The new Samsung S24 Ultra 5x lens does 10x… with a crop! by Jose Antunes - ProVideo Coalition
Once it was apparent that Samsung's latest Ultra smartphone would no longer include the 10x prime lens and would instead opt for a 5x optical module, many speculated that the device would incorporate digital manipulation to achieve the same focal length. However, it turns out that the solution is simply a crop.
Samsung recently unveiled their latest range of smartphones known as the S24 family. These devices are equipped with advanced AI technology that extends to photography and videography as well. One standout feature from previous Galaxy Ultra models was the 10x prime lens, providing the same coverage as a 230mm lens on a 35mm camera. There were concerns that Samsung may abandon this unique feature and switch to the current trend of 5x optical systems found in other smartphones. However, Samsung decided to stick with their 10x prime lens and incorporate AI technology to make up for any shortcomings in magnification.
The latest news confirms the rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It now has a 5x prime optical lens, which means its focal length is around 120mm. This is half of what the previous models offered. However, it's still able to cover the same distance of 230mm. Some people have been claiming that this is thanks to some clever AI trick or resampling, but that's not true. The reality is that it's just a simple crop.
Samsung showcased their latest smartphone, the S24 Ultra, in a video called "The Artful Awakening" using the beautiful Louvre Museum as a backdrop. However, it seems Samsung had trouble explaining one of its features when it comes to text. The video mentions a 50MP sensor with "5x Optical Zoom and 10X Optical Quality Zoom". This statement is not entirely accurate, as the S24 Ultra actually has four different cameras with lenses ranging from 13 to 111mm. Some of these lenses are digitally enhanced to cover focal lengths in between the extremes.
So, how did Samsung achieve the 230mm (10x) zoom in their previous models? According to the video, the new 50MP module comes with a brand new lens that's capable of delivering excellent optical quality even when zoomed in 10 times. The video also reveals an interesting fact: the Galaxy S24 Ultra captures 50MP images using a new 5X optical zoom lens, then crops the center of the image on the screen to create a flawless 12MP image, all without sacrificing image quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a neat feature that some folks don't quite grasp. Although AI technology may be involved in producing excellent picture quality, the method implemented by Samsung to achieve the missing 10x camera results is not groundbreaking. In essence, it's simply a crop. This technique is well-known in the photography world and was utilized in the former analog APS (Advanced Photo System) prototype, which was a discontinued film format primarily designed for still photography way back in 1996. In this format, parts of the image were cropped directly in the camera to generate diverse aspect ratios.
The Nikon DSLR cameras come in two formats: DX and FX, which are a great solution for photographers. DX stands for APS-C size sensors that were first used by Nikon for digital cameras as it was tough to obtain sensors in the 35mm format. Later, full-frame sensors became available, and Nikon used the term FX to refer to them. Canon chose to create lenses that were not compatible with full-frame sensors for its APS-C system, known as EF-S mount. On the other hand, Nikon's DX lenses are backward compatible and can be used with FX camera models. When a DX lens is used with an FX camera, the camera automatically adjusts the image frame to cover the area of the DX sensor, which means the lens coverage extends by 1.5x. For instance, using a 400mm lens on a DX sensor camera offers the coverage of a 620mm lens. This process crops out parts of the image without changing the pixels, ensuring that the image is acquired by an entirely optical process.
Samsung's technique in the 24 Ultra involves cropping the image during capture to achieve a longer focal length. This method is similar to cropping a photo on your computer after shooting it at full resolution with a 50MP sensor. The main difference is that the camera automatically does the cropping for you, making it easier. This process is similar to the original APS system which impressed people who were not accustomed to creating panoramic photos. However, it involved nothing more than cropping the original frame.
The newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is able to produce exceptional image quality thanks to its 50MP sensor. Compared to the 10MP sensor used in previous Samsung models, this sensor offers five times the amount of pixels, making for clearer and more detailed images. The final image is produced by a simple crop of the central area of the sensor, resulting in 12.5MP compared to 10 MP. To enhance the already impressive image quality, the phone uses advanced artificial intelligence, top-notch software, and a high-quality 5X optical lens system. Unfortunately, the 3x lens still uses a 10MP sensor and has not been upgraded. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a clear winner in terms of image quality.
It's important to test out the new 5x camera module in real-world situations to see how well it performs. However, I won't be purchasing the S24 Ultra to test it out. The package as a whole seems to be very appealing to photographers and videographers, as it includes lenses that cover everything from 16mm to 230mm, and even beyond to the 100x zoom that Samsung has been promoting. Personally, I think a 30x zoom - a combination of digital and optical - still works well (it does on my S22 Ultra) and provides an impressive 690mm focal length on a smartphone. Samsung does note, however, that image quality may deteriorate when zooming past 10x.
If you're a fan of creating videos, then you're sure to be excited about the new feature, Instant Slow-Mo. With Instant Slow-Mo, you can watch any video, regardless of whether it was originally shot in slow-motion or not, at a slower frame rate. The ProVisual Engine, which is new to the technology, analyses every frame of the video and generates artificial intelligence pictures that are added in between the frames, making for a smoother slow-motion video. Another exciting addition to the Galaxy smartphone is the ability to capture 8k video with optical 5x zoom, which is a first for Samsung.
Capturing 8K videos requires cameras with 200MP and 50MP capabilities. However, you can record 4K 60fps videos using any camera on the phone, even the selfie-camera. In addition to photography, the S24 Ultra utilizes Samsung's latest innovations for video capture, including Quad Pixel Autofocus for the 50MP telephoto camera. With Samsung's Quad Pixel Autofocus technology, the camera can detect phase differences in both horizontal and vertical directions, resulting in more dependable focusing and faster autofocus speeds.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has all the regular features you expect from a smartphone, such as an improved version of Samsung's Nightography and fresh editing options for photos and videos that use AI (Galaxy AI editing tools that let you do post-production from your phone). However, the most important aspects of this new model for photographers and videographers who want the best smartphone camera are the ones outlined below. If everything operates as Samsung claims, the S24 Ultra may retain the "most adaptable smartphone camera" designation bestowed on previous Samsung models.
