I have noticed that smartphones are now full of idiotic cameras. All smartphones I had needed just one camera for code scans. Now they look absurd with the back all filled with idiotic cameras.
I was able to find only Pixel 8 looking normal. Even if it has 2 cameras, they are still small and not annoying. All the other smartphones have more than 2, or even all back filled with multiple cameras.
I wondered the same thing. I recently got a new phone that has 4 cameras and so I researched why and here is what I learned:
One of them is super-high resolution but doesn't work well in low-light scenarios.
Another is a medium-resolution but works very well in low-light and has a wider dynamic range.
The third one has a short focal length and is used for things that are very close.
These 3 are combined with software to generate the "best" image possible, and you can override this blend if you want to exploit the strength of the individual cameras.
The fourth camera is the one on the front.
Some phones also have portals that look like cameras but are actually sensors for proximity or lux levels.
The reason they use multiple fixed-focus lenses is because of cost and space. Yes, you could do it all with a single CCD but you add complexity with lense focus and iris hardware and that costs more and you can't fit that into a slim phone case.
[ + ] oyveyo
[ - ] oyveyo 2 points 6 daysApr 23, 2025 06:48:21 ago (+3/-1)
One of them is super-high resolution but doesn't work well in low-light scenarios.
Another is a medium-resolution but works very well in low-light and has a wider dynamic range.
The third one has a short focal length and is used for things that are very close.
These 3 are combined with software to generate the "best" image possible, and you can override this blend if you want to exploit the strength of the individual cameras.
The fourth camera is the one on the front.
Some phones also have portals that look like cameras but are actually sensors for proximity or lux levels.
The reason they use multiple fixed-focus lenses is because of cost and space. Yes, you could do it all with a single CCD but you add complexity with lense focus and iris hardware and that costs more and you can't fit that into a slim phone case.
[ + ] Niggly_Puff
[ - ] Niggly_Puff -1 points 6 daysApr 23, 2025 10:12:18 ago (+0/-1)
[ + ] UncleDoug
[ - ] UncleDoug 1 point 6 daysApr 23, 2025 06:57:05 ago (+2/-1)
[ + ] Sal_180
[ - ] Sal_180 0 points 6 daysApr 23, 2025 06:48:50 ago (+1/-1)