ZEISS, vivo revolutionize mobile photography

CAPTURING moments has never been easier with the handy communication device called the smartphone. Starting from a device that transmitted messages through a line, this technology has evolved and turned into a compact, all-around computer.

One of the smartphone's common features is the camera, which has not been added to phones until the year 2000. Fast forward to 24 years later, the smartphone camera is already considered an essential tool for anyone. It can be used to record important information instantaneously and create replicas of memorable events.

With its precious contribution to a person's life, having a camera that captures crisp images that match what the eyes see and that minimizes image "noise" — which can, otherwise, distort the photo — is invaluable.

Working to achieve this prized goal are smartphone brand vivo and optics company ZEISS. Packed with lenses that are developed by ZEISS, vivo's newest installment in its flagship series, the vivo v40, can now capture images as clear as they appear to the photographer's eye.

"We would like to bring our [highly] specialized lens and the quality of our optics to every consumer," ZEISS head of Research and Development Ramona Ettig says.

Ettig adds: "One of the reasons why we wanted to partner with companies [such as] vivo is because it's a very big benefit for us, and we learn so much about mobile imaging. Mobile imaging is everywhere around us. The ability to have it with you all the time is so important to our current life already. That's why we want to improve the quality of mobile imaging as far as we can — from the ZEISS perspective, I would say — and enable every consumer to get in touch with our high-quality systems."

According to vivo Southeast Asia Product Director and Taiwan vivo Product Marketing Operation lead Nick Lee, vivo has been pioneering technologies that will bridge humans to the digital world.

Its collaboration with ZEISS to bring professional-level cameras accessible to everyone through smartphone technology is just one of its milestones.

Vivo has already engaged with ZEISS to co-engineer an imaging system, using the T* Coating in its lens system at the X60 series and the ZEISS APO Floating Telephoto Camera at the x100 series.

ZEISS' sophisticated imaging technology aims to achieve three things: accurate color rendition, high micro contrasts to produce crisp shots and a three-dimensional pop that depicts the subject as real as life.

To achieve this, ZEISS has developed the T-Coating, which has been patented by former ZEISS head of Optical Surface Laboratory Olexander Smakula in 1935. Applying multiple layers of this coating creates the T* Coating, which is already used in vivo phones such as the V40.

The T* Coating allows the lens system to direct light at a fixed focal point to deliver a clear image that is free from glare and flare as much as possible.

Vivo's software compliments the hardware components of the ZEISS lenses by implementing features such as color restoration, Sky Night Imaging System and Ultra-sensing Portrait System.

Its Ultra-sensing Portrait System, which is already available in the vivo v40, equips portrait understanding, beautification and ambiance. The software carefully analyzes the tone of the environment and the subject of the portrait, ensuring that people are focused upon and that the background compliments their silhouette perfectly.

Together with ZEISS, vivo has created different types of bokeh effects that users can easily implement in their photos. These are Biotar, Sonnar, Planar, Distagon, B-speed and Cinematic Style. Users can also manipulate the strength of the Bokeh to suit their photographic needs.

Originally, bokeh effects are a result of technical photographic aspects by calibrating the depth of field and aperture, which could also be accidental. Many people consider it as an artistic way of photographing, as the bokeh effect enhances the subject of the photograph. This is why ZEISS and vivo have crafted different bokeh styles that people can use for their portraits.

The vivo V40 also features the ZEISS Cine-flare portrait, which is a rendition of the way the light glares in some photos. While the T* Coating significantly reduces it in photos, the lens flare created through the software is viewed by some people view as an artistic photography effect.

The V40's lens kit also comes with a multifocal lens kit that has 24, 35 and 50 millimeter (mm) focal lenses. This allows the user to take portraits with various purposes and styles. The 24 mm focal lens is commonly used for landscape portraits while the 35 mm focal lens is commonly for street portraits. On the other hand, the 50 mm lenses are commonly used for classic and natural portraits.

Vivo's color system allows users to be artistic with their shots, offering vivid, natural and textured color.

Together, ZEISS and vivo's partnership stems from the common goal of making professional and easy-to-use mobile imaging products that will allow its customers to experience the joy of creativity. They aim to empower each other by understanding the needs of people and delivering top mobile imaging technology and optical solutions to them.

ZEISS Consumer Products head of Category Management, Marketing and Sales Sebastian Dontgen says both companies intend to keep this partnership for the long term as they continue to explore the value of optics in the growing technology of mobile imaging.