In 2019 the Huawei P30 Pro and Oppo Reno 10x zoom kicked off a zoom arms race with the introduction of the periscope telephoto lens – or should we say “re-introduction”. One phone had a periscope several years ago and with a design that was more advanced than modern phones.
Currently, you can get a periscope-equipped phones from Huawei, Oppo, Samsung, Xiaomi, vivo and Honor. But they have two major downsides. One, they have very long focal lengths (100+ mm). And two, they are locked at that focal length.
This means that mid-range zoom requires either digital zoom with the main camera (the most common approach right now) or a secondary telephoto module (an increasingly popular option). However, even with two tele lenses the gap between their focal lengths must be bridged by digital zoom. What if you wanted smooth zoom without digital processing?
The solution is to have a module with a variable focal length. Earlier this year O-Film announced such a periscope, which could go smoothly between 85 mm and 170 mm. A couple of months later Oppo unveiled its module that covered a more conservative range (85mm to 135mm). We’re excited to see these two (and others) in smartphones next year. But we have to take a minute to recognize the phone that did it right way back in 2015.
That was the Asus Zenfone Zoom (available as ZX551ML in Europe). It had just one camera module and yet its variable focal length periscope lens could take wide-angle shots at 28 mm, portrait shots at 50 mm and zoom in to 84 mm (that’s 3x optical magnification) and everything in between. All without a hint of digital zoom.
The phone used a module created by Japanese company HOYA and announced in 2013. Tentatively named the “Cube”, this was advertised as the thinnest periscope module to date, measuring only 6mm in depth. This meant it could be used in relatively thin smartphones – the Zenfone Zoom is 12mm thick, which sounds like a lot but is rather slim compared to the 15.4 mm of 2013’s Galaxy S4 zoom (later Galaxy camera modules were even thicker).
This module housed a 13.1MP sensor, 1/3” in size, which was fairly typical for the time. For comparison, the iPhone 6S Plus had a 12MP 1/3” sensor, the Galaxy S6 went bigger with a 16MP 1/2.6” imager.
The Cube module featured Laser AF for fast autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS), which is essential for shooting at long focal lengths. As we mentioned already, the lens could stretch to 84 mm (in 35 mm equivalent) and open up to 28 mm on the wide end.
That’s not too bad, actually, the P30 Pro has a 27mm wide lens and the Reno 10x goes only slightly wider with a 26mm lens. But the keen-eyed among you would have spotted an issue with the Zenfone Zoom. In fact, it’s an issue shared by all telephoto lenses, periscope or otherwise.
The aperture is quite dim – only f/2.7 at the wide end. In 2015 the apertures of flagship phones were closer to f/2.0, which really helped with low-light performance. The Zoom’s sensor was comparable in size to that of the Galaxy and iPhone, but the lens held it back. Indeed, reviews at the time pointed out that the Zenfone produces less than stellar nighttime photos.
Using a larger senor in a periscope design is tricky as the thickness of the module is directly tied to sensor size. And the Zoom was already pushing the limits at 12mm. The camera bumps on some 2020 smartphones are ridiculous in size, but even that may not be enough.
Official Asus Zenfone Zoom photo samples: 1x zoom, f/2.7 • 3x zoom, f/4.8
Plus, there’s only so much a new lens design could do to widen the aperture, especially now that f/1.7 lenses are fairly common on the wideangle cameras. In other words, having a camera that handles both wide and tele focal lengths is not practical.
To be fair, a single camera was the norm in 2015, it wouldn’t be until the following year (2016) that LG would show off the LG G6 with a wide + ultrawide dual setup. These days mutli-camera setups are the norm as they deliver the best flexibility.
They really do. The wide cameras on modern smartphones are amazing and can beat most digital cameras in the hands of a casual user. A Zenfone Zoom style design unavoidably places restrictions on sensor size and aperture. The phone was ahead of its time, but its time has passed – it’s impossible to have a single do-it-all camera and compete in quality.
Still, when 2021 flagships are unveiled with wide angle cameras with huge sensors next to variable focal length periscopes, spare a moment to remember the innovative Zenfone Zoom.
By the way, this type of lens can be seen in some digital cameras. They have the advantage over traditional designs in that the periscope is safely housed inside the device’s body. This allows waterproofing and drop resistance to be added. In contrast, traditional designs have better optical qualities but are more fragile, which is why we have only seen them in a few oddball phones like the Galaxy S4 zoom and a few others. The Zoom wasn’t waterproof, but it could have been.
The Asus Zenfone Zoom itself is a curiosity from a past era and not just because of its camera. It ran Android on an Intel Atom x86 processor, which seems crazy now that Apple dropped x86 in favor of ARM for its Mac computers and Microsoft is enhancing x86-64 emulation for ARM-based Windows.
The writing was on the wall even in 2015, as the Intel Atom Z3590 was showing its age. Built on an old 22nm process, it housed four cores running at 2.33 GHz and an Intel GPU at 457MHz (533MHz boost). The European version of the Zoom got the Z3590 chip instead, which raised the CPU clock to 2.5GHz the GPU boost went up to 640MHz boost.
Earlier Atom-powered Zenfones were competitive in single-core performance – those CPU cores were intended for laptops and were larger than smartphone CPU cores, after all. However, ARM chipsets evolved quickly and left the x86 behind. In the smartphone form factor at first and now, perhaps, in laptops as well.
Since then Intel has abandoned its smartphone efforts, phone chipsets went first and more recently the modem division was sold to Apple. The company is now struggling in the laptop and desktop markets too, with AMD’s Ryzen showing impressive gains in performance. But we doubt AMD will re-enter the smartphone business (as some of you may know, Qualcomm bought the mobile Radeon division and scrambled its letters to come up with Adreno).
Another now-rare feature was the leather back. This was made from ox leather using traditional Italian tailoring methods to conform the leather to the milled aluminum frame. These days vegan leather is more likely to be used instead.
The SIM-free price of the Zoom was just $400, whereas Android or iOS flagships were in the $500-600 range. Excellent pricing considering the unique camera, but delays, limited availability and insignificant marketing spending made sure it never caught on with consumers and Asus never made a sequel. So, this unique phone now lies mostly forgotten.
by Mattia Speroni, published on 26 December 2020, at 10: 01
?? The new 7Artisans lens 35 mm F5.6 is part of those extremely compact solutions (pancake) that promises small dimensions and an equally low price but limiting the functions available to the user. ??
Some time ago the manufacturer 7Artisans has presented the lens 10 mm f / 6.3 focusing above all on the low price and decidedly compact dimensions. Now, the Chinese manufacturer has announced another similar solution, the 7Artisans 35 mm F5.6 which for less than 200 dollars brings compactness to Leica M .
The technical characteristics of 7Artisans 35 mm F5.6
The new 7Artisans 35 mm F5.6 has an optical design with 5 elements divided into 4 groups with two ED lenses (very low dispersion). The aperture has a fixed aperture at f / 5.6 while the focus can be adjusted , manual only, from 30 cm to infinity. Of course, considering the overall size, it cannot be expected that there are record-breaking characteristics. It is one of those objectives that you try “out of curiosity” .
As regards the overall dimensions, the thickness is only 21, 75 mm (including the attachment ) while the diameter is 60 mm with the weight settling on 128 grams. We are not at the extremes of MS Optics Aporia 18 mm F / 2, but it certainly cannot be said that it is bulky, considering that the MS Optics has a price set above 1000 dollars.
