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"DSLR" Video Mode For The Note III Camera

Hey all,
Here's a pretty cool macro DSLR effect I discovered the other day. FINALLY a use for 4K video resolution!
All you have to do when in video mode is select 4k (3840 × 2160) and zoom in 4x. When close to a subject tap to focus as usual and you may be shocked that the image suddenly has crazy depth of field but still remains sharp.
The reason? The camera module has an aperture of f/2.2 which is great, but that's not the real clincher. 4K UHD has 8,294,400 pixels in a frame. Just to give you an idea 1080p is only 2,073,600 pixels. So basically, when you zoom in 4x, your image still looks great. No other phone camera can do this in 2013.
Big deal, SO WHAT? you may be thinking. Well the results CLEARLY speak for themselves..
Happy shooting!

James Harrison said:
Hey all,
Here's a pretty cool macro DSLR effect I discovered the other day. FINALLY a use for 4K video resolution!
All you have to do when in video mode is select 4k (3840 × 2160) and zoom in 4x. When close to a subject tap to focus as usual and you may be shocked that the image suddenly has crazy depth of field but still remains sharp.
The reason? The camera module has an aperture of f/2.2 which is great, but that's not the real clincher. 4K UHD has 8,294,400 pixels in a frame. Just to give you an idea 1080p is only 2,073,600 pixels. So basically, when you zoom in 4x, your image still looks great. No other phone camera can do this in 2013.
Big deal, SO WHAT? you may be thinking. Well the results CLEARLY speak for themselves..
Happy shooting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that if you record in 1080p mode and framed the shot exactly the same, that the depth of field would not be the same? I'm confused?
I understand the merits of 4K recording, but I don't see how the depth of field would be affected.

WOW! Cant believe all that comes from the small lens sensor of Note 3
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Maverick777 said:
Are you saying that if you record in 1080p mode and framed the shot exactly the same, that the depth of field would not be the same? I'm confused?
I understand the merits of 4K recording, but I don't see how the depth of field would be affected.
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I probably should have explained this better but you can't really frame the same shot in 1080p because you'd be way too close to the subject for the camera to even attempt to focus on it. 4k allows much more flexibility for macro shots.

And do you have a 4K display to see this awesomeness?
Otherwise you're just watching it at 1080p lol.

James Harrison said:
I probably should have explained this better but you can't really frame the same shot in 1080p because you'd be way too close to the subject for the camera to even attempt to focus on it. 4k allows much more flexibility for macro shots.
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Now I'm curious how 4K video zoomed in 4x downscaled to 1080p compares to 1080p video zoomed in 4x. I wonder if Samsung is using software zooming to enlarge the video image or cropping the sensor to achieve the field of view. If it's software zoom then there's obviously going to be a loss in quality. But if it's simply cropping the sensor there should be no difference. And it fact it'd be a waste of time and memory space to shoot in 4k zoomed to 4x and then having to downscale it to 1080p afterwards. That would add unnecessary steps for editing. Also, in 1080p mode you have access to the software video stabilization while in 4k mode you don't.

it's not about the resolution lol. think putting on different DSLR lenses for your phone.
great find, OP! will be trying this soon

4k works with approx 50% more colours than normal 1080p. Even if you dont have a tv to warch it in full res, a 4k clip will look and FEEL rather different than everything else.
The clip in the above link is done with a little bit of postproduction. Indeed its impressing and there is more to be discovered.
_madness haven't any rest, only swet_

CorruptedSanity said:
And do you have a 4K display to see this awesomeness?
Otherwise you're just watching it at 1080p lol.
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lol, it's not about the resolution. it's kinda like being able to use different lenses for your note 3.
great find, OP. thanks!

Maverick777 said:
Now I'm curious how 4K video zoomed in 4x downscaled to 1080p compares to 1080p video zoomed in 4x. I wonder if Samsung is using software zooming to enlarge the video image or cropping the sensor to achieve the field of view. If it's software zoom then there's obviously going to be a loss in quality. But if it's simply cropping the sensor there should be no difference. And it fact it'd be a waste of time and memory space to shoot in 4k zoomed to 4x and then having to downscale it to 1080p afterwards. That would add unnecessary steps for editing. Also, in 1080p mode you have access to the software video stabilization while in 4k mode you don't.
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Cropping a sensor of say a 35mm legs by 1.6 doesn't give you a 56mm zoom perspective. You're still getting a relatively wide angle shot but simply cropped.

