vivo X100 Pro review

Close-ups

The X100 Pro's close-up shooting capabilities are remarkable. Not only can the telephoto camera focus really close, but it already proved quite capable at zoom levels beyond the 4.3x/100mm lens spec, making for quite high reproduction ratios.

Then there's the Macro mode, which makes use of those capabilities, gets the ultrawide and the main camera in on the action, and adds options for manual focusing and simulated bokeh. Macro mode offers four zoom levels - 1x (sourced from the ultrawide camera, with a FoV to match the main unit), 2x (sourced from the main camera), and 4.3x and 8.6x both coming from the telephoto. We already saw a similar take on things on the iQOO 12 whose telephoto comes with similar capabilities.

We'll focus on the telephoto's results here, since they offer the highest quality and most convenient shooting distance.

Starting off with some 4.3x shots from the regular Photo mode at around minimum focus distance, we're already getting very good magnification and excellent detail. There's also pretty great separation between subject and background - thanks to the short subject distance, depth of field is pretty shallow and backgrounds can go very blurry.

Close-up samples, 4.3x, Photo mode

If you go into Macro mode and enable the bokeh, you can further enhance that separation. It will work better with some subject/background combos than others and maxing out the simulated aperture can make for some extreme results.

Close-up samples, 4.3x, Macro mode, f/5.6

Close-up samples, 4.3x, Macro mode, f/2.8

Here's how two of the above subjects look when shot at the 10x and 8.6x zoom levels (in the regular Photo mode and in Macro mode, respectively).

Close-up samples: 10x, Photo mode • 10x, Photo mode • 8.6x, Macro mode, f/8.0

Portrait mode

Portrait mode on the X100 Pro is a similarly non-trivial affair. You get a total of 5 focal lengths - 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm, with the first four coming from the main camera, and the 100mm sourced from the telephoto, as expected. There are several Zeiss-labeled blur styles that mimic the look of certain lens ranges by the company in the way out of focus highlights are rendered, and you also get a generic circular-shaped option. Filters and handful of beatification options are also on the menu, but there are also presets that engage a combination of focal length, bokeh style, and blur level.

Alternatively, you can forget about all that and just shoot with the 100mm telephoto in Photo mode. Admittedly, you're not guaranteed a whole lot of subject-background separation, but if you play around with the composition and shooting distances, you can get some pretty nice people shots.

Photo mode samples, telephoto camera (100mm)

But we digress. Back to the Portrait mode. The 100mm setting will get you the same high quality rendition of your subject, with some added background blur. In fact, the blur can be a bit too much in some scenes, even at the default f/4.0 simulated level.

Portrait mode samples, telephoto camera (100mm)

Going for the 85mm focal length, you'd be switching cameras and the main camera's color rendition is closer to the truth. We like the telephoto, but the skin tones are more accurate on the main camera. Then again, a case could still be made for the warmer take of the zoom unit, even if it's not as accurate.

Anyway, we were moderately surprised by the 85mm mode's detail, which isn't all too shabby, given how far the 23mm main camera is being stretched. It's not tack sharp, but way better than expected.

Portrait mode samples, main camera (85mm)

It gets even better at 50mm - we praised the camera's output at 2x in Photo mode, and we're extending that praise to the Portrait mode as well, when it comes to subject detail. Here, the phone switches to an f/2.0 default simulated aperture, and it's still a bit over the top. Subject detection remains good though, so if you tone down the blur level, you'd end up with some solid portraits.

Portrait mode samples, main camera (50mm)

The 35mm and 24mm modes are for those instances when you'd want some more context in your portraits (but still want to blur that context a little bit, of course). Quality remains high.

Portrait mode samples, main camera (35mm)

Portrait mode samples, main camera (24mm)

Selfies

Selfies on the X100 Pro come out at the nominal 32MP resolution. If you happen to be in well-lit environments with not a whole lot of contrast in them, you can get selfies with excellent detail. Dimmer or in any way complex light will result in a less pleasing, aggressively sharpened rendition. Skin tones are mostly accurate, though colors are somewhat muted overall. Dynamic range is alright.

Selfie samples