Posts Tagged: cameras

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra is the first phone with two periscope zoom cameras

There was a time when smartphone makers rushed to quad-camera claims, most of which did so by throwing in a mediocre fourth camera — usually for macro shots, if not a monochrome filter or just a depth sensor. Nowadays, though, we are blessed with legit quad “main” cameras on some flagship phones, so brands need to be more creative to further differentiate themselves. In Oppo’s case, it decided to feature not just one, but two periscope telephoto cameras on its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Find X7 Ultra, as a leap from the triple camera system on the previous model.

The Find X7 Ultra’s “HyperTone Camera System” features the same 50-megapixel resolution across all four rear Hasselblad cameras, thanks to their relatively large sensors compared to the competition, according to Oppo. The main imager packs Sony’s second-gen 1-inch sensor, the LYT-900, which is more efficient in terms of power consumption and thermal performance. This is complemented by an f/1.8 aperture, OIS (optical image stabilization), a 23mm focal length and a 50-percent reduction in lens reflection. The ultra-wide camera features a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT-600 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, making this one of the fastest shooters in its class. This comes with a 14mm equivalent focal length and a focus distance down to 4cm. 

Then we’re left with the two periscope telephoto cameras. The first one, a 3x optical zoom, has a 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX980 sensor — “roughly three times larger than” the competition, apparently. You also get an f/2.6 aperture, along with “Prism OIS,” a 65mm focal length and a 25cm focus distance — handy for portraits and product shots. Then we have a 6x optical zoom periscope, which is powered by a 1/2.51-inch Sony IMX858 sensor and has an f/4.3 aperture, 135mm focal length, a 35cm focus distance plus Prism OIS. With AI-enhanced zoom at 12x, Oppo says its Find X7 Ultra handles a versatile equivalent focal length range of 14mm to 270mm.”

Oppo Find X7 Ultra
Oppo

Oppo also claims to have made some major breakthroughs in mobile photography here. Most notably, it’s finally rolling out its “HyperTone Image Engine,” which supposedly improves computational photography results for HDR, as well as avoiding over-exposure and over-sharpening. This was apparently in development for two years, with input from professional photographers and color experts. It’s all about “merging objective quality together with subjective emotional,” as a spokesperson stated. Better yet, HyperTone Image Engine will eventually be rolled out to some existing Oppo devices, namely the Find N and Reno series, depending on compatibility.

Other areas of improvement include the quality consistency across the zoom range (especially in low-light environment), as well as more realistic portrait shots thanks to the new “Hasselblad Portrait Mode.” For the latter, rather than getting fake-looking bokeh and poor edge detection, Oppo boldly promises to deliver “cinematic bokeh with foreground and background depth,” with a stunning accuracy down to a single strand of hair, plus minimal shutter lag as a bonus.

Oppo is also offering a new “Hasselblad Master Mode” which is based on the characteristics of the Hasselblad X2D 100C medium format mirrorless camera. You get to fiddle with saturation, contrast, sharpness and vignette control to create your preferred style, as well as other shooting features like manual ISO, shutter speed, EV, focus, and white balance. This Master Mode also offers “RAW MAX” capture — pending an OTA update — which supports 13 stops of dynamic range, along with 16-bit color depth in BT2020 color space for each 50-megapixel still.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra
Oppo

The Find X7 Ultra comes in three color options: “Ocean Blue,” “Sepia Brown” and “Tailored Black”, all of which feature a vegan leather cover (and the black version comes with decorative stitches). Despite the extra periscope camera, generous 5,000mah battery and wireless charging support (within 60 minutes using 50W; double that for 100W SuperVOOC wired charging), this device actually shares a similar weight and thickness as the Find X6 Pro. This is thanks to a slimmer wireless charging coil, thinner vegan leather and an improved logic board stack design. Oppo was also able to keep the entire rear camera module tightly packed by using “single-sided magnets,” in order to avoid interference between the three OIS parts.

This new phone also features Oppo’s brightest-ever QHD (3,168 x 1,440) panel, with outdoor brightness maxing out at 1,600 nits, and local peak brightness at 4,500 nits for HDR purposes. This 6.82-inch AMOLED panel supports the usual 120Hz refresh rate and ultra-low touch latency, along with “rain water touch” support for wet hands (it has IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating). While the three-stage slider is here to stay, it’s been repurposed to a “VIP slider” for quickly changing notification mode, or cutting off camera, location, and microphone access for an extreme privacy mode.

To our surprise, Oppo doesn’t currently have plans to launch the Find X7 Ultra outside of China, so you’ll have to source one from an importer. For your reference, this model ranges from 5,999 yuan (about $ 845) with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, to 6,999 yuan (about $ 990) with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. These three options are available for pre-order now, ahead of their January 12th retail launch. There will also be a special edition with satellite call support arriving in late March, but no price was mentioned.

