Xiaomi is working on an extendable zoom camera for smartphones. As a result, it may be possible to zoom in with one lens in the future.
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Xiaomi may bring an extendable zoom camera to the smartphone
Smartphone cameras are getting better and better. Unfortunately, they cannot yet zoom in optically. This may change in the coming years. Xiaomi is working on an extendable zoom camera for smartphones. For example, you could shoot wide-angle photos and zoomed pictures with one camera.
Currently, many manufacturers put three or four cameras in their phones. In addition to the primary camera, you can think of an ultra-wide-angle lens and a telecamera. All those sensors take up a lot of valuable space. Huawei has the periscopic telephoto lens in the P30 Pro for example mounted horizontally. Another disadvantage is that the second and third lens are often much less good than the main camera.
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Xiaomi says the new retractable zoom camera lets in 300 percent more light than a normal telecamera. That should ensure better (portrait) photos, especially in the dark. The stabilization has also been improved by 20 percent, which would result in sharper pictures.
As can be seen in the video above, Xiaomi’s zoom lens resembles that of a normal compact camera. This is not entirely new. Samsung already experimented with optical zoom on, for example, the Samsung Galaxy K Zoom. Unfortunately, that device was so bulky that many consumers ignored it.
Xiaomi’s retractable zoom camera also has drawbacks. Xiaomi probably has to make smartphones a bit thicker to be able to use the technology. In addition, because the lens moves, there is a risk of sand or dirt getting into the mechanism. This can limit the life of the camera.
Other uses for the zoom camera
The big advantage of an extendable camera is that you can zoom in with it. Yet Xiaomi does not explicitly mention that option. The company could also focus on other options. Think of combining a normal camera with a macro camera. Extending and retracting the lens would change the focus distance. That probably appeals to many consumers a lot less.
