Camera
Huawei announces foldable Mate X2 smartphone with Leica-branded cameras
Foldable phones are becoming more commonplace. Competing against the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei’s new Mate X2 builds upon Huawei’s two previous foldable phones while incorporating a refreshed design.
The Mate X2 opens from the inside rather than the outside, and Huawei claims that the phone’s hinge is practically imperceptible. When folded, the Mate X2 looks quite like a traditional smartphone. The outside of the device includes a 6.45″ OLED screen with a 2700×1160 pixel resolution, 456 ppi. When you open the folding device, you see its 8″ inner display. This screen has a 2480×2200 pixel resolution or, put in another way, 413 ppi. Both displays have 90Hz refresh rates. However, the displays have different touch sampling rates, with the internal screen offering a 180Hz touch sampling rate and the external display delivering 240Hz sampling.
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| The Huawei Mate X2 features an external 6.45″ OLED screen. The internal display is 8″ when the smartphone is unfolded. Image credit: Huawei |
The Huawei Mate X2 is co-engineered with Leica, building upon an existing relationship between the two companies. The rear of the device features a Leica-branded camera array. The smartphone includes a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera, RYYB telephoto, 100x digital zoom, and a 2.5cm macro lens. The Ultra Vision camera is wide-angle, includes optical image stabilization, and has a maximum aperture of F1.9. The 16MP Cine Camera (ultra-wide angle) has an F2.4 aperture and includes OIS. The 3x camera has a 12MP sensor, an F2.4 aperture, and OIS. The 10x optical zoom camera, dubbed SuperZoom, has an F4.4 aperture, OIS, and additional support autofocus.
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In terms of additional features, there is 100x digital zoom and hybrid zoom. Autofocus is phase focus and contrast focus. The camera includes numerous photography modes, such as Night, Macro, Portrait, Pro, Slow-Mo, Panorama, Light painting, HDR, and much more. The Mate X2 records 4K UHD video. The device can also record Full HD video at up to 960 frames per second.
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| Macro image captured with the Huawei Mate X2. Image credit: Huawei |
Huawei writes, ‘Huawei Mate X2’s Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in a photo.’ Lofty promises, to be sure, but the specs and image samples are impressive.
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| 1x optical zoom image |
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| 10x optical zoom image |
Powered by an in-house chipset, dubbed Kirin 9000, the 5G device promises speed and performance. The CPU has eight cores, and the GPU comprises 24 cores. The device has 8GB of RAM and has available internal storage of 256GB and 512GB.
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A potential shortcoming of the Huawei Mate X2 for prospective customers is its lack of Google apps. At launch, the smartphone will run EMUI 11.0 based on Android 10. Huawei announced during the device’s launch live stream that it will be one of Huawei’s first phones to be updated to its HarmonyOS in April.
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The Huawei Mate X2 will go on sale in China later this week. The 256GB model will cost 17,999 yuan (which is just under $2,800 USD). The 512GB version will cost 18,999 yuan (around $2,950). The Mate X2 will be available in black, white, blue and pink color options. There’s no word yet on availability outside of China. To learn more about the Mate X2,
| Photo: Leica |
With its latest announcement, Leica is furthering its focus on mobile photography, adding a new accessory to its lineup. The company designed the Leica Lux Grip specifically for iPhones, following up on the June release of the Leica Lux iPhone app. The grip is strictly for Leica lovers, as it will only work with Leica’s iPhone app; controls will not transfer to the default iPhone camera app or any other third-party options.
Leica says the Lux Grip is “similar to a classic Leica camera in terms of its handling and feel.” It goes even further and explains that all of the grip’s “physical controls consistently express Leica’s design philosophy and conjure up the familiar experience of using a professional camera.” Any grip will make for a more camera-like experience and make taking photographs with a phone a bit more ergonomic, so users who focus on mobile photography could certainly benefit from it.
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| Photo: Leica |
The grip relies on a magnetic MagSafe connection rather than a case-like design, which is typical in other phone grips. The magnetic attachment makes switching between portrait and landscape orientations easy while maintaining a comfortable grip with easy controls. Plus, removing the grip when it’s not needed and returning to a traditional phone form factor is straightforward. That also means that when users purchase a new iPhone, there’s no need to buy an entirely new grip specific to that phone.
The Lux Grip uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity to communicate with a phone’s camera, allowing users to control camera functionality without digging into phone menus. That includes a two-stage shutter release that, like cameras, uses light pressure to focus and a full press to take a photo. There’s also a button to switch between shooting modes, two customizable buttons and a dial for adjusting settings.
