iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Feature Periscope Lens With Up to 10x Optical Zoom

[Unregistered 4U]

Or, at least specify the difference between "digital" and "optical" zoom

We’re already there, I think. For the bigger cameras (with no added hardware), it’s optical zoom up to a point, then then digital zoom beyond that. Mainly because they’ve got the one optical path and once they go out of the bounds of that, there’s nothing else but digital.

When cell phones had only one fixed focal length camera, the “optical up to a point” was just that one focal length Beyond that, just like bigger cameras, it was all digital zoom. Now that cell phones have multiple fixed focal length cameras, it’s almost the same digital zoom situation with one big exception… at one, maybe two very SPECIFIC focal lengths, that digital zoom actually becomes optical, then goes RIGHT back to digital as you go beyond it.

I think it just takes a recognition that devices with three fixed focal lengths are different in real ways from devices with variable focal lengths BUT there IS some crossover where, for simplicity, it makes sense to call that one specific length in a cell phone an optical zoom.

 

[alpi123]

No such thing as a fixed "zoom". Optical zoom is a continuously variable focal length between a starting point and an ending point. If something has 5x or a 10x then, those are two prime lenses...or on the case of a smartphone those would be two different cameras. based on 5 times "X" and 10 times "X" With "X" being one of the multiple cameras.

View attachment 1938390

You clearly misread it. I gave 5x and 10x as examples, those are the two most popular zoom lenses used in smartphones right now. It's either 5x, or 10x periscope lens. You're overcomplicating it.

And yes - it's fixed. If your phone has a 5x periscope lens, and in the camera app you set it to 5x, then it's real 5x optical zoom. If you set it anything in between - say 4.9x or 5.1x, then it's software zoom.

 

[subi257]

You clearly misread it. I gave 5x and 10x as examples, those are the two most popular zoom lenses used in smartphones right now. It's either 5x, or 10x periscope lens. You're overcomplicating it.

And yes - it's fixed. If your phone has a 5x periscope lens, and in the camera app you set it to 5x, then it's real 5x optical zoom. If you set it anything in between - say 4.9x or 5.1x, then it's software zoom.

If I misread it, I apologize.

If a camera has a 5x periscope lens, then that just means it is 5 time longer than the lens before it. There are no optical zooms in the cameras, there are multiple cameras with fixed focal length lenses (3 cameras on the Pro, 2 on the non Pro). As you pinch on the screen, the camera is using a combination of digital zoom and switching.....seamlessly between cameras.

 

[IIGS User]

I’m looking forward to pro motion with 120Hz refresh rate, better battery life, a smaller notch and a 12 MP camera with LiDAR.

Oh wait. All ready got that!

 

[Macaholic868]

I’m glad I upgraded from the X to the 12. Between the extra screen size and 5G plus night mode for taking pictures it was a worthy upgrade at the price point which is less than $10 a month. I was already and AT&T customer so why not take a huge bill credit that amounted to nearly $800 bucks over two years to turn in the old iPhone X and walk away with a 12 Pro?

There’s been nothing compelling about the 13 that has made me think about upgrading and I’ve heard no rumors about the 14 or 15 that lead me to believe I’ll want to upgrade to either of those either but obviously the 15 is a long way off.

Based on the deal AT&T offered if I can stick to the 12 until they release the 15 or 16 it’ll be money we’ll spent considering it’s not just my daily driver in terms of a phone, it’s the computer I use most frequently when I’m not at wor

 

[mike2q]

I'm not sure why everyone is getting hung up on the word zoom here. Phone cameras already use a berage of computational tricks to enhance photos so why would anyone expect a different standard here? I would think that utilizing software and digital zoom to seamlessly move between the various hardware lenses would be a welcome addition. Especially when the final lens is of the periscope type with a high optical magnification. Done well and you effectively have full zoom capabilities with no pixelization to speak of. Wouldn't that be a win?

 

[DeepIn2U]

Gonna be a long year…

I wonder if it'll be worth the wait though. we've been getting used to thinner iPhones and 12/13 series seems, arguably, the best in thickness, while both The S21 Ultra and P40 Pro+ are at 8.9mm/9mm thickness while the iPhone 13 Pro & 13 Pro Max both are at 7.7mm.

 

[iSayuSay]

I just hope it means that new iPhone can get away with a single lens to do 0.5-10x optical zoom. The huge camera bump is getting ridiculous along with dual/triple lens setup.
Just do a single lens to do it all, and improved LiDAR sensor to control focus.