CorruptedSanity said:
Cropping a sensor of say a 35mm legs by 1.6 doesn't give you a 56mm zoom perspective. You're still getting a relatively wide angle shot but simply cropped.
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I understand that. However, in this instance is 1080p mode on the Note 3 simply cropping the sensor to begin with? My question in relation to the OP is if you shoot at 4K mode, zoom in a 4X, is the phone simply cropping the sensor 4x to give you a lossless zoom? Or it is using some type of software pixel binning to give you the zoomed in view? Or perhaps a combination of both.
And how does that compare to shooting in 1080p mode with the 4x zoom?
I took a few sample videos sitting at my desk and to my naked eye viewing both videos on the Note 3's screen, there is 0 difference between shooting at 4K resolution with a 4x zoom and shooting at 1080p at 4x zoom other than the file size. The field of view is identical. I'm looking to see if there's any advantage at the end of the day if I want to end up with a 1080p file as the end product. Is there any advantage to shooting the same field of view at 4K and downscaling?
The 4x zoom when shooting at 4K did not give me a distance advantage versus shooting 1080p at 4x zoom. The phone remained at the same distance as my subject when framing the shot with the same field of view. So for macro video shots, I do not appear to have any advantage when shooting at 4K.

Epic and very well done video!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

James Harrison said:
I probably should have explained this better but you can't really frame the same shot in 1080p because you'd be way too close to the subject for the camera to even attempt to focus on it. 4k allows much more flexibility for macro shots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what he's saying is that no matter of 1080p or 4k, distance and senzor pixels are the same, therefore theoretically you shouldn't necessarily have to do 4k to do such zooming. Question is: in effect does zooming in 1080p still record lossless as far as the sensor goes (13mil pixels), or zooming in 1080p only zooms into the 1080p capture (magnifies the 2mil pixels).

Maverick777 said:
I understand that. However, in this instance is 1080p mode on the Note 3 simply cropping the sensor to begin with? My question in relation to the OP is if you shoot at 4K mode, zoom in a 4X, is the phone simply cropping the sensor 4x to give you a lossless zoom? Or it is using some type of software pixel binning to give you the zoomed in view? Or perhaps a combination of both.
And how does that compare to shooting in 1080p mode with the 4x zoom?
I took a few sample videos sitting at my desk and to my naked eye viewing both videos on the Note 3's screen, there is 0 difference between shooting at 4K resolution with a 4x zoom and shooting at 1080p at 4x zoom other than the file size. The field of view is identical. I'm looking to see if there's any advantage at the end of the day if I want to end up with a 1080p file as the end product. Is there any advantage to shooting the same field of view at 4K and downscaling?
The 4x zoom when shooting at 4K did not give me a distance advantage versus shooting 1080p at 4x zoom. The phone remained at the same distance as my subject when framing the shot with the same field of view. So for macro video shots, I do not appear to have any advantage when shooting at 4K.
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BoneXDA said:
I think what he's saying is that no matter of 1080p or 4k, distance and senzor pixels are the same, therefore theoretically you shouldn't necessarily have to do 4k to do such zooming. Question is: in effect does zooming in 1080p still record lossless as far as the sensor goes (13mil pixels), or zooming in 1080p only zooms into the 1080p capture (magnifies the 2mil pixels).
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Click to collapse
I just assumed that zooming in ALWAYS "magnified" the pixels so you'd naturally just get sharper detail with the 4k mode. I now understand my error with the field of view though (I tried it out myself too)
I guess the main thing to take home is the amount of detail you're getting from this phone's sensor.

16:9 12MP?

Like the title implies with the stock u11 sense camera Is there a way to take pictures in 16:9 but with the full 12MP with HDR on?

It can't - because the size ratio of image sensor is 4:3. If you want 16:9 it won't be full 12 MP.

What is the reason for 3 extra MP? It does nothing for quality of the picture.

schmeggy929 said:
What is the reason for 3 extra MP? It does nothing for quality of the picture.
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Ehh...my brain just wanted it lol

My previous LG G4 had 16:9 sensor, and I have to admit it, that I really miss it, because now I have to crop image to such aspect ratio, but G4 had full 16:9 uncropped image - better, because more was captured.
P.S. Not talking about quality, but sensor.
3:2 > 16:9 > 4:3

Does the main camera have OIS ( optical image stabilization ) ?

