Nokia (the company) is not back and never went away. This is HMD Global doing custom designs on Foxconn platform as a boint venture with a Foxconn subsidiary
The Nokia 9 looks cool, and the samples seem, for the most part, impressive.
However, it is disappointing that Nokia has opted for last years SoC, even though the difference in day-to-day usage might not be as significant as the spec sheet suggests. The 10+ seconds of processing time on the image files is a bit concerning, though, and hopefully Nokia can speed things up in software.
It took 5 lenses to get "impressive" samples, I wouldn't say it's any better than Pixel 3 XL, Mate 20 Pro or Galaxy S10+. Especially when the latter 2 has multiple focal lengths.
What exactly can you do with 5 lenses (with the same focal length) that 1 or 2 bigger ones can't? Depth map? TOF camera is way better. HDR? IMX607 will obliterate this, even dual IMX586 would beat it easily.
It could get dynamic range that is in DSLR zone... at least DX/APS-c DSLR zone.
IMX607 sounds good but 38MP on 10mm diagonal sensor... I don't know. I have been using RX100 G1 and checking out all the later updates of that camera, and while there are improvements in DR, they are more evolutionary than revolutionary... and that is 1" sensor with 20MP, much bigger pixels. I hope IMX607 will be the next big thing, but I'll believe it only when I see it. Until then, it is just marketing.
DOF control should be exceptional on Nokia 9, they are promising more than 1000 levels between 0 (well as close as camera will focus) and 40m distance.
It will really be down to how smart this multi-image "mixing" ends up. Having all 5 cameras shooting at once should be much better than multi-shot with one or 2 lenses... and all cameras being the same in terms of res and FOV should allow for much more natural combining of these shots... compared to trying to improve DR pf one camera by (somehow) crossing it with output from camera with different FOV and even res. Plus, BW sensors have bigger pixels - since they are not split into colour subpixels - so their capability to capture light should be much better than color camera in the same package. Add to that color info from two identical RGB cameras - that is a lot of info to be used from single snap.
Funny that you have mentioned IMX607 - Sony is claiming exclusive deal with Light company, the same one (rumored) to have co-operated with Nokia of DOF sensor in Nokia 9. If Sony wants to jump into those phone-camera waters, I think they are well poised - with all the technology and know-how they already have in both cameras and phones. I wouldn't be surprised if IMX607 doesn't show first in their own phones, before being licensed to other OEMs.
You do realize IMX586 can do HDR in one shot, right? 1*IMX586+1*BW/IMX586 can give you 4 levels of exposures all in one shot, and stitching 2 images together is far more energy efficient and faster than 5. This configuration would give you amazing night shot as well, without using much post-processing.
DOF is another topic, you can't have both good DOF and good HDR with Nokia 9, but you can do that with 2*IMX586+TOF.
Stitching pictures together gets trickier the more stitching you have to do, and it can never compete with actual big sensor. Personally I don't trust HMD's algorithm to be that good. Those 5 cameras will soon to be forgotten.
Now onto IMX 607, SONY never claimed exclusivity with Light Company, on the contrary, rumours are it's exclusive to Huawei just like IMX 600. As for your reservations, just look at what Huawei had done with IMX 600, their algorithm is way behind Google, but the end result is phenomenon. (Which also goes back to HMD is nowhere near Huawei in terms of algorithms, therefore less likely to actually do anything good with the 5 camera)
Why do you say Nokia's algorithm is worse than Huawei's ?
Nokia is specifically targetting phone at customers who want good mobile photos others need not apply. I expect this focus to translate into good result in terms of image quality
One drawback with Nokia's custom approach has been that the camera software has always been slower than others. I don't expect it to be different this time also. If you want a snappy phone camera, probably the pixel phones are a better bet
I was hoping for larger battery and microSD card slot. Now I'm hoping that Android One is light(er) enough to give this battery run-time comparable to 4000MAh on customized Androids... but I fear a bit that all this camera tech will take its tool. We'll see.
128GB storage is actually good enough. I am warming up to keep all my music on the phone and still have plenty of storage for photos and apps, so this development will probably require a bit more compromising on my site... but that's fine.
Interestingly, I was thinking how is camera going to work. Rumors about wide/normal/tele cameras with aditional tech for extra light capture/DOF/... sounded too good to be true, so this actually makes sense - this being phone equivalent of camera with prime lens. I am OK with this and, actually, more confident that it will provide what was promised, in terms of IQ.
Now for some good tests/reviews to start coming out, with comparison photos.
I think Nokia is bringing something new. Conference was good. I appreciate you for this effort. Keep it up. See here mobile prices in Pakistan www.hcsupermart.com
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coolhardware - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Nokia seems to be covering all the bases here. I love that they start at ~$99 for a decent Android phone and work their way up from there :-)The Nokia 9 looks sweet. So far the limited photos they have released look better (to my eye) than the S10(+) photos that have been released.
The Pixel 3 has been a good phone for me, but I think the Nokia 9 looks like the most compelling upgrade out there right now for a USA* GSM user.
*Huawei stuff looks cool but it seems that USA + Huawei is not going to be a good match.
Anyone else have thoughts on Nokia's lineup?
