Sony has unveiled a new flagship 5G smartphone, which is claimed to include ‘the ultimate camera for the photography enthusiast’. The Xperia 1 II uses technology from the Sony Alpha range and Zeiss optics to back up these claims, with impressive functionality for both stills and video shooters.
The 12 megapixel camera in the Xperia 1 II features three lenses, which combine to offer focal lengths of 16mm, 24mm and 70mm. The Zeiss optics used in the lenses have been specifically calibrated for the smartphone to maximise detail and combine with the AF technology plucked from Alpha cameras to offer plenty of versatility. The device’s autofocus system, for example, achieves focus in as little as 0.03 seconds and performs 60 focus and exposure calculations a second. This enables the smartphone to shoot at up to 20 frames-per-second when using the 24mm focal length. 10 frames-per-second is possible at the 16mm and 70mm settings. Eye AF, which works on both people and some animals, has also been taken from the award-winning camera range.
As well as power, the Xperia 1 II also offers a good degree of control with users able to change ISO, shutter speed and more. Video shooters have the ability to alter frame rates up to 120fps, exposure, white balance and focusing point. There’s also an intelligent wind filter, which is designed to overcome noise and wind interference, which can particularly affect recordings made on smartphones.
The 1/1.7-inch Exmor RS sensor in the Xperia 1 II is claimed to be 1.5x more sensitive than the previous model which, combined with an AF system with 247 phase detection points covering approximately 70 per cent of the sensor at the 24mm setting, should deliver superior low light focusing performance.
Being a fully connected device, the Xperia 1 II makes image sharing easy, plus it can be connected to an existing Sony Alpha camera for remote control operation. PlayStation 4 owners, meanwhile, can connect the device to a Dualshock controller via an optional mount adapter so you can game on anywhere.
Compared to the previous model, the Xperia 1 II has a 25 per cent faster CPU and GPU, plus it offers IP65/68 water resistance, which means that you can use it in the rain and – should it get dirty – you can wash it under a tap, providing all the ports and attached covers are closed. The 21:9 4K HDR 6.5-inch screen is protected by Gorilla glass, while power is provided by a 4000mAh battery, which can be charged wirelessly.