Oppo Find X7
Oppo

For those on a budget but still want the same fancy look, there’s the Find X7 base model powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor. It only packs triple cameras on the back: a 50-megapixel main shooter (likely with Sony’s 1/1.4-inch LYT-T808 sensor; f/2.0; OIS), a 64-megapixel 3x periscope zoom camera (f/2.6; Prism OIS; 1/2-inch sensor), and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera (f/2.0; 119 degrees). It also has a slightly smaller 6.78-inch OLED screen with a lower 2,780 x 1,264 resolution. Unsurprisingly, there’s no VIP slider feature on this model.

The Find X7 starts from 3,999 yuan (about $ 560) and offers 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, and maxes out at 4,999 yuan (about $ 700) for its 16GB RAM plus 1TB storage offering. In addition to the “Ocean Blue” and “Sepia Brown” designs, you may also consider the purple and black options, both of which come in a glass back.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-oppo-find-x7-ultra-is-the-first-phone-with-two-periscope-zoom-cameras-085332818.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are official with upgraded cameras, AI at the center, and 30W charging*

Google’s latest set of smartphones are upon us with all sorts of additional goodies, upgraded features, and the promise of seven year’s worth of software support. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro also boast a refined design, a new chip, and use more recycled materials in their construction. Priced from $ 699 and $ 999 respectively, the […]

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Say hello to Motorola’s new Moto G54 and G84 budget smartphones with 50MP main cameras and 120Hz displays

Along with the Edge 40 Neo, Motorola also took the wraps off a couple of new Moto G handsets that feature 120Hz displays, and 50MP main camera. The Moto G84 is the pick of the two phones with its 6.5-inch OLED screen, 50MP and 8MP rear cameras, and 12GB of RAM while the Moto G54 […]

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The best cameras for 2023

It’s a strange and wonderful time to buy a camera. Since smartphones have gutted the casual photography market, manufacturers are focusing on building technological marvels designed for very specific uses. Mirrorless cameras continue to improve in terms of autofocus, video and more. Action cams provide sharp, fluid video, compact cameras are targeted to both tourists and vloggers, and DSLRs are available at some of the best prices we’ve seen. With so much choice, though, you may need some guidance to find just the right camera – and that’s where we come in. Whether you’re a creator looking for just the right vlogging camera, an aspiring wildlife photographer or an adrenaline sports junkie, we’ll help you find the perfect model to match your budget and needs.

What to consider before choosing a camera

There are a lot of reasons to choose a camera over a smartphone. The larger sensors in mirrorless cameras let more light in, and you have a wide choice of lenses with far superior optics. Where smartphones have one f/stop, cameras have many, which gives you more exposure control. You also get natural and not AI-generated bokeh, quicker shooting, a physical shutter, more professional video results and so on.

With that extra quality comes a lot of extra factors to consider, however. The first thing is sensor size. In general, the larger the sensor size, the better (and usually more expensive) the camera.

Full frame is available on models like Sony’s new ZV-E1, the Canon EOS R6 II and Panasonic S5 II. At a size equivalent to 35mm film (36 x 24mm), it offers the best performance in terms of image quality, low-light capability and depth of field. It’s also the most expensive and finicky. While bokeh looks incredible at f/1.4, the depth of field is so razor thin that your subject’s nose might be in focus but not their eyes. This can also make video shooting difficult.

The next size category is APS-C (around 23.5 x 15.6mm for most models and 22.2 x 14.8mm for Canon), offered on Fujifilm’s X Series lineup, Canon’s R10 and R50 and the Nikon Z50. It’s cheaper than full frame, both for the camera body and lenses, but still brings most of the advantages like decent bokeh, high ISOs for low-light shooting and relatively high resolution. With a sensor size the same as movie cameras, it’s ideal for shooting video, and it’s easier to hold focus than with full-frame cameras.

Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13mm), a format shared by Panasonic and Olympus, is the next step down in sensor size. It offers less bokeh and light-gathering capability than APS-C and full frame, but allows for smaller and lighter cameras and lenses. For video, you can still get reasonably tight depth of field with good prime lenses, but focus is easier to control.

The other common sensor size is Type 1 (1 inch), which is actually smaller than one inch at 12.7 x 9.5mm. That’s used mostly by compact models like Sony’s ZV-1 vlogging camera. Finally, action cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 and DJI’s Osmo 3 have even smaller sensors (1/1.9 and 1/1.7 size, respectively).

For photographers, another key factor is autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy. Most modern mirrorless cameras have hybrid phase-detect AF systems that allow for rapid focus and fast burst speeds. The majority also feature AI smarts like eye-detect AF for people and animals. However, some models are just a bit faster and more reactive than others.

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear display are also key. The best models have the sharpest and brightest EVFs that let you best judge a shot before taking it. For things like street photography, it’s best to have as bright and sharp a rear display as possible. You may also want a screen that flips out rather than just tilting.

