A Smartphone With ISO of 51200 for Photos and 12800 for Video

Sony's new phone has an AUBE Fusion image signal processor that combines the data from the sensors of each of the two cameras to reduce noise and gives you usable images and video. The sensors are made for ultra-low-light capture previously only possible with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. 

Sony makes sensors for their professional mirrorless cameras as well as other Android smartphone manufacturers. But in this case they certainly kept the best for their own Xperia XZ2 premium smartphones. It has two cameras at the back and unlike the iPhone and Samsung phones which has a telephoto lens and a regular lens on each of the cameras, Sony decided to split the capture between a 19 megapixel color sensor and a 12 megapixel monochrome sensor. The dual camera system gives you the same as the iPhone's portrait mode which they call "Bokeh Mode" and you can use the monochrome sensor on its own to capture crisp black and white images.

When shooting video it's possible to slow it down with the amazing 960fps at 1080p resolution capture, which is something most professional cameras can't even do. It's one of the first mobile phones to shoot 4K HDR.

Specifications:

  • Memory and storage: 6GB RAM and 64GB UFS internal memory
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform
  • Durability: Water resistant and made with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Camera Features:

  • AUBE fusion image signal processor
  • BIONZ™ for mobile image-processing engine
  • 960 fps Super slow motion video (FHD/HD)
  • Predictive Capture (motion / smile)
  • Autofocus burst
  • x8 Digital Zoom
  • HDR Photo
  • 4K HDR Movie recording5
  • Quick Launch & Capture
  • Low-light photo: ISO 51200
  • Low-light video: ISO 12800
  • Predictive Hybrid Auto-focus
  • Anti-distortion shutter
  • Triple image sensing technology
  • SteadyShot™ with Intelligent Active Mode (5-axis stabilization)6
  • Bokeh effect (picture) 11
  • Monochrome effect (picture and video) 11

Conclusion

I think it's impressive that a phone can capture low light images to the level where 51200 is needed; that's better than the eye can see. What I think they should do is rethink their naming of their phones. XZ2 doesn't say as easy as iPhone or Pixel, and if they want to sell devices in the US and other English-speaking countries, an easier name would certainly be to their advantage.

It excites me to think that if this is the level of technology going into a phone, what the next phase for their flagship mirrorless cameras they are developing will have.

Wouter du Toit's picture

Wouter is a portrait and street photographer based in Paris, France. He's originally from Cape Town, South Africa. He does image retouching for clients in the beauty and fashion industry and enjoys how technology makes new ways of photography possible.

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5 Comments

Was this post sponsored by Sony? The video certainly was.

No it wasn’t. It was merely to display the device.

Sounds like sponsored one, well... I would not feel that bad as long as there are some real world examples apart from this marketing blabla...

I don’t get why people care so much if it is sponsored or not. Do you guys post on every video and ask the creator if it was sponsored if they happen to be using a device and mention the name? Why is this becoming a habit on Fstoppers? Clearly you were somewhat interested in the video/article to watch/read it. I guess every time an Fstoppers writer shows us a product; they should be telling us whether this is sponsored or not...

Wow!