Oppo optical technology could eliminate the unsightly 'camera bump'

[Shawn Knight]

Most smartphone makers have pulled out of the megapixel race in order to explore other ways to advance mobile camera technology. The current top trend in mobile photography involves the use of dual rear cameras which provides a number of benefits.

Unfortunately, the ever-thinning smartphone chassis hasn’t left much internal real estate for advanced camera hardware. As such, handset manufacturers have had to resort to ugly camera bumps to physically accommodate optical components but a new approach from Chinese electronics maker Oppo could lead to the extinction of the eyesore.

Oppo’s new camera system, said to be inspired by submarine periscopes, is on display at Mobile World Congress this week.

The unique dual-lens system turns one of the lens arrays sideways 90-degrees, thus positioning it horizontally across the width of a device. Through the use of a prism, light gets diverted to this angled telephoto lens which Oppo claims delivers an unprecedented level of clarity at any zoom level.

There’s also a clever two-part optical image stabilization system that helps keep things steady when zoomed in.

The technology was licensed from Israeli startup Corephotonics and has been undergoing fine-tuning at Oppo for more than a year. The result is a module that measures just 5.7mm thick and offers a 5x lossless zoom. Oppo has 50 patents on the camera tech, we’re told.

No word yet on which devices will be the first to adopt the new technology or when we can expect them to arrive.

Images courtesy TechCrunch

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https://www.techspot.com/news/68319-oppo-optical-technology-could-eliminate-unsightly-camera-bump.html

 

[Reehahs]

Another good alternative to the ugly camera bump is to make the device thicker and all the extra space can be used for a proper battery that would last at least a day while making the device comfortable to hold.

 

[VitalyT]

Mobile-Hubble FTW!

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Another good alternative to the ugly camera bump is to make the device thicker and all the extra space can be used for a proper battery that would last at least a day while making the device comfortable to hold.

HEAR HEAR!

Amazing how these companies spend millions of dollars and years of research on fixing the simplest issues instead of trying to make better transistors or better uArches or higher quality software.

 

[yRaz]

If photography is your thing then you could just buy a budget smartphone and put the rest of the money towards a real camera....

Sony a6000 FTW. You can get a bundle right now with two different lenses for $800 that will out shoot any smartphone. Low light, F/stop, ect. A real camera will ALWAYS outshoot a smartphone

Or you could get a used canon or nikon body on ebay for ~$400, use an adapter and pick up vintage lenses. Learning how to manually focus an image will make better photographer than any auto-focus system. I'm surprised this vintage lense stuff hasn't caught on with hipsters yet, although they are a lazy bunch and just like the "idea" of vintage.

 

[oldikes]

If photography is your thing then you could just buy a budget smartphone and put the rest of the money towards a real camera....

Sony a6000 FTW. You can get a bundle right now with two different lenses for $800 that will out shoot any smartphone. Low light, F/stop, ect. A real camera will ALWAYS outshoot a smartphone

Or you could get a used canon or nikon body on ebay for ~$400, use an adapter and pick up vintage lenses. Learning how to manually focus an image will make better photographer than any auto-focus system. I'm surprised this vintage lense stuff hasn't caught on with hipsters yet, although they are a lazy bunch and just like the "idea" of vintage.

for real. last time I checked you can get a nikon D3200 for under $300, and even though will yield insane quality compared to the nicest smartphones if you learn to use it.

I understand the desire to have a smartphone with a good camera, but having a strong dedicated camera is a huge advantage in every way.

 

[yRaz]

for real. last time I checked you can get a nikon D3200 for under $300, and even though will yield insane quality compared to the nicest smartphones if you learn to use it.

I understand the desire to have a smartphone with a good camera, but having a strong dedicated camera is a huge advantage in every way.

People don't really understand the benefits of a real, dedicated camera until they learn how to use one. And all those filters you use on your iPhone? Get vintage glass without coatings that naturally take pictures like that. I know people who swear by the Nikon d500 and its only what, 12megapixels?

 

[ET3D]

If photography is your thing then you could just buy a budget smartphone and put the rest of the money towards a real camera....

The main problem is that then you need to carry a real camera with you.

 

[yRaz]

The main problem is that then you need to carry a real camera with you.

well, see, if you want to take good photos you need a real camera. Professional photographers don't spend thousands and often tens-of-thousands of dollars on camera equipment if they could just use their phone.

 

[Kibaruk]

If photography is your thing then you could just buy a budget smartphone and put the rest of the money towards a real camera....

The idea is great but...

The main problem is that then you need to carry a real camera with you.

This is my biggest turn-off, in the end "the best camera is the one you have at hand" and in the day to day you have your phone at hand and not your camera.

 

[yRaz]

This is my biggest turn-off, in the end "the best camera is the one you have at hand" and in the day to day you have your phone at hand and not your camera.

I recommend you go to a best buy and check out some of Sony's mirrorless options. I can fit one of those in my pocket no problem and they are small enough that I never go anywhere without it.

 

[amstech]

What an inconvenience! I can't go another day of my life until this matter is resolved, make this first priority!
Next I want carrots that eat themselves.