Headley Simonis / Android Authority
Several Android phone manufacturers have exhibited conceptual phones with outdoor camera lens in the past years. In fact, Realmi showed a fantastic phone with a 3X or 10x external lens in the MWC earlier this year. But Vivo decided to work in advance with the release of the X200 Ultra in China last month, and it could be the first trading phone with an optional (first party) exterior lens. Of course, it is a product that has a very niche appeal, and as a little mobile photography, I had to check it to know if it was really good. Here is my views after spending less than a week with this unique combination of phones and accessories.
Sorting the outer lenses of Vivo
The X200 Ultra Lens is an optional accessories available as part of the company’s photography kit. The cut includes a phone case, a Xiaomi 15 ultra -styling camera grip, camera color, and shoulder strap. The good news is that all versions of the X200 Ultra support the kit, so you are not forced to buy it as part of a bundle. You can also theoretically buy base storage variations and then buy the photographic cut line.
I found it relatively easy to set up things, though I had to refer to the first review guide. The camera case contains a decorative ring that needs to be removed with the help of a nearby button. From here, you add a camera color with a simple twist until you click. To add the lens to you, you need to do a white dot on the lens with a white dot on the camera ring. After that, you turn straight until you click. These are very simple things and reminds the appropriate cameras.
Headley Simonis / Android Authority
This lens is a 2.35x telephoto converter connected to 200m 85 mm parasop camera. Unlike some of the past separate cameras, Vivo’s zoom module does not have its own camera sensor. What is effectively does the 85 mm camera’s ancestral zoom surface by 2.35. This means that you are getting 200 mm ancestral zoom with this lens.
VIVO X200 Ultra’s outer lens mainly convert the phone’s 3.7x zoom camera to X 8.3x shooter.
The first thing you will see about the outdoor lenses of the X200 Ultra is its large size. When the lens is connected, you are not putting your phone in your pocket. When the lens is attached, the X200 ultra is also ridiculously heavy, where I do not feel completely comfortable using the phone with one hand. Due to this high heavy design, you also need to focus when using the phone in portrait orientation. I shot with two hands, holding one hand on the lens. The scroll is usually heavy, but I did not feel the arm fatigue during the shooting until extended periods.
What do you like to actually use?
However, you may not be converted into a parasop camera to use this exterior lens. As a result of such shooting, there is also a very nasty viewpinder that is also upside down. Instead, the Vivo lens offers a unique telephoto extender format, which you get 200 mm, 400 mm, 800 mm, and 1,600 mm preset button. This mode also provides you with stage mode options (used for concerts and similar scenarios), shine/saturation/vice versa/vice versa/sophistication, and also provides access to video capture.
The good news is that 200 mm shots (35 mm X200 on ultra ~ 5.7x or on any other phone ~ 8.3x) usually look terrific. Images caught by the lens also produced a very pleasant Bokia effect than lens -free shots, and it is very noticeable without the need to peek. Check the pictures below with the lens -free shot, including blinking highlights and more washed looks.
200 mm with lenses230 mm without lens
I found out that the additional description of 200 mm of images compared to lens -free images was not always immediately noticeable. I had to start pinching here to appreciate the difference here.
Where the outdoor lens stands stands around 400 mm (X 16X or 17x), which is effectively a flexible resolution crop. The images taken at this zoom level still pack good level details. We see some other examples of blown highlights, minor events of colorful fringe, and water color effect. But I noticed, more often, you can still get good quality snaps at this level. And there is also room for minor crops.
The benefits of the Ed on Camera Lens are far more clear than the 400 mm mark.
Shooting becomes a hit and miss experience at 800 mm (X 33x). The company had previously claimed that the length of the 800 mm focal was “extremely usable”. But I thought the results were 50/50 and it also depended on the subject. It is not uncommon for to see the blown highlights, edge fringe, and spiral textures. However, I was pleasantly surprised by many 800 mm shots because I often thought that the final picture would be unusable.
As far as 1600 mm (x 66x) is concerned, I am not really sure why Vivo decided to include it as a preset zoom level. I noticed that the 90 % of the images taken in this range were full of fading and frying, though you occasionally find a picture that could be fine for the Instagram story. We also see more sharp processing, along with some strange processing on more complex textures. Check the mountain in 800 mm and 1,600 mm shots below.
Nevertheless, long -range shots taken with the lens were usually more detailed and detailed than just relying on the parasope camera. The example of the following is a remarkable letter and the balcony fencing, which has been brushed in a lens -free shot. Saying that, only the phone can occasionally capture shots of MM 600 mm to 800 mm, compared to the lens version.