DSLRs and mirrorless cameras let you change lenses, but you’re stuck with what’s built into a compact camera. While that’s great for portability, a single lens means you’re going to sacrifice something. Fujifilm’s X100V, for instance, has a fast but fixed 35mm-equivalent f/2.0 lens and no zoom. Sony’s RX100 V has a 24-70mm zoom, but it’s slower at the telephoto end (f/2.8) and less sharp than a prime lens.

When it comes to video, there are other factors to consider. Does your camera do “pixel-binning” for video recording or read out the entire sensor? Better cameras tend to do the latter. Another key factor is sensor speed, as slower sensors tend to have more rolling shutter that can create a “jello” effect that skews video.

In addition, how’s the battery life? How do you like the handling and feel? How long can you shoot video before the camera heats up or stops? Does it support 10-bit HDR video? Is there a microphone and/or a headphone jack? (if you do a lot of interviews, it’s preferable to have both.) How’s the video autofocus? All of these things play a part in your decision – so now let’s take a look at the best models.

The best cameras

Best mirrorless cameras

Mirrorless is far and away the biggest category of cameras these days, so it’s the best way to go if you’re shopping for a modern camera with the most advanced features. Both Canon and Nikon recently announced they’re discontinuing development of new DSLRs, simply because most of the advantages of that category are gone, as I detailed in a recent video. The biggest selling feature of a mirrorless camera is the ability to change lenses depending on the type of shooting you want to do.

The key features are sensor size, resolution, autofocus, shooting speeds and video specs. If you’re primarily a sports or wildlife photographer, you’ll likely want fast shooting speeds and accurate autofocus. Portrait and landscape shooters will likely favor large sensors and high resolution to maximize image quality. And content creators will want to look for things like flip-out displays, high-end video specifications and good in-body stabilization. Price is of course a major factor as well.

Mirrorless cameras under $ 2,000

Best mirrorless camera under $ 2,000: Canon EOS R50

My top budget camera pick is Canon’s brand new 24.2-megapixel R50, which is a great model for both photographers and content creators. It can shoot bursts at up to 15 fps in electronic shutter mode, and offers 4K 10-bit at up to 30p with supersampling and no crop. It has a fully articulating display, and unlike other cameras in this price range, an electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode, and even has a popup flash. The only drawback is the lack of decent quality lens that’s as affordable as the camera itself, and a lack of in-body stabilization.

Runner up: Canon EOS R8

Full-frame cameras generally used to start at $ 2,000 and up, but Canon’s brand new EOS R8 is priced at just $ 1,500. It offers Canon’s excellent Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition AI, and can shoot bursts at up to 40 fps. It’s equally strong with video, supporting oversampled 10-bit 4K at up to 60 fps. The R8 also offers a flip-out display, making it great for vloggers. The main drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization.

Another good option: Panasonic Lumix S5 II

Content creators should take a hard look at Panasonic’s full-frame S5 II. It’s the company’s first camera with hybrid phase-detect AF designed to make focus “wobble” and other issues a thing of the past. You can shoot sharp 4K 30p video downsampled from the full sensor width, or 4K 60p from an APS-C cropped size, all in 10-bit color. It even offers 5.9K 30p capture, along with RAW 5.9K external output to an Atomos recorder. You also get a flip-out screen for vlogging and updated five-axis in-body stabilization that’s the best in the industry. Photo quality is also good thanks to the dual-gain 24-megapixel sensor. The main drawback is the slowish burst speeds.

Mirrorless cameras over $ 2,000

Best mirrorless camera over $ 2,000: Sony ZV-E1

Equipped with the same backside-illuminated (BSI) 12-megapixel sensor as the A7S III, Sony’s ZV-E1 offers excellent low-light performance, 4K at up to 120p and a host of new AI features like auto framing. It also comes with an updated in-body stabilization system aimed at vloggers that can smooth out even jolting movements like footsteps. The $ 2,200 price tag makes it enticing for vloggers as it offers features found on the $ 3,500 A7S III for considerably less money.

Runner up: Fujifilm X-H2S

If you’re OK with a smaller APS-C sensor, check out the Fujifilm X-H2S. It has an incredibly fast stacked, backside-illuminated 26.1-megapixel sensor that allows for rapid burst shooting speeds of 40 fps, along with 4K 120p video with minimal rolling shutter. It can capture ProRes 10-bit video internally, has 7 stops of in-body stabilization and a class-leading EVF. Yes, it’s expensive for an APS-C camera, but on the other hand, it’s the cheapest stacked sensor camera out there. The other downside is AF that’s not quite up to Canon and Sony’s level.

Another good option: Sony A7R V

For the ultimate high-resolution camera, check out Sony’s A7R V. With a 61-megapixel sensor, it shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that’s much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap, albeit with significant rolling shutter. If you don’t need the video, however, Sony’s A7R IVa does mostly the same job, photo-wise, and costs a few hundred dollars less.

