GizBeat

Category: Cameras

  • G5X Mark 2 review unboxing (in Japanese) and new specs

    G5X Mark 2 review unboxing (in Japanese) and new specs

    The first review of the G5X Mark 2 (G5X Mark II) has surfaced in Japan. Yes, the review is in Japanese, but you get to see the camera in action.

    The big news here is that copies are already hitting the street in Japan and that means that grey market versions should be available within days.

    We already know that the camera is slated to be released officially sometime in August, but people getting itchy and want to get their hands on it ASAP might have a chance very soon on eBay and the like. 

    The G5X Mark 2 is the long-awaited refresh of the first G5X which was released way back in late 2015. We see the main physical difference is the big hotshoe hump in the middle is gone.

    Those who want to use an external flash might be disappointed, but they’ve now included a popup flash which makes the G5X Mark 2 more compact. We also see they’ve gotten rid of the front dial.

    Feature-wise, the G5X Mark 2 gets updated to the latest Canon processor, Digic 8. Video improvements include 4K@30P video with no crop, slow-mo 1080P@120fps. The sensor remains a very respectable 20.1MP but is now upgraded to a stacked sensor. This adds DRAM directly to the rear of the sensor, which allows for much quicker readout and is key in achieving 4K, high FPS video, and burst shooting.

    The G5X Mark 2 can now also be charged by USB. Very handy for battery-incorporated gimbals and charging with powerbanks in a pinch.

    Perhaps the most interesting news for some is the updated lens which now extends to 5x zoom (8.8-44.00mm / 24-120mm equivalent). The previous version went out to 4.2x. Canon has also managed to keep the lens at f1.8-f2.8 which, in combination with the 5x lens should give a nice step up to bokeh at the long end.

  • Ultimate OnePlus 6 camera review of Sony IMX519 and IMX376k

    Ultimate OnePlus 6 camera review of Sony IMX519 and IMX376k

    OnePlus 6 camera review

    REVIEW IN PROGRESS

    Review sections:

    1. OnePlus 6 camera overview
    2. OnePlus 6 cloudy rainy evening
    3. OnePlus 6 true low light
    4. OnePlus 6 cloudy rainy afternoon
    5. OnePlus 6 indoors
    6. OnePlus 6 potrait mode bokeh
    7. OnePlus 6 sunny day

    OnePlus 6@GearBest


    OnePlus 6 main sensor – IMX519 review

    The main sensor in OnePlus 6 is Sony IMX519. This is a 1/2.6″ 16MP sensor fixed at 25mm. To give you an idea of how wide this is, it’s very close to the typical enthusiast camera’s focal length (, which is 24mm. It’s quite good.

    GizBeat is giving back an additional 5% on all purchases from GearBest (click for details, opens in new tab).

    Peeking at the corners and edges shows them to be decently sharp and looking good. They’re not perfectly sharp, but this is generally normal. This isn’t to hype up OnePlus, as this is par for the course for phones over a couple hundred dollars.

    Unlike the OnePlus 5, the OnePlus 6 comes with optical image stabilization (OIS). OIS is hardware stabilization, as opposed to software, which helps to compensate for handshake in video and with slow shutterspeed pictures.

    Generally speaking, without OIS we can take sharp images as slow as about 1/20s at best. With the OnePlus 6 I was able to fairly consistently get handheld tack-sharp images as slow as 1/3s.

    Focus time and accuracy are very good. Even in very dim lighting, 5 lux where the objects were tested, OnePlus 6 performed well. There was occasional focus-hunting which may be due to the tap-point in the scene not entirely fitting in the OnePlus 6’s focus target (I was testing with small objects up close). Note that 5lux is dimmer than most will shoot in; anything brighter gives better results.

    Again, not to hype up OnePlus 6, quick and accurate focus should be par for the course for any decent phone.

    OnePlus 6 secondary sensor – IMX376k review

    The secondary camera sensor, Sony IMX376k, is a 1/2.8″ type 20MP sensor. This is smaller than the main sensor, but not by much.

    The purpose of the secondary camera isn’t to get a wider shot or zoom shot as with some phones — It’s there to assist the primary sensor in resolving detail and for depth calculation when doing bokeh/portrait shots.

    I’ve tested this in low-light and the secondary camera does indeed add detail and sharpness to the image. We’re not talking a massive difference, but it is noticeable to me, even when not pixel peeping.

