iPhone 11 camera how many megapixels
Apple presented new iPhones: how they look
Apple CEO Tim Cook presented the new iPhone 11 smartphone during the annual presentation.
The head of the company spoke about the characteristics of the long-awaited smartphone during a speech at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. At the same time, observers noted that this year the company returned to model numbers, abandoning the Roman numerals in the names.
As a result of the presentation, it became known that the new iPhones of the younger series received:
Body in purple, green, yellow, black, white
6.1-inch Liquid Retina display
Dual 12MP cameras including ultra-wide.
iPhone 11 Pro VS 100 megapixel camera
12-megapixel front camera that can shoot 4k video and slow-motion selfie videos (slowfies).
New 7nm A13 Bionic processor
Dolby Atmos capable speakers
18W USB-C Charger with Fast Charge.
The new iPhone 11 has six body colors. There is even a soft purple. There are also two cameras, one of them wide-angle.
“The iPhone 11 will last an hour longer than the XR,” Apple says, while promoting the previous smartphone as the longest-lived iPhone.
The new iPhone features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display that supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, high dynamic range, the ability to switch cameras on the fly, night mode and optical video stabilization.
The updated smartphone can take ultra-clear selfies in slow-mo, which the company calls “slow-motion”.
Neural networks are working to create a picture in the camera of the new iPhones. The smartphone takes 9 different frames to create one picture, and four. even before pressing the button. Then they are cleverly combined to preserve as much detail as possible.
“The iPhone XR has become the most popular smartphone in the world. The next generation has a great new design and a lot of extraordinary capabilities.” assured Tim Cook.
Tim Cook also announced the new iPhone Pro, the main advantage of which was the triple camera.
The main differences between the “top” version of the new iPhone 11 Pro are:
Case in four colors: dark green, silver, gold and space gray
RAM 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB
Older Super Retina XDR 1200 nit screens consume 15% less power than previous versions
12MP triple camera on the back, each camera with a different lens: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto
IPhone 11 Pro battery lasts four hours longer than the iPhone XS and five hours longer than the XS Max.
IPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max have an A13 Bionic processor capable of performing billions of operations per second, which is 40% stronger than the previous generation.
The Pro prefix received two new smartphones at once. the heirs of the XS. The top version was called the iPhone 11 Pro Max, as suggested by some journalists.
The smartphone has a screen brightness of 1200 nits, screen technology. Super Retina XDR.
The iPhone 11 Pro line has a triple camera on the back. All cameras have a resolution of 12 MP, but they have different lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto. Each lens has its own apertures and focal lengths.
Also, the new iPhone received the A13 Bionic processor, which processes a billion operations per second and has 8.5 billion transistors.
Speed increased by 15-40%, and spends charges 20-30% less.
Thanks to it, the power of the GPU has increased by 40% compared to previous models.
IPhone 11 Pro battery lasts 4 hours longer than iPhone XS.
Also, the iPhone 11 Pro lasts 4 hours longer than last year’s XS, and the Max. 5 hours longer.
For the first time, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max come with faster 18W USB-C power adapter instead of 5W charger.
Buy iPhone 11 in Installments, Moscow and St. Petersburg Original. Price in All Stores
Additionally, it is recommended to pay attention to the Player.ru service, where the price is lower compared to the standard one. But the terms of purchase are different from the usual ones. You will have to pay for delivery or go to the other end of the city for a smartphone to purchase it at the lowest price.
iPhone 11. Photo All Colors Black, White, Yellow and Purple
The color scheme of the iPhone 11 is varied, formed by 6 colors:
- Purple.
- Yellow.
- Green.
- The black.
- White.
- Red.
iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are sold in the market in shades:
- Dark green.
- Gray space.
- Silver.
- Gold.
Saturation and distinctive range of shades of the Pro and Pro Max series makes smartphones more expensive.
“IPhone 11”. Camera How Many Megapixels, Comparison of 2 and 3 Front and Front Cameras
In 2019, Apple launched a new line of 11 series smartphones for sale, which differ from previous models with the pro prefix. They do not really differ in functionality, but there is a difference in technical properties and other parameters. The conclusion suggests itself that Pro-devices are not significantly superior to the main relative. What are the for 11th generation iPhones and what is the feature of each variety.
IPhone 11, 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max Screen. Size, Color, and Response
The iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display. Superficially distributed over the front of the body. Among the features are:
- Accurate color reproduction. great display of photos, videos, games thanks to the support of the same brightness at any point (equal to the center and corners of the display).
- True Tone technology. whites are dependent on ambient conditions when auto-adjusting for color temperature expression.
- Touch or lift option. the user can only touch the screen or lift it to exit the locked mode.
- Tactile feedback. customize context menus and commands to speed up actions when tapping the display.
