The Huawei P9 and its Plus version were formalized yesterday: two high-end terminals that mark a turning point in the photographic ambitions of the Chinese manufacturer. And to tackle Apple and Samsung devices, references in the field, Huawei has used nothing less than Leica brand legend in the field.
Billed as a partnership co- engineering, the association of two brands – which we know nothing about the business aspects – is a first. Or almost: Panasonic has already released a smartphone with an optical Leica stamped, CM1, but the launch was far more discreet and no specific partnership announcement was announced – both brands are already closely connected in the segment pure picture.
L originality of Huawei P9 is its dual camera module system. If we’ve seen smartphones carry two rear sensors is the first time that a terminal has two focal lengths and two identical sensors. Identical or almost as if the definition and photosite size of the components are the same, one of these sensors is unique: it is 100% monochrome
Double sensor, a monochrome
what can serve such a sensor? Also use a dedicated photo black & amp; White (see below), Huawei said to be able to couple his data to his twin color. While the latter retrieves color information – so the color – the black & amp module; White interprets the luminance signal, that is to say the amount of light for each pixel.
By combining the two information, Huawei says its P9 is “ 270% more sensitive light an iPhone 6S and 90% more sensitive than a Samsung Galaxy S7 . ” We’ll see if, in practice, Huawei’s software engineers have found the right tricks to effectively combine the two signals but on paper, this seems possible.
Background Blur and post focus
This second black and white sensor can also be used to simulate a physically impossible to recreate effect * with such small sensors: the blurred background. The first HTC One M7 was the first to simulate this effect by a second sensor. At the time, this module definition of a twice smaller than the main sensor 4 Mpix served only to measure the distance from the terminal to the objects. In addition to the mediocrity of the two sensors, the onboard software of that time was not successful and provided the results – at best – mediocre
with two sensor equivalent definitions and years of R & amp; D and return on experience, Huawei could successfully simulate the blur of ‘background so dear to lovers of portraits and pictures to the ethereal look.
This second sensor would also provide, according to Huawei, a post-focus function. In this mode, the camera captures multiple images quickly, combines them in a file and allows the user to set the focus area – and the aperture value simulated diaphragm – a posteriori. Here the technical challenge is even greater, and we look forward to see how the Chinese engineers came out
certified Leica optics. Bright, but not too
Both Leica camera modules stamped Summarit are equivalent to 27 mm (equivalent full-frame SLR) opening to f / 2.2 aperture is the same as that of the iPhone 6 & amp; 6S. The play of light, these light units therefore have nothing impressive, the LG G4 incorporating such optics f / 1.8 – the latest Galaxy S7 opens to f / 1.9
But the maximum an optical aperture bodes nothing of its optical quality, its homogeneity or its dive. If the collaboration with Leica was well conducted, German engineers should have imposed stringent quality standards and the lenses of the optical formula. Hopefully Leica because the German brand plays on its reputation.
In addition to cooperation on the headlamps, the partnership with Leica also focused on software. And surprising as it may seem, it is especially on this ground that we expect Leica.
Colors Leica?
No doubt the Huawei engineers have a great expertise on these micromodules camera. In this area, where Leica produces nothing, it is especially likely that Leica has imposed a set of more drastic charges and given two three pipes, no more.
However, as regards the color and their interpretation, Leica has expertise. Richard Yu, director of the consumer division of Huawei, has heavily emphasized the three modes of color reproduction that will offer its P9: Standard, Vivid (saturated) and smooth (smooth)
Any digital device product, sensor output, a computer data gibberish that must be interpreted. But in this area, it is the Western brands have the advantage: once Nokia, Apple today, the terminals of these manufacturers provide the best color Jpeg out of housing, the so-called “Asian” brands offer often too cold shots, too artificial.
with its film heritage and the quality of its JPEG digital cameras, Leica has undoubtedly brought expertise in data interpretation and colors, as well as in the quality of JPEG compression. Again, we look forward to check Mr Yu’s words.
A true monochrome fashion!
Leica is the only mainstream brand to offer cameras that see that black & amp; White – the Leica M Monochrom. These boxes are equipped, as P9, a sensor free of colored matrix which is positioned in front of the sensor. Besides the sometimes significant gain in sensitivity to light (hence better conservation of details in the growing ISO), a black & amp sensor; White offers a greater wealth of gray tones. Below is an image from a RAW file from the Leica M Monochrom developed in Lightroom – note the richness of detail in the clouds
Besides the production of black files & amp; white quality that is unique in the world of smartphones, P9 could, on paper, go even further: while the monochrome sensor retrieves the image in black & amp; White, the color sensor information could help to simulate in software filter. What bring out the clouds filtering the light on the blue sky, etc.
Software. Leica experience
If the use of sounds (shutter, etc.) and the font of German society seems quite gadget, the announcement that the P9 has a software interface co-developed with Leica seems to be good news. Because it relates to M, T or Q, Leica developing clean and efficient software interfaces with all latest digital cameras
Huawei has put forward an effective interface capable of quickly disengage” professional “mode. Note however that access to the RAW file format (the “negative” digital) and manual overrides is not exclusive to Android Huawei since 6 now offers these features natively.
Triple autofocus
Huawei have never shone in their development speed, but the brand has promised that this would change with the P9 since the terminal uses three technologies: laser measurement depth / distance and contrast detection. Mr Yu said the laser is used in the development of some distant subjects, the other two AF coming to support especially for scenes with more depth.
If the contrast detection is a classic – it’s the same technology used primarily by ALL smartphones – the use of both optics like two eyes to measure the distance (range finder) is whether this is a first in all the rare case in telephony. This very long display of technology dedicated to photo is a first: so far, the only long articles devoted to “smart-photo-phones” concerned either Apple or Samsung
The promises – and so. expectations – Photographic vis-à-vis this P9 are very important, so little to say that Huawei is expected to turn … and has no interest in (us)
disappoint!
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