What is going on with the cameras? Is there something wrong with the specs? - Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Questions & Answers

I discovered something strange with my S20 FE. When I open the camera and try the ultra-wide, the wide and the zoom, the last camera module is never used! I tried this by blocking the cameras with my fingers. So the middle camera is used for both the wide and zoom mode, which means that the device does not have an optical zoom camera OR the optical zoom works in a different way than I thought!
I also tried to take some pictures while covering the cameras, just to see if the viewfinder uses different cameras than the ones that are used for the actual shoot, but the result does not change (zoom photos are taken using the wide).
So here are my questions:
1) What is the bottom camera used for?
2) How is there an optical zoom if both the wide and zoom photos are taken using the same sensor?
3) Is this the same sensor/approach like in S20 which uses an 64MP sensor to shoot 3X hybrid zoom?
4) Anyone that has used the bottom camera to shoot anything? Are the specs wrong?
I've got the 5G version with the Snapdragon 865.

UPDATE!
The bottom camera is used when zooming more than 10X!!! This makes things more complicated!

atg2x said:
UPDATE!
The bottom camera is used when zooming more than 10X!!! This makes things more complicated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the 3X camera works when there's enough light, otherwise, the main camera will be used.

atg2x said:
I discovered something strange with my S20 FE. When I open the camera and try the ultra-wide, the wide and the zoom, the last camera module is never used! I tried this by blocking the cameras with my fingers. So the middle camera is used for both the wide and zoom mode, which means that the device does not have an optical zoom camera OR the optical zoom works in a different way than I thought!
I also tried to take some pictures while covering the cameras, just to see if the viewfinder uses different cameras than the ones that are used for the actual shoot, but the result does not change (zoom photos are taken using the wide).
So here are my questions:
1) What is the bottom camera used for?
2) How is there an optical zoom if both the wide and zoom photos are taken using the same sensor?
3) Is this the same sensor/approach like in S20 which uses an 64MP sensor to shoot 3X hybrid zoom?
4) Anyone that has used the bottom camera to shoot anything? Are the specs wrong?
I've got the 5G version with the Snapdragon 865.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) The bottom camera is the 3X optical zoom.
2) As I mentioned above, depends how much light you have.
3) The zoom sensor of s20/s20+ is different, they don't have optical zoom , just hybrid.
4) The camera works perfectly, daylight photos, night photos with wnough light, moon photos.

Related

[Camera] Is it just me .....whats your settings?

Ok coming from Samsung , HTC, Asus and iPhone (I know I here you gasp)
I pretty much use my rear camera alot for work purposes, no selfies
Mostly its point and shoot I do and I know the camera on these are for ppl getting the right shot manually due to the settings
Have tried apps on this phone Like :
Camera FV-5 (same kind of results)
Open Camera (which seems to stay active in the background)
Now heres my question if you quickly take a photo, point and shoot (focusing first) using highest resolution
Once you zoom into the taken picture, its all grainy even if its took about 3-4 feet away from you
Now, if you take the same picture with monochrome its a better pic and if focusing on say a bottle with writing
Its more visible to read compared to the colour as the colour looks like its a water painting
Are you guys getting the same results or know preferred settings to use?
Thanks
Try to set the resolution to 12mp to enable the 2x "optical" zoom.
The color sensor is only a 12mp one, the monochrome sensor has 20mp.
If you enable 20mp in settings, the camera will make a monochrome and color photo and merge them into one. This is also the reason why the 20mp photos are a bit blurry or too bright on edges.
So, use 12mp and the grain should be mostly gone.
Here are three shots by me:
https://imgur.com/a/BYf7kIX - played with focus, no aperture feature.
https://imgur.com/a/xA2qURk - just a free hand picture in 12mp without zoom
https://imgur.com/a/RbEdeiI - and the same with 2x optical zoom.
Jannomag said:
Try to set the resolution to 12mp to enable the 2x "optical" zoom.
The color sensor is only a 12mp one, the monochrome sensor has 20mp.
If you enable 20mp in settings, the camera will make a monochrome and color photo and merge them into one. This is also the reason why the 20mp photos are a bit blurry or too bright on edges.
So, use 12mp and the grain should be mostly gone.
Here are three shots by me:
https://imgur.com/a/BYf7kIX - played with focus, no aperture feature.
https://imgur.com/a/xA2qURk - just a free hand picture in 12mp without zoom
https://imgur.com/a/RbEdeiI - and the same with 2x optical zoom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for comments
Is this with stock camera? stock rom?
as My pics are no where near as good as this on 8.0.0.379(C02)
EwOkie said:
Thanks for comments
Is this with stock camera? stock rom?
as My pics are no where near as good as this on 8.0.0.379(C02)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything stock, 8.0.0.370 on VTR-L29C432, stock EMUI camera.
Can you show some examples?
Desk is about 4-5 feet away from me when taking these shots
Sunny outside
Just normal photo and putting focus on the bottles as shown (seen in zoomed photo)
You can clearly see they look terrible apart from monochrome
No settings have been touched apart from resolution
Zoom is about 4.6x
Monochrome
12MP
20MP
Zoomed in
I put some crap on the desk but if you can see the text is visible on some stuff to give you an idea

Is there a way to use the 3x optical zoom lens?