The 7Artisans 35 mm F5.6 is designed for cameras with full-frame sensor and, as written above, has the mount Leica M. To reduce its size and complexity there is no vibration reduction mechanism while the viewing angle is 63 ° while the construction is in metal (with golden color). The official price is equal to 199 dollars , thus allowing the purchase without too many thoughts to increase one’s collection of optics.
The global debut of Samsung Galaxy S smartphones 21, Galaxy S 21 + and Galaxy S 21 Ultra is coming in big steps. Although the premiere is still ahead of us, we already know quite a lot about the devices. Recently, renders have entered the network that present the appearance of all three variants in detail. Today we can read the full technical specification of Samsung Galaxy S 20 and Galaxy S 21 +. These are not only partial data, but a complete package of information about the hardware. Although these models seem to differ only in size, the specification reveals many more elements characteristic of only one of the new “galaxies”. Without unnecessary extension, let’s get to the point.
The full technical specifications of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S flagship have just leaked to the network 20 and Samsung Galaxy S 21 +. We check the most important differences between the models.
Samsung Galaxy S smartphone test 20 FE – cheaper, not worse
So let’s briefly discuss the fundamental common features of devices and see what makes them different. Both models will receive the Samsung Exynos chip 2100 for Europe and Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 for the USA. In both cases, we can count on 8 GB RAM, Android 11 with One UI 3.1 overlay, Dynamic AMOLED screen with image refresh level 120 Hz and brightness up to 1300 rivets. The main photographic unit consists of 12 MP main camera with f / 1.8 light, 12 MP ultra wide angle with f / 2.2 aperture and 64 MP telephoto lens with f / 2.0 brightness. For the selfie he will answer 10 MP main camera. There will also be 8K video recording at 27 FPS, 5G modem, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and fast charging 25 W and QI wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S 21.
Samsung Galaxy S Test 20 +: exemplary smartphone. Is that enough?
Samsung Galaxy S 20, however, will receive a smaller, 6.2-inch screen with a pixel density of 431 ppi, while Galaxy S 21 + will display the image on 6.7- inch screen. The more modest version of the “eska” will be able to boast 4000 mAh battery, the higher variant will receive a cell with a capacity 4800 mAh. Madman S 21 will be available in gray, white, pink and purple color versions, model S 21 + in silver, black and purple options. Weaker, if one can say so about the flagship, the model will weigh 171 grams by dimensions 151, 7 x 71, 2 x 7.9 mm, more expensive variant 202 we play with dimensions 161, 4 75, 6 x 7.8 mm. European price of the base Samsung Galaxy S 20 is the 849 euro , version with Plus 1049 euro.
Samsung Galaxy S 21
Samsung Galaxy S 21 +
Processor
Samsung Exynos 2100 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
RAM
8 GB
System
Android 11 One UI 3.1
Screen
6.2-inch Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED FHD + AOD Gorilla Glass Victus Brightness 1300 rivets 421 ppi 120 Hz
6.7-inch Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED FHD + AOD Gorilla Glass Victus Brightness 1300 rivets 394 ppi 120 Hz
Main camera
12 MP Main f / 1.8 OIS 12 MP f / 2.2 ultra wide angle 120 ° 64 MP telephoto f / 2.0 3x optical zoom
The camera for selfie
10 MP f / 2.2
Record video
8K 30 FPS, 4K 60 FPS, HD 960 FPS
Data memory
128 / 256 GB
Connectivity
5G, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C
Battery
4000 mAh 25 In Qi Wireless Charging Chargeback
4800 mAh 25 In Qi Wireless Charging Reverse Charge
After unveiling the Reno5 and Reno5 Pro earlier this month, Oppo just gave the Reno5 Pro+ its own event probably because it shapes up to be a proper flagship. In other words – it checks all the boxes, although, given the amount of leaks from the past couple of weeks, it’s no surprise.
The handset is built around the 6.55-inch AMOLED panel with 1080 x 2400px resolution (tall, 20:9 aspect ratio) and supports up to 90Hz refresh rate. The touch sampling rate is also a bit higher than the average at 180Hz. Arguably more important is the fact that the display can peak at 1,100 nits of brightness. But we don’t know if Oppo has measured this on a small patch in the center of the display or on the whole panel. Either way, it’s rather impressive.
All the pixels are driven by a Snapdragon 865 SoC with either 8 or 12GB of RAM paired with 128 or 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage, respectively. No microSD card support.
The camera setup is equally competent. Sony’s brand new 50MP IMX766 (1/1.56″ in size) sensor is doing the heavy lifting on the back with f/1.8 aperture lens and OIS. The telephoto unit is 13MP using an f/2.4 aperture, but to our surprise, there’s no info on the zoom. We bet on 3x magnification, but will update the article once we know for sure.
As for the other two cameras on the back, there’s the usual 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide unit and a 2MP f/2.4 snapper for macros, whereas the front panel accommodates the 32MP, f/2.4 selfie camera.
Battery life should be solid given the 4,500 mAh capacity while charging is also going to be blazing fast thanks to Oppo’s SuperVOOC 2.0 65W charging. Reverse wired charging is also supported by the handset.
Other notable features include Android 11 with ColorOS 11 out of the box, all-premium glass and aluminum build, stereo loudspeakers with Dolby Atmos tuning, a color spectrum sensor and a fast under-display fingerprint reader.
For now, the device will be made available only in China and pre-orders will start on January 18 while actual sales will begin on January 22. The entry-level 8GB/128GB iteration will sell for CNY 3,999 (~$610), while the beefier 12GB/256GB version will ask CNY 4,499 (~$690). The available colors are Black and Blue. A limited edition version designed in collaboration with Joshua Vides will be available and will go on sale for the same price as the 12GB/256GB model.
With the 105 mm 1: 2.8 DG DN Macro, Sigma has an exciting new fixed focal length on the market brought. It is the first macro lens from the manufacturer that is specifically aimed at mirrorless system cameras with full-frame sensors. It is available for Sony’s E-Mount and for the L-Mount cameras from Leica, Panasonic and Sigma themselves. We tested the lens on the Sony Alpha 7R IV (A7R IV) and were also able to use the FE 90 mm F2.8 G OSS compare which Sony itself next to a 50 it offers as a macro in this lens class.
Apart from a small difference in focal length – Sigma relies on 105 mm, Sony to 62 mm – the technical data of the competitors are comparable. They enable an image scale of 1: 1, with slightly different close-up areas: The Sigma lens is here at 29, 5 Centimeters, the Sony lens at 22 centimeters. Both open the aperture to a maximum of f / 2.8 and close it to f / 22. Nine aperture blades are supposed to ensure harmonious blurring circles. The filter diameter for both models 62 millimeters. The constructions are protected against dust and splash water and are comparatively complex, so that weight and dimensions are on the same level. Both macro lenses see themselves as portrait specialists due to their moderate telephoto focal length paired with the large aperture.
The Sony lens has the internal stabilizer ahead of the Sigma competitor. Another significant difference between the original part and the appearance of a third-party manufacturer is noticeable in the price. While the Sony macro still costs around 750 euros years after its market launch, the Sigma counterpart with comparable equipment is available for under 750 Euro.
The Sigma 105 (left) mm is in direct competition with the Sony FE 90 mm (right), it even offers comparable features. It remains a little cheaper.
Handling: Comfort at eye level Sigma photographers hardly have to compromise on handling do. The processing is typical of the manufacturer of high quality. All controls are tight and the extra wide, fluted electronic focus ring has a pleasant resistance. It reacts very fine and fluid, so that you can work precisely manually. The ring on the Sony lens, on the other hand, reacts a little rougher. The engine of the 105 can be heard clearly not only during automatic focusing (AF), but also during manual work (MF). You have to get used to it first. The Sony lens is a little quieter.
