1 sensor is coupled with a very fast F1.6 lens.

One of the six lens elements is made from glass rather than plastic which, according to LG, results in a 4% increase in light transmission and consequently better low light performance. The company also claims an increase in dynamic range which is mainly achieved in the shadow areas.

The super-wide-angle comes with a smaller Samsung sensor that features a 13MP resolution and 1.0um pixel size. There is an F1.9 aperture but no OIS which is easier to live without on a super-wide-angle.

Manual mode offers a full range of manual controls including shutter speeds up to 30 seconds but it is its video mode features where the V30 really stands apart. There is manual control over video shutter speed and sound recording levels among many other parameters.

You can also choose from 15 new Cine Effect color presets that are based on film genres, such as ‘romantic’ or ‘film noir’ to give your footage a certain look and the Point Zoom mode allows for stable zooming into a target in the frame rather than the center. The feature also comes with controllable zoom speed and looked quite impressive in a demo we were given at a launch event at IFA. In addition LG says color grading based on LG Cine-Log results in expanded dynamic range and a wider color gamut.

Sound recording is performed by two high-preformance mics that offer 24-bit high-definition audio with a high dynamic range and very little distortion. According to the LG engineers LG says this results in much improved sound recording in very loud environments.

Images and videos can be viewed on a 6″ QHD+ OLED FullVision display with a 18:9 aspect ratio that occupies almost the entire front of the device. HDR10 is supported as well. With the Snapdragon 835 the V30 offers Qualcomm’s latest top-end chipset and all components are wrapped up in Gorilla Glass 5-covered metal body that is sealed against dust and water.

We have our hands on a test unit and it’s fair to say the V30 comes with a very attractive industrial design and reassuring build quality. Despite its 6″ display the overall dimensions feel surprisingly compact, thanks to the FullVision design. We are planning to get our full review started as soon as possible.

Key specifications:

  • Dual-camera with 70 degree main camera and 120 degree super wide angle
  • Main camera: 16MP 1/3.1″ Sony IMX351 CMOS sensor, F1.6 aperture, OIS
  • Super-wide-angle: 13MP Samsung sensor with 1.0um pixel size, F1.9 aperture
  • 4K video
  • 5MP F2.2 front camera
  • 6″ QHD+ OLED FullVision display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset
  • 64/128GB storage, 4GB RAM
  • microSD card slot
  • 3,300mAh battery with quick charging

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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