Vivo’s multiple zoom
In recent years we have seen how Chinese manufacturers such as Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo or Huawei among others have been the main responsible for innovation within the mobile phone sector. At least in regards to aspects such as photography, fast charging or the use of folding screens. And yes, it is true that some news are nothing more than experiments that remain in simple anecdotes, but others are here to stay.
Among the many novelties introduced in camera issues, it was always striking how they looked for solutions to problems or aspects that users asked to be improved. This is how several terminals began to emerge that made use of telescopic cameras as substitutes for the classic selfie or front camera.
Thanks to these systems, the front of the phone was much cleaner and with a higher percentage of use of the screen. Something interesting, because the distraction and even annoyance caused by having, for example, a hole in the screen was avoided. Although it also implied accepting certain commitments.
The main one was and still is, because there are phones that still make use of this system, the time it takes to unfold the camera to take a selfie or answer a video call. Although it cannot be ignored the fact that including moving parts always raises doubts regarding their useful life.
Still, Vivo seems to be researching new options from that initial idea and has patented a telescopic camera that would offer different levels of zoom. To be specific, up to three additional increases could be achieved.
How it would achieve this is very easy to understand thanks to the scheme itself and the networks based on said information made by Let’sGo Digital. And it is that with a pyramidal shape, the main sensor would add lenses that would increase the focal length and with it the zoom level.
Of course, it would go from a larger zoom to a smaller or more angular one. Because by default a first block would come out and the rest would only do so when it was decided to change via software. A decision with a lot of sense regarding the durability of the system and the time needed to start using the camera. And for those of us who prefer zoom lenses over angular, better than better.
An interesting idea, but unlikely
With all this, the idea of offering increasingly versatile cameras in mobile phones continues to evolve and seek new types of solutions. This one proposed by Vivo may not be the one that most easily manages to succeed, because it has some drawbacks, but it is one of the most interesting.
It is interesting because it is a different solution and that avoid those modules full of cameras, where then really only one or two are really worth it. Also because you could invest in a higher quality and unique sensor for when you want to use a more angular focal length or with a larger zoom, as if it were a camera with interchangeable lenses. And because you could get a higher level of optical zoom, nothing from clipping the sensor.
However, all these advantages also have some problems. The main one is that although it seems that it would be a system designed for the main camera, the biggest risk would be moving parts again. Much more now, because it would be one but several.
And of course, taking into account the thickness of a current phone, displaying all four levels would entail a higher level of fragility compared to doing it with only one. Despite the fact that in our analysis of proposals such as the OnePlus 7T Pro or Oppo Reno among others, they did not show signs of fragility.
Then there’s the issue that each lens needs to fit perfectly when multiple lenses are used, so that the light hitting the sensor is not affected and causes aberrations. However, this is only a patent. Whether it becomes a reality or not, we will see later. But despite the unlikely idea, it never hurts to experiment. Because maybe now is not the time but who says that in a few years there will be better options to execute it.
