Oppo Introduces 10x Optical Zoom Triple-Camera Smartphone

[MacRumors]

Android smartphone manufacturer Oppo has introduced a 10x optical zoom camera system that is said to be shipping in the spring. Engadget describes the system:

This will still be enabled by a triple-camera module, but now we know that from top to bottom, it'll start with a 48-megapixel high-resolution main camera, followed by a 120-degree ultra-wide camera and a stealthy periscopic telephoto camera. Together, these cameras cover a range of 16mm to 160mm, hence the 10x zoom rating.

Both the main camera and zoom camera come with optical image stabilization, and the phone interpolates between fixed zoom settings to provide continuous "optical" zoom from 1x to 10x.

Oppo allowed hands on time with prototypes of the device with early software. GSMArena and PCWorld provide some sample zoom shots from ultra-wide to 10x zoom.

10x zoom sample shot via PCWorld​

Apple has been widely rumored to be including a triple camera system in their 2019 iPhones. The mosts recent rumor from Ming Chi Kuo indicates that the new iPhones will have a "wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide lens". Apple describes the current iPhone XS as having "Dual 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras".

Beyond the presence of the three cameras, the exact advantages to Apple's new system has not been fully articulated. The most concrete features described of the new camera system came from Bloomberg:

A third camera on the back of the 2019 iPhone will help the device capture a larger field of view and enable a wider range of zoom. It will also capture more pixels so Apple software could, for example, automatically repair a video or photo to fit in a subject that may have been accidentally cut off from the initial shot, according to the people familiar with the plans.

Apple's next generation 2019 iPhones are expected to launch this fall.

Article Link: Oppo Introduces 10x Optical Zoom Triple-Camera Smartphone

 

[ohbrilliance]

Introducing camera shake to the masses

 

[bladerunner2000]

Everybody's innovating while Apple only knows how to raise the price.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Whatever about folding phones, which I personally believe will remain a gimmick for the next decade, until they become good—at which point I still won’t want one because I’m trying to be diet digital for mental health reasons, the idea of adding more cameras to phones. Something that sounds odd at first, has genuine practical use for all users. Imagine the chambers of a gun for a moment, and each one is a camera of differing focal length and the center bearing is the flash. With elegant software this product could be an amazing camera in a phone body, able to zoom in on many more things and provide awesome clarity with awesome after the fact focus correction.

 

[Freida]

if they can use software to take advantage (ie, the camera will take picture from all lenses and then digitally calculates depth etc.) then we could have a really good improvement. Otherwise it won't be that crazy useful

 

[I7guy]

Everybody's innovating while Apple only knows how to raise the price.

Whose “everybody”? And is a personal definition of innovation at play here?

 

[mozumder]

Apple really should have added a super-wide-angle lens instead of a telephoto lens first. Super-wide-angle lenses are so much more useful than telephoto lenses.

 

[MVMNT]

Gone are the MegaPixel wars.

It’s now all about who can out-zoom who.

 

[Michael Goff]

Gone are the MegaPixel wars.

It’s now all about who can out-zoom who.

Being able to zoom far is actually useful, though.

 

[apolloa]

Ok now this is interesting... Will have to watch reviews of it.

 

[mi7chy]

Always thought 2x zoom is more of a gimmick vs ultrawide since you can't back into a wall but can zoom with your feet. 10x zoom, on the other hand, can be useful.

 

[sterlingindigo]

Yeah, but what’s an Oppo?

 

[Michael Goff]

Yeah, but what’s an Oppo?

The fifth biggest smartphone company in the world.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Do my eyes deceive me? Are some of ya'll actually saying that optical zoom is not useful?

Anyways, been waiting on Oppo to implement this for several years now.

 

[Michael Goff]

Do my eyes deceive me? Are some of ya'll actually saying that optical zoom is not useful?

Anyways, been waiting on Oppo to implement this for several years now.

Well, yeah, because Oppo isn't their team and that's what this is all about.

 

[0388631]

Oh, this is just showing off now.
[doublepost=1550956287][/doublepost]

Well, yeah, because Oppo isn't their team and that's what this is all about.

Just bookmark the posts and wait until Apple introduces 10x optical hardware zoom in a few years* and see what they said then.


*Few Years: 8 years from now.

 

[justperry]

Both the main camera and zoom camera come with optical image stabilization, and the phone interpolates between fixed zoom settings to provide continuous "optical" zoom from 1x to 10x.

Oppo allowed hands on time with prototypes of the device with early software. GMSArena and PCWorld provide some sample zoom shots from ultra-wide to 10x zoom.

Typo, it's GSMArena.

Edit: If you hover over the link it shows the correct name.

 

[0388631]

I’m trying to be diet digital for mental health reasons

Dump social media. You can use tech and not be glued to it. Social media, however, has many nasties.

 

[nexusrule]

Oh, this is just showing off now.
[doublepost=1550956287][/doublepost]
Just bookmark the posts and wait until Apple introduced 10x optical hardware zoom in a few years* and see what they said then.


*Few Years: 8 years from now.

If you read the article you would know the 10x zoom is expected in the next iPhone. It’s just a matter of the technology been ready now and the iPhone updates coming in September. And if you read the article you would also know the Oppo phone is expected in at least a couple of months, so it’s more a matter of 4-5 months than your 8 years .

 

[wigby]

Apple really should have added a super-wide-angle lens instead of a telephoto lens first. Super-wide-angle lenses are so much more useful than telephoto lenses.

Super wide lenses are only useful for front facing selfie cameras with 4 or more people in the frame. I cannot think of a reason for ultra wide rear facing except for taking distorted pics of small interior spaces.

Apple's 2x telephoto has come in handy many times when I cannot physically get closer to a subject but a 3x or 4x would be even nicer.

All of these choices are great but I really think the smartphone camera battles are all played out. They all look good enough. For those of us that really need high quality photos, a dedicated DSLR or mirrorless is much better. Everything else is just about convenience.

 

[dannyyankou]

Wow that’s impressive. I wonder how the quality of the 10x lens is. It looks decent from that sample they provided, so I’m curious to see more examples.

 

[mozumder]

Super wide lenses are only useful for front facing selfie cameras with 4 or more people in the frame. I cannot think of a reason for ultra wide rear facing except for taking distorted pics of small interior spaces.

Landscapes. BIG party pics. Dramatic angles. Super-wide angles are far more useful that way.

But for me - 2.39:1 cinematography aspect ratio that demands super-wide angles for the same vertical field-of-view as 16:9.

I suspect you'll see a lot more 2.39:1 videos in the future.

 

[kwikdeth]

I for one am looking forward to seeing this technology pop up in a OnePlus phone, since they're an Oppo subsidiary.
[doublepost=1550957215][/doublepost]

Dump social media. You can use tech and not be glued to it. Social media, however, has many nasties.

My life has gotten much less stressful since I ditched all social media (except genuine forum sites, obviously) about six months ago.
[doublepost=1550957282][/doublepost]

Yeah, but what’s an Oppo?

you would be more familiar with one of their subsidiaries, OnePlus. Oppo doesnt do much, if any, direct business in the US.

 

[s15119]

It's amazing what we are doing with small phone cameras these days. I have a XS Max and I hardly ever pull out my Nikon anymore. The only thing I need it for is zoom or wide shots.

 

[macguru212]

Gone are the MegaPixel wars.

It’s now all about who can out-zoom who.

It's like 1970s filmmaking all over again - the golden age of zoom.