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| Photo: Leica |
For those who want to go all out, Leica also released a leather case designed just for the Lux Grip, which features an AirTag holder.
The Leica Lux Grip is available for $329 on Leica’s website and B&H. The purchase includes a year of the Leica LUX Pro subscription.
Buy now:
Leica Camera AG is launching the Leica LUX Grip for the iPhone today.
The camera grip impresses with its intuitive operation and high-quality manufacturing while, at the same time, setting new standards for photographic precision using a smartphone. The Leica LUX Grip is similar to a classic Leica camera in terms of its handling and feel. Its clear design, sophisticated operating concept and easy attachment – guaranteed by secure magnetic MagSafe technology – improve the ergonomics and functionality of smartphone photography, taking it to a new level. The LUX Grip and iPhone communicate via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and are perfectly complemented by the Leica LUX app.
All of the LUX Grip’s physical controls consistently express Leica’s design philosophy and conjure up the familiar experience of using a professional camera. The 2-stage shutter release focusses with light pressure and starts shooting when fully pressed down. A button allows you to quickly switch between shooting modes. Two control elements can be individually assigned and customised via the Leica LUX app. While one button provides quick access to frequently used functions, the easy-to-grip control dial enables the precise selection of camera settings – such as zoom, aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation. This means that photographers have all the essential aspects of image composition in their own hands, even when using a smartphone.
The Leica LUX app rounds off the photographic experience by adding the unmistakable image and colour aesthetics of legendary Leica lenses. The bokeh effect of the Summilux-M or Noctilux-M can be used to deliberately emphasise features while retaining full control over exposure, ISO and shutter speed. Unique Leica Looks – from Vivid to classic Black&White – expand the artistic palette, lending digital photography an analogue character. The Leica LUX app forms a perfect symbiosis with the LUX Grip. The full version of the app is included for one year with every Grip product registration.
The LUX Grip also sets the tone when it comes to sustainability. Thanks to its modular design, the Grip can be easily reused with all electronic components every time you change your iPhone. Only the MagSafe base plate has to be replaced. Weighing just 130 grams, the Leica LUX Grip is comfortable to hold and is equally suitable for left- and right-handed users. Its powerful battery lets you take up to 1,000 shots and will be ready for use again in a flash with a charging time of 2 hours via USB-C.
The Leica LUX Grip is now available in selected Leica Stores, in the Leica Online Store and from specialist retailers. The recommended retail price is EUR 300 incl. VAT.
| Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm F1.2 pre-production | F1.2 | 1/125 sec | ISO 64 |
Earlier this week, Nikon announced the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.2 S, a wide-angle lens with a fast aperture. We were able to spend a few hours on the streets of Seattle with a pre-production model, and got some shots that should give you an idea of what this lens is about.
A few caveats to keep in mind – given that the photos were shot with a pre-production lens, they may not be exactly indicative of how a production model would perform. Our standard lens gallery procedure also involves processing the images through Capture One, giving us precise control over what corrections are and are not applied. However, the images in this sample gallery are straight out of camera JPEGs, and thus may have corrections that wouldn’t usually be applied to images in our sample galleries.
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This image depicts the Sony E-mount version of the AF 28mm F4.5 lens, though the size is nearly identical.
Photo: Viltrox |
After a playful bit of marketing, Viltrox announced a new flavor of its ultra-thin AF 28mm F4.5 lens. It first made the lens available for Sony E-mount cameras last fall, and now it will also be available for X-mount cameras.
Viltrox calls this teeny offering a chip lens. That nickname is in reference to how thin it is, drawing similarities with potato chips, and does not pertain to any sort of technology inside the lens. To stay on theme, the company’s teaser for the announcement featured a bag of chips with AF 28mm F4.5 XF above it, much like the Lays potato chip flavor announcements.
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| Image: Viltrox |
The Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 is a unique lens because of its diminutive size. It weighs a measly 60g (2.1oz) and is only 15.3mm (0.6in) thick. To keep the size so minuscule, there are some compromises. Most notably, it uses a constant F4.5 aperture. That means no adjusting the aperture based on lighting conditions. Additionally, it lacks a manual focus ring, so you’ll be stuck entirely with autofocus. It also isn’t compatible with filters.
The optical design is made up of six elements in six groups, including two ED and two aspherical elements. Voltrox says it will deliver “sharp images, vibrant colors, and stunning starburst effects.” It uses a VCM for autofocus, which Viltrox promises will be “fast, precise, and silent.” Additionally, the lens features an integrated lens cap with a slide for opening and closing the cover and a USB-C port for firmware updates.
The AF 28mm F4.5 XF is available in black and white colorways for $99.
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