In-sensor zoom technology allows phones with large high-resolution sensors to deliver lossless image quality.
Most mid-range smartphones priced above Rs 20,000 usually offer a tri or quad-camera system. Of those three/four cameras, only one sensor does all the heavy lifting, which is usually a high-resolution camera, possibly with 108 MP or 200 MP resolution.
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Brands are using these high-resolution primary cameras in every possible way to get the most out of these large sensors. From pixel binning technology to offering improved low-light shots to using a complete high-resolution sensor to deliver detailed images. Another recent trend in mid-range phones with high-resolution cameras is in-sensor zoom technology, which is used to deliver zoomed-in images without losing image quality.
Devices like the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite and Realme 8 Pro are some of the few smartphones that advertise in-sensor zooming as one of the camera highlights. And even the upcoming Realme 11 Pro+ claims to offer 2x and 4x in-sensor zoom to deliver lossless images at different focal lengths.
Here’s a detailed review of the in-sensor zoom technology and how it helps mid-range phones take better photos:
In-sensor zooming is a smartphone camera technology found on select smartphones with a high-resolution primary camera, possibly with a 108 MP or 200 MP sensor. The central part of the sensor is used to take the picture, acting like a dedicated telephoto lens. Depending on the size of the sensor, in-sensor zoom allows devices to capture images without compromising image quality.
Since only a select part of the sensor is used to capture the image, it will be of lower resolution. With in-sensor zooming technology, a phone with a 108 MP camera typically captures 12 MP images, possibly with 3x lossless zoom.
Unlike the telephoto lens, which usually has a smaller aperture, the main sensor will have a slightly wider aperture, helping the phone take better photos even in low light. The same principle is also used in phones with in-sensor zoom technology, where the wider aperture allows more light into the sensor, allowing more details to be captured, resulting in a lossless picture.
Similarly, the upcoming Realme 11 Pro+ with a confirmed 200 MP primary camera is capable of offering both 2x and 4x lossless zooming capabilities using the same in-sensor technology. This phone features a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, and by cropping the sensor, it produces 4x lossless photos with 12 MP resolution.
On most phones without a telephoto lens, when zoomed in, the phone takes a photo and then digitally zooms in on it, reducing details. However, in the case of phones with in-sensor zoom, most of the details are sold, and the image will come out slightly better than digitally zoomed images.
In general, lossless images captured with in-sensor zoom technology may not be as sharp as those captured with a dedicated telephoto lens. However, they will look better than digitally zoomed photos. Since integrating a dedicated lens into a mid-range phone is not feasible, brands are now offering something in between that is both viable for brands and adds value to consumers.
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First published on: 18-05-2023 at 16:43 IST
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