Xiaomi lens transforms the smartphone into an MFT camera
At the MWC, Xiaomi presents a smartphone with interchangeable lenses. The highlight is the magnetic connection.
(Image: heise online, rbr)
A clip-on lens transforms the smartphone into a micro four-thirds camera: Xiaomi is showcasing this concept at the MWC. The so-called "Modular Optical System" consists of an adapted Xiaomi 15 and a specially developed lens and sensor. The Xiaomi principle works slightly differently to the Realme approach, which was also shown at the MWC. With the latter, the smartphone houses the sensor, whereas with the Xiaomi, the clip-on lens and sensor form a single unit.
(Image:Â heise online, rbr)
Xiaomi uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor for the lens. Compared to type 1-inch sensors – the largest sensors currently found in smartphones – this collects light on an area almost twice as large (225 mm² vs. 116 mm²). The sensor dubbed "Light Fusion X" by Xiaomi has a resolution of 100 megapixels. Conventional MFT sensors, such as those found in current Panasonic cameras, achieve a maximum resolution of 25 megapixels. Despite the compact dimensions, Xiaomi has equipped the lens with a fast open aperture of f/1.4; the angle of view corresponds to that of a 35 mm lens on a 35 mm camera.
Lighter than the Realme concept
The lens holds onto the smartphone case with magnets and is also anchored there with two pogo pins. The lens is supplied with power via the pins. It communicates with the smartphone using a proprietary technology that Xiaomi calls LaserLink, which is said to enable data transmission of up to 10 GBit/s. It delivers photos as JPGs or RAW files, with further processing taking place on the smartphone.
Videos by heise
Compared to the Realme concept of a smartphone with interchangeable lenses, which was also shown at the MWC, the Xiaomi lens scores points with its more compact dimensions despite the larger sensor. What is less sustainable, however, is that each lens would be dependent on its own sensor and the lenses would only be compatible with Xiaomi smartphones. According to the manufacturer, however, the Realme lens is an L-mount lens that is connected to the smartphone using an adapter ring. However, Realme did not provide any information on the extent to which the smartphone would work with regular L-mount lenses and whether the Realme lenses would work with L-mount cameras.
(rbr)