Using 3x zoom in the camera doesn't switch to the 80mm lens. It just gives a crop from the 40mp main sensor.
Is there a way to actually use the 3x lens?
In my case to make it work I force Focus, after that i can see the swap between lenses.
Horayken said:
In my case to make it work I force Focus, after that i can see the swap between lenses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you force focus? I tired manual focus and it still didn't change lenses when going from 1 to 3x
viper98 said:
How do you force focus? I tired manual focus and it still didn't change lenses when going from 1 to 3x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tap somewhere in the picture and it will change to the optical zoom lens.
djlukas1983 said:
Just tap somewhere in the picture and it will change to the optical zoom lens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't do anything but use a crop from the 40mp sensor to give a fake "zoom". You would get the same results using the 40mp mode and cropping the image yourself
I'm convinced the optical zoom lens exists for nothing but marketing. The only lens on the back that is ever used for any photos is the middle lens.
Maybe it is something weird with mine. You can check this by covering the other lenses with your finger
viper98 said:
That doesn't do anything but use a crop from the 40mp sensor to give a fake "zoom". You would get the same results using the 40mp mode and cropping the image yourself
I'm convinced the optical zoom lens exists for nothing but marketing. The only lens on the back that is ever used for any photos is the middle lens.
Maybe it is something weird with mine. You can check this by covering the other lenses with your finger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must use it in enough bright environment because it won't switch to zoom lens when it's not enough bright.
viper98 said:
That doesn't do anything but use a crop from the 40mp sensor to give a fake "zoom". You would get the same results using the 40mp mode and cropping the image yourself
I'm convinced the optical zoom lens exists for nothing but marketing. The only lens on the back that is ever used for any photos is the middle lens.
Maybe it is something weird with mine. You can check this by covering the other lenses with your finger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, everyone can see the lens switching, the telephoto one have OIS, i use the zoom all the time, if i cover the telephoto lens i cant see anything, so yes the telephoto is fully functional and not a made up marketing, in pie they even added a toggle to the HDR mode so you can get HDR pictures using it faster. (in adroid oreo you can manually zoom until 3x on HDR but now alot easier). the only times you cant use it and the phone will switch back to the main lens, is:
1. At Night or when theres not enough light.
2.If you try to focus a object that is just too close.
djlukas1983 said:
You must use it in enough bright environment because it won't switch to zoom lens when it's not enough bright.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering why my indoor 3x zoom pics were so poor. I had tried covering the zoom lens in the past, proving that it actually does switch between the two lenses. What I didn't realize until now, is that when the camera doesn't have enough light, the zoom lens isn't used and the 3x becomes a digital zoom using the main (middle) lens. You can easily see this by turning on the 3x zoom, covering it up, and shifting a live view from a bright window to a dark area inside - when pointing outside the lens is blocked, but when you swing around and point the camera inside you can see the image (because it is no longer using the 2x lens).
That explains the poor indoor zoom shots I've been taking - thanks!!
Now I still need to find out what the monochrome lens is actually doing in colour photos. Playing with blocking the lens only seems to have an effect in monochrome mode, but it is supposed to contribute to capturing all photos. Any suggestions...?

K20 Pro - 3 camera sensors ?! The upper one doesn't seam to be used.

Hello all,
As I said in the title.
Out of boring I tried to see , physically which of the camera is for tele, wide and main.
While putting my finger on the camera, I discovered that the first camera in the row is not used at all in the software ...
Can you, please, check too ?
It's used for 2x... I just tested it.
Well, when you zoom into 2x in stock camera app, it automatically changes to tele camera. But if you cover the tele camera, it reverts to 48mp main camera.
But in some lighting conditions, it uses 48mp main camera even you zoom it 2x
ArmedandDangerous said:
It's used for 2x... I just tested it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've noticed that too, it's used when in portrait mode thought. You can even trigger a weird behavior by changing to portrait mode and back to photo mode, then change to 2x zoom and telephoto lens will be used (like you would normally expect), then changing zoom levels randomly you can get to change 2x zoom to main sensor again.
It's uses digital 2x zoom when light is low and uses telephoto camera when there is enough light present

How to enable zoom in 48mp mode

Is there any way to enable zoom in 48mp mode in stock camera. Its a waste not to have zoom at that resolution
No, & will never have.
You're getting the final image as 48MP so can zoom inside that all you want & good for editing later on.
Doesn't zooming in on regular camera mode switch from camera lens to other camera lens?
So, it basically switches to 48Mp lens when you zoom 2x?
Edit: it does. Lower lens is for 0.6x, and middle lens is for 1x and 2x. Same lens is for 48mp. Upper lens is probably focus lens. Try choosing mode and covering lens with your finger, and you'll see which is which.
Sent from my Mi 9T Pro using Tapatalk
babaroga73 said:
Upper lens is probably focus lens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Upper lens is 2x Zoom. But only used in good lighting conditions. Otherwise the 48MP Camera is used
Can you explain better?
When i try to zoom in the 2x camera, still the 8 mp camera, dosen't change to the 48 mp camera, i can only use the 48 mp camera on portrait mode ou in pro mode, and on the pro mode the 48 mp camera is named "telephoto". I don't know... There's any chance to this happen beacuse of any software problem?

