This means that each pixel in an image contains a right and a left view. The way this works is that the Portrait Camera includes a Dual Pixel sensor technology. What's unique about Pixel 2 is that it can generate a True Depth Map with just a single lens so you get beautiful portrait shots without needing a second camera. Pixel 2 does Portrait Mode with just one camera and Machine Learning. Other smartphones do this by combining images from two cameras. But we're implementing it a little bit differently.
But I don't think it's the only way that you can get bokeh on your shots if you're just using a cameraphone.Īnd this why I was delighted when I saw these sample shots taken using the Google Pixel 2 XL, which was officially announced - just five days ago - on October 4, 2017.Īccording to DxOMark - a website that measures smartphone camera quality, " Because the Pixel 2 has only a single main camera, software is what generates Zoom, Depth Effect, Portrait Mode, and Bokeh from one or more frames captured with that camera." I mean, Apple's patent application makes sense and their works for them. However, I've always thought that it's not true at all.
Since the Apple iPhone 7 Plus currently delivers one of the - if not the - cleanest bokeh effect on portrait images taken using a smartphone, I believe many mobile consumers had become convinced that a Dual Camera module is indeed necessary to get decent shallow depth of field if you're just using a handset as a camera substitute.
The computer code further configured to cause one or more processors to capture a preview image using the second image capture device concurrently to the capture of the plurality of frames." A focal length of the first lens assembly is different than a focal length of the second lens assembly.
"A second lens assembly, wherein obtaining a depth map of the scene comprises obtaining a depth map of the scene using the first lens assembly and the second lens assembly, wherein the first lens assembly and the second lens assembly are part of a stereo camera system.
This effect implemented in the Portrait Mode of the handset is also called "Bokeh" where the background of the subject is beautifully or lusciously blurred to deliver a more interesting, focused, and beautiful shot.Īpple's patent application for the use of a secondary optic to achieve this effect explains how exactly the technology works: " The Dual 12-megapixel cameras also enable a new depth-of-field effect, using both cameras on iPhone 7 Plus to capture images, while sophisticated technology including Machine Learning separates the background from the foreground to achieve amazing portraits once possible only with DSLR cameras." ( source) In their official press release for the 2016 Apple iPhone 7 Plus - the first iPhone to have a Dual Camera Module at the back - Apple said,