The 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max have an OLED display branded as Super Retina XDR. For devices with pro prefix the size is 5.8 “, and for pro Max it is 6.5”. Characteristics:
- In different lighting conditions, brightness adjustment is possible. in sunny weather, the reflection parameters are 800 cd / m3, when it is convenient to view photos and take pictures. When loaded in HDR format, the device can deliver up to 1200 cd / m3, comparable to the brightness of the Pro Display XDR monitor.
- Contrast. 2,000,000: 1.
- True Tone method. for a comfortable display, the white is adjusted to balance with the ambient light.
- Haptic feedback when pressed. customize menus and commands to speed up actions such as launching the camera without turning on the app.
- Wide color gamut. a systematic approach to color management.
- Night Shift mode. in the dark, the screen color shifts to warm tones for easy viewing.
- Dark Mode. natural blacks for expressive iOS 13
458 pixels per inch make the devices perfect for clarity and brightness. The screen is able to turn off the light of some pixels to add depth to the color.
iPhone 11, 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max. : Pros and Cons
Product reviews in 2019 have been put aside by Apple users since the early days and by individuals reviewing different smartphones. Of the advantages of the 11th series, there are:
- Convenient TrueTone mode for automatic light adjustment. automatically adjusts to ambient light conditions.
- Face ID works great regardless of the time of day.
- Wide-angle photography. wider angle at the push of a button.
- Slow motion video when turning on the selfie camera.
- Self-focusing while taking video or photographing.
- Long battery life. does not require recharging during the day.
- Performance.
- Easy data migration from previous versions.
- High-quality music reproduction. good speakers let you enjoy tunes.
- Weak charging included. you have to wait 3 hours to get full capacity.
- Fingerprints remain, although the manufacturer advertised their absence. possibly due to the purchase of a smartphone in black.
- Rear window heats up under continuous load.
- Thick frames.
Camera Comparison of iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. How Many Megapixels?
Iphone 11 has 2 cameras that work systemically. They allow you to photograph to see the frame in expansion and super-expansion. This innovation is associated with the ability to involve in the frame what is behind it. As a result, the user shoots the object itself and outside the frame. For example, an endless landscape or a scene with spectators will forever remain with the user. The image area is now 4 times larger.
The interface has been updated to allow photo editing. And also the option to change the video is configured. Doing this is now easy and simple, just like with photographs.
The 11 series not only pleases with the camera, but also makes it possible to shoot high quality 4K video at a frequency of 60 frames / second. The image area is enlarged by the wide-angle camera. The user will be able to shoot materials with movement and other complex without problems. Conveniently, when an object approaches during shooting, the sound also changes.
QuickTake function allows the user to quickly jump to video recording when swiping to the right uses the camera for video while taking a photo.
Additionally, the smartphone camera has the option “Night mode” in its functionality. It turns on at nightfall. The flash is not needed in this case. Photos and without it, they will be bright and clear.
The Pro and Pro Max have 3 cameras built in. The three-module complex consists of elements:
- Wide-angle camera. 26mm focus distance, 6-element lens, f / 1.8 aperture, stabilization option, 12MP sensor.
- Ultra wide-angle camera. 13mm focal length, f / 2.4 aperture, 5-lens stacked lens, 120 ° FOV, 12MP sensor.
- Telephoto camera. 52mm focal length, f / 2.0 aperture, 6-element lens, OIS, 2x optical zoom, 12MP sensor.
The complex functioning of the cameras is due to the calibration carried out at the stage of assembly and final inclusion in the smartphone. As a result, the captured images are corrected in a fraction of a second, so that the color rendition when using three modules remains constant.
Turning on any camera is quick and easy. zoom options offered with three lens arrangement.
For portraits, the Iphone 11 dual chamber module creates new views and adjusts lighting. The faces are great. You can take pictures of pets. Color images are easily converted to black and white using the Black and White Tone option. The portrait mode itself allows you to vary the intensity of the light to achieve the desired result. The three-module system of Pro-representatives is characterized by a greater depth of the image. Get professional black and white shots. When enabled, the user can adjust the lighting and light intensity. The result is shooting in a studio-like environment. The smartphone allows you to change 6 lighting effects in the “Portrait” mode.
The 11 series smartphones use a new generation of Smart HDR. The function works perfectly when working in conjunction with the A13 processor of machine learning technology. The faces in the frame are processed differently from the rest of the details. Skin tones look natural. iPhone 11 Pro independently adjusts image detail for background and subject. In comparison with SLR cameras, the device creates beautiful frames, not all professional cameras are capable of this.
The work during the shooting is connected with the artificial intelligence of the software and the A13 processor. As a result, if you want to take a photo or video in the dark, the picture is detailed:
- The aLGorithm for adjusting the frame in the dark starts automatically.
- Serial photo output.
