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What are the advantages of a dual camera?

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Increasingly more top-range smartphones are getting dual cameras (LG G6, Huawei P10, Honor 8…). If you aren’t familiar with this type of technology, you’re probably wondering what it’s all about so read on to find out everything about dual cameras in this article.

Let’s start with the obvious question: what is a dual camera? Basically, it means that there are two photo sensors instead of one (you never would have guessed that, right?) - smartphones with this type of technology have two different photo sensors which work in a complimentary way to each other.

Generally, the smartphone’s main sensor acts more or less like a normal camera: it takes color images in the best way possible. The second sensor aims to add elements that can't be captured with the first sensor, particularly in terms of depth of field. The combination of both images, which is carried out electronically by the camera app, produces the optimal result.

Each smartphone manufacturer has its own strategy for the dual camera function in order to increase the camera's photography potential. So without further ado, let's dive in and see what advantages a dual camera offers.

Improving special effects

Images that are more “3D”

One of the advantages of a dual camera is obviously the amount of perspective. Let’s take the Honor 6X for example, or even the Huawei Mate 9. Thanks to the second lens, distances are analyzed better and we can get a near-3D image.

Although this produces pretty photos, it isn’t really the main feature of dual cameras. This depth of field analysis is the key element that allows other special effects to be achieved, such as the ones outlined below.

The Bokeh effect

The additional content that's captured by the second lens allows the sharpness of the image to be improved. On the HTC One M8, there is even the option to add color effects to the background and foreground of the image, or to copy parts of images and add them to other photos.

The most interesting part is dealing with zones that are out of focus, a blurry effect can be achieved through your camera lens.

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The Bokeh effect on the Huawei P9. © NextPit

Augmented reality

There is another concept on the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro and on the Asus Zenfone AR: in addition to the traditional RGB camera, there's also a fish-eye lens and a camera called “time-of-flight”. Really, it’s kind of a 3-in-1 camera.

The idea is simple: thanks to an infrared laser that’s incorporated into the camera, light is reflected. Depth of field is electronically calculated in such a precise way that it can be captured with the RBG sensors.

This is the reason why Google is interested in these cameras in its Tango Project - great results can be achieved for augmented reality. As my colleague once said, it’s no coincidence that the Tango project and the Daydream department work so closely together as “time-of-flight” cameras are quick enough to use for VR. In addition to the depth of field content that is captured, the smartphone is also able to determine the user’s position in a room.

It’s no coincidence that the Tango project and the Daydream department work so closely together

Improving the phone's photography potential

Photos with more detail… 

The Huawei P9, Mate 9 and Honor 8 each have a different strategy. Their second sensor doesn’t pick up color (it only sees in black and white) but it’s able to pick up details. Color is then added to the final image through using software.

To sum up, this type of technology allows you to obtain more detailed photos which is, of course, useful if you want to take the most detailed photo possible of your subject.

... even in poor lighting conditions

Managing lighting is essential in photography and every photographer’s nightmare (whether they are an amateur or not) is not having ideal lighting conditions. While in the professional world, one can cheat to achieve the required lighting conditions, the amateur photographer will find themselves in dire straits when night falls or if the lighting conditions are too poor.

Fortunately, this second lens is there for them. It captures all the details and the lighting is added afterwards. In general, the resulting image isn’t always ideal but it’s better than what they would have captured with only one sensor (there are exceptions to this though, like the Galaxy S8, for example).

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The Google Pixel is an excellent example of a camera phone. © NextPit

Zoom with minimal loss of quality

Some devices, such as the iPhone 7 Plus, are optimized to offer an excellent zoom feature that is superior to the digital zoom that you’ll find on most smartphones. The LG G5 is also different but in a whole other way: one of its sensors has a wide angle, meaning that it can capture a much wider range (this feature makes it perfect for taking photos of the countryside, while the iPhone 7 would be better suited for more specific photos, such as portraits). In other words, this wide angle adds another dimension to the image, placing the main image in the background by enabling the zoom feature.

Do you think that manufacturers should take their smartphone cameras more seriously? Or is it not a priority?

 

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Benoit Pepicq

Benoit Pepicq
Editor

Benoit is passionate about new technologies and everything related to computers. A big Android fan since 2011, he joined the AndroidPIT team to satisfy his passion and to share his knowledge on Android with readers.

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9 comments
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  • 27
    Sorin Jan 6, 2018 Link to comment

    Two rooms are used rather for the Bokeh effect and little to improve the overall image. The second camera often has a lower resolution, or even if it has the same resolution, is not used to the full potential but rather for the artistic effect of the photos. There are also phone models where the second camera is just fake, a trick for marketing (I refer to some cheap phones). Personally I am not impressed by the two rooms.


  • 6
    nick jones Apr 29, 2017 Link to comment

    i dont think dual camera will give more advantages. u should install more sensors in mobile near camera.


  • 10
    solis Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

    I got so used to the "aperture" mode of my P9 that I wouldn't consider a phone without some bokeh mode, dual cameras or not.

    Dean L.


  • 22
    ljhaye Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

    The Android community will not really consider a dual camera a must have until it shows up on either the Samsung S series or the Note series. Matter of fact they are several websites that have complained about Samsung not keeping up with Apple on this hardware effect.

    Dean L.


  • 31
    Deactivated Account Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

    Sammy's flagship still single camera, and Google Pixel was a perfect example of what happens when you invest a monumental amount of software engineering in a single lens camera..
    LG G6 and Huawei P10 have introduced some interesting features but nothing that's really revolutionary yet...
    but we're all gonna have duel cameras in flagships cos that's what will sell in the future,
    and i can't see Sammy sticking to a single lense camera in its next flagship.
    maybe the extra tech will be justified with AR, but right now most duel cameras are more about marketing.

    Dean L.


    • Dean L. 34
      Dean L. Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

      IMO the only true feature of dual cams is for 3D. But there needs to be enough separation between the two cams for that. But I don't know what that needs to be. But it's a cool thought to be able to shoot 3D and display it on a 3D capable TV if you have one.

      Deactivated Account


  • 26
    Andrew Burgin Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

    Dual cameras might be good for some and bad for others,but if it makes the prices of the phones more expensive then people will just buy an alternative phone instead,not everyone messes about with there camera settings and just take a photo,so including dual cameras might just not bother the phone user at all,Why not dual batteries instead of cameras as that's what people want longer batterylife on there phones

    itprolondenDean L.Deactivated Account


    • 31
      Deactivated Account Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

      Duel batteries got me thinking of Moto Z play, moto mods,
      and the ability to add a camera mod..

      David BerkDean L.


  • Dean L. 34
    Dean L. Apr 25, 2017 Link to comment

    Nice article. And it's true that the manufacturers are trying to wow us with dual cameras. There are a few low and mid range phones with dual cameras and we'll have to see how they fair against the dual cam flagship phones.

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