Best action camera

The most important features to look for in an action cam are image quality, stabilization and battery life. GoPro has easily been beating all rivals over the last few years in all those areas, but DJI made some strides last year with the Osmo Action 3. At the same time, GoPro’s latest models are more expensive than rivals.

Best action camera: GoPro Hero 11 Black

GoPro didn’t change the design on its latest model, but it has a larger sensor that enables a couple of cool features – Horizon Lock stabilization and Full Frame mode that makes it easier to shoot for, say, TikTok and YouTube at the same time. It also offers a new wider, though slightly distorted Hyperview field of view.

Otherwise, the Hero 11 Black offers better video quality than ever (up to 5.3K 60p), Hypersmooth stabilization that’s still the best in the business (by far), battery life that’s improved by 40 percent over the last model, and more. It’s easily the best action camera on the market, but you pay for that: it’s $ 400 with a one year subscription ($ 500 without it), compared to $ 329 for the DJI Osmo Action 3 and $ 300 for the Insta360 RS 4K bundle. If you’re serious about filming extreme sports, though, it’s worth it.

Runner up: DJI Osmo Action 3

After experimenting with an oddball modular design on the Action 2, design has gone back to a more classic action cam design on the Osmo Action 3. It also comes with a slick new magnetic quick-release mount that lets you connect the camera directly to a GoPro-style mount with or without the case. Video quality and stabilization are quite good, but fall short of the Hero 11 Black (the Action 3 tops out at 4K 120p resolution compared to 5.3K 60p on the GoPro). While it’s not quite as good as the Hero 11, it’s considerably cheaper.

Best compact camera

This category has fewer cameras than it did even a few years ago and many models are older, as manufacturers focus instead on mirrorless models. However, I’m still a big believer in compact cameras. They’re a big step up from smartphones quality-wise, and a lot of people will take a compact traveling or to events when they’d never bother with the hassle of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Compacts largely have type 1-inch sensors, but a few offer larger options, particularly Fujifilm’s XF-100V. Another popular model, Sony’s XV-1, is primarily aimed at content creators looking to step up. In any case, desirable qualities include image quality, a fast lens, relatively long zoom, flip-out display, good battery life, a high quality EVF, decent video and good pocketability.

Best compact camera: Fujifilm X100V

The X100V is the latest in Fujifilm’s famous fixed-lens X100 camera series. Like other models in the lineup, it has an APS-C sensor and a 23mm f/2.0 lens, equivalent to 35mm on a full-frame sensor. You also get the same hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, mechanical dials, film simulations and good looks as before. But the X100V is the most significant advancement in the series’ history. It has Fujifilm’s latest 26.1-megapixel X-Trans 4 CMOS sensor compared to 24.2-megapixels on the last model and a new, sharper lens to handle that extra resolution.

A new tilting rear display makes “shooting from the hip” street photography much easier, as does the fast 11 fps/20 fps shooting speeds in mechanical/silent shutter modes. You also get a better hybrid phase- and contrast-detect autofocus (AF) system with more AF points along with face and eye detection. Finally, it now has the same 4K video-shooting features as the X-T30. It doesn’t come cheap, but the X100V is the ultimate camera if you’re into street photography – assuming you can find one.

Runner up: Sony ZV-1

The ZV-1 is Sony’s first RX100-series camera designed specifically for vlogging. It does that job well thanks to a lightweight body, built-in high-quality microphone, flip-out display, best-in-class autofocus and excellent image quality. The 24-70mm lens is sharp, but it needs to be wider because of the 25 percent crop when using electronic stabilization. It also lacks a true touch display and a headphone port. That nitpicking aside, if you’re looking to step up from a smartphone or just want something simple, it does the job nearly perfectly.

Another good option: Panasonic ZS-200

For a value compact camera, the best option is Panasonic’s 20-megapixel ZS-200. It offers a lot of features for the price, like a 1-inch, 20.1 megapixel sensor, 5-axis stabilization, 4K, 30 fps video and more. Its main claim to fame, though, is the 24-360x lens that offers incredible reach for travel and more. Though it dates back to 2018, it’s actually one of the more recent compact models.

Best DSLR camera

With mirrorless cameras taking over the interchangeable lens market, but DSLRs still give you the ability to change lenses at relatively cheap prices. The defining feature is the reflex mirror that lets you look directly through the lens at your subject with no electronics in between. Most also have very fast autofocus thanks to a dedicated phase-detect sensor, and very fast battery life. However, many lack features you’d expect on modern mirrorless cameras like subject tracking, eye-detection and more.

Best DSLR camera: Nikon D850

Nikon’s full-frame (FX) D850 is the best deal on a high-end camera and arguably the best camera for photography. With a 45.7-megapixel sensor and max 102,400 ISO, it gives you the best quality for the money, whether mirrorless or DSLR. It can also shoot fast, at up to 7fps, which is very good for such a high-res camera. In addition, the battery life (1840 shots on a charge) puts any mirrorless option to shame, and there’s a massive number of FX Nikkor lenses to choose from. Nikon has upped its video game as well with the D850 by introducing 4K internal recording. If you’d still rather have a live optical rather than an electronic view, the D850 is the best option available.