- Eliminate jitter thanks to optical stabilization.
- ALGorithms combine images to eliminate distortion.
- Blur is removed and sharpness is composited.
The contrast of the finished shot is edited to make it look natural. At the final stage, noise is removed, the details of the finished image are worked out.
A special feature of the 11 series is the slow selfie option. At the maximum speed of photographing (120 pieces per second), excellent photos are obtained with any movement of people in the frame. Thanks to the 12 megapixel TrueDepth camera, everything around is captured in the picture. When you rotate your phone horizontally, it automatically zooms out to include most of the details.
The transparent interface of the camera does not interfere with seeing what is happening outside the frame. Full immersion in the process of capturing conditions, circumstances, people, landscape is ensured.
Feature iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. Model Differences
For comparison of technical specifications, the series specifications are applied, ranging from the suggested battery capacity to language support. Since the Iphone 11 Pro and Pro Max outwardly differ in size, you can consider their characteristics in the same direction. Indicators:
- Colors. the color palette for the ancestor of the 11th version is formed by 6 basic colors, and his brothers are offered in 4.
- Capacities. 64GB, 128GB, 256GB for Iphone 11, 64GB, 256GB, 512GB for Pro.
- Display length. the shortest 14.4 cm for the Iphone 11 Pro, the height for other devices is greater.
| Characteristics | Iphone 11 | Iphone 11 Pro | Iphone 11 pro max |
| Display diagonal, inch | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.5 |
| Display type | LCD Multi-Touch | OLED Multi-Touch | OLED Multi-Touch |
| Contrast standards | 1400: 1 | 2,000,000: 1 | 2,000,000: 1 |
| Click response | Tactile | ||
| Visibility of fingerprints | Absent | ||
| Languages and symbols | Indication at one time | ||
| Brightness parameters | 625 cd / m3 | 800 cd / m3 (under HDR viewing conditions, 1200 cd / m3) | 800 cd / m3 (in HDR viewing conditions, 1200 cd / m3) |
| Ability to save at depth | Up to 2 m for 30 minutes | Up to 4 m for 30 minutes | Up to 4 m for 30 minutes |
| CPU | A13 Bionic | ||
| Camera | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Optics | Zoom 2x, digital zoom up to 5x | One 2x zoom, separate 2x zoom, digital zoom (up to 10x) | 2x for reduction, 2x for digital magnification up to 10x |
| Portrait photography | Multiple modes to achieve image depth, bokeh effect | ||
| Shooting in the dark, image correction, auto stabilization | there is | ||
| Burst shooting | Not | there is | there is |
| Video quality | 4K at 24.30 or 60 fps | ||
| Audio zoom, bright flash, cinematic video stabilization, stereo sound | there is | there is | there is |
| TrueDepth camera | 12 MP, 4K shooting at 24.30 or 60 frames / second | ||
| Face ID | TrueDepth camera that detects facial contours and focuses depth | ||
| Apple Pay | You can turn on Face ID for cash payments | ||
| Geo position | GPS / GLONASS, compass, Wi-Fi, cellular, location | Built-in GPS / GLONASS module, compass, Wi-Fi, cellular communication, location determination | |
| Video call | Calling over wireless or cellular | ||
| Video Format Support | HEVS, H / 264, MPEG-4 Part 2, Motion Jpeg | ||
| Enabling voice commands | Available for various applications | ||
| Video playback wirelessly, hours | eighteen | ||
| Watching video in streaming mode, hours | eleven | ||
| Listening to audio wirelessly, hours | 65 | ||
| 18W charging included | Not | there is | there is |
| Controllers | Face ID, barometer, gyroscope, proximity, accelerometer, ambient light | Face ID, barometer, gyroscope, proximity, accelerometer, ambient light | Face ID, barometer, gyroscope, proximity, accelerometer, ambient light |
| Operating system | iOS 13 | ||
| SIM card | Supports two nano and eSIM cards (micro-SIM not supported) | ||
| Language support | than 30 languages | ||
Sample photos on iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro ultra wide-angle lens
? Wide-angle camera in iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. What changed
I noticed that many people incorrectly call the main camera in the iPhone. Either “shirik”, then “super-wide” they write, and you won’t understand what they really mean.
We remember. The main camera in the iPhone is wide-angle, and it has been since time immemorial. Do not confuse wide and ultrawide modules, they are completely different.
The wide-angle cameras of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max are 100 percent identical. There is no hidden feature exclusively reserved for the Pro or Max models. I checked.
Non-zoomed shots on the iPhone 11 and Pro’s main cameras look the same on the MacBook Pro. In this situation (I will say more about zoom) between 11 and Pro there is full parity.
IPhone 11’s screen resolution prevents camera photos from expanding properly.