I also found that taking pictures of fast -moving articles was a difficult challenge with this lens. I’m guessing that Vivo is leaving the shutter much more open than if you are just taking the picture with a parasope camera. Nevertheless, I would love to see the Snap Shot or Sports Mode feature included in the telephoto extending mode, as it must have made for less disappointing experience on the race track. It will also be an honor for parents and wildlife enthusiasts.
As far as low light shots are concerned, I noticed that the images taken by the exterior lenses can usually keep them against the lens -free shots at a similar focal length. In fact, the image caught with the lens has more detailed and capable text than the lens -free version.
200 mm with lenses230 mm without lens170 mm without lens
See the picture below to get a better guess of how each approach was presented. The difference is very strict, the text has been offered much more readable with the Lens Aded Shot.
I found out that focusing and focusing on low light conditions could be a challenge. The reason for this is due to being open for a long time to take a shutter shot. So when the sun sets, good results to ensure the results you will sometimes need a stable hand.
Speaking of stable hand, outdoor lenses also support 4K/60fps, dolby vision capture, and up to 2.8k/60fps up to highly stable video recordings. I thought that the standard video arrest at 200 mm looks exactly, though now despite some stirring, but the option of stability does a good job to smooth things. Unfortunately, it is extremely decisive and difficult to avoid volatility at 800 mm and 1,600 mm, especially when tracking the article (such as a jet liner or a racecar). At least the added camera grip is a tripod mountain.
The outdoor lenses also support the stage mode introduced on the X100 Ultra and the X200 Pro, but I have not yet had the opportunity to try it. I found that the stage mode was hit or missed on the old phone, which had pictures of 20x or more people converted into wax sculptures. So I look forward to trying this phone and lenses in a concert environment.
Where can the experience get better?
Headley Simonis / Android Authority
It is easy to install and remove the lens, but the time to spend in it means that I am missing out on shooting opportunities. You have to make sure you only have long range (200 mm or more) shooting images, as the switching takes 10 to 20 seconds. In fact, if you are like me and always put the caps on the lens, it will take a while. It is complicated by the fact that when the camera ring is attached, the back camera is quickly found in the dust, which wipes a paroscope camera glass.
When the lens is connected, nothing is in fact preventing you from switching to the main or ultra -wide cameras. It is just that every shot is partially vague with lenses, as if you are running tanks. Check the pictures below to think what I mean.
There are also many ways to improve Vivo’s original camera software. One, the telephone does not offer the Extendant Fold Pro Control. You think there will be a huge crossover between those who are interested in the outdoor lenses and those who want pro control.
I would also like to watch the profiles/styles of different colors in the telephoto extending mode. This error means that you cannot choose between realistic and vivid color profiles, nor can you use new styles like classic negative and CCD. 200 mm (such as 200 MP or 50 MP), 4K/120fps slow motion capture, and high resolution support on the focus peak would also be cool. Finally, the outdoor lens provides the great Bokia, but with this lens, it is fun to use the Zeis Bokia effects (such as a bioer, sonar, planner).
Is this kind of outdoor lenses a good idea?
Headley Simonis / Android Authority
I am glad that we finally came to see a commercial phone with an outdoor lens, we came with this tech for the first time after seeing the fantastic phone. It is clear that this is a step using the Periscope camera alone, especially from the X -15x to 30x. However, the best camera phones in the market are still sufficient from 6x to 10x, though lenses often provide better image quality.
But the major problem here is: Vivo X200 Ultra’s outdoor lens is the enmity of the smartphone photography experience. The lens installation/removal process means that you may lose key moments. In addition, your important and ultra -wide cameras are out of action with this lens, which means you really have to make sure you are just shooting snaps over long distances. When separated, the bulk as a whole fits your pockets. Some of the main features of the software (such as Pro Mode) are missing in action, though there is a decent foundation so far. And finally, this is just the release of China, but it is available for ~ 200 by a seller like Gais Top … though you still need to import Vivo X200 ultra. There are a lot of hips to jump!
I would advise most people to buy the original DSLR camera if they want the appropriate camera experience. But if you are obliged to upgrade the phone, value the zoom over long distance, and Really Do not object to heavy exterior lenses, this combination can produce advanced results. It is also the only option in the market. Nevertheless, as it is, I would love to see a Google Pixel phone that will have its own optional exterior lenses. The cost of Google -made lenses will probably be more than $ 200, but it and the super race zoom will be terrific on paper.
