The new smartphone "AQUOS R6" announced by Sharp on May 17, 2021 is drawing attention. It seems that the fact that the camera is equipped with a 1-inch sensor has become a hot topic.
In fact, when I uploaded the AQUOS R6 video to my YouTube, I was also struck by multiple overseas YouTubers. Comments are written on his videos from overseas, and it seems that he is receiving a lot of attention not only from Japan but also from all over the world.
However, when Sharp first asked me to put a 1-inch sensor on it, I was instantly worried that it would be okay.
The AQUOS R6 is not the first smartphone-like product with a 1-inch sensor. In the past, Panasonic released the "LUMIX DMC-CM1" in 2014. It is equipped with a 1-inch sensor and also supports LTE communication. Of course, Android was running, so it can be used as a smartphone, but Panasonic sold it as a "communication camera."
I think the reason why I couldn't sell it as a smartphone was because the size of the camera part was thick. The 1-inch sensor is large enough to fit in the size of a smartphone, so the body is inevitably thick. The LUMIX DMC-CM1 has a full-fledged digital camera-like design, and by intentionally emphasizing the area around the camera with a ring, it seems that the thickness of the main body has been cheated.
However, the image quality of the 1-inch sensor was just excellent, and it could be uploaded to Google Photos immediately, so I used it as a handy item. Panasonic wanted a successor model to be released continuously, but it didn't come true.
It's been 7 years since then.
When I heard that "the next AQUOS is a 1-inch sensor" and thought "I hope the body is not thick like the LUMIX DMC-CM1 ...", when I looked at the AQUOS R6, the area around the camera was somehow large enough to allow. It was. It's not thin at all, but if you put on a case, you won't be particularly worried.
Recently, Chinese manufacturers have tended to increase the sensor size of cameras. It was as close as possible to the 1-inch, but never on the 1-inch platform. However, Sharp easily crossed the one-inch wall.
Breaking news: Xiaomi Mi11 Ultra / Pro announced. Equipped with "almost 1 inch" huge image sensor
So why did Sharp carry a 1-inch sensor?
In fact, it seems that the existence of the "SUMMICRON 7-lens" jointly developed with Leica is significant. Because this lens is thin, it seems that the 1-inch sensor fits in the size of a smartphone.
The 1-inch sensor is designed to receive as much light as the seven lenses come in. It is possible to shoot with an F value of 1.9 and a focal length of 19 mm.
The image quality of smartphone cameras is improving year by year, but these have rather large chipset processing power. Using AI and other means, machine learning is used to create photographs that people find beautiful.
In addition to this intelligence game, the AQUOS R6 is likely to bring in a physical strength game with a large sensor and lens to realize unprecedented photography.
With the AQUOS R6, it seems that the large sensor will take pictures that will be "naturally blurred" when shooting people, and the pictures taken during cooking will be used properly to make vivid pictures by arithmetic processing.
I would like to expect "Leica's Spartan Education"
When I actually took a picture at the announcement event on May 17, 2021 and looked at the example prepared by Sharp, the surroundings were flowing during close-up photography, and some parts were not clear. There was a part that seemed like "Hmm?"
However, it is said that it is under development, and it seems that improvements will be added by the time it is released.
With the cooperation of Leica this time, I would like to expect "Spartan education for Leica Sharp".
Once, when Huawei teamed up with Leica to make a smartphone, it was impressive that every time a new product came out, the image quality improved and it was reborn as a stunning camera.
Originally, Huawei deals only with network equipment such as base stations and smartphones, and is not strong in optical equipment such as digital cameras. Leica may have made a big contribution to making Huawei a world-class smartphone camera manufacturer.
In the future, it is expected that Leica will receive considerable guidance because it will lend its name sharply. For Leica, the standard is already at the Huawei level, so I think Sharp will naturally be raised to the Huawei level.
The Sharp AQUOS series so far has a high spec and previous reputation, but when I actually shoot it, I feel that there were many cases of "Hmm?".
The AQUOS R6 this time has a very high reputation, and it is attracting public attention, so it is a problem if the image quality is disappointing.
I would like to see the realization of "1 inch and the strongest smartphone camera image quality by arithmetic processing" that somehow exceeds expectations by the time it is released.
Breaking news: Sharp AQUOS R6 announced. 1-inch huge camera sensor, equipped with organic EL with peak brightness of 2000 nits
Try the Sharp AQUOS R6 "1 inch camera" at the demonstration venue (Junya Ishino)
