Buzz
What is a prospective lens that can overcome the constraints of traditional smartphone camera designs?
1. Unveiling and Swiftly Experiencing the Prospective Camera on OPPO Reno 10x Zoom
What is a prospective lens that can overcome the constraints of traditional smartphone camera designs?
In its latest flagship product, the Reno 10x Zoom, OPPO has successfully implemented the periscope camera technology it has long experimented with, allowing users to achieve excellent zoom capabilities without sacrificing image quality. So, what is the essence of this camera system that can accomplish such a feat?
Advantages of a professional camera
One of the major reasons why many professional photographers still choose to use DSLR or Mirrorless cameras is their versatility. Despite having only one sensor, these cameras come with interchangeable mounts for different shooting purposes.
DSLR Camera
One specific purpose is the ability to zoom in from a distance, especially useful for photographers capturing wildlife or sports events where getting close to the subject is not feasible. Specialized lenses for these types of photography have high focal lengths (meaning they can zoom in), which also translates to larger sizes and relatively high prices.
Camera lenses for various purposes
Limitations when applying zoom to smartphones
So why couldn't smartphone manufacturers incorporate long-range zoom capabilities into their products for a long time? The answer lies in physical limitations. To achieve long-range shooting, there are two options: make the lens longer to achieve a large focal length or make the sensor smaller to capture a small portion of the image (creating a magnification factor).
Both of these methods have their own drawbacks. The first option would make the phone thicker, going against the current trend of slim smartphone designs. The second option would compromise image quality as shrinking the image sensor would result in insufficient light capture for the photos.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
Samsung experimented with the first approach with the Galaxy S4 Zoom, a 'smartphone disguised as a camera' featuring a large optical zoom lens (10x, 24 - 240mm) at the back. While the product was unique, it didn't achieve the success the company expected and didn't have any successful successors.
That's why, for a long time, smartphone manufacturers only implemented a 2x zoom range (meaning double the focal length of the main camera), striking a compromise between the thickness of the phone and zoom capability, and the final image quality.
Promising lens solution combined with intelligent software
With technology advancing, smartphone manufacturers are becoming 'smarter' in designing camera systems to overcome the aforementioned challenges. On the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom, the Chinese electronics company applied a camera with a 'promising' lens.
OPPO Reno 10x Zoom Camera Zoom (bottom)
Inspired by periscopes on submarines, the system allows submarines to submerge underwater while still observing objects on the surface, avoiding detection by enemy aircraft or ships. This is achieved through a triangular prism lens, bending light at a 90-degree angle downwards.
Structural diagram of submarine periscope lens
Applying this theory, the 13MP resolution zoom lens of the Reno 10x Zoom also incorporates a triangular prism lens component, directing light to the smartphone's sensor deep within the device.
Reno 10x Zoom 10x Zoom Camera Array (left side)
This lens system allows for an extended length (larger focal length) while addressing the thickness issue of the smartphone. Despite its powerful long-range capabilities, the entire lens assembly in the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom is positioned horizontally within the device, avoiding any protrusions that could scratch the front glass or cause wobbling when placed on a surface.
In theory, the zoom camera of Reno 10x Zoom has a physical 5x zoom, elevating the focal length of the main 26mm lens to 130mm. However, when combined with intelligent software and stacked images from the high-quality 48MP sensor, the 10x zoom (260mm) retains a remarkable amount of detail.
Comparison of the quality of 10x zoom in OPPO Reno 10x Zoom (left) and regular Reno (right)
In real-world usage, Reno 10x Zoom delivers superior image quality compared to the standard Reno (which uses digital zoom without physical zoom). The device also allows users to zoom in up to 60x, pushing the theoretical zoom range to 1560mm!
However, the best image quality (sufficient sharpness for online sharing, colors not becoming dull) is achieved at around 5x - 20x; beyond that, the device relies on software enhancements, and the results may not meet expectations!
Standing on one side of the river, zooming across to the other side to admire elephants in the zoo!
Capturing a deer in the enclosure becomes much simpler and more efficient.
An intriguing aspect of using the periscope zoom camera is the rectangular-shaped bokeh instead of the typical circular bokeh found in regular lenses. In my personal assessment, I consider this a unique advantage, making photos taken with the periscope camera stand out and differ significantly from other images.
Unique rectangular-shaped bokeh
Adding a few sample shots from the periscope camera of OPPO Reno 10x Zoom:
Conclusion
The system implemented on OPPO Reno 10x Zoom is indeed impressive, but surely just the beginning for the trend of integrating long-range zoom cameras on smartphones. Lens components can potentially extend even further, pushing zoom capabilities to 20x or even 30x.
Or, by integrating movable lens components, we might even change the focal length, resembling a professional camera. The potential of the periscope zoom system is vast, awaiting smartphone manufacturers, including OPPO, to explore.