As with the original, photographers can limit the focus range with a slider. They make life easier for the autofocus and shorten the focus times if you only want to take photos in the macro or normal range. Similar to the Sony lens, the ranges 0, 295 to 0.5 meters and 0.5 meters to infinity are possible. Of course, there is also the “Full” option for the entire focus area.
A classic switch changes between manual and autofocus, on the Sony original you pull the focus ring backwards. What you like better is a matter of taste – with the focus ring method, you may change a bit faster. Both lenses also have a focus lock button. With newer cameras like the Sony A7R IV, this button can be assigned other functions relatively freely. The corresponding menu entry can be found in the user key settings. This does not work with older cameras like the A7 II. The last update for this camera has already been released 2017, long before the Sigma lens was launched on the market.
Unlike the Sony macro, the Sigma lens ( left) its own aperture ring.
Unlike the 90 he has sigmas 105 it has its own aperture ring, which can be operated with or without a grid. It has an A-position, so that the aperture can also be controlled via the camera.
The launch of vivo’s X60 series is scheduled to take place on December 29 and the teasers keep on coming. The latest ones include more detailed product images of the X60 and X60 Pro as well as a promo video showcasing the main 48MP camera’s stabilization and night prowess.
The vivo X60 is expected to sport a triple-cam setup headlined by a 48MP main camera with f/1.6 aperture alongside a 13MP ultrawide snapper and 13MP portrait shooter. The X60 Pro adds an 8MP periscope module with 5x optical and up to 60x digital zoom. The Pro also gets an f/1.48 aperture for the main 48MP sensor. Both models will feature vivo’s second-generation micro-gimbal stabilization and Zeiss branding.
vivo X60 series product shots
The X60 series are also touted as vivo’s lightest 5G phones and will debut Samsung’s Exynos 1080 chipset as well as vivo’s all-new OriginOS based on Android 11.
by Mattia Speroni, published on 22 December 2020, at 16: 01
?? The new TTArtisan 50 mm F1.2 is a particularly economical lens considering that its price is lower than 100 dollars. Despite everything it promises to be very bright thanks to the aperture of well f / 1.2. ??
TTArtisan 50 mm F1.2 is the new lens for APS-C announced by the Chinese manufacturer that aims to be cheap (enough to cost under 100 dollars) but also very bright. While not being able to count on the refinements of the competitors’ solutions, which are also decidedly more expensive, this lens could be of interest to users who want to expand their range of lenses without spending high budgets.
Features del TTArtisan 50 mm F1.2 for APS-C
As reported, the new TTArtisan 50 mm F1.2 uses an optical structure with 7 elements divided into 5 groups. There is no autofocus, making its structure which is still made of metal simpler, lighter and less expensive.
The diaphragm, made with ten blades, has a maximum aperture of f / 1.2 while a minimum aperture of f / 16. Such a wide aperture allows you to have a very bright optics that can be used even with little ambient light but also particularly accentuated bokeh. Unlike other models, in this case the opening is of type “clicked” . The minimum focus distance is 50 cm and the front can be filters of 22 mm diameter filters used.
The overall dimensions are equal to 60 x 62 mm with a weight of 336 grams. There is a good variety of attachments available considering that it is compatible with Canon M, Fujifilm X, MQT and Sony E so as to substantially cover almost the entire fleet of cameras with APS-C sensors on the market (for example, the non-full-frame Nikon Z mirrorless cameras are missing. ). As written above, the price is really low and equal to 98 dollars, as written on the official website of the manufacturer.
by Mattia Speroni, published on 21 December 2020, at 16: 23
?? Laowa 10 mm f / 2 Zero-D MFT is the latest lens presented by Venus Optics and meant to be a wide angle lens for micro four thirds cameras that is compact, lightweight but of quality, also thanks to the Zero-D technology.??
The expansion of the wide-angle lens range by the Chinese manufacturer continues. The last one presented is the Laowa 10 mm f / 2 Zero-D MFT which, as can be guessed, is designed for cameras in the MQT format (Micro Four Thirds). All this is combined with a focal length of mm equal to 20 mm equivalent in the format 35 mm.
The characteristics of Laowa 10 mm f / 2 Zero-D MFT
The new lens Laowa 10 mm f / 2 Zero-D MFT has an optical design that provides 11 elements divided into 7 groups with three ED and two aspherical lenses. The viewing angle is instead of 96 ° and being a Zero-D lens the distortion is substantially zeroed on the whole frame. The maximum aperture is equal to f / 2 with a diaphragm made with 5 blades allowing to therefore have a good overall brightness and produce a scenic ten-pointed star on the light sources.
The minimum distance focus is equal to 12 cm and frontally it is possible to use filters of 46 mm. It must also be considered that this lens has reduced dimensions and weight equal to 53 x 41 mm and 125 grams so much that it is smaller than the 7.5mm f / 2 version and the 9mm f / 2.8 version. However, this is not a completely manual lens considering that we find the CPU and motor for automatic aperture control (even if the focus cannot be AF). The official price for the Italian market is 486 EUR .
The choice of a latest generation smartphone today is increasingly diverted considering some factors that seem to be essential. And in this case we speak first of all of the display which must still allow you to view multimedia content such as a TV series or a film well. So also of the battery , which is a focal point for the duration of the device given its ” mobile ” nature. In fact, what for some years now users have considered even more in the real choice of a smartphone concerns the photographic sector .
Manufacturers continue to indulge themselves and there are more and more smartphones with three or four photographic sensors that are positioned on the rear body to define the true nature of a top smartphone. range. There are so many differences that are enhanced: who points to the functionality of the lenses, who instead to the number of “ megapixels ” for the detail effect and who also on new and technological shooting modes capable of making the final photo more and more original and maybe even social.
Everyone tries to guarantee anyway the user has a product in their hands that can allow them to open the camera application, frame a scene or subject and shoot. Not everyone is a photography expert but everyone wants more and more to get a photo that can not only have the purpose of remembering that moment in the future but also of remembering it with a certain quality. And the so-called “ point and shoot ” is still undoubtedly the favorite by most users above all for a clear and consolidated reason: not to have too much time in?
In recent years the real top of the range have raised the bar from a technological and therefore also a photographic point of view. In fact, they also raised the price level since they are devices that cost even more than 1000 ?? and it is clear that those who buy a smartphone in this price range can only expect results, even at a photographic level, of some importance. The past year has clearly seen the mobile world move more and more in this direction with smartphones that are increasingly performing at a photographic level. The 108 megapixel but also many have thought of resorting to a solution with lenses periscope to be able to improve one of the only negative effects in smartphone photography: the zoom.
And here at the photographic level we thought to compare the two Android smartphones that seem being able to compete for leadership on a photographic level: HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. What are the differences between the two smartphones at a photographic level and above all how do they shoot in reality?
Camera specifications in comparison
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro is undoubtedly a top-notch phone. Striking immediately the display – a 6-inch OLED, 76 inches that wraps around the sides of the device – just similar to what seen with Mate 30 last year. The back becomes even more unique this year because the photographic sector is proposed with an arrangement that certainly has no equal today. A hallmark of the new HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro and to whom the Chinese company also wanted to give a name: Space Ring Design . Three cameras were placed inside the circle with the main unit from 50 MP and a 5x periscope telephoto lens, both coming directly from HUAWEI P 40 Pro with the appearance of a new ultra-wide sensor from 20 MP.