Runner up: Canon EOS Rebel SL3

Another one of the best cameras for photography is Canon’s 24-megapixel APS-C EOS Rebel SL3, which has a great blend of features, build quality and value. It offers features like a vari-angle touchscreen, 4K video (albeit with a crop) and Dual Pixel autofocus technology in live mode. You get shooting speeds of up to 5 fps, 1600 shots on a charge and an ISO range up to 51,200 (expanded). It also offers guided screen options for beginners. Best of all, it offers excellent picture quality for the price thanks to Canon’s skin-friendly color science.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-cameras-151524327.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is here with quadruple Leica cameras and a sweet silicon leather finish

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is finally official with its foursome of Leica-tuned 50MP camera sensors, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a ton of RAM and storage, as well as a big battery with support for 90W and 50W wired and wireless charging. Sporting a big round rear camera housing, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra also demonstrates […]

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I tested the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro cameras. Only one is a winner

This is what happens when the cameras on two of the best phones you can buy — the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro — are tested against each other.
Digital Trends

Honor’s Magic 5 Pro packs in Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance and a trio of 50MP cameras

MWC 2023 has officially kicked off and Honor has gone all in by announcing not one but two flagship smartphones – the Magic 5 Pro and the intriguing Magic Vs foldable. The Magic 5 Pro is the follow-up to last year’s excellent Magic 4 Pro (review here and features Qualcomm’s new flagship chipset as well […]

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Blink security cameras and video doorbells are up to 43 percent off

You might not have to pay much to bolster your smart home’s security. Amazon is selling Blink devices for up to 43 percent off, including a Video Doorbell plus Sync Module for $ 60 (normally $ 85) — that’s near an all-time low, You can also get the doorbell by itself for just $ 40 if you already have sync hardware. Most camera kits are also on sale, starting at $ 70 (normally $ 100) for the weather-ready Blink Outdoor.

Blink is effectively the budget counterpart to Amazon’s Ring brand, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing — you’re getting a lot of functionality at a lower price. The Video Doorbell supports both wired and wireless connections, offers two-way audio, captures infrared footage at night and gives you the choice of either storing clips locally (on a USB drive) or in the cloud with a subscription plan. It ties into Alexa devices, too, so it may be your ideal doorbell you have an Echo Show.

The Blink Indoor and Outdoor models, meanwhile, remain our top picks for wireless security cameras. You get much of the same flexibility as with the doorbell, including a peak two years of battery life. Again, you’ll have to invest in the Alexa ecosystem to make the most of these products. If you can live with that, though, you might not have many complaints.

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Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

A Japanese conveyor-belt restaurant will use AI cameras to combat ‘sushi terrorism’

A viral video trend in Japan has got sushi conveyor-belt restaurants racing to prevent food tampering. One chain, Kura Sushi, said it will use artificial intelligence to look for “suspicious opening and closing of sushi plate covers,” Nikkei Asia reported this week.

Kura Sushi plans to start upgrading existing cameras, which are used to track the dishes customers take from conveyor belts to determine their bill, by early March. If the system detects suspicious behavior, it will alert employees.

“We want to deploy our AI-operated cameras to monitor if customers put the sushi they picked up with their hands back on the plates,” a spokesman told CNN. “We are confident we will be able to upgrade the systems we already have in place to deal with these kind of behaviors.”

Many folks in Japan have been outraged by a trend dubbed “sushi terrorism.” Videos have shown people carrying out unhygienic acts, such as licking the spoon for a container of green tea powder. Other videos have shown patrons dumping wasabi onto sushi as it passes by on the conveyor belt.

Another video, which apparently has more than 98 million views on Twitter, showed a person licking the top of a soy sauce bottle and the rim of a teacup before putting them back at a branch of the Sushiro chain. They also licked a finger and touched a piece of passing sushi. The clip and the response to it caused the stock of Sushiro’s parent company to drop almost five percent.

Sushiro said it replaced all the soy sauce bottles and cleaned every cup at the affected restaurant. Like other conveyor-belt sushi chains, it’s enacted other policies like only making food to order to deter tampering and assure hygiene-conscious customers that restaurants are clean.