Hi,
I want to buy a P20, however I'm curios if the main camera has OIS. Gsmarena says it does, however other sites don't mention anything.
So, does it or does it not ?
Thanks !

i doubt that. in movies mode there is only EIS.

g_oral said:
i doubt that. in movies mode there is only EIS.
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False. 1080 30fps and all still photos are optically stabilized.
1080 60fps has Electronic Stabilization. 4k has none.

zgomot said:
False. 1080 30fps and all still photos are optically stabilized.
1080 60fps has Electronic Stabilization. 4k has none.
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go to 1080p 30fps (stabilisation) mode and than change to 1080p 60fps (no stabilisation) you will se that in 30fps you see less on the screen because the phone is making crop for the EIS stabilisation. if there were an OIS the frame in 30fps and in 60fps should be the same.

g_oral said:
go to 1080p 30fps (stabilisation) mode and than change to 1080p 60fps (no stabilisation) you will se that in 30fps you see less on the screen because the phone is making crop for the EIS stabilisation. if there were an OIS the frame in 30fps and in 60fps should be the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out any disassembly video, you will see the cameras have OIS. They physically move.
You see less of the screen because it crops from a 4:3 format in photo mode, to a 16:9 format in video.

zgomot said:
Check out any disassembly video, you will see the cameras have OIS. They physically move.
You see less of the screen because it crops from a 4:3 format in photo mode, to a 16:9 format in video.
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Click to collapse
Ok if you have seen the module thats ok.
I'm seeing the crop change switching between the video modes.

See my post here if anyone is interested in higher resolution EIS on the p20. Works on mine at 3k resolution.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hu...resolution-t3776382/post76617559#post76617559

I do not think the camera has OIS, or it has OIS but it is not enabled.
Looking with a flashlight in an iphone 7 camera, I can see the lens moving to compensate for the shakiness, however looking with a flashlight in the Huawei's lens, I cannot see the camera move in any direction ... So, no OIS here
I think it has AIS which is digitally stabilised by the AI.
Strange is that the iphone 7 only uses OIS for video ... If I switch to photo, the lens stops moving ...

There is no teardown video for the P20 which shows the camera module's inner parts moving. Can anyone confirm the OIS with any evidence? I think it might be there, but not enabled for sure.

Front Camera Image Zoomed in

Hello, I've been an XDA lurker for a while, starting with my Galaxy S4. I just recently got a OnePlus 6, and love it so far, but this one problem is kind of irritating me.
When using the front camera (both in the camera app when not set to 4:3, and third party apps like snapchat), the picture looks very zoomed in). I'm guessing its because any other ratio is just a cropped version of 4:3.
The only way I can think to fix this is to force a different ratio for the camera to use, but I'm not sure if that is even possible.
Anyone else have this type of problem? Help would be much appreciated.

I think its because the lense has a higher focal length... Nothing to do with ratio.

So is there any way to work around this so that the front image isn't so zoomed in?

For video? It's because of their stabilization

NateDev said:
For video? It's because of their stabilization
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I mean in the pictures. Like if you're taking a selfie, the viewfinder shows the image as very zoomed in (like your face covers the image if you're a normal distance away), and the picture is taken like that.

When you shoot with 4:3 you have all the picture of the sensor. When you shoot with 16:9 or other you don't use all the sensor but it crops the image to be in that ratio. And you see the zoom. Take a picture with 4:3 and zoom with your fingers to see a picture of 16:9 shot. It's the same.
OnePlus 6

Why are aspect ratios and resolutions not important anymore?

Ì sent my Samsung A70 back because 16:9 was limited to 8 MP, I knew little about aspect ratios their respective resolutions, now that I have read a lot about it I am somewhat wiser. I was used to taking 16:9 photos on my S8+ and cropping the picture to my liking while maintaining the 16:9 AR. This requires a somewhat larger original picture if you wish to view the result on a large screen.
I bought the 7 pro and immediately ran into the same problem, aspect ratios are stuck to a certain resolution and 48 MP is limited to 4:3 JPG format, I can´t even choose 16:9 and decided to go along with the 20:9 fullscreen option ... can still easily be cropped to 16:9. But why are aspect ratios locked into a certain resolution which is usually okay in it´s original size for viewing but doesn´t allow for a lot of creativity.
I have been using a Gcam mod which has 16:9 available and the pictures do allow for a small crop, not much though before the pixels suffer on the big screen.
I will never use 4:3 as I hate the field of view it offers.