Present the new chipset Kirin 9000 , the first 5nm production process SoC for Android (only Apple responded with its A 14 Bionic present in the new iPhone series 12). To power everything there is a 4 battery. 400 mAh which is charged for the first time by a 66 W via cable and up to 50 W wirelessly.
HUAWEI left nothing to chance and the new Mate 40 Pro is equipped with stereo speakers, two units located at the bottom and top of the smartphone. The front ToF cam provides secure facial recognition. IP certification is also present 68 which has become common practice in this segment. There is no 3.5mm jack, but this won’t negatively affect anyone. Moreover, in the sales package there are headphones with cable unlike other competitors who no longer put them.
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPARTMENT
The camera main of HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro is the one from 50 MP introduced on the P 40 Pro. It is therefore an ‘Ultra Vision’ that uses a new large 1/1 Quad Bayer sensor, 26″ from 50 MP, with a RYYB filter The sensor is physically larger eg de l sensor from 108 1/1 MP, 33 “of the Galaxy Note Ultra from Samsung. The same goes for the size of the embossed pixels: 2, 40 µm against 2.4 µm. The lens has an equivalent focal length of 23 mm and a aperture f / 1.9 and is stabilized.
The RYYB color filter has green sub-pixels replaced by yellow ones. HUAWEI claims that yellow allows the sensor to collect up to 40% more light than normal RGB filters and this change should result in better image quality in low light conditions. The camera has improved autofocus: it now has omnidirectional phase detection autofocus, which means it uses all pixels as focus pixels and this should contribute to faster and more accurate focusing. in low light conditions.
By default, the camera produces shots from 12, 5 MP with a declared focal length of 27 mm, different from the nominal focal length of 21 mm advertised that the camera should have. But when you switch from mode 50 MP a 12, 5MP (default), you can actually notice that the high resolution photos offer a wider field of view , which means some cropping is actually made to get the photos from 12 megapixels.
The telephoto lens also comes from the P 40 Pro . IS?? an imager from 12 MP but it is not visible on the back as it is possible to observe only the final part of its periscope lens . The refracted light passes through a series of additional optical elements inside until it reaches the sensor, which is located perpendicular to the plane of the phone. The system also provides optical image stabilization. The periscope lens on the Mate 35 Pro has an equivalent length of 125 mm and an aperture of f / 3.4 and should offer 5x optical zoom on the main camera from 23 mm / 27 mm. Well if you do the math, the optical zoom is not exactly 5x since 125 / 27 is equal to 4. 63 (if you shoot in default mode), but 125 / 23 is equal to 5, 36 x (for when shooting in high resolution mode). However, taking the average of the two you get exactly 5x even if perhaps it is not exactly exact but it does not matter. Finally, also the sensor from 20 MP ultra wide angle which has an equivalent length from 18 mm and a focal aperture of f / 1.8.
On the front , there are changes with respect to the configuration of the P 40 Pros: We have a fixed focus ultra-wide cam from 13 MP which replaces the Quad Bayer drive from 32 MP that had autofocus on P 40 Pro. Sounds like a downgrade on paper, even if the focal length of 16 mm has advantages c as we will see later on in practice.
Huawei’s camera app is pretty functional. You have a mode switch at the bottom that you can swipe left or right. Here we are faced with some improvements compared to the past thanks above all to Artificial Intelligence. The AI recognizes and reproduces settings for over 1. 400 different scenes. IS?? You can now turn the switch in the viewfinder off and on directly without having to go into the settings. Also present is the Pro mode in which you can adjust the parameters yourself: ISO (from 50 to 338. 600), shutter speed (from 1 / 990 sa 30 s), offsetting exposure (-4 to + 4EV in 1/3-stop increments) and white balance (presets and specific light temperature). By the way, Pro mode is also available for videos and the maximum ISO is 51. 120 also unfortunately the desired shutter speed cannot be set.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is massive, huge, powerful and ” photographic ”. A phablet ready to return to the market as the only productivity tool to always carry with you. It has renewed colors but also a display now wider and above all with refresh rate at 120 Hz, a record-breaking photographic sector in addition to a hardware with record performance. That his being ” Ultra ” means possessing something that goes beyond being ordinary. And here to actually say there is so much in every single functionality of the phablet.
There are many points on which we will have to focus on this new Samsung device. The display, for example, is wider with its 6.9 inches, less curvature on the sides, fortunately, but with an exaggerated Quad HD + resolution and a feature common to a few others: the refresh rate capable of reaching 120 Hz. We will see what this means in daily use.
Basic the photographic sector which has always made the Galaxy Note a point of reference for the company and its supporters. Here Samsung decides to place a set of 3 sensors that we have seen working in a different but similar way on Galaxy S 20 Ultra. The main one is a well sensor 108 MP ready to capture more details as well as greater brightness. Then there is an ultra wide angle lens from 12 MP but also a telephoto lens with periscope characteristic from 12 MP but above all capable of zooming up to 50 X.
The technical sector is the one seen with other top of the range of the company: ie a processor Exynos 500 and not Snapdragon (for Europe), which on paper should currently beat everyone in terms of power but which we will see is not as optimized as its American competitor is. Then there are the memories, both RAM and ROM of the latest generation, capable of marking record after record. And let’s not forget that the smartphone is 5G, that is, thanks to its integrated modem, it guarantees that it is ready for the new generation of the fast network already partially present in Italy.
Unlike the Galaxy S 20 Ultra we will have to understand if the 4 battery. 500 mAh, very different from the record 5. 000 of Galaxy S 20 Ultra, will allow reach the evening without too many problems even with a display with a refresh rate at 120 Hz. Fast charging is present and perhaps the strong point in this field will be to recharge the phone faster, forgetting about consumption.
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPARTMENT
The main camera sees a nominal sensor from 76 MP from Samsung. The sensor is physically large and provides not only good light-gathering capabilities but also a shallower depth of field, which is desirable for subject isolation. Combined with a lens with a focal aperture of f / 1.8 it is clear that the result on the shots is ?? blurred ?? is high allowing you to say goodbye to the sensor with variable focal aperture that does not allow variations on the theme of brightness and detail.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also has a periscope telephoto lens. We already knew it on its brother S 20 Ultra but here the company decides to change the lens by proposing a sensor from 12 MP and not from 48 MP as before. In this case, the periscope sensors adapted to smartphones work by positioning the sensor on a plane perpendicular to that of the phone and with a reflecting prism the incoming light of 68 degrees laterally and to the inside. This gives you more room to spread a physically longer lens – no one wants a 2cm lens to stick out of their phones.
There is then a target from 12 MP with aperture f / 2.2 equivalent to 13 mm is very large and fast. Nothing exaggerated but good in its being the third of an exciting couple. Previously Galaxy Note 20 Ultra sees the presence of a sensor from 10 MP. The equivalent objective from 24 mm is wide enough and bright enough (f / 2.2) and above all it has autofocus.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra uses a slightly modified version of the camera application that Samsung places in all its smartphones with One UI 1 or 2. Everything is still familiar: swipe left and right to switch between available modes. Then an option to rearrange, add or remove some modes from the main bar. Vertical swipes in both directions toggle the front and rear cameras.
Zoom levels have been reevaluated and clearly redesigned. The tree icons are always present: three trees for the Ultra Wide Angle mode, two trees for the main sensor and a single tree for the telephoto lens. Once you hit the u icon n tree, an additional set of buttons appears, with additional preset zoom levels at 2x, 4x, 10 x, 20 xe 50 x. However, there is also the classic toothed wheel to set different zoom settings. The new functionality introduced with S is interesting 20 Ultra that takes the name of Single take. This new mode allows you to record up to 10 seconds with all sensors on the rear. Automatically the best moments are rendered by Artificial Intelligence which allows you to produce short video clips or even still images with appropriate filters applied automatically.