However, I do not just mention a laptop with a good screen. On the smartphones themselves, the difference seems to be not in favor of the iPhone 11, and the reason for this is its display. As I did not like him in XR, he is not happy here either. Not so much color rendition as resolution.
With such a diagonal, the display of a regular “eleventh” iPhone does not convey all the detail of camera photos as well as the high-resolution OLED matrix in the iPhone 11 Pro.
I can’t help myself, but I constantly see grain in the frames of the Film, which is not in the photo itself. I hope that next year this branch of smartphones will return at least an honest Full HD.
IPhone 11 main camera specifications
“Shirik” in the iPhone 11 and Pro consists of six lenses. Shoots at 12 megapixels with a pixel size of 1.4 microns (micrometer). Focal length. 26 mm, aperture ƒ / 1.8.
The iPhone XS had exactly the same parameters. Then what’s the upgrade?
First, the sensor has changed. How exactly it was improved, only Apple engineers know. Officially, they only said that the fast focus technology. Focus Pixels. now covers 100% of the matrix. No wonder.
The camera now focuses faster and more accurately. Indeed, the difference between the iPhone 11 and, say, my old iPhone X is visible to the naked eye. Especially in low light conditions: the “ten” misses four times out of five, when the “eleventh” almost always captures even small details in the shadow in focus.
Secondly, we added improved image stabilization in the video. There are a lot of examples, here is one of them:
Stabilization itself is not a new feature. It was in both the XS and X. This year Apple “just” changed both lens vibration reduction mechanics and post-processing.
The result when shooting handheld, IMHO, is very worthy, and for a smartphone it is absolutely awesome. It is a pity that physics has not yet been able to deceive. strong shaking still causes the “wave” effect and image distortion. An external stabilizer is still needed if you are going to shoot a video for professional tasks.
Thirdly, we improved the Smart HDR post-processing aLGorithm thanks to the A13 processor in the iPhone 11. Due to it, the balance between light and shadows is better conveyed, which is especially important when shooting in sunny weather, in general during the day and especially in winter.
Snow is traditionally hard on smartphone cameras, and on my iPhone X it turned into a completely white canvas.
One can argue for a long time about why the change in the Smart HDR aLGorithm did not spread to the iPhone XS. but we will never know the answer to this, except for the person on duty (the processor seems to be new, all the cases). Unless we think it over and leave it on Apple’s conscience.
We figured out the technical differences, sample photos and comparison with the iPhone X below.
How the frame changes depending on the lens, iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro quickly switches between three lenses, so you instantly have access to all three cameras for any creative task. Here’s what to expect by changing the crosshair:
Left to right: telephoto (2x), wide-angle (1x), ultra-wide (, 5)
Televik
Main (wide) camera
Ultra wide-angle camera
? The telephoto camera in the iPhone 11 Pro. Nice and useful upgrade
Television itself is not news at all for iPhones. It appeared in the iPhone 7 Plus, stayed with the 8 Plus, and then delighted X and XS owners, including the Max.
Only the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max have a telephoto lens this year. The captain suggests that the regular iPhone 11 doesn’t have it. The iPhone XR didn’t have it either.
So, I’m disappointed that the telephoto camera remains exclusive to the more expensive iPhone model. I do not speak for everyone, but most of the photos I take with the telephoto lens. Without her, it’s like no hands.
iPhone 11 Pro, telephoto, blur effects off.
Under normal lighting conditions, the telephoto lens provides a “free” optical zoom, which allows you not to come very close to the subject and at the same time make it the real center of the frame, cutting off all unnecessary things. The absence of typical distortions for the “shirik” (the main lens of the iPhone) is also an important plus.
It’s great to shoot people, faces, animals on a telephoto camera, and even food due to the greater focal length. The resulting frame resembles the fruits of shooting with a good “SLR” plus a “fix” at 40mm. You can repeat this on the iPhone XR or iPhone 11 with their “widths” only in the photo editor, and then conditionally.
All in all, iPhone 11 owners walk past my favorite lens. But what’s new it will give iPhone 11 Pro buyers?
IPhone 11 Pro telephoto lens specifications
The TV set in the iPhone 11 Pro consists of six lenses and shoots photos at 12 megapixels. Pixel size 1.0 μm (micrometer). Focal length 52 mm, aperture ƒ / 2.0.
What are the differences here (and not only here) from the iPhone XS?
First, we have finally improved the aperture. What’s in X, what’s in XS / 2.4 is now 0.4 less.
In simple terms, the telephoto can now capture a little more light and blur the background a little more, even without portrait mode. ƒ / 2.0 matches the minimum aperture of many prime lenses for full-size cameras.
From a technical point of view, this is a big achievement for Apple and mobile photography in general. For you to understand, the Samsung Galaxy Note10 telephoto can “fall” to ƒ / 2.1, and the Huawei P30 Pro. and only up to ƒ / 3.4.
