When company release new smartphones , they usually call out a specific camera stipulation or two . For theGalaxy S24 Ultra , Samsung calls out the 200 - megapixel main tv camera as well as the 5x telephoto , while Apple focused on its48MP Fusion tv camera , and Google made bold claims about the might of its 5x telephoto zoom .
However , plunk deeper , and you ’ll often find that these tawdry photographic camera are paired with other low - resolution sensor . For some companies , this is n’t a significant job , and Google has proven that you may work wonders using AI and algorithmic program , even when the hardware does n’t match up .
The handsome issue with this approach come when recording video recording , peculiarly when alter lense mid - transcription . When was the last time you were take a television , changed lenses , and realized that the quality of the paradigm or the light replication had wobble significantly ? It turns out that most cameras ache from this problem , but a novel phone proves that there is a better approach path . In doing so , it showcases a way of life for Google and Samsung to follow with their smartphones next year . Let ’s plunk in .
Multiples of 50MP
I latterly reviewed the Oppo Find X8 Pro , and while many things stand out — including the excellent camera that go past theiPhone 16 Proand a rapid climb feature that ’s 2nd to none — the adult takeaway for me is Oppo ’s approach to the whole photographic camera stack .
TheFind X8 Prois a choice case of how to solve the problem of disparity between different lenses . It have four 50MP cameras that , while having unlike degree of focal duration and aperture , ensure there ’s the same amount of raw data to work with irrespective of which lens you are using .
The 50MP chief camera is pair with a 50MP ultrawide , 50MP telephoto with 3x zoom , and an extra 50MP with 6x telephoto zoom . The regular non - Pro Find X8 sport the same setup , save for the secondary telephoto with 6x zoom , and this approach is my new deary for smartphone photography and videography .
How it’s different from Samsung and Google
Like many citizenry , I use my phone for photo and videos instead of expect a secondary television camera . For most phones , there ’s a obtrusive dispute in overall lineament when using different lenses .
Google comes confining to ensuring this eubstance between lenses , with thePixel 9 ProandPixel 9 Pro XLboth featuring a 48MP telephotograph and 48MP ultrawide partner off with a 50MP main television camera . This ensures that , while there is a difference of opinion when using dissimilar lenses , it ’s not as obvious as when using other phones .
Samsung takes a unlike approach to its tv camera . The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 200MP principal camera , which sounds great , but it is paired with a 10MP sensor with 3x optical rapid growth , a 50MP telephotograph detector with 5x optical zoom , and a 12MP ultrawide photographic camera . Algorithms help the Galaxy S24 Ultra take skilful overall photos , but I ’ve noticed that the point in ultrawide photos , in peculiar , can be a significant trouble .
Why consistency between lenses matters
Consistency between lenses is n’t a significant problem with still photos , but it is a trouble in video recording , peculiarly when interchange lens system while recording a video . You might not think this is a problem , but ideate being at a marriage and render to film the minutes ; you ’ll quickly regain that disparity between lenses is a bigger issue than it may seem .
rent ’s first take a tone at this video capture on the Pixel 9 Pro :
Now , let ’s look at the same video from the Oppo Find X8 professional :
Lastly , let ’s see how the Galaxy S24 Ultra palm it :
While there are still differences in light and color reproduction between the lens of the eye on the Find X8 Pro , there ’s no obtrusive drop - off in quality when zooming through the various focal lengths . There is still a judder between lenses , and I wish that companies would puzzle out this trouble .
The Pixel 9 Pro also has a judder , and there is a noticeable deviation in the quality before it switches to its telephotograph lens , but it ’s still a mostly usable video . It does show that Google should consider a dual telephoto lens approaching for future sound , particularly as combine 3x and 5x ( or 10x ) telephotograph lenses would solve this problem .
However , both are importantly better than the Galaxy S24 Ultra , which has a considerable break in quality , unclouded , and color when it switches to unlike lenses . That judder makes the overall video recording misfortunate and mean that it ’s less dependable when it come to the overall tv camera experience . Considering that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most expensive of these three devices , it ’s exonerated that Samsung needs to exchange its approaching .
What else can Google and Samsung learn?
Beyond just the consistency in the lenses , the Find X8 Pro has a couple of other camera features I ’ve enjoyed using . In particular , it ’s the power to catch pic with zero shutter lag , which ensures that you’re able to trance a multitude of scenes that other phones weigh .
At Oppo ’s launch in Bali , I test the lightning snap feature , which allows you to agitate and hold the shutter button and take seven photos per second . Each photo captures nine high - resolution frames and combine them into one photo , and the discovery X8 Pro is easy the best phone I ’ve ever used to capture pictures of fireworks you ’ll see below .
It ’s not just fireworks , but any locomote scene . I captured hundreds of picture of the Balinese countryside from the window of a moving coach on a bumpy route , and most calculate like they were capture while stomach on the side of the street . If you move a lot by train or motorcar , this ability to snapshot the scene outside the window is second to none , and I cerebrate the zero shutter lag is an important stair that Samsung and Google require to take with future phones .
Of course , there ’s also the zoom factor , and here , Samsung has a real problem . The fundamental feature of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the 100x Space Zoom , but Oppo — and OnePlus previously — have shew that Samsung is n’t the leader . Samsung does n’t ticktack the iPhone 16 Pro or the Pixel 9 Pro either , as I discovered in a recent tv camera test in New York City .
Learning from the competition
If there ’s one takeaway from the Oppo Find X8 Pro that I wish well every phone would adopt , it ’s the consistency between lenses . This would immensely meliorate the raw quality that each phone God Almighty ’s algorithms can work with , and when combined with Google ’s software art or Samsung ’s incredible portrait mode , it would make for a compelling smartphone camera experience .
Failing that , however , the Oppo Find X8 Pro will be persist in my grip as my camera phone of selection . The Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro have outstanding cameras , but the Find X8 Pro has proven to be the most versatile photographic camera I ’ve used , and this ensures that I wo n’t be giving it up anytime soon . gratefully , it ’s also more than just a photographic camera phone , and myOppo Find X8 Pro reviewreveals how Oppo built a unfeignedly compelling overall smartphone .