THE COMPARISON of the shots
Photo by day
In the photos taken during the day, who prevails between the two smartphones seems to be the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro. Let’s say that the two smartphones are the same in some respects but in detail the cameras of the Chinese company offer a more real result in the colors and in the general scene scene than to Samsung. For both, however, there are excellent exposures in almost all situations. High dynamic range for the Mate 40 Pro with the ability to capture details in light areas but also in shadow areas.
HUAWEI Mate 35 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
S amsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
In the full resolution shot (50 MP for HUAWEI and 76 MP for Samsung ) it is clear that the more details on the shot come from the Samsung phablet but it is equally true that users will hardly go to shoot in this way since in general the artificial intelligence for both does not proceed to a retouch of the photo and therefore to a true optimization of the shot.
Photo at night or under low light
On the night, today’s smartphones are able to obtain good results thanks above all to the use of sophisticated software that guarantees to have more ” brightness ” in the photo in post production. Clearly there is also to be considered as the use of a technically wider sensor or with more ???? valuable features ???? guarantees to reach a better result even in the dark where, we know, phones have always suffered for obvious physical reasons of the sensors.
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The results of the shots see important work from both software of the two smartphone. There are Night modes for both that make shooting accurate and with well-maintained lighting details. In both cases the exposure in this mode is calculated in a completely automatic way by the artificial intelligence keeping longer and longer on the HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro (around at least 5 or 6 seconds average) compared to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (usually a 3 or 4 seconds).
Here, too, albeit slightly, HUAWEI seems to do better. The scene is illuminated not only more but also more precisely in detail. Good exposure with colors that are almost always real and better prepared on the scene, also underlining less noise. The shots from HUAWEI’s ultrawide camera are well balanced with high details and no noise, although perhaps the reduction here is a little too aggressive. The colors, however, are not faded. On Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Samsung to suffer is instead the zoom at night even if it is certainly a mode perhaps less useful for the user.
Photo with Ultra Wide Angle sensor
One of the modes most used by users is that of the “ expanded ” shot which is made possible thanks to the Ultra Wide Angle sensor capable of extending the shooting area with viewing angles up to 120 degrees. The problem here is to be able to produce a shot that yes, goes to broaden the field of action, but at the same time allows to compensate for that so-called barrel effect that tends to curve the extremes of the photo. The best software in this case has to work a lot on this effect to make it as linear as possible and therefore allowing the shot to be ???? normal ???? as if taken with the main cam.
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
You know msung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Looking at the results of the shots it is difficult to decide a winner in this case. On the one hand Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra manages to widen the scene more than the Mate 40 Pro which has an equivalent length from 18 mm against 13 mm of the Samsung. Not only because the limitation in this case is also on the vertical with an aspect different from 3: 2 compared to the 4: 3 of the Galaxy.
However what the Mate 40 Pro lacks coverage on breadth the scene makes up for it with detail. In this case, in fact, the HUAWEI sensor as well as the algorithm allow to have a better resolving power with a shooting quality d really important.
Photo with Telephoto sensor
HUAWEI practically introduced first the periscope sensor that characterizes today is the P 40 Pro that the new Mate 40 Pro. But Samsung also wanted to follow the trend of this new sensor technology that allows you to go far where the classic sensors stop. The race here is won by HUAWEI which, albeit with a similar sensor in technology, above all manages to work better on post production. The Mate 2.5x zoom shots 40 Pros are really good managing to capture finer details and ensuring better definition even if perhaps in some situations some noise appears.
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Even on magnifications up to 5x, the periscope of the Chinese company imports some more details, managing to make the shot better in general. And by increasing the zoom all this is amplified with a 50 x which is worked better by HUAWEI even if we know well that at these distances the ?? image is practically useless. For both interesting but above all comfortable the presence of a viewfinder that allows the user to be able to ???? navigate ???? on the scene without loss of orientation.
Portrait mode photo (Bokeh effect)
A mode that has become interesting in the latest generation smartphones concerns the so-called bokeh effect, i.e. the one that allows you to “ blur ” the background scene while keeping the subject in the foreground in detail. An effect that until a few years ago could only be achieved with professional machines but which in recent times can be easily achieved even from a small smartphone.
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note Ultra
In this case the mode is used very well by both smartphones. HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro manages to capture many details in the isolation of the subject with some minor errors compared to the general shot. The bokeh is very realistic and you are able to model the most important points of the subject well and above all by minimizing noise and processing a wide dynamic range. Same thing happens with the Samsung Galaxy Note 18 Ultra which manages to separate the foreground subject from the background that is almost always precisely blurred. A tie with perhaps a very small advantage for HUAWEI for a slightly more realistic color.
Photos with Macro mode
The photographs on the Close-up objects, called macro shots, are increasingly well done by today’s top-of-the-range smartphones. These are shots that the latest generation sensors are working more and more well and some brands even decide to propose special sensors for this kind of shots.
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The results obtained with the two devices seem to go more or less on the same quality even if what we have achieved previously is also confirmed here. HUAWEI mate 40 Pro tends to enhance the macro shot a little more with realistic colors. For both very good details. However, the shooting differences are very minimal as often happens in these situations.
Selfie photos
The photographic shots with the front camera are very good for the quality of the color balance as well as the details. Here HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro acts on the double sensor guaranteeing superior detail compared to others. In this case the strengths are the exposure but also the lack of noise and above all the good depth allowed with the 3D IR sensor. Also interesting to see good skin tone fidelity where others tend not to act in the same way. Compared to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra from Samsung here c ?? is the potential of the variation of the amplitude d i field. The user can really play on the possibility of expanding the scene or not and allowing the entry of more subjects.
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro
Conclusions
The photographic comparison of these two smartphones therefore saw the new HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro as the winning device in many respects as regards the photographic sector. A device that manages to put into practice a painstaking work of details in shots with natural light but also easily useful in reducing noise in night shots. On the zoom it works better than the Samsung even though both have a periscope lens. The level of shooting is important, which is higher than most of the contenders who do not insert it in their smartphones. There is a greater attention to detail here too with HUAWEI which, even with important zooms, keeps noise as low as possible and details high.
The battle, however, is really at the limit. Both smartphones are sometimes the same, a symptom that technological developments are perhaps today within the reach of more brands and making the difference is now the algorithm and the Artificial Intelligence that manufacturers must integrate. Both HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro than Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra still offer an important photographic behavior. The differences are often detailed especially at the software level, as mentioned, which is not always perfect in the management of shots in post production or to the choice of a different photographic philosophy.
The Chinese giant OPPO presented in China its mid-range smartphone in its 5G version. There are many changes compared to his younger brother A 31 standard. Let’s find out which ones in the complete article
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 20 December 2020 , at 09: 31 in the Telephony channel Oppo
Today , OPPO presented its new smartphone of medium-low range A 53 5G . The device represents the 5G version of the already known OPPO A 53, launched on the market last September. If you think that this new version only adds the 5G module to the standard one, you are wrong . The new OPPO A 53 5G brings important improvements in almost all sectors, from the hardware one but also considering the software one.
