Mobile phones have become indispensable multifunctional devices in our daily lives, bridging the gap across generations — from young children to seniors. Smartphone cameras are advancing faster than anyone could have imagined and now it is possible to take fantastic images on your travels using just a phone.
Handy gears for travel journalists
Mobile phones have become indispensable multifunctional devices in our daily lives, bridging the gap across generations — from young children to seniors.
The journey of mobile phones began in the 1970s, with Martin Cooper of Motorola making the first call from a mobile device in 1973 using a 2.5 kg prototype.
The 1980s introduced the first commercially available models, like the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, which was primarily designed for voice calls, resembling a large walkie-talkie.
The 1990s marked a turning point with the advent of digital phones, enhancing call clarity, battery life, and the ability to send text messages.
The real revolution unfolded in the early 2000s with the emergence of smartphones, merging mobile phone capabilities with features like email, internet access, and multimedia functions.
I fondly remember using my trusty Nokia 3310, a compact phone limited to voice calls and SMS, for many years.
Phone cameras
My first mobile phone with a camera was a Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini (a 5-megapixel camera with only a 3-inches display screen) in 2011, which was the highest resolution then, followed by a Sony Xperia Z1 Compact in 2013, both having only a single fixed lens.
My photography journey took a leap with the Huawei P30 Pro, equipped with 10x optical zoom and digital zoom, becoming my reliable companion for travel photography, landscapes, and street scenes. The ultra-wide-angle lens of the phone camera is very helpful for scenery photographs.
Another good camera is the iPhone 14, which has good speed of capture and produces good quality images and an HDR (high dynamic range) feature that helps to tackle strong backlighting. It is especially helpful for correct exposure of the faces in taking portraits.
Since then, my phone camera has become my main camera while travelling, with my Canon DSLR camera becoming my backup camera.
As I pondered an upgrade for my camera phone recently, I meticulously researched options online, ultimately discovering the Vivo X200 Pro, launched in Malaysia on November 19, 2024.
Amazing zooming power
The Vivo X200 Pro captivated me with its astounding 200-megapixel optical zoom camera — the highest resolution available in smartphones as of 2024.
Using the latest sensors and processor and with the cooperation of the ZEISS camera technology, the phone incorporated the Zeiss APO Telephoto lens, boasting a 3.7x optical zoom (85 mm equivalent focal length) with a f/2.7 aperture. Combined with AI-powered post-processing, it delivers stunning hybrid zoom images, even beyond 30x magnification (692 mm). The images can match those of the professional DSLR cameras.
Its 50-megapixel 23mm wide-angle lens with a large aperture of f/1.6 and the 15mm ultra-wide-angle lens (f/2.0) further elevate its photography capabilities, allowing for breathtaking compositions.
It also has a front camera of 32 MP f/2.0 for selfies.
Another outstanding feature that I like and that has helped me to tackle problems when shooting stage shows or events on stage is the Telephoto Stage Mode, which is designed to capture dynamic stage performances with excellence.
This mode empowers me to zoom in (20x) on intricate details from afar, even in challenging low-light and backlighting situations, ensuring sharp, vibrant images of performers while maintaining proper exposure.
It is perfect for concerts and indoor events. It also performs well in video capture.
The Vivo X200 Pro also offers specialised modes for landscape photography, including night scenes and stunning captures of fireworks, supermoons, long exposures for star trails, flowing water, flowing traffic, etc. The dedicated street photography mode enhances my ability to freeze motion and action effortlessly.
However, I find myself missing a physical camera shutter button on the Vivo X200 series. A dedicated shutter button, like those found on models such as the Sony Xperia and iPhone 16 series (camera control) and the Oppo Find F8 series, that would allow easy operation when the phone is held in landscape or in portrait orientation.
I hope the innovative accessory, the photography kit attached to the phone, similar to those available for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra that has a shutter button and a zooming button, or the third-party camera kit made for the Vivo X100 Ultra, will be available to elevate the Vivo X200 series to even greater heights.
The evolution of phone cameras in the age of AI
Smartphone cameras have surged ahead in recent years, with many new models nearing professional camera quality in resolution and dynamic range. Thanks to artificial intelligence, these devices can sharpen images and achieve stunning digital enlargements, some reaching up to 100x magnification.
However, the compact size of smartphones limits their ability to house larger sensors and lenses, meaning they still trail behind high-end DSLRs and mirrorless cameras in image quality. Another point is that when taking action shots like sports, a DSLR is still the best as it is more versatile.
Nevertheless, ongoing advancements in sensor technology and image processing algorithms are steadily closing this gap, enabling smartphones to capture increasingly detailed and higher-quality images as we look to the future.
