Xiaomi unveils phone concept with removable camera lens: Hardware chaos or pure genius?
It’s usually in January when companies reveal their craziest ideas about How technology can improve our livesbut the Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi, has already fulfilled its latest vision: the Xiaomi 12S Ultra Concept.
The device, which the company said was designed in tandem with the original 12S Ultra in July, looks like its sibling but comes with a camera mount that supports Leica’s M-series lenses.
That means on top of the circular camera module, a larger-than-usual 1-inch sensor, and a brand partnership with Leica, the phone’s camera capabilities – especially with optical capture. – significantly enhanced by additional hardware.
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A spokesperson for the company, Agatha Tang, took to Twitter to share some hands-on images of the concept phone (see below). While the device isn’t expected to hit the open market, it’s nice to see the product in action, including the enhanced depth of field that the additional lens offers.
In a product trailer, Xiaomi claims that the combination of the 12S Ultra Concept and a full-size lens gives the phone improved “permeability” and “authentic depth of field”. when compared to mirrorless and DSLR camera. Remember, as smartphones modernize today, many people still rely on photography and computational software to create desirable blur in portrait photos and more – not the hard.
While the interchangeable lens concept is beneficial, especially if you want the benefits of high-end glasses and the portability of a smartphone, the practical side of things still has some flaws. For example, as depicted in the image above, having a physical lens located on the left side of the phone causes an imbalance when it comes to device management. For the sake of ergonomics, lenses are traditionally mounted in the center of the camera or counterbalanced with an area to hold.
Just like a traditional camera, you’ll also need some form of protection to keep your smartphone’s sensor from dust particles and worse, scratches when the external lens is not in use. According to the teaser trailer, the 12S Ultra has a sapphire crystal to overcome this problem. Whether it affects the clarity of the shot and how light is captured is still a question.
Also: How Samsung uses AI software to upgrade its smartphone cameras
Adding an external lens is nothing new in the smartphone industry. Samsung’s Galaxy Camera turns the back of your device into a full-fledged, Sony camera DSC-QX10 / B 4.45-44.5mm . Lens can stick to a handheld for advanced zooming and similar apps like the branded Moment phone case with detachable lens. But considering how software-driven mobile photography has become, it’s great to see companies continue to push hardware.