Kura Sushi has used AI in other ways. In 2020, it emerged that the company was using an app that can grade tuna. At least at the time, Kura Sushi was buying most of its tuna from outside of Japan. The app was said to help it evaluate the quality of the cuts without having to travel in the midst of a pandemic.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

MediaTek’s Dimensity 1080 chip will bring 200MP phone cameras to the masses

MediaTek is expanding its midrange smartphone chipset family with the Dimensity 1080 — and it includes an exciting camera upgrade for 200MP sensors.
Mobile | Digital Trends

New Xiaomi phones are launching on July 4 with (hopefully) amazing cameras

Xiaomi is launching the 12S, 12S Pro, and 12S Ultra on the 4th of July. These will be the first Xiaomi flagships developed with Leica imaging.
Android | Digital Trends

The new Honor Magic 4 Ultimate is all about the cameras

The Honor Magic 4 Ultimate sports a quad rear camera setup that is led by a 50-megapixel wide camera with a customized 8MP lens.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Rode’s PSA1+ boom arm works with small mics and cameras too

If you have a favorite streamer, chances are you've seen Rode's PSA1 hanging out in the corner of the frame. Or perhaps you are that streamer? Rode's boom arm has become a go-to for YouTubers, Twitch channels and podcasters alike. As handy as the PSA1 is, it isn't so good for lighter cameras and microphones — at least not without some DIY adjustments.

Enter the PSA1+ ($ 129). Unveiled today, it's a revised version of the ubiquitous mic arm that will handle devices as light as 94g / 3.3oz. That might not sound like much, but the original needed a lot more weight to keep its balance, effectively ruling out any microphone or camera under 700g / 24.7 oz. That excludes most webcams, all GoPros (which can now work as webcams) and a bevy of other more affordable mics. Sure, you can tighten the screws or meddle with counterweights, but that isn't always ideal or guaranteed to work.

Functionally, the PSA1+ feels a lot closer to something like Blue's Compass which holds itself in place even without weight thanks to a combination of hand-tightened friction hinges and its internal spring mechanism. Blue's offering might be better for lighter microphones and cameras but it doesn't adjust its position as accurately or smoothly as the PSA1 (although its cable management is better).

The extended device support on the PSA1+ isn't the only new feature. Rode claims the new arm is completely silent so you won't suffer errant squeaks or spring noises during your stream or recording. The company also states that part of this is thanks to a revised spring design along with the jazzy new neoprene cover (that kinda makes the PSA1+ look like it's headed to the gym). The cover makes for a more appealing design over the original's standard "desk lamp" aesthetic though. That said, there's some pretty strong branding printed on the side that'll likely catch your eye during videos. Sadly it doesn't seem like you can do much about that as the neoprene appears to be physically connected to the cable clips.

Those clips are a good thing though. As mentioned, cable management, which was functional but not pretty on the PSA1 (essentially it was velcro cable ties) now uses neater, sturdier plastic clasps which should be more reassuring. Now at least either your USB or XLR lead will mostly be out of sight.

The PSA1+ goes on sale tomorrow for $ 129.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Tesla may offer remote access to your car’s Autopilot cameras

As helpful as Tesla’s Sentry Mode may be, it doesn’t provide much insight from the car’s cameras until there’s an incident. What if you could take a peek at any moment? You just might. Electrek reports that code sleuth Green has discovered hints at r…
Engadget

Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Fan Edition may cut costs in design and cameras

Rumors have swirled of a Galaxy S20 Fan Edition that would serve as a lower-cost alternative to the original, and it now appears to exist as more than just a collection of murmurs. Well-known tipster OnLeaks and Pricebaba have posted leak-based rende…
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Ford’s 2021 Bronco SUVs offer 360-degree cameras for a ‘spotter view’

After years of leaks and speculation, Ford is finally showing off the three 4x4s that will reintroduce its Bronco brand. The two- and four-door Broncos are “rugged” SUVs with removable roof panels and available 35-inch tires, while the “smaller sibli…
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This insane Xiaomi patent shows a phone twisting to move cameras around

The front-facing camera has been an issue for phone manufacturers for several years now. Everyone wants a full display that goes edge-to-edge, but you have to figure out where to put camera hardware. With bigger bezels, this is no problem, but when bezels starting shrinking manufacturers tried different things. We’ve had display notches, which are […]

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Eufy’s new Indoor Security Cameras with 2K resolution are up for pre-order from just $26

When it comes to home security cameras there’s a whole range of options to choose from to suit almost any budget. Anker’s home automation brand, Eufy, has just brought its new Indoor Security Cam 2K and 2K Pan & Tilt to market, with pre-order deals running as low as just $ 26. The Indoor Security Cam […]

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Samsung announces the Galaxy A31, sporting quad cameras in a mid-range package

Smartphone sales are, well, not great right now. Pretty much everyone is struggling in a market that’s shrinking fast and hard due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. We’re not seeing quite as much excitement around phone launches these days, but Samsung’s trying to stay the course with a refreshed Galaxy A31 smartphone. It’s another mid-range […]

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Xiaomi makes the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Pro Max official, packing quad cameras and huge batteries

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note line of budget-friendly phones has just gotten a pretty serious upgrade, delivering great hardware at an affordable price. As usual, these phones are geared at the price-conscious Indian market, but both of them look like some pretty great options for anyone in the market for upgrades. Redmi Note 9 Pro Max announced […]

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Ring Doorbell 3 Plus delivers a “Pre-roll” capture feature with triple cameras