 

[Starfyre]

I remember when companies like Google and Samsung were years behind Apple in what they had in the iPhone. Samsung S21 already has 10x optical zoom with a periscope lens. If Apple can’t get this into the iPhone 14 Pro and have to take another year, then my how the tables have turned. Sure Apple is ahead in processors, but would be nice if they were ahead of the pack on cameras too.

 

[Thebrochure]

Oh look! A better camera! Whoooooo!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I just hope it means that new iPhone can get away with a single lens to do 0.5-10x optical zoom. The huge camera bump is getting ridiculous along with dual/triple lens setup.
Just do a single lens to do it all, and improved LiDAR sensor to control focus.

No, it’s very likely just another fixed focus situation. The hardware for optical zoom is very complicated for something as small as a cell phone with no moving camera parts (other than OIS). The tech isn’t there yet, BUT, as soon as a vendor is producing an optical zoom module, you can expect it in an Android phone that sells less than 10 million a year first, then in an iPhone a few years after that.

EDIT:
Searched for continuous optical zoom (that’s likely how it’s going to be marketed to differentiate it), and it looks like Oppo has a module that should be in use some time in the first quarter of this year.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I remember when companies like Google and Samsung were years behind Apple in what they had in the iPhone. Samsung S21 already has 10x optical zoom with a periscope lens. If Apple can’t get this into the iPhone 14 Pro and have to take another year, then my how the tables have turned. Sure Apple is ahead in processors, but would be nice if they were ahead of the pack on cameras too.

Samsung MAY hit 20 million in sales on the S21. A vendor that can provide 20 million 10x optical zoom hardware for them might not be able to provide the 100+ million that any Apple phone would require. Once the tech is solid enough and can be made reliably enough to be able to produce and ship 100+ million units on time, that’s when you’ll see it in an iPhone.

 

[shanson27]

Wow, can’t wait for the iPhone 100 ?

 

[redbeard331]

I need my scumbag zoom in 2022, Apple, other phones have had it for what 3-4 years already? Have they seen moon mode on a Samsung? Makes the iPhone look like a camera from the 1800’s. By the time Apple gets a decent tele lens Samsung will come out with Saturn mode and people will be photographing its rings n **** with their phones.

 

[The Game 161]

Just such a shame we have do wait a further two more years by then who knows what else will be on the market by then. Still I’m sure will be great when it’s here but again tech is always slower than it should be

 

[ericwn]

So 2 years later than its rivals. By then Samsung and others will have something even better.

Apple isn’t known for having all the features first all the time except maybe the occasional outlier. They tend to take their time and often need to produce at a different scale then smaller competitors which likely is a challenge with parts supplies as well.

 

[Denzo]

I made myself a promise with the iPhone 13 PM, I’m not upgrading again until there is an awesome change.. I want… NEED, an iFold done the apple way.

Matte silver and 2/3 thickness of a Samsung flip3. iOS and I’m good.

 

[locrumo]

They can't even put fingerprintsensor in their phones. Get android phones today to see what iphones will have in 5 years.

 

[locrumo]

wait for the iPhone 14... no the 15, no the 16, no the 17. *dies*.

The Iphone 14 is already oldschool.

 

[ericwn]

Wow, can’t wait for the iPhone 100

I doubt we’ll have iPhones in 87 years. It remind me then please!

 

[ericwn]

I need my scumbag zoom in 2022, Apple, other phones have had it for what 3-4 years already? Have they seen moon mode on a Samsung? Makes the iPhone look like a camera from the 1800’s. By the time Apple gets a decent tele lens Samsung will come out with Saturn mode and people will be photographing its rings n **** with their phones.

What’s a scumbag zoom?

 

[Momof2.1107]

MIght have to postpone my phone upgrade for two years.

Not me. I’m upgrading this year regardless of what Apple releases for the 14 Pro Max. If the 15 Pro Max is a worthy upgrade, then I’ll trade or sell my 14 Pro Max and upgrade to the 15 Pro Max. I’m on a 2 year upgrade cycle now, so this is my year to upgrade.

 

[darngooddesign]

Hole punch screen this year for 2022 …

Hole-punch isn’t happening until apple drops FaceID.

 

[svish]

Possible. iPhone 14 with redesign and 15 with camera upgrades.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

They can't even put fingerprintsensor in their phones. Get android phones today to see what iphones will have in 5 years.

That’s pretty accurate. Most Android phones sell in the low millions, so if a new tech is having low yields due to high failure rates, it’s not like the tech vendor was in a position to make hundreds of millions anyway.