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    Review sections:

    1. OnePlus 6 camera overview
    2. OnePlus 6 cloudy rainy evening
    3. OnePlus 6 true low light
    4. OnePlus 6 cloudy rainy afternoon
    5. OnePlus 6 indoors
    6. OnePlus 6 potrait mode bokeh
    7. OnePlus 6 sunny day

    OnePlus 6@GearBest


  • Huawei P11 to feature 40mp 5x zoom triple rear cameras

    Huawei P11 to feature 40mp 5x zoom triple rear cameras

    One of the first manufacturers to put out a phone with dual rear cameras is now rumored to be releasing a triple lens rear camera on the upcoming P11. (more…)

  • Vernee is lying about the camera in Vernee Mix 2

    Vernee is lying about the camera in Vernee Mix 2

    As of now, it looks like Vernee has blatantly lied about the camera in Vernee Mix 2. According to their marketing, the sensor is IMX258, but according to apps which detect camera driver and according to data pulled through root, the camera sensor is not IMX258, (more…)

  • Google Camera HDR+ coming to all 3rd party camera apps

    Google Camera HDR+ coming to all 3rd party camera apps

    HDR+ magic will now be made available to all 3rd-party developers who use Google’s Camera2 API. That means any app, from 360 Camera for example, to Chinese stock camera apps. (more…)

  • Google Pixel 2 combines EIS OIS and machine learning to produce incredible video stabilization

    Google Pixel 2 combines EIS OIS and machine learning to produce incredible video stabilization

    The majority of phones out there use electronic image stabilization (EIS) for video. This includes cameras which have hardware optical image stabilization (OIS). Google’s Pixel 2 takes things to a new level by combining EIS with OIS to produce incredible handheld stabilized video. (more…)

  • Xiaomi Mi A1 dual camera setup is as effective as iPhone 8 Plus and offers true 2x optical zoom

    Xiaomi Mi A1 dual camera setup is as effective as iPhone 8 Plus and offers true 2x optical zoom

    While we know that most China phone dual-camera setups are useless, there are some budget-priced phones that carry effective dual-camera setups; you don’t need to spend $800 on an iPhone 8 to get quality dual-camera results. (more…)

  • Xiaomi Yi M1 ILC camera still very much alive. Gets a huge new firmware update.

    Xiaomi Yi M1 ILC camera still very much alive. Gets a huge new firmware update.

    There was a massive commotion last year when Xiaomi released their Mi Y1 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC) with the 4K capable 20MP Sony IMX269. I was hoping there would be a follow up 2nd generation release to the brazen Y1, but the very quick calming down of the initial furor pretty much killed that hope off.

    Until now. Xiaomi has released a huge firmware update to the Mi Y1, which gives a clue that the Xiaomi ILC isn’t dead at all, just taking a quick rest.

    The firmware update to the Mi Y1 addresses a number of problems with the Mi Y1 which plagued its initial release.

    The new firmware update means the MFT camera from Xiaomi isn’t dead at all and that we may see a 2nd iteration in the future.

    The updates include:

    New:
    1. Added exposure control in the mode P/A/S/M for video capture
    2. Added AF/MF control for video capture.
    3. Added RAW+JPG format for still capture
    4. Added still image option in Time Lapse
    5. Added the option to shoot 1-3 images when using the self-timer function with an initial 2 second or 10 second timer settings
    6. Added a histogram in live view mode for both still and video capture
    7. Added new focus viewing modes with improved image quality including: 6x, 8x and 10x magnification in MF mode
    8. Added 2 ways to show the Metering mode in the UI
    9. Added the user guide (Restoring factory settings to view)
    10. Added multiple selection of images for deletion.
    11. Added 2 new options for the display grid
    12. AE algorithm optimization
    13. Master Guide template display logic optimized
    14. Improved AF speed
    Fixed
    • Fixed some known bugs, and improved the overall stability of the system.
    Changed
    • Change the thumbnails on each screen from 9 to 12 images.

    To my eyes, the biggest moves are with video, adding manual exposure control and the addition of tap to focus and manual focus during video. These are huge, as while the Mi Y1 has 4K video capabilities, it was very very basic with limited versatility without these new additions.

    For enthusiasts who like to shoot RAW, but not necessarily always want to develop every photo, the new firmware update allows shooters RAW + jpg, which gives us the flexibility to quickly share JPGs without any fussing, and/or the possibility of advanced editing with the RAWs.

    In a beautiful move by Xiaomi they made the Y1 M1 a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount system. This gives Mi Y1 instantly and natively (no adapters needed) the ability to use any of the big selection of MFT lenses already available. That includes excellent lenses from the likes of Olympus and Panasonic.

  • How much does a camera cost a smartphone manufacturer? New report shows Omnivision as number 2 in the world.

    How much does a camera cost a smartphone manufacturer? New report shows Omnivision as number 2 in the world.

    How much do the cameras in a phone cost the manufacturer? The answer, for the higher-end cameras, is about $8 per module. So, for a typical phone without dual-cameras, about $16. A phone with dual-rear cameras, about (more…)

  • New Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L9 and Slim SX7 camera sensors announced

    New Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L9 and Slim SX7 camera sensors announced

    ISOCELL, whose parent company is Samsung, is releasing two new image sensors — ISOCELL Fast 2L9 and ISOCELL Slim 2×7. (more…)

  • Apple overtakes Google Pixel in the camera department

    Apple overtakes Google Pixel in the camera department

    In a back and forth battle between Google and Apple, Apple’s latest iPhone X / iPhone 8+ has taken the top spot with a score of 94 at DXOMark, the renowned camera benchmark authority. (more…)

  • Are phone cameras good enough?

    Are phone cameras good enough?

    Due to a vast improvement in camera quality over the last few years, many people have let go of standalone cameras altogether. (more…)