MediaTek Dimensity 720: the chip ready for 5G
The processor mounted becomes the MediaTek Dimensity 720 , capable of supporting the 5G module, to the detriment of the less performing Snapdragon 460 used on A 53. The display has a good 6.5 inch LCD panel with resolution Full HD + , one update frequency to 90 Hz and even a maximum brightness of 480 nit. The 5G version of A 53 comes with 4/6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of external storage memory, not expandable.
The multimedia compartment is still made up of a triple camera , but it gains in quality. The main now sees the presence of a sensor from 16 MP with focal aperture of f / 2.2 followed by a lens for macro shots and a depth sensor of 2 MP . The selfie cam instead results from 8 MP and it is inserted inside a hole in the upper left of the screen, as has been fashionable lately. The device measures 162, 2 x 75 x 7.9 mm and weighs 175 g , supports Dual-SIM and works with Android 10 customized with ColorOS 7.2 .
Autonomy is probably the only characteristic that does not improve compared to A 53 . The battery of the 5G version has a capacity of 4. 040 mAh against 5. 00 0 mAh of the standard version. Finally OPPO A 53 5G continues to place a 3.5mm jack as well as a fingerprint sensor on the side of the frame instead of on the back like its predecessor.
Prices and availability
The phone was unveiled in China today at a price of CNY 1. 299, about 160 euro at the exchange rate. It will probably also be distributed for the European market, even if at the moment there is no news about it for our country.
by Roberto Colombo, published on 12 December 2020, at 19: 41
? Support for RAW video output is available via a paid service upgrade: Firmware Version 3. 20 adds support in this service for Blackmagic Design external video recorders. Native support for new Apple Silicon chips based on ARM architecture for the webcam utility ??
Despite the launch of the new Z7 II and Z6 II versions of the full frame mirrorless cameras that launched the Nikon Z system , the Japanese technicians do not forget the first models and do not consider them outdated, indeed, with the recent firmware updates they expand the possibilities of use in the video field.
Unboxing Nikon Z6 II: the new full frame mirrorless has arrived in the editorial office [/HWUVIDEO]
Z 6II and Z 7II firmware
But let’s start with a couple of slight tweaks given to the software of the brand new Nikon Z7 II and Z6 II, with the first update of C firmware to version 1. 01 . For both cameras we find the following changes, as detailed on the Nikon website for Z6 II and Z7 II:
The following problem has been fixed:
– The flash photos taken with Area Auto AF selected for AF area mode in the PHOTO SHOOTING MENU were sometimes not properly exposed.
Better overall reliability.
Firmware Z 6 and Z 7
Definitely more substantial the update that affects the prime Nikon Z6 and Z7 , which see the C firmware switch from version 3. 12 to the version 3. 18: here are the changes, some of which enable the possibility to add the RAW video output for a fee. All details are available on the support pages in Italian for Z7 and Z6.
Support for RAW video output is available via a paid service upgrade, and firmware version 3. 20 adds support in this service for Blackmagic Design external video recorders (currently Video Assist 5 “12 G HDR and Video Assist 7 “12 G HDR). If you have already purchased the RAW video output upgrade for your camera, upgrade to version 3. 20 of the firmware will automatically add support for Blackmagic Design external video recorders.
Users of Apple’s Final Cut Pro X (version 10. 4.9 or later) can now adjust the ISO sensitivity ?? as well as view and adjust the color temperature ?? for the output of ProRes RAW sequences to ATOMOS NINJA V external recorders using the paid service upgrade of RAW video output.
Before shooting RAW video, please choose an option for HDMI > Advanced > RAW output options > RAW output type in the SETTINGS MENU according to the type of recorder connected: select Type A for NINJA V recorders and Type B for Video Assist recorders.
Support for NIKKOR Z lenses has been added 50 mm f / 1.2 S.
The following issues have been fixed:
– By turning the mass a focus or (if Focus (M / A) is assigned to the control ring), the control ring sometimes failed to activate manual focus during continuous photography when a NIKKOR Z lens was attached.
– The exposure indicator was not displayed in M mode when a non-CPU lens via an FTZ bayonet adapter.
– Some aperture values were not selected when the control rings for the following lenses were rotated to stop down the aperture in movie mode:
▹ NIKKOR Z 24 – 50 mm f / 4-6.3
▹ NIKKOR Z 24 – 200 mm f / 4-6.3 VR
▹ NIKKOR Z DX 11 – 50 mm f / 3.5-6.3 VR
▹ NIKKOR Z DX 50 – 250 mm f / 4.5-6.3 VR
?? Unexpected aperture values were sometimes displayed during bracketing in mode M if a bracketing option that made aperture changes was selected with a NIKKOR Z lens attached.
?? The motorized iris controls would sometimes stop responding after the standby timer was activated for an extended period in movie mode.
Webcam Utility (Mac)
The Japanese technicians also worked on the software that allows you to use mirrorless and reflex cameras as a webcam for videochat, webinar and videoconferencing, in particular by updating the dedicated version to Mac users, which reaches the Windows version at release 1. 01. The news concerns the compatibility with the Big Sur operating system 19, but above all native support for the new Apple Silicon chips based on ARM architecture. Here is the news as detailed on the Nikon support site in Italian:
?? Support for macOS Big Sur version has been added 11.
? ? Support for Apple Silicon has been added. Note that the Webcam Utility works as a universal plugin and on Apple Silicon machines it works as a native Apple Silicon app in the universal version of Chrome.
Official Galaxy S21 and S21+ images leaked out yesterday, now images of the premium model of the pack, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, have also hit the web (courtesy of WinFuture). The phone is shown in “Phantom Silver”, a subtle two-tone color scheme. The Ultra will also be available in black.
The display will measure 6.8”, a tenth of an inch smaller than the S20 Ultra. This is because the panel on the new model is mostly flat – the images show some bevel on the front glass, but that’s it. The back is flatter too. Reducing the curvature means that the new Ultra will be the same size as the old one, despite the fractionally smaller display. Like the S21, the frame is metal and the back is glass (the vanilla S20 will have a plastic back).
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Silver
The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display will have 1440p+ resolution (20:9) and 515 ppi pixel density. Samsung will stick with 120 Hz as the top refresh rate, but the display is said to be very power efficient thanks the adaptive refresh rate feature. It will be super bright too, with peak brightness up to 1,600 nits, and will be guarded by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The camera bump is the trademark design element for the S21 generation and, naturally, the Ultra model is getting the best gear. It will equipped with four modules, including an upgraded 108 MP 1/1.33″ sensor with OIS. Unlike the 2020 model, the new one will use Laser AF (replacing the 3D ToF sensor). Then there’s the 12 MP ultra wide module with 1.4 µm pixels, PDAF and 120° field of view.
A closer look at the four camera setup (+ Laser AF in the bottom right)
The Ultra will have two telephoto cameras – a 10x folded periscope (10° FoV, equivalent to 240 mm, f/4.9 aperture) and a traditional 3x tele lens (35°, f/2.4). Both will use 10 MP sensors (1/3.24″, 1.22 µm pixels) and hybrid zoom will ensure a smooth transition between focal lengths.
Galaxy S21 Ultra’s frame and camera bump from the side
The selfie camera will have a 40 MP 1/2.8″ sensor (0.7 µm pixels) and an 80° lens with autofocus. As for video, the rear cam will top out at 8K 30 fps with 4K 60 fps and 108p at 240 fps options.
In some regions, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will be powered by the Exynos 2100 chipset. The CPU will have a prime core at 2.9 GHz, 3x high performance cores at 2.8 GHz and 4x small cores at 2.4 GHz. Leakster Roland Quandt suggests there’s a possibility that the 2100 will be a 7 nm chip, even though the new Exynos 1080 is fabbed at 5 nm. That info could be wrong though, especially considering that the 2100 traded blows with the Snapdragon 888 in Geekbench.