4:3 is likely the native sensor size/ratio. It comes from mimicking film cameras. Film cameras in turn copied oil painting canvases. 16:9 is just a compromise television format to approach Cinema formats roughly 21:9.
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larsdennert said:
4:3 is likely the native sensor size/ratio. It comes from mimicking film cameras. Film cameras in turn copied oil painting canvases. 16:9 is just a compromise television format to approach Cinema formats roughly 21:9.
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Yes, I figured that. Why are the size of the pictures restricted in all aspect ratios? that´s my question. As the average consumer you get 48MP advertised when you buy the phone, large pictures are however impossible to shoot in any other aspect ratio than 4:3 and for that you need to tweak the settings. For most people the camera will be 12 MP at most.
Why can´t I f.ex. shoot a 16:9 picture at 24 MP? I realize the fact that it´s impossible to get a 48 MP picture at 16:9 due to how the camera angle works.

The main sensor has 48 million pixels laid out in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Furthermore they are grouped in a quad Bayer layout which really just makes it a 4x light sensitive 12mp camera instead of a 48mp detail sensor. That is the hardware.
If you want images cropped to another aspect ratio afterwards, download something like Open Camera or MX Camera and set a custom resolution.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

larsdennert said:
The main sensor has 48 million pixels laid out in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Furthermore they are grouped in a quad Bayer layout which really just makes it a 4x light sensitive 12mp camera instead of a 48mp detail sensor. That is the hardware.
If you want images cropped to another aspect ratio afterwards, download something like Open Camera or MX Camera and set a custom resolution.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
All third party apps are limited to the 12 MP, they don´t know how to use the 4x .... so they are pretty limited in their range of resolutions.

Yes and regrettably can't use the other lenses either.
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larsdennert said:
4:3 is likely the native sensor size/ratio. It comes from mimicking film cameras. Film cameras in turn copied oil painting canvases. 16:9 is just a compromise television format to approach Cinema formats roughly 21:9.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Cinema is 2.35:1 which is why on 16:9 shows you the black bars on the top and bottom of your screen for the majority of movies.
---------- Post added at 01:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------
AurioDK said:
Yes, I figured that. Why are the size of the pictures restricted in all aspect ratios? that´s my question. As the average consumer you get 48MP advertised when you buy the phone, large pictures are however impossible to shoot in any other aspect ratio than 4:3 and for that you need to tweak the settings. For most people the camera will be 12 MP at most.
Why can´t I f.ex. shoot a 16:9 picture at 24 MP? I realize the fact that it´s impossible to get a 48 MP picture at 16:9 due to how the camera angle works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless your going to print MASSIVE size prints, overall, MP is a marketing ploy to get your to spend more money on am item. After 12 to 16mp, for 95% of people, the difference is in the pixel size in Montana, not the number is pixels.

larsdennert said:
The main sensor has 48 million pixels laid out in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Furthermore they are grouped in a quad Bayer layout which really just makes it a 4x light sensitive 12mp camera instead of a 48mp detail sensor. That is the hardware.
If you want images cropped to another aspect ratio afterwards, download something like Open Camera or MX Camera and set a custom resolution.
Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
So in general, when stock camera takes 12mp photo on 48mp sensor, it would be using pixel binning, resulting in better looking image, right?
larsdennert said:
Yes and regrettably can't use the other lenses either.
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If yes, then if 3rd party Apps can capture photos at 12mp only, is it using pixel binning on main 48mp sensor or some other tech? If other tech, what is that other tech?
Thanks!

Even non Bayer sensors use four sensors filtered for each color. Generally an RGGB configuration. One sensor with a red filter, two with green and one with blue. They aren't individually addressible. They are summed together in hardware to mix all the colors. A Bayer configuration of groups allows sub addressing of different luminance channels.

larsdennert said:
Even non Bayer sensors use four sensors filtered for each color. Generally an RGGB configuration. One sensor with a red filter, two with green and one with blue. They aren't individually addressible. They are summed together in hardware to mix all the colors. A Bayer configuration of groups allows sub addressing of different luminance channels.
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Thanks for more details. Also, if you could, please answer (maybe you already answered but I did not get it) the doubts I asked above.
Thanks

It might be a custom API that only the manufacturer accesses with their binary or camera app. Google camera2 API may not support it but people do cool stuff with the Google camera app to get at stuff.