Xiaomi Modular Optical System concept hands-on

26 February 2025
Although still a concept, it almost felt like a finished product.

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  • 05 Mar 2025

I think it's better to use a DSLR camera, which can be connected directly via Bluetooth or WiFi to a smartphone. So after taking a photo, we can transfer it to a smartphone.

    NoOne75, 05 Mar 20251) MFT Cropfactor is x2 - so the Sensor is smaller than APS... more3,4) This uses a Quad Bayer sensor, so at 1x it shoots a regular 25MP image. Only when shooting in a crop mode, say 2x, it switches to the full resolution mode to minimise the resolution loss.

    6) It has a display that can reach 1500 nits (at 75% APL) outdoors, so visibility would hardly be a problem even under direct sunlight.

    You make a good point regarding 2), but given that this is a concept camera I expect the actual product to be more refined (assuming it would ever be released in the first place).

      Anonymous, 05 Mar 2025" Although it's reminiscent of past attempts from... moreNope, Xiaomi's approach is completely different from Sony's.

      The former essentially enables the camera module to be used as the primary camera of a phone, meaning all components that are not relevant to capturing an image have been omitted and all the image processing takes place within the phone, allowing for more advanced processing + potentially more consistent tonal and colour renditions between the camera module and built-in cameras.

      On the other hand, Sony's camera "modules" were, in fact, just a small dedicated camera - They had their own ISPs, batteries and SD card slots, but only displayed live preview on a smartphone screen via Bluetooth because they didn't have a monitor. This means that you could use them on any smartphone, though the downside is the battery and storage having to be prepared separately, a substantial delay in image transfer between the camera and the phone and (obviously) limited processing capability.

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        • Anonymous
        • sEF
        • 05 Mar 2025

        Rolly Ghiz, 04 Mar 2025Good innovation but I can't really comprehend it'... moreBecause the lens is designed for quality. The similliar lens like on your smartphone is "pancake lens" in cameras which is designed for mobility.

          Anonymous, 05 Mar 2025" Although it's reminiscent of past attempts from... moreAnd it's still a great product since I can literally use it on any phone I like, even if it's an iPhone. Yes, it can be done*.

          *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUzWXWlcKwc
          *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxBBMKb2JLg

            Umm, 04 Mar 2025This will fall easily by a sudden jolt as it's only at... moreIt still depends on how strong the pogo pin magnets are. Even to this day, I still have no issue with the pogo pins on my Motorola's Gamepad and Polaroid Moto Mods accessories.

              TheSnowWinterR7, 04 Mar 2025I'm wondering how this is differs to the one with Smar... morePut it simply, Sony QX series is still a normal Mirrorless camera but without the screen. You use your phone screen as a viewfinder via Bluetooth and NFC. This Xiaomi concept, on the other hand, uses a proprietary pogo pin solution to make full use of the built-in ISP. It's either universal compatibility or seamless ecosystem.

                Using the built-in smartphone ISP and pogo pin is all great, but it means a proprietary connection just like Motorola Moto Mods for Moto Z series and LG Friends for G5, and we all know what happened to them.

                Also, Sony's external lens solution with the QX series doesn't require an Xperia smartphone at all. You can use it on any Android smartphone you have, even if it's a cheap Poco phone of today.

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                  • Anonymous
                  • 0p}
                  • 05 Mar 2025

                  NoOne75, 05 Mar 20251) MFT Cropfactor is x2 - so the Sensor is smaller than APS... moreCurrent m43 from Panasonic and OM-System are quadbayer .

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 0p}
                    • 05 Mar 2025

                    Rolly Ghiz, 04 Mar 2025Good innovation but I can't really comprehend it'... moreLens used on phones have 5-7 elements with almost same shape.
                    Camera lenses have usually 12-18 with very different shapes that take much more space. Larger is sensor, the larger is gap between elements.

                    This is why those 600mm for FF have almost size of human leg.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • 0p}
                      • 05 Mar 2025

                      " Although it's reminiscent of past attempts from other manufacturers, Xiaomi's approach is fundamentally different. Sony, for example, tried using an external lens controlled by an Xperia smartphone."

                      That was exactly same thing. Lens - shaped camera that uses phone as EVF.

                        Umm, 04 Mar 2025This will fall easily by a sudden jolt as it's only at... moreThere is more grip on the smooth surface for magnets. Ant that thing should not be that heavy too. When we have coolers for phones that are same size but make vibration with the fan and wont fall off the phones and maybe are even heavier

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                          • X-Xiaomi
                          • KIZ
                          • 05 Mar 2025

                          Xiaomi phones have lost their appeal with the new HyperOS and its restrictions on bootloader unlocking. Xiaomi's message of "free spirit" is lost forever with this new OS and seems like this Chinese giant is all about forced control now.

                            what, 04 Mar 2025what is going on? smartphone is killing one gadget after an... moreThis soon ? I would say they are already late with this.

                              1) MFT Cropfactor is x2 - so the Sensor is smaller than APS-C, and of course smaller than 35mm (36x24mm).
                              2) Lens modules would be *very* costly, because every so called "lens" does need it's own MFT Sensor behind the glass elements - very different from any system camera setup.
                              3) 100 MP via MFT is simply overkill, the best / current MFT cameras do use a native Sony 25 MP Sensor by design.
                              4) Of course, you can downsample (here the case, to 25 MP via Pixel-binning, increasing DR) but again...it's really overkill.
                              5) I'd use always my real camera gear, hence various DSLRs, DSLMs from CaNikon, Sony, Pentax etc, *with* OVF or EVF, instead of shooting into blazing sunlight with that thing, which can't provide an EVF, by design
                              6) Good luck with a Display, shooting into blazing sunlight - i know exactly, what that means, for decades.
                              7) The whole combo with aux lens attached makes it really cumbersome, no ergonomics like a real camera, any system camera is with handgrip, etc. better to hold, than your phone, with attached lens like into the middle part.

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                                • zalchi
                                • nm6
                                • 05 Mar 2025

                                I hope that Qi3 will include:
                                - a data link
                                - reverse charging
                                - and the possibility of connecting multiple accessories, so first I attach a powerbank with an SSD inside and a flashlight outside, then I attach the lens. The powerbank can charge the phone and the lens in the same time.

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                                  • fren
                                  • 2xy
                                  • 05 Mar 2025

                                  this ain't no proper DSLR type Len!

                                    • Feem
                                    • IbG
                                    • 05 Mar 2025

                                    Maybe they should make their own version of the Galaxy K Zoom and bring back the idea to the market…

                                      Yet another technology left behind by Xperia is being brought back into fashion by other companies.

                                        Rolly Ghiz, 04 Mar 2025Good innovation but I can't really comprehend it'... moreNo, it's more than 70% increase in area of sensor

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