The S21 series is expected to be unveiled in mid-January. It looks like Samsung will officially announce the Exynos 2100 on January 12, a couple of days before the Unpacked event for the Galaxy S flagships. The company has dropped hints confirming S Pen support, which will likely be limited to the Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Black
According to Quandt, the S Pen will be available as a stand-alone accessory or as part of a bundle with a Silicone or Smart Clear View cover. Speaking of accessories, you won’t get any besides a USB cable. The phone’s 5,000 mAh battery may support 45W fast charging, but you’ll have to buy your own power brick as there won’t be one in the retail box. No AKG headphones either.
In Europe, the Galaxy S21 Ultra will come with the Exynos 2100, price is expected to be around €1,400. The phone will have 12 GB of RAM, storage capacity will be a choice between 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. The microSD card slot will reportedly be going away, so you’ll have to pick the storage you can live with at checkout.
(Pocket-lint) – Ah, 2020, it’s been a funny old year that’s seen a number of companies try different new things. For DJI, while it’s mostly been about refreshing and upgrading existing products, it’s the branding that has evolved. We’ve seen Osmo-branded products lose that Osmo moniker entirely, while the follow-up to the Mavic Mini launch as simply the Mini 2.
One product that fits into the new sans-Osmo camera lineup is the Pocket 2. It’s the successor to the Osmo Pocket camera-and-gimbal system that launched back in 2019. The new model keeps all the good stuff from the original, but boosts the internals and makes it even more versatile with some pro-minded modules.
Instant pocket-ability
Dimensions: 124.7 × 38.1 × 30mm / Weight: 117g
3-axis gimbal stabilisation
The biggest joy and the biggest draw of the Pocket 2 is the same as the first Osmo Pocket: its pocketability. See what they did with the name there? It’s the fact that DJI has created this stabilised-camera-on-a-gimbal that’s small enough to put in your pocket and walk around with. It’s not a big inconvenient Ronin-esque handheld gimbal for a full-sized camera, it’s one of the most convenient video cameras around.
Pocket-lint
The Pocket 2 is about the length of a smartphone, but obviously much less wide, and it ships with a protective hard case that you can easily slip it inside so that when you do just throw it in your pocket, or in a bag, it’s not going to get damaged.
You get a grand total of three buttons to control it with. Two of those sit underneath the tiny touchscreen on the front. One is for recording start/stop, the other is a sort-of multifunction which you’ll use mostly either to recentre the camera or flip it around 180 degrees by either double- or triple-tapping it. The only other button is on the side, which is the on/off power button.
The Pocket 2’s size doesn’t just make it pocketable, it also means you can hold it while shooting video and you’re not likely to get fatigued. It’s lightweight and easy to grip. Plus, the fact you’ve got it on you also means it’s got that easy-access factor. It’s quick to whip out, switch on and start recording.
In some ways, that means it’s more convenient than using your smartphone. Especially if you want that smooth, physically stabilised footage that you can only get from a mechanical gimbal. Your next best option is something like the OM 4, DJI’s latest smartphone gimbal, but that’s much larger and far less convenient to walk around with. Although phone makers are also pushing the envelope, such as the gimbal camera in the Vivo X51.
Pocket-lint
Of course, there is that touchscreen on the Pocket 2’s front which – while acting as your monitor – is also how you get to some of the other settings if you haven’t got a smartphone attached. You can swipe up, down, left or right to access various settings, whether it be to choose your video resolution and frame rate, or to switch to a different shooting setting like slow-mo or timelapse.
Modular marvel
Adapter for connecting smartphone
Creator combo with wireless mic/tripod mount
875mAh battery – good for 140 minutes video capture
What’s interesting about Pocket 2 is the expansion of its modularity. You can connect a phone to the camera using a small adapter, just as you could with the original, giving you the ability to use a much bigger display as the monitor, rather than trying to use the tiny square one.
Pocket-lint
This does require an app to be installed to your phone, but once you’ve done that you get a much easier way to control all the various settings, including enabling the ActiveTrack feature for following subjects.
But if you get the Creator Combo then you also acquire a couple of other accessories to snap onto the bottom of the Pocket 2. One allows you to attach the tiny fold-out tripod, so the unit can self stand. The other is a wireless mic kit, which means you can clip a microphone to yourself and have it wirelessly pair with the Pocket 2 – which is super useful if you need to record yourself talking to the camera (if you’re vlogging, for instance).
Pocket-lint
Battery life was never a worry during our testing either. We could easily take the Pocket 2 out for an afternoon of shooting, then shoot nearly two hours of footage without having to be concerned about its longevity. That kind of peace of mind is priceless. If you’re in a pinch and need to then it’s easy enough to charge up using a USB Type-C cable. Take a backup battery pack with you and you’ll easily keep it filled up.
Photo and video
64-megapixel, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, f/1.8 aperture, 93-degree field of view
Slow-motion, timelapse and motionlapse
4K up to 60fps, HDR video at 2.7k
As we’ve mentioned in the past about DJI, its best features are those that enable you to capture the kind of footage that’s really hard to do when you’re just holding your smartphone or your dedicated camera. It’s elements like the Pocket 2’s automatic ActiveTrack feature that locks onto a subject, or things like motionlapse that lets you shoot a moving timelapse without needing expensive motorised camera equipment.
Pocket-lint
For instance, there’s a feature that lets you choose to automatically lock onto a face whenever you’re shooting a video of yourself. So if you are doing a piece to camera with the wireless mic attachment then you can have it so that the camera never loses sight of you and keeps you in frame, regardless of how much your arm might be moving about.
When you’re shooting video the three-axis gimbal automatically stabilises your footage, whether you’re moving on purpose or just to even out natural hand-shakiness. For deliberate movement you can also choose between whether you want it to move with you in ‘Follow’ mode, or whether you want it to keep looking in the same direction while you move.
What you’ll notice if you check some of the sample footage in our video above is that – if you’re walking with the camera – you’ll still see some movement each time a foot hits the ground. You can still tell the person holding the camera is walking, but the other movement in-between is smooth and shake-free. Similarly, when manually panning and moving the camera around, the movement is really smooth.
7 reasons why the Fujifilm X-S10 is one of the best mirrorless cameras you can buy (promo)
Moving between light and dark areas of a scene results in a smooth adjustment of exposure too. So you don’t get that jumpy dark-to-light effect, it just gradually transitions as it realises the scene has become much brighter, to make sure it’s not over-exposed.
Footage in general looks great too. It’s sharp, with rich but natural colours, and doesn’t suffer from an over-processed look. There’s no harsh contrast or oversaturation.
The only time that changes is when you go into slow-motion mode. As we’ve seen with multiple smartphones for years, switching to this results in a harsher, darker image that doesn’t look as bright or colourful. The transition between highlights and shadows is nowhere near as smooth. Still, in evenly lit scenes you can get good-looking slow-motion video.
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The Pocket 2 takes good photos in a pinch too, showing similar characteristics in good light, with great colours and detail. The only issue we found – when shooting in automatic mode – was with heavy backlighting. The camera seems to struggle with being able to even out the really bright parts of an image. Taking a selfie with the sun behind us resulted in an over-exposed backdrop with some lens flare.
Verdict
The DJI Pocket 2 takes what was great about the first Osmo Pocket, and makes it better by offering 4K footage up to 60fps. With ActiveTrack, mechanical stabilisation, and a design that will easily slip into your pocket, it’ll quickly become a must-have for any videographer’s camera bag.
