Oppo doesn’t have a new device on hand at Mobile World Congress 2017, but it still has something to show off. The company unveiled what it is calling the world’s first dual lens camera with 5x optical zoom.
The camera does the regular thing of pairing a regular wide angle lens with a telephoto lens for zoom shots. The big difference here is that Oppo is using a periscope style setup for the telephoto lens in order to get the extra focal length needed for the 5x optical zoom.
This is done by setting the zoom lens at a 90-degree angle to the camera, and then focusing the image on it using a directional prism. Similar to how a periscope on a submarine works. The unique configuration also allows the camera to be as slim as regular smartphone cameras.
Adding to the technology is OIS on the telephoto lens, providing additional stability. This OIS is actually located on the focusing prism, which makes us wonder about its effectiveness in providing a stable image.
According to Oppo, the camera took 106 engineers over a year to develop the technology which apparently is based on works done by an Israeli startup called Corephotonics. That being said, there’s no device for this to be attached to at the moment though, similar to the two techs that the company have shown in last year’s MWC.
(Additional info: CNET)