Ring has released a couple new video doorbells, including the Ring Doorbell 3 and Ring Doorbell 3 Plus, and it’s bringing a pretty key new feature to the world of always-on home security. To accomplish that feature, it’s also packing in three cameras, which makes this video doorbell a worthy rival to most flagship smartphones […]

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Vivo Apex 2020 is the next concept phone that ditches bezels and takes cameras to the next level

Concept phones aren’t quite as common as they used to be, but we’ve seen a few popping up again recently. OnePlus showed off their concept device with a “hidden” camera earlier this year, and Xiaomi’s Mi Mix Alpha certainly turned some heads. Vivo is the next to cook up a concept phone with the Vivo […]

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LG’s affordable K Series of smartphones feature hole-punch displays, quad rear cameras, and MIL-STD 810G certification

MWC 2020 might have been canceled but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a ton of handsets waiting to be announced. LG is first out of the gate with its new 2020 K-series of range of affordable smartphones with premium features such as punch-hole displays, slim bezels, quad rear-camera setups, and big 4,000mAh batteries. We’ve […]

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Samsung Galaxy S20+ leak appears to confirm its name and cameras

You might not have to rely on renders or other hard-to-verify reports to know what Samsung's next Galaxy S phone will look like — you may be staring at it. XDA-Developers has obtained pictures of what it says is the Galaxy S20+ 5G. The boot screen…
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Nokia 2.3 announced with dual cameras, two-day battery, and a commitment to software updates

HMD Global and Nokia have announced the Nokia 2.3, the latest smartphone in Nokia’s line of budget-friendly devices. There’s a lot of familiarity with Nokia’s other phones, but a few key improvements that make this a really compelling mid-range offering at a great price. The Nokia 2.3 features a large 6.2-inch full HD display, which […]

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The Honor 9X with pop-up selfie camera, headphone jack, and triple rear cameras is on sale for £249

Having previously gone on sale in Russia and the Netherlands, the Honor 9X is finally available to purchase in the United Kingdom. For £249 you’ll get a handset with a notch-less display, a trio of rear cameras, all-day battery life, and a pop-up selfie camera. The 9X features a big 6.59-inch IPS FullView notch-less display […]

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The Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha delivers 5G, 108MP cameras, and an all-screen experience

Xiaomi has announced the Mi Mix Alpha, which rocks 5G connectivity and a 108MP camera. Surprisingly, though, those somehow aren’t even the most interesting features on this phone. Nope, the craziest thing about the Alpha is its fully wraparound screen. It has a 180% screen-to-body ratio, since there’s literally only a sliver of non-display on […]

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24 hours with Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro: Incredible cameras, gloomy future

Huawei is at the center of a storm, barracked by sanctions that block it from working with its key partners. Its latest handset, the Mate 30 Pro, runs Android, Google's operating system, but can't access Google's services, so no Google Play, Google M…
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[Review] Anker’s EufyCam WiFi cameras are great, but rough around the edges

Wifi cameras are one of the easiest upgrades you can make to your smart home, and they go a long way to securing your house. It’ll give you quick access to surveillance in your house, plus some intelligent motion detection and alerts if something out of the ordinary is happening. There are tons of options, […]

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The iPhone 11 Pro vs. the competition: Battle of the cameras

The new flagship iPhone is here, and Apple's added the word "Pro" to its name — the first time Apple's used that word for a handset. And no wonder: The camera on the iPhone 11 Pro is a triple camera setup that takes nine images with each press…
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Canon leaks its EOS 90D DSLR and mirrorless EOS M6 Mark II cameras

Canon's Australian website appears to have accidentally leaked a pair of important new cameras, the EOS M6 Mark II mirrorless and EOS 90D DSLR. Promo videos for the cameras spotted by Canon Rumors (and quickly pulled by Canon) show impressive specs f…
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Google will finally catch up to Apple’s cameras with wide color support on the Pixel 4

There’s no argument that Android phones have made huge strides in the last few years, with heavy hitters from Samsung, Huawei, and Google’s own Pixel line delivering phenomenal mobile photography. They all typically get really close to Apple’s iPhone camera, if not beating it out entirely, but there’s one area where Apple’s cameras still do […]

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Huawei’s P30 Pro is announced with a set of excellent cameras and a tiny notch

Huawei has finally announced the often-rumored P30 and P30 Pro, and it’s looking to be one of the most impressive smartphone cameras of the year. That’s true for the Pro, at least, although if you’re looking for something moderately high-end without spending an absolute ton of money, the regular P30 still looks great. Signature Huawei […]

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ZTE’s solution to the notch is to put cameras on the side of phones

If there’s one thing Android manufacturers deserve a lot of credit for, it’s trying weird ideas that may or may not have any chance of actually succeeding in the real world. ZTE is tackling the problem of a display notch in the weirdest way yet, and even though I don’t think it’ll catch on, it’s […]

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Nokia’s new line of phones drops at MWC 2019, including the PureView 9 with five cameras

