HTC hints at optical zoom in next-generation smartphones

HTC hints that the next generation of smartphones, due out next year, will support optical zoom. That says a camera expert from the manufacturer in an interview. HTC claims that smartphones may eventually replace dslrs in many cases.

HTC hints at building optical zoom in devices that will be released within a year and a half. The arrival can be concluded from an interview by provider Vodafone with Symon Whitehorn, HTC’s imaging specialist. “Optical zoom isn’t that far off for HTC,” he says, “I can’t give too much away, but optics in smartphones will greatly improve in the next 12 to 18 months, so we don’t necessarily believe in a high-resolution solution to magnify photos. .”

Since last year, the manufacturer has been using an ‘Ultrapixel camera’ in its most expensive models, with fewer pixels that are individually larger. His latest phone One (M8) also has a second sensor to store depth information, for example to blur the background afterwards.

Camera makers will also collaborate with phone manufacturers, Symon expects. “The camera industry doesn’t have to feel totally threatened. What we’ll see is that these things will work better together.”

HTC’s camera expert expects smartphones to largely take over the function of DSLRs within a few years. “Two years ago I would have said that smartphones can never replace a DSLR, but now I’m not so sure. I think there’s always going to be a role for DSLRs, like for sports photography and stuff, but you’ll see the gap narrowing. This one cameras are becoming more specialized out of necessity, they can’t match the intelligence we put in smartphones.”