How to Choose what Dual Camera setup is best for you in 2019!

  It's no more news that dual camera phones have been on the proliferation since 2018. From a core flagship feature to mid-range and even budget devices. Sometimes, these camera modules carry confusing and sophisticated tags that quite makes it difficult to get the satisfactory combination in order to shoot the beautiful you.If you don't fancy the single camera approach of the Google pixel, or you just want something cool to brag about, we think this guide will help you to make a personalised choice. As promised we will give a short guide to the world of dual camera placements and give you options as well as the working principles behind them.

1.0 Brief History and Introduction:

   Although the first dual camera phone was the HTC Evo 3D(released back in 2011). The main jump starter of the dual camera trend was the Apple Iphone 7 Plus. Launched in September 2016, the Plus employed a dual 12MP camera setup, with one being a Wide angle lens of about 28mm, and a secondary Telephoto lens with a good 58mm. You saw the bolder terms right? To choose the optimum camera option you must first understand the camera tags which show their capabilities and how they play into your picture. So just sit back and relax, Because Techtemplar got you covered.

The HTC Evo 3D, The first Dual camera phone 

Note 1: We'll be taking dual camera setups for Placements with a Primary ordinary camera and a second "super powered" lens.

Note 2: The list will most likely concur with rear camera modules and not selfie cameras.

2.0: Types of camera lens and their principles:

We'll explain the various lens used in camera photography(mobile) as well as their mechanism and examples.

2.1: Wide-angle lens:
Use this if you take like to take larger photos like groupies, more scenery or you're a tourist who wants to capture the details or add some depth to your photos.

A Wide angle lens uses a 120° FOV(field of view), and sits between 25mm-35mm focal length. 120 degrees is pretty much the standard, but some phones have up to 125 degrees also.

The wide angle lens(usually the second lens)  takes the picture and projects it within an image frame that the first lens can't even make even if it was of the same focal length. The image formed provides enough movement and tilt for viewing under a field of view camera.

Examples of phones that use this: Samsung galaxy note 9, Google pixel 3xl , Samsung galaxy s9 plus, Iphone X.

2.2: Ultra Wide-angle lens:
You might think they're the same, but they're not.
Use this for even more zoomed out pictures coupled with depth effects and exaggeration of scenes.

The UWA lens mostly applies a focal length smaller than 25mm. Longer lenses used here can magnify the subject, compact the environment and deliver stunning bokeh effects when placed with a generous focus space.

Examples of phones that use this: Google's pixel 3 uses two front facing cameras, dual 8MP lenses one wide angle, the other ultra wide. Huawei mate 20 pro, Asus zenfone 5z.

A Wide Angle Photo

2.3: Telephoto Lens:
The most popular secondary rear camera placement.
Use this if you like to take zoomed in photos. Capture even the farthest and smallest bits of details with this.

The telephoto lens usually comes with a higher focal length than the primary sensor. Here the physical size of the lens is smaller than the focal length. Let's say a phone has a primary sensor with an F-length of 26mm. The telephoto lens here would have about 36mm more which would allow for up to 3x optical zoom.

Some smart phones normally ditch the telephoto/optical zoom for a digital zoom so as to use the lens for another placement. Confused about optical and digital zoom? Let's explain:

2.3.1: Difference between Optical zoom and digital zoom:
Optical zoom is the type of lens we explained in the beginning of 2.3. It just means adjustable lens of varying focal length.

Digital zoom uses algorithms and processing power to stimulate a zoomed in function. Some phones like Google's Pixel 3 and the Oneplus 6 Use this zoom type, as they utilize another type of lens placement.  Confused about what type of zoom available on your phone?  If it's a single camera or your phone doesn't have the telephoto tag, it's digital.

Examples of phones using this feature: Iphone X, Xiaomi Mi 8, Lenovo s5 pro. Lenovo Z5s, Huawei P20 Pro.

The Telephoto Lens in action

2.4: RGB(Red Green Blue) Sensors:
Use this for your perfect black and white photographs.
Mostly used in Huawei phones, They provide extra layers of sharpness to the subject photo.

To truly understand the principle behind RGB sensors, Think of Airtel(Red), Glo(Green), and Ntel(Blue), customer outlets. Airtel(Red), would only collect customers that use Airtel, and Glo from glo customers. That's the case with RGB sensors. The glo etc are called Photosites. Each photosites would take only colours from each proprietary RGB spectrum.

When a ray of light reaches them, the Photosites cannot collect them in a regular pattern as a green Photosite would reject the others. A complex algorithm called demosaicing is used to join the Photosites and fill up the colour spectrum gaps. Software processing isn't usually shaping up and fails to separate the spectrum evenly. The picture might even end up with a lot of noise.

Example of phones that use this lens: Huawei P20, Redmi note 5 Pro, Huawei Mate 10 Pro.

2.5: Monochrome Lens:
An upgraded form of RGB sensors.
If you take a lot of low light shots this can help you get a more detailed photo.

In the previous unit we learnt how RGB Photosites take only their respective colours in the spectrum. However in Monochrome sensors they can receive from any colour in the spectrum.The data collected from the Photosites are related directly to the Computer which processes it and joins the dots. Demosaicing is no longer needed at this point which leads to increased light passage, more detail and exceptional colour views.

Monochrome sensors can be used with any of the above lens especially telephoto for combined functions. Couple this with an aperture of about f/2.0 and below and it will be the bomb.

Phones using it: Honor 9, Honor 10, huawei mate 20.

2.6: Time of flight sensors:
You can use this for you perfect slow-motion videos. Who Knows your  smartphone developer might add in support for Augmented reality.

The Time of flight camera uses the range imaging system on the basis of the average light speed, measuring the TOF of a light ray within the range of the subject and the object camera.

As of now,not many phones use this sensor and the upcoming Sony Xperia XZ4 is tipped to come with one.

2.7:  Depth Sensors:
Yes you read right, a secondary camera dedicated to depth sensing.
Good for your portraits and added depth effects in your pictures.

The main camera captures the subject, while the depth sensor helps to detect edges and apply better bokeh implementation. Normally, this lens is less in Megapixel count than the main because of the rather simple function. For example the Redmi Note 5 pro has a 12MP and a 5MP depth sensor. While the infinix hot 6x has a 13MP sensor coupled with a 3MP depth sensor.

Examples: Redmi note 7, Honor play, Oneplus 5t, Asus zenfone max pro m2, Honor 8x, Tecno Camon 11 pro.

The Nokia Pureview 9 Might Combine Most Of These Lenses. 

Any of the above lenses playing a supplementary role can easily take its place. Wether or not a depth sensor is a glorified decoration is a topic for another.

So when next you're shopping for a DSLR alternative,  or you want to capture that seamless and flawless moment, Using any of these sensors can be useful when utilized effectively. So smile, visit places and beat the high score. All with your trusty phone camera.