Nokia has brought their latest crop of phones to kick off MWC 2019, and there’s plenty here to be excited about. Not only are we finally getting to see that phone with the ridiculous camera layout that’s leaked multiple times, but Nokia is keeping their non-smartphone game going, too. Nokia 9 PureView First up, let’s […]

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Childish Gambino dances his way onto Pixel cameras

Coachella headliner Childish Gambino is down to dance with anyone, anywhere at any time. Kind of. From today, an interactive Playmoji (i.e. an AR sticker) based on him is available in Google Pixel's Playground mode, which is built into the camera.
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Samsung’s entire Galaxy S10 lineup leaks, showing cameras, screens, and more

We’re extremely close to Samsung making an official announcement about their newest Galaxy S phones, which means press renders are due to start leaking. And, right on cue, a few images have popped up detailing three models of the Galaxy S10 family, including the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+. While the latter two […]

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Latest case renders add to the picture of multiple Galaxy S10 cameras

The latest leak regarding the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones seem to confirm much of the information we have seen regarding the camera configurations for three of the Galaxy S10 models believed to be launching this spring. The renders are for cases from Olixar via retailer Mobile Fun, both of which are considered reputable sources. […]

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Samsung launches Galaxy A8s with a punch-hole display and triple rear cameras

Notched displays are yesterday’s trend; the next display craze involves a punch-hole that sits in the upper reaches of the screen that houses the front-facing camera. After the Honor View 20 was confirmed to launch on December 26 in China with a punch-hole display, Samsung has taken the opportunity to announce a punch-hole design of […]

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LG officially announced the V40 ThinQ packed with five cameras and more AI

LG has finally announced the heavily leaked V40 ThinQ, offering a phone with a staggering amount of cameras and AI bravado. While LG has struggled to release a phone with the “it” factor to really take on Samsung and Apple, if you’re looking for something that can deliver a phenomenal multimedia experience, this might just […]

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Samsung may launch new Galaxy phone with four cameras on October 11

October is already an overwhelmingly exciting month already thanks to the upcoming launch events for Google’s Pixel 3 (we gotta hope the leaks left something out, right?) on the 9th, Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro on the 16th, LG’s V40 ThinQ on the 3rd, and the prospect of the OnePlus 6T that might just launch on the […]

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Our favorite cheap security Wyze cameras now support Amazon Alexa integration

The Wyze camera, one of our favorite options for an incredibly cheap and effective option to keep an eye on your house, has picked up a new trick to better integrate with the rest of your smart home. The latest update makes the camera compatible with an Amazon Alexa skill, so you can use your […]

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Huawei’s P20 Pro rivals the best smartphone cameras out there

We're a skeptical bunch at Engadget, and when Huawei briefed us on its P20 Pro smartphone, listing an endless torrent of specifications and dubbing its Leica Triple Camera system "the most advanced camera on a phone yet," we collectively rolled our e…
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The Galaxy S9+ vs. the competition: Beyond the dual cameras

This year's bigger Galaxy handset focuses on its picture-taking capabilities: The S9+ is Samsung's first flagship with a dual camera, which brings it in line with competing phones like the Pixel 2 XL as well as its sibling Galaxy Note 8. There's also…
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Google blazes new path for Street View ready imagery with new cameras in 2017

Google announced today another step in their efforts to crowd source the images and street views available on their platforms. This latest move from Google promises to reduce the “significant time and effort” it was taking for users to prepare and upload their interactive photography. Google is doing this by introducing a new certification for […]

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Video cameras could soon determine your heart rate from across the room

Panasonic recently introduced a program for monitoring your heart rate — with just software and a video camera. The program analyzes changes minute in the skin from a video camera or even a webcam.

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Cool Tech–Digital Trends

The key to smaller cameras that don’t suck could lie in this incredible material

Researchers recently used graphene to develop a tiny camera sensor with a high resolution — and low noise levels. The supermaterial helps the smaller sensors to manage more pixels without degrading image quality.

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Mobile–Digital Trends

This 2-millimeter sensor could bring cameras to the smallest smartwatches

Sony’s latest sensor design is only a single megapixel — but it’s also only 2 millimeters and weighs a tenth of a gram. The tiny sensor and lens combo could wind up in wearables like smartwatches or even drones.

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Wearables–Digital Trends

Startup gives the Apple Watch two cameras by hiding them inside the band

Apple may not have had room to fit a camera inside its smartwatch, but why not put it inside the band? The CMRA band packs in a front- and rear-facing camera along with 8GB of storage inside of a connected wristband.

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Wearables–Digital Trends

Bots roll, cameras shake, and anything turns into a tablet on day 2 of MWC 2016

Day two at Mobile World Congress brought us a brilliant portable home theater for one, LG’s take on BB-8, Oppo’s idea for a shake-less camera phone, and Sony’s interactive projector of the future.

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Mobile–Digital Trends