Netmsm - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
The Nokia 9 has impressive features and awesome design. I'm glad to see Nokia is back :)halcyon - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Nokia (the company) is not back and never went away. This is HMD Global doing custom designs on Foxconn platform as a boint venture with a Foxconn subsidiaryRuimanalmeida - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
Where is Nokia 6.2?Laxaa - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
The Nokia 9 looks cool, and the samples seem, for the most part, impressive.However, it is disappointing that Nokia has opted for last years SoC, even though the difference in day-to-day usage might not be as significant as the spec sheet suggests. The 10+ seconds of processing time on the image files is a bit concerning, though, and hopefully Nokia can speed things up in software.
All said, I'm looking forward to the reviews.
levizx - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
It took 5 lenses to get "impressive" samples, I wouldn't say it's any better than Pixel 3 XL, Mate 20 Pro or Galaxy S10+. Especially when the latter 2 has multiple focal lengths.Laxaa - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
I would say it’s better than the S10. Samsungs agressive noise reduction kills any fine detail.levizx - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
What exactly can you do with 5 lenses (with the same focal length) that 1 or 2 bigger ones can't? Depth map? TOF camera is way better. HDR? IMX607 will obliterate this, even dual IMX586 would beat it easily.nikon133 - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
It could get dynamic range that is in DSLR zone... at least DX/APS-c DSLR zone.IMX607 sounds good but 38MP on 10mm diagonal sensor... I don't know. I have been using RX100 G1 and checking out all the later updates of that camera, and while there are improvements in DR, they are more evolutionary than revolutionary... and that is 1" sensor with 20MP, much bigger pixels. I hope IMX607 will be the next big thing, but I'll believe it only when I see it. Until then, it is just marketing.
DOF control should be exceptional on Nokia 9, they are promising more than 1000 levels between 0 (well as close as camera will focus) and 40m distance.
It will really be down to how smart this multi-image "mixing" ends up. Having all 5 cameras shooting at once should be much better than multi-shot with one or 2 lenses... and all cameras being the same in terms of res and FOV should allow for much more natural combining of these shots... compared to trying to improve DR pf one camera by (somehow) crossing it with output from camera with different FOV and even res. Plus, BW sensors have bigger pixels - since they are not split into colour subpixels - so their capability to capture light should be much better than color camera in the same package. Add to that color info from two identical RGB cameras - that is a lot of info to be used from single snap.
Funny that you have mentioned IMX607 - Sony is claiming exclusive deal with Light company, the same one (rumored) to have co-operated with Nokia of DOF sensor in Nokia 9. If Sony wants to jump into those phone-camera waters, I think they are well poised - with all the technology and know-how they already have in both cameras and phones. I wouldn't be surprised if IMX607 doesn't show first in their own phones, before being licensed to other OEMs.
We'll see.
levizx - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
You do realize IMX586 can do HDR in one shot, right? 1*IMX586+1*BW/IMX586 can give you 4 levels of exposures all in one shot, and stitching 2 images together is far more energy efficient and faster than 5. This configuration would give you amazing night shot as well, without using much post-processing.DOF is another topic, you can't have both good DOF and good HDR with Nokia 9, but you can do that with 2*IMX586+TOF.
Stitching pictures together gets trickier the more stitching you have to do, and it can never compete with actual big sensor. Personally I don't trust HMD's algorithm to be that good. Those 5 cameras will soon to be forgotten.
Now onto IMX 607, SONY never claimed exclusivity with Light Company, on the contrary, rumours are it's exclusive to Huawei just like IMX 600. As for your reservations, just look at what Huawei had done with IMX 600, their algorithm is way behind Google, but the end result is phenomenon. (Which also goes back to HMD is nowhere near Huawei in terms of algorithms, therefore less likely to actually do anything good with the 5 camera)
marees - Monday, February 25, 2019 - link
Why do you say Nokia's algorithm is worse than Huawei's ?Nokia is specifically targetting phone at customers who want good mobile photos others need not apply. I expect this focus to translate into good result in terms of image quality
One drawback with Nokia's custom approach has been that the camera software has always been slower than others.
I don't expect it to be different this time also.
If you want a snappy phone camera, probably the pixel phones are a better bet
nikon133 - Sunday, February 24, 2019 - link
I was hoping for larger battery and microSD card slot. Now I'm hoping that Android One is light(er) enough to give this battery run-time comparable to 4000MAh on customized Androids... but I fear a bit that all this camera tech will take its tool. We'll see.128GB storage is actually good enough. I am warming up to keep all my music on the phone and still have plenty of storage for photos and apps, so this development will probably require a bit more compromising on my site... but that's fine.
Interestingly, I was thinking how is camera going to work. Rumors about wide/normal/tele cameras with aditional tech for extra light capture/DOF/... sounded too good to be true, so this actually makes sense - this being phone equivalent of camera with prime lens. I am OK with this and, actually, more confident that it will provide what was promised, in terms of IQ.
Now for some good tests/reviews to start coming out, with comparison photos.
hcsupermart - Wednesday, April 17, 2019 - link
I think Nokia is bringing something new. Conference was good. I appreciate you for this effort. Keep it up.<a href="https://hcsupermart.com/product-category/mobile-on... price in Pakistan</a>
hcsupermart - Wednesday, April 17, 2019 - link
I think Nokia is bringing something new. Conference was good. I appreciate you for this effort. Keep it up. See here mobile prices in Pakistan www.hcsupermart.com