The best features of the Pocket 2 are those we enjoyed about the first-gen one: having a mechanically stabilised camera that easily fits into a pocket.
For this latest gen, you get the flexibility of being able to shoot in multiple new resolutions and frame rates, as well as HDR (at 2.7k resolution), plus a battery that can get through more than two hours of video capture.
The touchscreen is a bit fiddly, as is the removable module at the bottom for additional accessories, but overall, the Pocket 2 offers a great combination of performance and convenience. There’s nothing quite like it on the market.
What to look for in a mirrorless camera? We highlight why the X-S10 is a great option (promo)
Also consider
Pocket-lint
DJI OM 4
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It’s not exactly like the Pocket 2, but the OM 4 will allow you most of the same features, except you use your phone as the camera. It’s a great gadget for any professional or aspiring videographer that doesn’t cost the earth.
The haptics are brand plastic bomber, the ergonomics a disaster. But, there is no other way to write it: The Polaroid Now is simply beautiful. One likes to be photographed with a camera like this, so it doesn’t really matter what the result looks like in the end. The Polaroid Now is a current instant camera, its optical model is found in the Polaroid OneStep from 1977 – including rainbow colors.
The Polaroid Now is very colorful. Our test model was red; blue, yellow, green, black or all white variants are also available. The recommended retail price of the camera itself is 80 Euro , but you can find them cheaper. In a bundle with 2 film cassettes there is the Now for about 140 Euro.
The Now is a model that is particularly easy to use, similar to the Fujifilm Instax SQ1. It does not have Bluetooth or WLAN, which is why it is not like its sister OneStep + from the year 2018 can be paired with the smartphone.
The technical data are quickly defined: The scarce 450 Gram heavy camera works with Polaroid i-Type or 600-Film. These have the typical square Polaroid format with an image area of almost eight by eight centimeters. There are eight recordings in a film cassette. The prices per photo fluctuate a lot, depending on which version and package size you choose: with a classic white frame, with a camouflage frame, blue frame, golden frame, for black and white pictures, with wrong colors … , 60 you have to calculate at least one euro . The slightly smaller Instax Square films from Fujifilm cost around one euro per picture.
Auto-fix focus The Polaroid Now has an integrated lithium-ion battery that is charged via micro USB. Polaroid supplies the right cable, but a power plug is not included. If in doubt, you have to borrow it from your smartphone. And since many current models already work with USB-C connectors, the connector archive is the right place to go. The Now shows the charge level via a small LED above the USB port.
The Polaroid Now is charged via USB.
The objective System consists of polycarbonate and acrylic glass lenses and offers two focal lengths, each with different fixed focus zones. The fixed aperture is f / . For close range – for example for portraits – the Polaroid Now uses 35 mm, everything from 50 centimeters to about 1.3 meters. This is a relatively large distance from the subject, which restricts the composition of the picture, as you always capture a comparatively large amount of accessories. Cameras like the Fujifilm SQ1 get closer here and have a close range (in selfie mode) with a focus range of 30 to 50 centimeters. By default, the Polaroid Now works with a 30 – Millimeter focal length and a focus range of 0.6 meters to infinity.
Polaroid says that the Now has an autofocus. What is meant, however, is that the camera itself decides when to work with which focal length (and which focus area). Photographers cannot influence this in any way. And that is a major weak point in the camera. To make matters worse, the camera does not show its focal length decision anywhere and you can only hear the change with a short click. If you want to consciously provoke this change, you can press the shutter button halfway and experiment with the distance to the subject – and just listen.
Fiddly manual In fact, the system worked fine in most cases. Not always, however. And when you consider what each individual picture costs, every missed shot hurts. But not only the “autofocus” stands in the way, the Polaroid Now is a fine weather camera that needs a lot, a lot, a lot of light to take good pictures. Therefore, by default, she takes photos with flash. And it is not exactly of the “fine spirit” type, which is why you often just flash your motifs “dead” in the standard area. The typical instant photo look. It burns a little less at close range. Here, however, flashed images sometimes get too dark if there is backlighting.
On switch, flash button, status display – the operating elements of the Now are straightforward.
Completely delivered But you are not: The standard flash can be switched off with a button on the back if you have made sure that the light is otherwise correct. If you press the flash button for about a second, you also activate a mini exposure compensation. The service is tricky and requires the greatest attention. In the small round display, in which the recordings usually count down, then appears a narrow line that can be shifted up and down with short tips on the flash button – from -1/2 EV to +1/2 EV. If the correction has been set successfully, the circular display alternately shows the number of films and the EV settings. Well, you can’t work miracles with it, but you can get closer to a balanced exposure and a somewhat more natural impression.
Immediately does not mean immediately The self-timer button (9 seconds) also has a double function. If you press it twice in quick succession, you start a double exposure. The mini-display on the back then flashes to indicate that it can start and after the second exposure the camera spits out the image.
Then it doesn’t matter whether you wave like crazy or the instant picture patiently stares at. It takes about ten minutes until the photo is ready, and after about 5 minutes you can at least roughly assess whether the shot went wrong or not. Immediately is relative.
Polaroid Now: Sample images (8 images) As long as they don’t move too fast, pets are a great motive for instant photography, if it weren’t for flash. This cat does everything right, she sits still and does not look at the camera.
Conclusion and alternatives The Polaroid Now is an instant camera with a good mood design. It is easy to use, but not necessarily intuitive. A quick look at the manual does not hurt. The setting options are somewhat more complex than, for example, with an Instax SQ1, so the double exposure function invites you to be creative. And that’s also easy on the wallet, because you get two exposures on one photo. With about 1, 60 Euro the single images are not a bargain, if you want to use bright frame colors or special editions, you have to dig deeper into your pocket. Alternatives are plentiful on the market, both from Polaroid and Fujifilm. If you are looking for something more unusual, look at Lomography.
Are a possible alternative also mini photo printer like the Canon Selphy Square QX 10. For example, it prints pictures from a smartphone in a Polaroid design with a white frame. Here the costs per print are around 80 Cent and significantly higher image quality. In addition, you can design the pictures more freely, make collages, insert writing, add filters – last but not least, every picture is also a sticker.
We’re eagerly expecting vivo to debut its X60 series on December 28 and we’ve already been through an extensive leak marathon which has us covered with most of the key specs. We’re expecting 3 devices this year the X60, X60 Pro and X60 Pro+ and now we have the camera details for the vanilla and Pro models thanks to Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station just one day after vivo confirmed its Zeiss partnership.
DigitalChatStation Weibo posts
The X60 will offer a 48MP main camera with f/1.6 aperture alongside a 13MP ultrawide snapper and 13MP portrait shooter. The X60 Pro adds an 8MP periscope module with 5x optical and up to 60x digital zoom. The Pro also gets an f/1.48 aperture for the main 48MP sensor. Both models will feature vivo’s second-generation micro-gimbal stabilization and Zeiss branding.
vivo X60 Pro (left) and X60 (right)
The X60 Pro+ on the other hand is said to feature an L-shaped camera rig though we don’t get any specifics on the sensors. It’s said to feature the same centered punch-hole cutout as the X60 and X60 Pro and will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset while the other two X60 variants will rely on Samsung’s Exynos 1080 SoC.
We’re also expecting 120Hz Samsung AMOLED displays, 33W fast charging and vivo’s new OriginOS which will make its debut on the X60 series.
Source 1 • Source 2 (both in Chinese) | Via
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