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Sony and Carl Zeiss go a long way back but up until now, the companies hadn’t collaborated on the former’s smartphone cameras. It seems that might be about to change as a new report suggests that two of the Xperia 1’s three rear cameras have been developed in partnership with Zeiss.
According to an image that has surfaced online, the camera module of the Xperia 1 contains the word “MILVUS,” which happens to be a line of lenses made by Zeiss. Apparently, the German manufacturer has made the wide and ultra-wide lenses for the Xperia 1.
In all, Xperia 1’s rear camera setup is tipped to feature three 12-megapixel camera sensors, one of which will apparently have a 16mm ultra-wide Zeiss lens on top and an aperture of f/2.4, and another will reportedly be accompanied by a 26mm wide Zeiss lens and feature an aperture of f/1.6. The third sensor is expected to have a 16mm Sunny Optical lens and an aperture of f/2.4. Apparently, Samsung worked with Sony’s Alpha division, which has made one of the most popular mirrorless cameras in the world, to make the third sensor.
Sony says that thanks to the f/1.6 aperture lens and 1.4μm Dual Photo Diode image sensor, the Xperia 1 would be able to take better low-light pictures. The company will also be using a new software called BIONZ X, which, in addition to enabling Eye AF or Auto Focus, will also bring other features like continuous burst shooting with up to 10 fps AF/AE (Auto Focus and Auto Exposure) tracking to the Xperia 1.
BIONZ X could make all the difference for the Xperia 1, as one of the main reasons why images captured on Sony phones have nothing on those produced by Samsung’s and LG’s devices, despite the fact that they use Sony’s sensors, is that the Japanese company didn’t give the much-needed attention to post-processing software.
Apart from that, there is also a new Cinema Pro feature in tow that will allow users to select from no less than eight color management pre-sets. This would give videos a cinematic feel.
The Xperia 1 was first unveiled during the Mobile World Congress back in March and is expected to be released in June 2019. Sony’s smartphone business has been struggling for quite some time now and the company has also decided to exit a few markets and shut down some plants in a bid to cut costs and return to profitability. In fact, some investors have reportedly been asking the company to get rid of its handset business as it’s just dead weight. However, the company is determined to stay in the game and that’s why the success of the Xperia 1 is crucial to the future of its smartphone unit.
This explains why the company has apparently gone all out on Xperia 1. The phone has a 6.5-inch display with an aspect ratio of 21:9, which will allow a better viewing experience. Moreover, the Xperia 1 is also the world’s first handset to have a 4K OLED HDR display. The company might also release a 5G variant of the phone down the road.
