You can put a pro camera lens on this Xiaomi 12S Ultra concept smartphone

[Hanno Labuschagne]

You can put a pro camera lens on this Xiaomi 12S Ultra concept smartphone

Xiaomi has unveiled a new concept smartphone that supports mounting any interchangeable Leica M lens directly to the device.

The smartphone's design is nearly identical to the recently-launched 12S Ultra, but sees the replacement of the primary camera lens with a 1-inch sensor capable of directly capturing light from an attachable lens.

 

[Dolby]

Xiaomi has unveiled a new concept smartphone that supports mounting any interchangeable Leica M lens directly to the device.

I know it's because of the partnership, but realistically no one is going to use a high end Leica lens for their phone.

 

[Skerminkel]

How good is the 12S's camera? My Note 9's camera is nothing to write home about.

 

[gotaway]

Time for Canon and Nikon to start adding cellular modems and app frameworks to their cameras

 

[Apogee]

They will have to figure out new onboard cooling technologies if the cameras' CPUs have to carry this additional load.

 

[FiestaST]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1588190871803121666

 

[Harmonic]

Ya no, a leica lens on a pos sensor. That's a winning combo... right?

Smartphone sensors only really do ok when there's a ton of light. In a low light situation they're beyond useless. Now ask any photographer what their favorite time of day to shoot is....

 

[Sapphiron]

Ya no, a leica lens on a pos sensor. That's a winning combo... right?

Xiaomi uses decent enough sensors in general.

It's the old story, the best camera is the one you have with you.

I can see this being quite value good for video work compared to anything else with the same capabilities. a

 

[Harmonic]

Xiaomi uses decent enough sensors in general.

It's the old story, the best camera is the one you have with you.

I can see this being quite value good for video work compared to anything else with the same capabilities. a

Agreed on that but otherwise meh... I guess it all depends on what you want to get out of photography. If it's a thumbnail sized image for IG fine. If you want to push the limits in post and print to a reasonable size, you're still better off with a better sensor. No lens will change the calculus

 

[Sapphiron]

Agreed on that but otherwise meh... I guess it all depends on what you want to get out of photography. If it's a thumbnail sized image for IG fine. If you want to push the limits in post and print to a reasonable size, you're still better off with a better sensor. No lens will change the calculus

for traditional photography, I agree with you.

but that market has been shrinking quickly in favour of video. Professional grade video equipment has a lot more production overheads.

Your average wedding or social media videographer has been endlessly frustrated by the cumbersome video production workflow. I see so many of them carry an iPhone for some quick videos and snaps that they can instantly share after they are taken. This will be a dream for them as a secondary device.

If Sony was really smart, they can get back into the top end smartphone game and attack this niche. They develop all the components needed for this and they already have a camera lens ecosystem and can make the right sensors.

if Canon and Nikon was smart, they would run to Apple and Samsung, because if this kicks off, they will be pushed out of all but the professional top end. They just need to make sure they have an adaptor for their current lens ecosystems.

 

[Harmonic]

for traditional photography, I agree with you.

but that market has been shrinking quickly in favour of video. Professional grade video equipment has a lot more production overheads.

Your average wedding or social media videographer has been endlessly frustrated by the cumbersome video production workflow. I see so many of them carry an iPhone for some quick videos and snaps that they can instantly share after they are taken. This will be a dream for them as a secondary device.

If Sony was really smart, they can get back into the top end smartphone game and attack this niche. They develop all the components needed for this and they already have a camera lens ecosystem and can make the right sensors.

if Canon and Nikon was smart, they would run to Apple and Samsung, because if this kicks off, they will be pushed out of all but the professional top end. They just need to make sure they have an adaptor for their current lens ecosystems.

I personally don't see this taking off though. It's a marketing play. If you care about image quality, you're not going to reach for a phone. If you care about convenience, you're not going to reach for a lens.

 

[bwana]

If you're carrying around a lens you might as well put it on a proper body.

Your average wedding or social media videographer has been endlessly frustrated by the cumbersome video production workflow. I see so many of them carry an iPhone for some quick videos and snaps that they can instantly share after they are taken. This will be a dream for them as a secondary device.

I've never encountered a wedding photographer/videographer who is going to share a photo/video from an event they're covering. The whole concept is bizarre... and more than a little irresponsible.

 

[Sapphiron]

If you're carrying around a lens you might as well put it on a proper body.


I've never encountered a wedding photographer/videographer who is going to share a photo/video from an event they're covering. The whole concept is bizarre... and more than a little irresponsible.

@bwana you and I have been around for too long. Its these young kids these days. They do some weird things.

My nephew was live streaming himself rock climbing with a drone following him up, so his grandparents could watch him compete.

 

[Swa]

I personally don't see this taking off though. It's a marketing play. If you care about image quality, you're not going to reach for a phone. If you care about convenience, you're not going to reach for a lens.

Agreed on that. A proper mirrorless isn't much larger than a phone these days. If you have to chuck in a lens you might as well go for the real thing. I think they defeat their own purpose here.