Question Camera algorithm to choose lens

Hi folks, I'm so annoyed because I figured out that when taking pictures, Samsung actually chooses the best lens among the 4 for you. At first I thought that the 4 circular icons at the bottom would force the use of a specific lens (ultra-wide, wide, tele 1 and tele 2), but that's not the case! This is what I've found so far:
PHOTOS:
0.6x-1x: will always force the ultra-wide lens (obviously)
1x-2x: should use the wide lens, but switches to ultra-wide and zooms in when too close to subject (called focus enhancer)
2x-3x: will always force the wide lens
3x-10x: should use the tele1 (3x) lens, but switches to wide if it's too dark or if too close the subject
10x-15x: should use the tele2 (10x) lens, but switches to tele1 (3x) if it's too dark or if too close the subject
15x-100x: will always use the tele2 (10x) lens
VIDEOS:
[email protected] will force the main wide camera as it's the only capable of shooting with that resolution
[email protected] is the only mode that works as it should! when you pick a lens from the bottom, it will use that specific lens and nothing else!
1080p and other resolutions try to apply the same algorithm used for photos
Now clearly this works well in most conditions, but there are some in which I find this algorithm very annoying:
1) When it's "too dark", which is clearly subjective given that Samsung won't know what I'm shooting at and will just average the pixels brightness
2) When I want to take a close-up shots with the tele1 or tele2 lens, right at the minimal focusing distance and create natural lens portraits-bokeh.
Is there any way we could possibly force the use of a specific lens? Thank you in advance
efrank99 said:
Hi folks, I'm so annoyed because I figured out that when taking pictures, Samsung actually chooses the best lens among the 4 for you. At first I thought that the 4 circular icons at the bottom would force the use of a specific lens (ultra-wide, wide, tele 1 and tele 2), but that's not the case! This is what I've found so far:
PHOTOS:
0.6x-1x: will always force the ultra-wide lens (obviously)
1x-2x: should use the wide lens, but switches to ultra-wide and zooms in when too close to subject (called focus enhancer)
2x-3x: will always force the wide lens
3x-10x: should use the tele1 (3x) lens, but switches to wide if it's too dark or if too close the subject
10x-15x: should use the tele2 (10x) lens, but switches to tele1 (3x) if it's too dark or if too close the subject
15x-100x: will always use the tele2 (10x) lens
VIDEOS:
[email protected] will force the main wide camera as it's the only capable of shooting with that resolution
[email protected] is the only mode that works as it should! when you pick a lens from the bottom, it will use that specific lens and nothing else!
1080p and other resolutions try to apply the same algorithm used for photos
Now clearly this works well in most conditions, but there are some in which I find this algorithm very annoying:
1) When it's "too dark", which is clearly subjective given that Samsung won't know what I'm shooting at and will just average the pixels brightness
2) When I want to take a close-up shots with the tele1 or tele2 lens, right at the minimal focusing distance and create natural lens portraits-bokeh.
Is there any way we could possibly force the use of a specific lens? Thank you in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had noticed something very similar! Mainly when tapping 10x zoom with indoor lighting!
I've never tested it to the exact figures as you did, but Samsung definitely uses the Main camera and 3x when zoomed in during poor light instead of the 10x, and often produced worse quality but brighter photos
I've not managed to "force" use it the 10x but using the slider back and forth between 9-12x zoom and slightly adjusting the phone can allow you to use the 10x in poor light!
As for the close ups and natural bokeh - there's a button in the bottom left of the camera app to switch on/off focus enhancer - just use this as/when needed
According to this post, selecting night mode should increase the chances of using the zoom lens vs. cropping, though that may not give you the look you want. But worth experimenting with.
Although annoying that, we can't use whichever lens we want here is a bit example on the photography side od things.
The samsung lenses are FIXED Aperture and FIXED zoom
Hence for night photos and poor lit conditions it will use the main 1.8 Aperture lens which lets in more light.
and wide for closer up as its got the macro function and the next best aperture at 2.2
the 3x is more sharper that the other two at 2.4 so will need more better lighting then the other two.
The 10x is the most sharpest at 4.9 Aperture but one which would require very bright conditions.
also the 10x requires the furthest distance to focus and if you notice from 3x when you switch to the 10x in indoor settings anything black will have a greenish hue which is not very flattering.

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