“Our 200-megapixel sensor measures up to SLR cameras”
Samsung has announced its new top devices in the Samsung Galaxy S23 series this week. Phones that especially stand out because of the cameras. The Ultra variant with its 200 megapixel camera makes Sungdae Joshua Cho (EVP of the Visual Solution Team) particularly proud. “Our 200-megapixel sensor measures up to an SLR camera.”
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S23 Ultra camera and the SLR camera
In a session we had with Samsung about specifically the cameras of the new S23 Ultra, it is striking that the company does not like to compete with others. It opts for a stronger tactic: it measures itself against itself. For example, Sungdae Joshua Cho gave numerous examples of how, for example, the photos of the Samsung Galaxy S22 are less good in twilight, with the example of how the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra handles this.
When making the cameras, Samsung says it pays close attention to what users give them back. A bit of the old OnePlus tactic. That while the competition, such as Xiaomi, mainly looks at being able to imitate the photo quality of an SLR camera. We therefore asked whether Samsung only looks at its customer feedback, or perhaps also looks with a slanted eye at the quality that SLRs can produce.
“We try to satisfy a wide variety of users. It can therefore be a camera layman, but also an expert who normally also shoots with an SLR camera. That is also why we have made the Camera Assistant a separate app (which will appear in your photo software after download, ed.). We understand that SLR users really appreciate our camera. And the performance of the 200-megapixel sensor rivals that of SLR cameras.”
Switch camera while filming
Samsung looks at a wide range of options when it makes its cameras, but also when it chooses lenses, for example. Samsung sometimes uses Sony lenses, but is now going for its own variant. “It is not conscious that we do that: it was the best thing there was at the time. We look at that again for each device, so it could be Sony again next year, if that is the best option at that time.”
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Of course there is always more to be desired, such as being able to switch lenses when you shoot a video, something that is possible with Google Pixel. Is that coming to Galaxy? “Before you start the video you choose a lens. Then the best image quality is immediately determined. If you can change the lenses during filming, that will cause some delay. We may make this possible in the future, but it’s give and take: do you want a little delay every time or the best image quality right away?”
Bokeh effect in videos
“We also listen to what customers want, if we hear this wish more often, we may make a different choice in the future.” Samsung gives the same answer when it comes to being able to adjust a bokeh effect in videos later. You can take a selfie now though blur, but you can’t do that with a video. That is a wish that Samsung hears more often and judging by Sungdae’s smile, we wouldn’t be surprised if that will soon come to the devices of the brand.
What do you think, can the camera of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra compete with an SLR camera? Leave it now in the comments.