This is an iPhone 11 Pro telephoto photo without the software blur effect.
Secondly, “televik” now takes photos brighter and more detailed at the same time. Yes, the fact is logical according to the previous point, but you still need to talk about it separately.
See, here’s a tutorial on how telephoto lenses generally work on the iPhone. If there is a lot of light in the frame, then it actually works. As soon as the light “leaves”, the lens turns off automatically. it is replaced by the main camera (“shirik”) with the support of digital zoom. It is worse than the natural optical in the “telephoto”: more noise, less detail.
On the XS and X, the telephoto was very moody. If he doesn’t like it, he’s just say goodbye and hello to digital zoom. On the iPhone 11 Pro, he became more patient. Changing the camera during the day is an exception to the rule both in cloudy weather and during the day indoors.
This means that photos on the telephoto lens of the iPhone 11 Pro will more often be captured on it, with a real optical zoom. The quality is better, the details are not lost in post-processing. I hope I explained more or less, my metaphors are not very good today.
Thirdly, portrait mode works at close range. I first noticed this during the shooting, then I looked at the characteristics and made sure. everything is logical with such an aperture upgrade.
No more nervously shaking the camera or walking far away trying to shoot something with a blur effect. The arm’s length is enough for the iPhone 11 Pro to successfully activate the effect.
It is difficult to explain what is so amazing here. It’s just that I was constantly bothered by the messages “step away” on the iPhone X. You stand and juggle your iPhone for 10 seconds, squat, take a step back. there is no such thing anymore, and therefore I’m glad.
In general, any upgrade of this module will suit me, so I’m almost 100% satisfied here. He has only one drawback associated with the night mode (or rather, its absence).
Sample photos on the main (wide-angle) lens of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro
Sample photos on the telephoto lens of the iPhone 11 Pro
Why the iPhone 11’s ultra wide-angle camera is worse than the rest?
Against the background of the other two in the iPhone 11 Pro or even the main one in the iPhone 11, the “ultra-wide” is noticeably weak in several key points, which will not be so easy to fix in the next generations of the iPhone.
The picture around the edges is very blurry. This is a feature of ultra wide-angle lenses in general, so there is nothing surprising. It’s just that for many owners of the “eleventh” this super-width will be the first in life, and out of habit they will lament.
Loss of sharpness is noticeable, it is impossible to fight it. About 50% of the frame will be in focus in the center, the rest will be blurred. It remains only to accept this fact and hope that next year Apple will come up with some kind of software miracle.
The ultra-wide-angle camera, as expected, does not pull out either video or photos at night.
Ultra-wide photos are the darkest of all three iPhone 11 Pro cameras. There are several factors at once. The aperture of this camera is lower than that of the rest (or the one remaining) in the new iPhones.
Okay, the aperture, but it is additionally subject to the optical limitation of ultra-wide-angle lenses. the loss of aperture as a whole at the edges of the frame. This is physics, you can only partially adapt to it. As a result, vignetting is strong, it can be slightly corrected programmatically, but not to such an extent that it completely disappears.
No optical stabilization at all. Oddly enough, this is not a very noticeable minus. a high angle of view allows you to alleviate the effects of natural shaking when shooting.
But keep your iPhone firmly in place anyway, especially if you’re shooting with ultrawide indoors or in bad weather. There are more blurry photos purely statistically than on the rest of the iPhone 11 cameras.
Pay attention to the killer vignette. There is little light, the optics does not help, the matrix does not cope.
Finally, super-wide is helpless in poor lighting and even more so in the dark. This type of lens needs a lot of light. If not, don’t expect a clear photo.
The iPhone 11 generally prefers to slightly blur the image in post-processing, rather than twisting the ISO and leaving harsh noises. Therefore, in a situation with an ultra-wide lens and poor lighting, the edges of the frame will be very dark, and the “soap” can easily reach the center.
Superwidth is not perfect. But then again, GoPro shoots worse, and Apple’s first attempt. As I said in my review of the iPhone 11 Pro, having an extra lens is a definite plus for the owner. You just need to be able to shoot with such a camera.
Therefore, I do not quite understand why the “popular” iPhone 11 was presented with such a thing. Here’s something, but the telephoto would look much more logical on it, IMHO.
? Ultra-wide-angle camera in iPhone 11. Better than GoPro
Here it is, the main feature of the new iPhones. The ultra-wide-angle camera is available in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro / Max. Both technically and functionally, the module is absolutely the same in both smartphones.
There has never been a lens like this in any iPhone or iPad, it’s new to the ecosystem. Maybe that’s why she, let’s say, is a little “undersized”.
This is exactly a tool, creative or even everyday. He has room to grow in everything, including the quality of filming. “Superwide” works without critical problems and fulfills its task, but there are still unusually many minor flaws and strange limitations.
