vivo, at its Imaging Conference in Xining, China, showcased a host of innovations in imaging technology. The company unveiled the V3 chip, a 6nm customised V3 chip, as well as the latest algorithm technology.
In addition to that, vivo revealed a periscoped lens with the new ‘Vario-Apo-Sonnar’ standards developed in partnership with ZEISS. During the event, vivo also announced the winners of the 2023 VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards, with Indonesian photographer Jiehan Herry Saputro’s ‘Let Me Fly’ crowned the Best Photograph of The Year.
New vivo V3 Chip and Algorithm Technology
The brand’s latest V3 chip adopts a 6nm manufacturing process and incorporates a newly designed multi-concurrent AI-ISP architecture and the second-generation Frame Info Tunneling (FIT) technology. The upgrade delivers a superior user experience by enabling 4K cinema-like bokeh, automatic subject focus detection and switching, cinema-like skin optimization, and cinematic colour processing, which makes vivo the first Android phone maker to enable 4K cinema-quality portrait video with post-processing functions.
In addition to the launch of the new V3 chip, the company has also announced a comprehensive algorithm matrix solution. The company’s new vivo Origin Imaging Engine (VOIE) enhances image quality, colour, tone, and computing functionality by advancing the underlying algorithmic capabilities for three sub-modules: Colour Restoration Engine, Ultra HD Engine, and Accelerated Computing Engine. The company has also developed the Hyper-Sense Portrait System and Vast-Sky Night System, based on common portrait and night scene user scenarios.
Excellence Through Joint Innovation
vivo’s long-term partnership with optical pioneer ZEISS has led to breakthrough innovations for the X series, from generation to generation, proving that ZEISS technologies and iconic optical designs were adapted for the company’s flagship devices. ZEISS T* coating ensures superior optical quality, as does the iconic ZEISS Style Portrait, to name just a few.
At the event, both companies jointly announced a periscope lens design with the new ‘Vario-Apo-Sonnar’ standards. The APO design is known for its industry-leading control of chromatic aberration. For the very first time, the APO design will be adapted to a mobile imaging system, enhancing high-performance zoom quality.
Furthermore, leveraging the floating lens group technology in the periscope lens, aiming to provide ultra-high resolution and enhanced focusing capability, will enable users to achieve excellent macro shooting outcomes. Simultaneously, it produces a creamy bokeh effect that further emphasizes the subject.
The T* Coating is ZEISS’s signature technology for anti-reflective coating on optical surfaces. The co-engineered rear camera system in vivo’s X series is now equipped with ZEISS T* Coating and significantly reduces unwanted lens flares in images under challenging lighting conditions, such as nighttime, strong backlighting, and complex light sources.
For vivo’s upcoming X series flagship model, ZEISS T* Coating will be equipped with Multi-ALD technology to further enhance image clarity by reducing centre reflectivity from 0.2% to 0.1% on the visible light spectrum. Compared with the previous generation of ALC coating, the reflectivity will be reduced by 50%.
vivo has announced a deep collaboration with MediaTek for its X80 series. Additionally, vivo plans to team up with Sony for further collaboration on technologies such as 2-layer pixel (stack pixel) technology and HDR in the future. vivo will also actively expand joint innovation research by collaborating with more industry partners and educational institutes, such as ETH Zurich and other universities, striving for technological breakthroughs and a more diversified and open mobile imaging ecosystem.
Professional Portraits and The Ultimate Night Scene Experience
vivo has formed a unique portrait style that blends clear texture, natural skin tones, and a balance of real and virtual effects across device iterations. In addition, the brand continues to research and develop 3D portrait technology, including 3D facial reconstruction and virtual content.
vivo has relied on its imaging laboratory platform to establish a 3D image laboratory with a proprietary cinema-like optical field system capable of reconstructing extremely delicate 3D models of human faces and producing highly realistic visual effects in virtual environments. Drawing on experience gained from past products and real-life business scenarios, the company’s 3D models achieve precise facial expressions, body postures, and gestures.
These technologies have been developed with three user scenarios in mind: generative portrait style, generative portrait editing, and various portrait special effects. Users will be able to take photos that perfectly balance real and virtual effects, edit photos powered by texture reconstruction and lighting estimation algorithms, and freely change the lighting, hair, and facial expressions.
The company has introduced enhancements to its technical capabilities in image quality, tone, and colour for landscape shooting. The upgraded Vast-Sky Night System was designed to improve image quality and provide the most advanced quality solutions for night scenes at all focal lengths. The upgraded SuperRAW technology offers exclusive parameter adjustment capabilities, meeting any professional imaging requirements for all focal lengths.
Based on VOIE, vivo has also introduced a True Colour Night model powered by AI learning to the Night Sky Imaging System. This enhancement enables adaptive tone and colour adjustments for night scenes, and for night scenes with high contrast, a comprehensive night HDR solution has been introduced to tackle viewing issues in preview, shooting, and display modes. In addition, the new XDR Photo 2.0 adds a highlight colour preservation mechanism for light sources with high dynamic range and saturation at night. This improves the overexposure of highlights without affecting the colour performance of the light source and preserves the night scene.
In the future, vivo will work together with Adobe, Apple, and Google to improve HDR photo standardisation and overcome the inconsistent display of HDR photos on different devices – making vivo the only Chinese company involved in the development of the iOS standards for HDR photos.
On top of vivo’s original distinctive colours and ZEISS Natural Color, vivo’s team has launched a series of rich and personalized colours, drawing inspiration from classic photography techniques, classic films, and masterworks.
2023 vivo VISION + Mobile PhotoAwards Winners
During this year’s Special Event at the Imaging Conference, vivo also announced the winners of this year’s VISION + Mobile PhotoAwards. The top award went to Jiehan Herry Saputro’s ‘Let Me Fly’, which was crowned the Best Photograph of the Year. In addition, the competition included awards in six categories: Portrait, Photo Series, Night, Landscape, Motion, and News. Two special awards were also announced: the X90 Series Best Photograph Award and the ZEISS Professional Imaging Award.
For more information, please visit vivo’s official website.
