New lens design promises a 9x optical zoom for smartphones
A telephoto lens that is shorter thanks to a mirror, and a lens system with true optical zoom. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Tecno has unveiled new technologies for smartphone cameras.
At its fifth «Future Lens» event, Tecno unveiled two new technologies. These are designed to offer new possibilities for smartphone cameras within the limited space available. «Freeform Continuum Telephoto» and «Dual Mirror Reflect Telephoto» promise true optical zoom and telephoto lenses in a more compact design.
Alvarez lenses for greater focal length with minimal movement
For the sake of simplicity, I too often refer to ‘zoom’ when talking about smartphones. I try to avoid the qualifiers ‘ «’ and ‘optical’». This is because, to date, smartphones have up to four cameras with different focal lengths. I can switch between these, and it is possible to calculate how much greater the focal length of the telephoto camera is compared to the main camera. The focal length ranges in between, however, are merely digital magnifications. For example, if I zoom in using my fingers on the touchscreen, the image section jumps when I switch to the range of a different lens. All of this is set to become a thing of the past with Freeform Continuum Telephoto.
Tecno uses so-called Alvarez lenses for its camera lens with a nine-fold optical zoom. Thanks to their cubic shape, it is sufficient to move them sideways to achieve a different focal length. Unlike with traditional lenses, the distance between the lenses does not increase. And space for the currently widespread fixed periscope lenses is limited in smartphones. To achieve the significant overall difference in focal length, the manufacturer incorporates two pairs of lenses into its camera module.
A mirror and the telephoto lenses are now only half the size
The second new lens design also serves to save space in telephoto lenses. The Dual Mirror Reflect, developed in collaboration with Samsung and Largan, utilises reflections. The centre of the lens does not allow any light to pass through. The light falls around the centre onto a reflective bowl. This directs the light onto the back of the cover in the centre. From there, the light passes through further lenses onto the sensor.
Compared to the periscope lenses commonly used to date, the mirror lenses are only about half as long and just under ten per cent thinner. The manufacturer touts a ‘donut bokeh’ effect and even promises improvements in image quality in low light. In the example image in the video, the artefacts do indeed disappear.
Tecno has not revealed when or in which smartphones the new lenses will be used for the first time. In Western Europe, however, even more patience is likely to be required: although Tecno is the market leader in Africa with its affordable smartphones and is also active in Eastern Europe, it has so far shied away from markets where many high-end smartphones are sold.
As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
From the latest iPhone to the return of 80s fashion. The editorial team will help you make sense of it all.
Show all