Flashback: the second megapixel race

02 October 2022
We thought those days were behind us - the aren't. Smartphone makers are once again in a heated competition to put out the phone with the highest resolution camera.

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  • D
  • AnonD-1001048
  • YQQ
  • 02 Oct 2022

I have had the Nokia 808 Pureview. I used a few flagship phones and I'm disappointed with the colors produced by most modern smartphone cameras. Unfortunately in terms of color science, photos from most modern smartphone cameras look oversaturated and oversharpened. When I look back the photos captured by the Nokia 808 and compare them to today's flagship phones, I can't help but notice that the colours in the 808 photos look true to life. However, the night mode has been one improvement over the past few years with the development of larger sensors and AI algorithms. 200MP is pretty overkill. Not even professional cameras such as the regular DSLRs or mirrorless come with such resolution.

    I don't mind the megapixel war. Sure it's redundant but it's still kinda cool that we get high megapixel counts in our pockets where it used to cost a fortune just a decade or two ago. Also helps drive innovation. Nothing wrong with a little bit of innovation.

      The first MPrace stopped because we enter the computational photography era (phone processors got enough computational power to improve the image quality even when using same sensor).
      Then company start increasing pixel size and sensor size to improve low-light quality, but it's hard to fit 1" sensor (and lens) to a smartphone. Then it's MPrace again, but now with pixel-binning technology.

        • M
        • MGW
        • Ki7
        • 02 Oct 2022

        I think that pixel size and aperture race will soon join in the camera race as both of these elements can also provide overall image quality bump if done well.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Lkg
          • 02 Oct 2022

          IpsDisplay, 02 Oct 2022I'm curious why quantum dot is stuck behind TV applica... moreOlder xperia with LCD are quantum dots.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • Lkg
            • 02 Oct 2022

            I love to see how there are ppl here that think what the illustration shows is happening physically.

            😂🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

              machine learning algorithms is growing exponentially

              Previous "megapixels races" era never had equally great processing power to handle it

              I find some folks underestimate, misunderstand or are uninformed with regards to the trajectory and potential of computional photography

              It more about stacking imperfections into perfection

              Sooner or later people that are against higher megapixels will be silenced and inevitably accept them

              But for now while it's not yet mastered there will be lots of resistance

                Anonymous, 02 Oct 2022I wholeheartedly support the second megapixel race We ne... moreI'm curious why quantum dot is stuck behind TV application ONLY

                  You won't get decent pictures from phone cameras until they have vastly increased lens sizes,there is only so much computing you can do on a tiny sample of light data.
                  Little in= little out.
                  I dont care what or how much processing is done to a smartphone pic,it's a lie,still easy to confuse.
                  Anybody REALLY interested in high quality photo taking uses 35mm film,cos you are talking TRILLIONS of data points with silver,beats the few hungred gbs the biggest digi cameras in the world can managed and makes the 40 mp in new phones look laughable.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • vGW
                    • 02 Oct 2022

                    I wholeheartedly support the second megapixel race

                    We need 600MP mobile sensors as well as upcoming innovations like Quantum dot senors which are set to replace age old CMOS and Meta Material Lenses which will reduce the thickness of lens but a significant margin.