Samsung will make a continuous zoom lens for smartphones, marking a significant advancement in mobile camera technology. Known not only for producing phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, Samsung also manufactures many internal components used in these products. One such component is the camera lens, and now the South Korean company is set to produce an innovative continuous optical zoom lens designed specifically for smartphone cameras.
Samsung Will Make a Continuous Zoom Lens for Smartphones: Collaboration with Tecno
Chinese smartphone brand Tecno recently announced two new optical zoom lenses for mobile devices: the Dual-Mirror Reflect Telephoto and the Freeform Continuum Telephoto. Samsung, alongside Taiwanese firm Largan, will be responsible for manufacturing these telephoto modules. Tecno revealed that the Dual-Mirror Reflect Telephoto module is expected to be ready for integration into phones as early as next year. Meanwhile, the Freeform Continuum Telephoto module will require at least another year before it becomes commercially available.
The Dual-Mirror Reflect Telephoto module is an innovative design that uses two mirrors to focus light. This design reduces the size of the lens by 50% compared to traditional zoom lenses. It also produces unique donut-shaped bokeh effects, similar to the mirror lenses found in DSLR and mirrorless cameras. However, this design has a drawback: it reportedly loses one stop of light, effectively halving the amount of light that reaches the sensor. Despite this, the module’s compact size and distinctive optical effects make it an intriguing option for smartphone cameras.
Advantages and Challenges of Continuous Optical Zoom Modules
The Freeform Continuum Telephoto module offers a different approach. It is a single periscope lens module with continuous zoom capabilities, covering an optical zoom range from 1x to 9x. This means there is no need for a separate telephoto camera since the primary camera handles all zooming functions when paired with this module. This setup brings several advantages.
Firstly, it provides sharper details at any focal length, improving image quality throughout the zoom range. Secondly, it eliminates the noticeable “zoom jump” that occurs when phones switch between different cameras or lenses. Lastly, because primary cameras typically use larger sensors than dedicated telephoto cameras, the overall image quality could be superior across the entire zoom range.
However, there is a known downside. A similar continuous zoom module used in the Sony Xperia 1 VII demonstrated that sharpness is not as good as with fixed telephoto lens setups. It remains to be seen whether Tecno has addressed this issue with its Freeform Continuum Telephoto module. If Tecno succeeds in resolving this problem, continuous zoom lenses could become a common feature in future high-end smartphones.
Potential Impact on Samsung Galaxy Phones and Future Developments
If this continuous zoom lens solution proves viable, Samsung may consider introducing a similar or even improved version in its Galaxy phone lineup. Samsung has already developed a compact telephoto module called All Lenses on Prism (ALoP). This module is smaller than traditional telephoto lenses and allows more light to enter, resulting in brighter, cleaner, and sharper images. However, the ALoP module does not offer continuous zoom capabilities.
The collaboration with Tecno and the development of continuous zoom lenses highlight Samsung’s commitment to advancing smartphone camera technology. By manufacturing these innovative lenses, Samsung is positioning itself to enhance the photography experience on future mobile devices. The introduction of continuous optical zoom lenses could revolutionize how users capture images, offering greater flexibility and improved image quality without the need for multiple camera modules.
In summary, Samsung will make a continuous zoom lens for smartphones, working alongside Tecno and Largan to bring new optical zoom technologies to the market. These lenses promise to improve zoom performance, image sharpness, and overall camera functionality in upcoming smartphones. As the technology matures, Samsung’s involvement could lead to the integration of continuous zoom lenses in its own flagship devices, potentially setting a new standard for mobile photography.
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Source: original article.