See how the 100x zoom of the new Galaxy S20 Ultra works

On the last day 11/02 the Samsung introduced the new Galaxy s20 ultra, S20 e S20 +. However, a first-of-its-kind feature at the top of the line S20Ultra drew attention. The smartphone has four lenses and 100x zoom, named after Space Zoom (or “spatial zoom”, in free translation). 

While it doesn't produce perfectly sharp images, the feature is impressive as it allows for photos that are 100 times magnified. All this done on a cell phone with a small camera sensor. The possibility of such extreme zooms has already been followed up with the Huawei delivering 50x zoom and using the same method as Galaxy s20 ultra.

It is important to point out that, in world of photography, absurd amounts of zoom are already known in powerful (and more expensive, of course) cameras. But as the Samsung managed to introduce a 100x zoom on a smartphone? 

First, it is important to understand that images like this are captured through focal distance, which is the measurement of the lens center and the point of light that will be collected. Focal length is not unique to cameras and can be found in contact lenses, microscopes and telescopes. on a camera DSLR (professional), for example, it can still be adjusted. 

In the case of Galaxy s20 ultra, Samsung worked on a periscopic camera-style system, considering that the cell phone is thin and with immobile mechanisms, unlike a DSLR camera. As a result, the smartphone's lenses are perpendicular to the device's structure, providing more space. the sensor of S20Ultra does not receive light directly. Then, this light (record) reflects at 90 degrees through a prism and, with that, the magic is done. Basically, your photo is captured at the top of the smartphone and then it “drops” to the sensor.

To reach the 100x zoom, the company relied on the combination of hybrid optical zoom and super resolution zoom technology. In practice, there is a 10x optical zoom combined with 10x digital zoom, totaling a maximum capacity of 100x. With the quad camera, two powerful lenses (48 MP and 108 MP) are responsible for capturing as much detail as possible. Then, software comes into action, putting everything together and delivering the photograph. 

Galaxy S20 Ultra zoom result

In the images below it is possible to see the result in the practice of the 100x zoom of the Galaxy s20 ultra.

Despite the effort not to produce blurred records, the Samsung admits that, when reaching 100x, the image loses a little quality, which is understandable for such a device.

Source: Android Central.