The main thing about an ultra-wide-angle camera is how much information it captures in one frame. Thanks to the huge viewing angle of 120 degrees, almost everything that a person would see if the camera were right in his eyes fits into the photo.
iPhone 11 Detailed Camera Review
If you take a photo in close proximity to your face, your legs and other hand will fall into the frame. Have you seen videos from action cameras like GoPro? Here, here is about the same story, but without the focus on the same action.
The frames themselves from the “super-wide” are very different from the usual for iPhones. The perspective is distorted, as if the picture was superimposed on a ball. Anything that falls on the edges of the photo is stretched in height. All straight lines turn into an arc along with the horizon.
IPhone 11 Ultra Wide Angle Lens Specifications
Ultrawide in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro consists of five lenses and shoots photos at 12 megapixels. The pixel size is not yet known. Focal length 13 mm, aperture ƒ / 2.4.
There is nothing to compare them with, because other iPhones have never had such cameras. For understanding, the GoPro HERO7 action camera has a 12MP sensor, but focuses at 17mm and has a ƒ / 2.8 maximum aperture. That is, according to technical specifications, it is even worse than the one in the iPhone.
And yes, in most situations, the ultra-wide iPhone 11 really shoots noticeably better than the GoPro HERO7:
Apple more than deserves praise: although the new iPhone is not an alternative to an action camera, their first lens of a similar kind is by a margin ahead of the main ultra-wide gadget, which is already seven (and more recently, eight) generations.
The ultra-wide lens has been appearing in Android flagships for a couple of years now, and we have already compared it to its closest competitor in terms of quality. the Huawei P30 Pro. Spoiler alert: iPhone shoots better overall.
Camera specifications on the S20 Ultra and a resolution of 108 megapixels
There are four modules in the main camera block, let’s take a look at their characteristics:
- Ultra wide: 12 MP, 1.4μm, F2.2
- Wide: 108 MP, 0.8μm (12 MP 2.4μm), F1.8, OIS
- Tele
In order not to go far, I want to focus on a wide-angle camera, it does not have autofocus, which someone has already recorded as terrible flaws. Considering that a wide angle is needed for shooting premises, architecture, interiors, the lack of autofocus does not matter, the picture should be sharp throughout the entire frame.
For the main camera, a new 108 megapixel module from Samsung is used. In this module, 10 pixels are merged into one (91), which turns a 0.8 µm point into 2.4 µm (the none-binning / re-mosaic aLGorithm is used). An image from 108 megapixels turns into 12 megapixels, and its sharpness, contrast, details become very good. In the menu, you can select the original resolution of 108 megapixels, in this case you will only have access to digital zoom x6, other lenses will not be used.
The aLGorithm of combining pixels into one creates a bright picture, but at the same time some of the details are lost, otherwise it simply cannot be. This is how any Quad-Bayer matrix works, this is the basis of this technology.
Let’s take a look at photos at 12 megapixels and 108 megapixels.
The size of a photo in a resolution of 4000×3000 pixels is about 4-7 MB, while in a resolution of 12000×9000 pixels it is about 30-50 MB.
In a colorful photograph taken in the Pharmaceutical Garden, you see the first spring flowers, as well as tablets. A 12-megapixel image is brighter in color, and more colorful on a smartphone screen. And this is the first difference between the two resolutions, the default images are always brighter. But in the 108-megapixel image, the colors are slightly more muted, they are more natural, since they were not touched by the image processing aLGorithm. And then you are free to choose what you like best. brighter colors or natural.
The next moment, which may surprise you or leave you indifferent, look at how the background is worked out, for example, we cut out a piece of the picture from these pictures. This is a sign.
Where the table is blurred, we see a snapshot from 12 megapixels, information is lost during compression, miracles do not happen. But a picture with a maximum resolution allows you to zoom in so that there is no noticeable loss in details. Here’s another pair for you as an example.
I really like how Ultra shoots at the maximum resolution of the picture, you can literally see every point of the picture. over, in the future, you can cut out the piece that you need. And this is a huge advantage of the device over most other cameras, where the image resolution is lower. Do you need it? The question depends solely on what you are shooting and what you want to get at the end, how much you need individual details. For a photo on social networks, this is probably not so important, here, rather, the overall composition comes to the fore. For product photography, this can be important.
Today, it is Ultra that provides the maximum detail in the images that you can see or use to cut out a piece of the image. There is even such an opportunity in the interface, you can use a snapshot to get a new “photo”. Zoom the shot the way you want and get a new shot.
Let’s take a look at whether this is possible on devices with other matrices. For example, the same shot on the P40 Pro.
You can see that the main module is 50 megapixels (also Quad-Bayer), but the details are lower here. You cannot choose the resolution in the settings, it is always 4096×3072 pixels.
