MediaTek Imagiq dual-camera ISP system here now

It’s not just Huawei, LG and Apple getting in on the dual-camera parade; MediaTek has joined the battle with their new Imagiq image signal processor (ISP).

To be featured on the just officially announced MTK6797 Helio X20, and the already released Helio P20, Imagiq ISP is a hardware-based solution built from the ground up to work with dual-camera systems on mobile devices.

Kelvin Jou, Chief Technology Officer and Corporate Vice President, MediaTek says,

“The camera is an important channel for the mobile device to capture and generate content from the outside world. Imagiq combines a number of advanced technologies that enable cameras to capture and generate high-quality images and video content, transforming smartphones’ photography experiences.”

According to MTK, the Imagiq ISP will feature:

• Real-Time Large Aperture Depth-of-Field Effect – With the built-in 3D sensor, the ISP can capture depth mapping in real-time, and with a large aperture of greater than f/0.8, it can produce large aperture depth-of-field effects in real-time– even in preview (eg, prior to the image being shot).
• Reality Depth of Field (DOF) – Users can map objects and backgrounds to multiple layers with a DOF feature. The smartphone can smartly position the object and background and apply creative effects to each layer in real time to produce photos or videos with DOF effects.
• Bayer and Mono Cameras – This multiple-sensor design can capture three times the light of a traditional single-bayer sensor, thus reducing image noise and increasing quality.
• Dual Camera Zoom – The ISP is equipped with a wide-angle lens and a telescope in its dual camera system. Imagiq combines these wide-angle and zoomed captured images into one image, dramatically increasing image clarity when shooting distant objects.

All of these features promise to offer big real-world improvements to your photographs. One of the most interesting to us is dual camera zoom, which can offer near optical zoom quality digital zoom.

Portrait shooters will also be interested in the DOF possibilities offered by a dual-camera system. HTC One 8 offered a similar feature, but it generally offered disappointing results. We’re hoping MediaTek can bring it to a new level.

Single-camera setups too

Not only for dual-camera setups, the Imagiq DSP MT6797 Helio X20 system will offer big benefits to single camera devices as well:

• Hybrid Autofocus (Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) and Laser Auto Focus) – Combining PDAF and Laser AF to realize a faster autofocus speed, which is also applicable in dimly lit environments.
• Pixel-Level Auto Focus – A focus speed and accuracy comparable to the human eye. The focus speed is four times that of traditional autofocus, making it especially suitable for shooting fast-moving objects in real-time.
• New De-Mosaic and Sharpness Engine – With its large-scale texture recognition and implementation of adaptive color image abilities, Imagiq produces smoother and sharper images, which is especially useful when taking photos in dimly lit environments.
• New Adaptive De-Noising Engine – Imagiq reduces image noise even in low-light environments, allowing the ISP to render high quality video and pictures with near life-like quality.

• Automatic Image Stabilization (AIS) – Imagiq can rapidly combine four consecutively captured images into one image, eliminating common blur effects from camera shake.
• TrueBright Engine – With first-time RWWB sensor support, Imagiq powers twice the sensitivity to light of a traditional RGB sensor, allowing consumers to take crisp, clear, high-quality photos even in low light.
• Upgraded 3A HW Engine– Imagiq helps cameras capture more natural, vivid and detailed photos.

These technologies mostly come together towards the purpose of offering us sharper, cleaner images, even with single-camera setups which use Helio MT6797.

Especially interesting is phase detection auto focus, which is generally only offered on high-end dSLR standalone cameras.

For video

Videographers, don’t fret; there are a handful of big improvements coming to MediaTek MT6797 Helio X20 mobiles:

• Electronic image stabilization (EIS) and Gyro – Using a sophisticated hardware engine to predict motion, Imagiq eliminates a video’s camera shake and distortion.
• 1/32 Super-Slow Motion – In addition to supporting 720p video, Imagiq can shoot 1080p video at 480 frames per second in 1/32 super-slow motion playback, resulting in a 960 FPS video. Users are also able to edit videos using super-slow motion.
• Temporal Noise Reduction – Imagiq uses advanced temporal noise reduction to locate and reduce pixel movement in videos, resulting in cleaner and more detailed video quality in both video previews and filming.
• 4K HDR Shooting – Support 4K HDR shooting for the first time, producing more compelling video image quality.

When?

Now. Imagiq is available on Helio P20 in addition to the just officially released MT6797 Helio X20. MediaTek has also made it clear the new Imagiq ISP technologies will be implemented in future SoC, meaning we won’t only see it on their flagship MT6797 Helio X20, but on mid-range MTK SoC and possibly budget MTK SoC as well.