(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy S9 smartphone appears likely to feature a variable aperture camera, according to industry sources and news reports.
The new smartphone, set to be unveiled next month, reportedly has a camera that can be moved from a very fast aperture of f/1.5 to a slightly slower f/2.4, depending on conditions.
A lower f-stop indicates that a camera is capable of gathering more light, leading to better performance in the dark and excellent background blur favored by many photographers.
“The Samsung Galaxy S9′s main camera will be able to switch from f/1.5 down to f/2.4,” the website PhoneArena reported, citing a leaked image of what may be the retail box of the Galaxy S9.
“With Samsung’s variable aperture, the Galaxy S9 will be able to switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4, depending on the scene, which should deliver better shots in low light but also sharper photos in well-lit environments, in theory at least.”
The main camera on the South Korean tech giant’s current flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone, rated as one of the best in the business, has an aperture of f/1.7 compared with the slightly better f/1.6 adopted by LG Electronics’ V30 smartphone.
Last month, Samsung unveiled its new flip phone, the W2018, in China. The phone’s camera has an aperture of f/1.5, and Samsung has apparently built in a software trick to intelligently vary the aperture between f/1.5 and f/2.4, according to the website SamMobile.
The development suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone could employ a variable aperture for its camera that can promise superior quality pictures compared with rivals, industry sources said, adding that such a change could give it an advantage in the camera department.
A Samsung Electronics official said she could not confirm whether the Galaxy S9 smartphone will feature a variable aperture camera, citing company policy.
(Yonhap)