But what we get on the main camera of the iPhone 11 Pro, there is no need to talk about the possibility of getting a second picture from a low resolution, this option is simply not available.
The example of using the full resolution of 108 megapixels proves the difference in approach that has appeared in the latest generations of smartphones. The user can choose what interests him and how he wants to shoot. But no one can make this choice for him, this is almost a professional tool in which you can vary the quality and result of photos.
Video recording. 8K shooting
The new generation of flagships from Samsung has a unique ability to shoot video in 8K resolution, competitors do not offer similar capabilities. The emergence of 8K is directly related to the fact that the company’s TVs support 8K resolution and such content can be displayed on them. And as such, these smartphones have no equal, since the picture is very detailed, high-quality.
Another and unusual feature is that you can cut any moment from 8K video, for example, actually take a freeze frame. And it will be a good quality 33 megapixel image. For example, here I cut out a picture of people riding on a carousel.
This partly solves the question of how to shoot fast moving objects, for example, the same birds. The camera often does not detect movement when taking photos.
Another feature of video recording is that several microphones record sound; when zooming, sound amplification is used on the object you are focusing on. The microphone on the side surface can catch your breath if you are too close to the camera, do not hold the phone away from your face, but practically buried the device.
It came as a surprise to me that many people think that 8K is the only shooting format. This is not true. You can record other permissions as well.
The picture in the video is not bad, this device is, whatever one may say, the flagship, plus when you watch it on Samsung TVs you get the maximum quality, it seems that the shooting was made on professional equipment. Resolution decides here.
Look at the sample videos, remember that the zoom is digital in most situations.
Single frame mode
The S20 family has a new feature “One frame”. All cameras work at the same time, and you get photos and videos that you shoot at the same time. Watch the video for an example of how it works.
Macro photography
For those who like to photograph flowers, butterflies, blades of grass and dewdrops, or anything in close proximity, I have bad news. There are no universal solutions, and Samsung, creating a set of cameras in Ultra, decided to abandon a separate lens for macro photography, it would have helped a lot. But the main camera has such a focal length that you have to shoot relatively close and only then cut out a piece of the picture. I do not recommend using digital zoom, the image quality drops.
But here you also have to relearn this: the temptation to use the second telephoto module with x5 zoom is great, it brings the subject closer. The aperture of this lens is such that it is set to shoot architecture, nature, but not small objects nearby. It is simply not designed for this task, and the result will not be very good in every sense. But the most important thing is that his focusing will suffer, he simply will not be able to give a clear picture at a short distance, the camera has a different focal length.
Let’s take a look at a shot of a weed. Here it is on the main camera.
But we want it to be a close-up. Using digital zoom x6.
The picture turned out to be soapy, individual petals are not visible. This is clearly not the result we expect.
Switch to telephoto camera, x5 optical zoom in relation to the main one. From the same distance, it does not focus on the subject, you need to move away. But if you switch to x10 in the menu, the result will be more or less acceptable.
I like the Ultra operation in macro mode noticeably less than on the previous flagships of the company or on the Galaxy Fold, where the result is easier (either on the main camera or on a telephoto, where the zoom is x2). Check out other examples of macro photography on Ultra.
Here’s a visual comparison with the Galaxy Fold.
But in some situations, macro photography, more precisely, using a telephoto lens, becomes an advantage. This is shooting objects in museums when they are located under glass and are quite far away. Look at the shots on Ultra.
Another important point related to the optics on Ultra, the main camera does not process the image well, which is located closer than 25-30 centimeters from you, there is optical distortion. Look at the photo of the box with the battery in hand.
Pay attention to the blurring of the font on the bottom edge, it creeps a little. This is a question of how the camera and optics are set up. And this is the choice of the engineers who built the Ultra for photographs of other scenes, it’s worth remembering and knowing. There are no universal solutions, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. For those who are fond of macro photography, this device is most likely not suitable.
But you can also shoot in 108-megapixel resolution, cut out the desired piece. This is again a different, unusual paradigm and few people will do it. Although the result is good in some scenes.
In the smartphone market, there is a situation where many people perceive the camera as one of the main parameters of the device, especially when it comes to flagships. Speaking of flagships, we expect the camera to be the best without compromises or flaws. But here the rapid evolution of cameras comes into play, when the devices have already acquired several modules with different characteristics and the way we can photograph, which scenes to process is changing. Nothing is perfect in the world, and a straightforward approach to a particular model can bring spoiled nerves and continuous frustration.
