Looking for the smartphone with the best photo sensor? In 2018 and 2019, a whole series of smartphones equipped with a double or triple photo sensor was born. About half of the smartphones purchased today already have 2, 3, or even 5 lenses on the back . But do these smartphones also take the most beautiful photos?

How many lenses does a good smartphone photo sensor need?

We increasingly use our smartphone as a camera. Of all the photos, 87% are taken with a smartphone. It is therefore logical that we always attach more importance to the photo quality offered by our phone. But how to approach the quality of an SLR in the compact format of a smartphone? Answer: with more photo sensors!

Integrating an additional lens into your smartphone has several new advantages. But beware, not all smartphones equipped with 2 lenses are the same: each type of lens has its own characteristics.

Main camera

This remains the most important camera of your device, and is therefore equipped with a high resolution sensor. It also more and more often has a wide-angle and a large lens aperture. A larger lens aperture (or diaphragm) is important for letting in more light, allowing you to take sharp photos even in low ambient light. The lens aperture is indicated by means of the F-number, for example f/1.7.

Telephoto

Are your photos and videos consistently blurry when you zoom in? Don’t worry, your device is not broken. In reality, the digital zoom of a typical smartphone camera simply cuts off part of the photo to enlarge it. Hence the fact that it seems less clear. An optical zoom telephoto lens allows you to effortlessly magnify 2 or even 3x without losing quality.

Depth of field sensor

In reality, this sensor does not allow you to take photos, but helps you to estimate distances. Your device can therefore better recognize faces or certain scenes, and adapt accordingly. The black and white or blur background effect also becomes a piece of cake. A smartphone equipped with a telephoto lens has these same advantages. But if you are looking for a more affordable model equipped with a good sensor for portrait mode photos, the depth of field sensor is a good alternative.

Super wide-angle lens

A super wide angle lens allows you to shoot wider ranges. Ideal for capturing landscapes, but also for photographing buildings up close or for group photos.

Black and white sensor

Because it doesn’t have to collect information about different hues, a monochrome sensor provides sharper focus than a color sensor. By combining color data from the main camera and additional data from the black and white sensor, you get a sharper color photo with richer hues. Of course, you can also take beautiful black and white shots.

Unity is strength

Each of these objectives therefore has its specific advantages, but also disadvantages. It is therefore a question of combining the advantages of the various photo sensors. Also, smartphones equipped with a double or triple photo sensor allow you to take the most beautiful shots. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a seasoned photographer to do this: your smartphone does all the work for you.

The most beautiful pictures

Photographers have known the trick for a long time: you combine several photos of different lighting to achieve a superb end result. These HDR photos show vivid colors and more detail, even in the darkest and brightest areas. Unfortunately, this requires a quality camera, a powerful PC, the right software and sufficient knowledge.

Your smartphone can now make your job much easier! Thanks to the double or triple photo sensor, your device can take several shots simultaneously with different settings. This process takes place in the background and your smartphone does the work for you. No need to master Photoshop! By combining the strengths of the different photo sensors, you get more detailed shots. In addition, the colors are also more faithful to reality. Result: more successful photos, even in low light!

Bokeh and other effects

A smartphone with a telephoto lens, like the iPhone Xs , is ideal for taking portrait mode photos. This camera not only makes it easier for you to take close-ups, but also can better distinguish the foreground and background thanks to the 2 lenses. So you can apply, even at a later stage, a black and white or blur effect to the background of the photo. This is called the “bokeh” effect.

he big difference with single-lens smartphones like the iPhone XR is that they have to rely entirely on software to estimate depth of field. The iPhone Xr does indeed allow you to apply a bokeh effect to photos in portrait mode, but only in the event of facial recognition. Passionate about the bokeh effect, but limited budget? In this case, you can also opt for a device that incorporates a depth of field effect.

Worry-free zooming

A telephoto lens lets you zoom in more, but also lets in less light. With the risk of taking blurry photos in low light. But to this problem too, the combination of several photo sensors can provide a solution. A smart imaging smartphone combines images from multiple cameras, resulting in a clear, crisp photo.

Are two cameras always better than one?

Of course, you can already take beautiful shots with only one photo sensor. But the small photo sensor of a smartphone has its limits, for example in low light. By combining several lenses, you get a good smartphone photo sensor in all circumstances. In addition, you have access – both during and after taking photos – to many new features not offered by a sensor with a single lens. So compare the advantages offered by a double or triple photo sensor, and opt for the device whose features speak to you the most. Spoiled for choice ? Opt for a smartphone with 3 or 4 photo sensors!