Massive Sony Xperia Alpha leak as the smartphone camera monster is revealed in full ahead of launch

[Redaktion]

Sony's Xperia Alpha smartphone camera heavyweight has been leaked in full ahead of its launch next week. The massive leak reveals everything about the design, its accessories and some ground-breaking new camera chops.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Massive-Sony-Xperia-Alpha-leak-as-the-smartphone-camera-monster-is-revealed-in-full-ahead-of-launch.575051.0.html

[YUKI93]

"Is this the first smartphone camera with a variable aperture?"
Samsung says "Hi" with the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Anyway, the leak sure does sound enticing but it's hard for me to believe it since there is literally no news about it at all.

[DomtheDom]

I'm kinda waiting on this since Google fudged up my order of the Pixel Pro.
These Leaks have some details that can be connected to the official video sony has been releasing.

Fingers crossed

[kek]

"Is this the first smartphone camera with a variable aperture?"
Samsung says "Hi" with the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Anyway, the leak sure does sound enticing but it's hard for me to believe it since there is literally no news about it at all.

yes, it's not the first one, but needs to be seen if you can actually switch between 2.0-4.0, meaning, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, etc.
If not, then I dont know what use could 4.0 get but ok.

On the other hand, Samsung hasnt used the variable aperture since the S10, and I havent heard of someone else implementing it until now

[Robinson-Constantin Chera]

It'll be anyway expensive as hell and it'll not have the software processing capabilities of Samsung/Huawei, so it's useless. I had a 5 II that I sold it because it was awful at camera capabilities compared to my ex P30 Pro

[Faris]

It'll be anyway expensive as hell and it'll not have the software processing capabilities of Samsung/Huawei, so it's useless. I had a 5 II that I sold it because it was awful at camera capabilities compared to my ex P30 Pro

Clearly that phone isn't for Auto point-and-shoot guy like you. I always shoot photos from the Xperia in manual mode via the Photo Pro app and it easily beats any modern smartphone with software-focused camera.

[mixedfish]

yes, it's not the first one, but needs to be seen if you can actually switch between 2.0-4.0, meaning, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, etc.
If not, then I dont know what use could 4.0 get but ok.

On the other hand, Samsung hasnt used the variable aperture since the S10, and I havent heard of someone else implementing it until now

F4 is necessary for video shooting because F2 depth of field is too shallow and it makes focus too hard without blurring everything. You would make videos with F2 if you want the effect or you are shooting in a very dark scene.

This is not the first variable aperture but it looks like the first with blades that will give you natural depth effects. Unlike the Samsung where it was fairly gimmicky.

[Blade]

It's not Xperia Alpha but Xperiia PRO-I it says right there on leaked material.

[xfire]

yes, it's not the first one, but needs to be seen if you can actually switch between 2.0-4.0, meaning, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, etc.
If not, then I dont know what use could 4.0 get but ok.

On the other hand, Samsung hasnt used the variable aperture since the S10, and I havent heard of someone else implementing it until now

F4 is necessary for video shooting because F2 depth of field is too shallow and it makes focus too hard without blurring everything. You would make videos with F2 if you want the effect or you are shooting in a very dark scene.

This is not the first variable aperture but it looks like the first with blades that will give you natural depth effects. Unlike the Samsung where it was fairly gimmicky.

Why "gimmicky" ? I have Galaxy S10+ and I've played with it a little, it gives noticeable results when changed. Sony will have big advantage of large sensor, so the effects will be even better.

[mixedfish]

Why "gimmicky" ? I have Galaxy S10+ and I've played with it a little, it gives noticeable results when changed. Sony will have big advantage of large sensor, so the effects will be even better.

We are talking about the S9, not S10 but it's gimmicky because firstly it's not even a single F-stop, it's like 0.9, the space to put a aperture system could have been used for a larger sensor, bigger glass element or greater stabilization. Secondly there was a sacrifice in detail loss in the lower F1.5 mode as compared to F2.4, which basically means if you choose F1.5 for artistic effect it will reveal loss of detail ironically for daylight scenes or marcro close up.

Overall I still think what Samsung did is cool and wish manufacturers experiment more like they did in the old feature phone days. Sony is doing good work here and if it is multi aperture and not just fixed aperture then this will be legendary.