People do not change, and this approach wanders from year to year in the minds. The more expensive a smartphone is, the better it photographs, while it remains versatile and does not differ in any way from the models that were a few years ago. This is not the case, and the example of the S20 Ultra clearly shows this. The familiar experience of other Samsung flagships is refracted here and becomes different, for example, you are definitely used to the fact that for macro photography you need to get as close as possible to what you are shooting. In Ultra, everything is exactly the opposite, you need to move away from your subject, otherwise you will not get the desired shot. Different focal lengths of lenses, different choice of sensors. all this leaves an imprint on how this flagship from Samsung takes pictures. In a linear perception of the world, it should be the same as the S20 / S20, but better, since it is more expensive. In reality, it is simply different and was created for other tasks in photography. the basic camera module provides a “point and shoot” mode, but all the additional features are very different.
The race in smartphone photography is now taking place between two major players. Samsung and Huawei. over, it was Huawei who made the first move in this struggle, it introduced smartphones with hybrid zoom, increased optical zoom. S20 and Ultra are Samsung’s retaliatory move.
Another important point is that today we are dealing with computational photography, the quality of the resulting images largely depends on what aLGorithms and how photos are processed on a smartphone. And here the hardware and software bundle is important, for example, the previous module from Samsung, which was used in the flagships, was licked annually for five years, so the company did not change the matrix of the main lens. The Ultra model is the first device from the company to use a 108 megapixel Quad-Bayer matrix. This means that this matrix will be in service with the company for at least several years, and the software for it and processing aLGorithms, the quality of the lenses. all this will undergo changes from generation to generation. The technologies today are such that it is impossible to change the matrix for the camera every year and move to a new generation, the creation of new cameras takes years, and this is not an exaggeration.
Unfortunately, the rise in megapixels continues to be perceived by many as an improvement in cameras. For example, I often come across such reasoning that a 64-megapixel camera is certainly better than a 12-megapixel one, and the quality of photos in the first one will be higher. Why? Because 64 is more than 12. Alas, this is not so, and only megapixels do not solve anything, you need to understand and see how the optics are arranged, what opportunities are available to improve images and in what modes the camera works. In this review of the camera on the S20 Ultra, we will try to figure out in detail who this device is suitable for, why a number of users will be unhappy with the fact that they will have to retrain to take pictures on this smartphone.
Samsung S20 Ultra camera review. a different user experience
Optical, hybrid and digital zoom. how to shoot and what’s the difference
Samsung’s current generation of flagships are built around zoom, and the company doesn’t want to differentiate between optical, hybrid and digital zoom. This is the approach of marketers who have combined different technologies into a single term Space Zoom. It is clear that for Ultra, the maximum zoom of x100 is digital zoom, and not something else. And here a certain confusion arises, since the logic of the zoom operation for many remains a mystery behind seven seals. In my opinion, the lack of understanding of this point leads to not very good results when shooting. Let’s try to clarify this issue:
- The main module does not have optical zoom. it is a digital zoom of x2, x4 in the 12-megapixel mode or up to x6 in the 108-megapixel mode;
- Telephoto has a different focal length, which gives x5 compared to the main camera (remember that the aperture of this module is lower). Hybrid zoom x10 (both optics and image processing are used).
- x30, x50, x100 is a digital zoom, and here AI-aLGorithms are used, which makes the image quality noticeably worse at first glance.
Let’s take a look at the photo of the moon, it was taken in the early evening.
Not a bad photo, which differs from the approach of the same Huawei, where the Moon is substituted from the base of pictures, that is, there you see an ideal photo of an Earth satellite, and not what is in front of you in reality. A sort of collage. At Samsung, this is a real shot, what you see.
Many people noted that when using the maximum zoom, the picture on the smartphone screen looks much better than the photo itself, which is what you end up with.
And this is what the photo looks like. soapy and rather fuzzy.
You need to understand that AI aLGorithms for image processing begin to work from a zoom greater than x30, which gives a blurring of the picture. There are no miracles in the world, and the optics in the Ultra give far from ideal results. On a clear day, you can get a more or less readable picture, but you cannot say that this is an artistic photo. These are technical photographs, a kind of binoculars.
Long zoom is good in some situations where you don’t need to get close to your subject, such as looking at a photo of a mosaic on the wall of a building or church. It is impossible to take such photos from other smartphones without such a zoom.
At the maximum zoom, the picture shakes, it is quite difficult to capture what you want to shoot if it is a moving object, for example, a bird or an airplane. The pictures are quite blurry.
At x30 zoom, a mini-window appears, in which you can see where you point the camera.
Look at how the camera shoots in comparison with the P40 Pro at zoom (in the P40 Pro it is x5 optical, hybrid x10, as well as x50 digital).
Among the disadvantages of the camera, I note that when switching to the telephoto module, the picture jitters, the focus does not work instantly. It takes a little less than a second, but it’s noticeable. It will not work to take a snapshot at x5, more precisely, it can be done, but then there is a high probability that the snapshot will be blurred.
