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LG teases a smaller smartphone camera module with true optical telephoto zoom

<p>LG may not make smartphones anymore, but it's still building components for them. The company's LG Innotek arm just unveiled (https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lg-innotek-reveals-the-optical-telephoto-zoom-camera-module-for-the-first-time-in-ces-301709953.html) a periscope-style true optical zoom camera module with a 4-9 times telephoto range. That would allow smartphone cameras to retain full image quality through the entire zoom range, while potentially reducing the size and number of modules required.&nbsp;</p><p>Samsung developed a similar camera module, also known as a "folded" lens, with a four times zoom first used in the <a href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&amp;pageId=1p-autolink&amp;featureId=text-link&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS93YXRjaD92PUFWX0MtVlROcVU0IiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI5MDFkMGJiZi1hNWYzLTRhNGItOTYyMi05YzRjZGRmMzE4YWQifQ&amp;signature=AQAAAeEiSLDJB0H_QeIDv7YTGWwvLQPu10oXtAlE07ix5VSR&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAV_C-VTNqU4" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:;elmt:">Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone[/url]. LG Innotek provided a previous version of its zoom module to Sony for the Xperia 1 IV smartphone (https://www.engadget.com/sonys-xperia-1-iv-smartphone-has-the-worlds-first-true-optical-zoom-lens-071003899.html).&nbsp;</p><span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>Most smartphone cameras use hybrid zoom setups that combine digital zoom and multiple camera modules. Certain zoom ranges (typically 2x, 3x, 10x, etc.) use individual cameras, with a digital zoom to fill in between those (2.5x, 4.5x, etc.). As a result, sensor resolution and thus detail can be considerably reduced.</p><p>LG's "Optical Zoom Camera," however, contains a zoom actuator with movable components, similar to what you'd seen on a zoom lens in a mirrorless or DSLR camera. It operates quickly and precisely down to the micrometer, according to LG, while saving battery life. It also has a built-in optical image stabilizer to reduce blur, something that can be a problem for telephoto lenses that magnify hand movements. (iFixit shows exactly how such modules work here (https://youtu.be/AV_C-VTNqU4?t=119).)&nbsp;</p><p>With the module installed, a sensor would retain full resolution through the entire 4-9x zoom range, providing more detail on telephoto shots. LG also pared down the module's thickness to reduce the size of the camera bump.&nbsp;</p><p>The company partnered with Qualcomm to integrate the tech in the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform. "It will enhance the image tuning custom for the optics, which includes Auto-Focus, Auto-Exposure, Auto-White Balance, lens shading correction and much more. Users will be able to focus quickly. And the photos and videos will have stunning image quality," LG wrote.&nbsp;</p><p>The new module will appear in smartphones announced at CES 2023 starting January 3rd. LG didn't reveal any brands or models, but there are a number of smartphones coming soon with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that could potentially use it. Those include the OnePlus 11 series, Xiaomi 13, Motorola X40 and Oppo Find X. Apple is also a large customer of LG Innotek and could use the zoom module in next year's iPhone 15 series, according to previous reports (https://www.thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=3988).&nbsp;</p>

Source: LG teases a smaller smartphone camera module with true optical telephoto zoom (https://www.engadget.com/lg-teases-true-optical-telephoto-zoom-phone-camera-module-with-no-bump-133518178.html?src=rss)