Vivo’s telephoto extender makes the world’s finest cellphone digital camera higher

When Xiaomi and Realme each rocked as much as February’s Cell World Congress with idea smartphones that includes attachable digital camera lenses, Vivo’s executives should have had a quiet chuckle understanding they have been able to launch the actual factor simply two months later.

Its flagship X200 Extremely went on sale in China a number of weeks in the past. Even by itself, it’s most likely the most effective digital camera cellphone on the earth proper now, however it’s made even higher by a novel accent: a custom-made 2.35x telephoto extender lens, which attaches to the cellphone’s current 3.7x telephoto for a complete of 8.7x optical zoom, or the equal of a 200mm lens. It sounds (and appears) absurd, however it’s arguably a pure transfer for Vivo, which has constructed its model round a long-running partnership with Zeiss and a rising fame for crafting among the finest digital camera techniques in any Android cellphone.

From a design standpoint, Vivo has cut up the distinction between the 2 ideas I noticed in Barcelona earlier this 12 months. Realme imagined attaching full-size DSLR lenses on a cellphone’s current digital camera, and Xiaomi pitched a {custom}, compact lens with its personal built-in sensor that would magnetically snap onto a cellphone’s again.

Vivo echoed Xiaomi in creating {custom} {hardware} — co-engineered with Zeiss — however adopted Realme by piggybacking on the sensor and different {hardware} already within the cellphone. This sits on prime of the 200-megapixel telephoto, mirroring its f/2.3 aperture, however because of this has to make do with its 1/1.4”-type sensor, which is giant for a cellphone, however undeniably small by digital camera requirements. The cynic would possibly say this can be a extra extravagant model of the clip-on lenses firms like Second have been promoting for years, or that Nothing sells as low-cost add-ons to its finances CMF Telephone 2 Professional, although neither operates on fairly this scale.

The X200 Extremely is an excellent digital camera in its personal proper, simply edging its closest rival, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, and that’s earlier than you strap on this further lens. With the extender, I’ve taken photographs and filmed movies I scarcely consider got here out of a cellphone, and made my peace that I’m going to get some stares whereas doing so.

It excelled at taking pictures in circumstances starting from brilliant daylight to the variable lighting of a Feeder live performance, with pure depth and impressively correct colours. It has limits, and efficiency drops in correct darkness — road scenes at evening appeared higher with out the lens connected, particularly when shifting topics like folks and visitors have been concerned.

There’s additionally a barely synthetic sheen to some pictures, indicators of aggressive sharpening and different post-processing. The nearer you zoom in, the extra apparent that’s, and pushing pictures to the app’s most 1600mm choice creates all of the telltale indicators of heavy digital zoom. However that also doesn’t detract an excessive amount of once you’re taking photographs that showcase every hair on a bumblebee’s again, or the translucent texture of its wings.

That’s one cause I’m extra impressed with the video capabilities, which lack most of that artificiality however aren’t any much less detailed. Glorious stabilization performs its half right here, preserving output regular even at zoom ranges the place the slightest hand motion may spoil a shot.

The X200 Extremely is already an enormous, heavy cellphone, and strapping a telephoto lens to at least one finish does nothing to assist its weight or steadiness. It’s higher than you would possibly suppose, although, as long as you utilize it with the remainder of the digital camera package it’s offered as part of, which features a clip-on digital camera grip, filter ring mounts, and each wrist and shoulder straps, all for CNY1,699 (about $240) together with the lens, although US importers like Giztop are providing it for $399 all in.

Vivo has taken extra than simply inspiration from Xiaomi’s pictures kits for its Extremely flagships, transport an nearly similar digital camera grip, proper right down to the button structure and included battery, in order that it doubles as a compact energy financial institution. It is probably not authentic, however it’s a ok design to be price stealing, and all of the extra necessary when paired with the add-on lens, balancing the load and serving to to maintain this comfy to make use of. With out the grip, this feels awkward and weighty, unnatural to carry; with the grip, it simply seems like a barely odd digital camera.

Vivo outsourced a lot of the package’s design to PGYTech, and the standard has suffered. After only a few weeks of use, my case has fractures in every nook, the kickstand feels flimsy, and the quick-release button for filter rings and lens mount sometimes will get caught. That’s an issue given the lens can’t be mounted with out the case — I’d be fairly nervous that the case will break earlier than too lengthy, leaving the lens solely ineffective. A minor peeve is that the lens mount is capital-U Ugly, so I refuse to depart it on the cellphone 24/7. Meaning I can’t swap the lens on and off with out altering the mount on the similar time, including just a bit bit extra friction to the method.

And friction, or lack thereof, is crucial to this telephoto’s attraction. It lives and dies by the concept that it’s extra handy (and sometimes cheaper, even counting the cellphone itself) than a totally fledged digital camera. I’ve met lots of people who appear skeptical about that, however it’s already gained me over in only a few weeks. I don’t carry a digital digital camera round by behavior, however I deliver an previous ’70s movie SLR once I journey. It’s cumbersome, heavy, and takes up half my backpack, or it has to hold round my neck all day. I adore it, however I can’t assist however resent it a bit of, too.

Carrying this round feels totally different as a result of it’s straightforward to disassemble. I’m already carrying the cellphone and it’s only some seconds’ work to slide the lens and digital camera grip off. They’ll match into my sling bag with room to spare for sun shades and earbuds. And on the threat of some “Is {that a} Vivo X200 Extremely telephoto lens in your pocket or are you simply blissful to see me?” jokes, I’ve even managed to stuff the entire set inside my denims. You may’t do that with a DSLR.

And yeah, in fact, a DSLR would take higher photographs. So would a mirrorless, and possibly even the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III that TikTok has been surprisingly obsessive about. However that isn’t the purpose. As a result of this won’t be nearly as good as a digital camera, however it’s for certain higher than any cellphone on the market on the similar zoom distance. It’s a halfway level, a half-step past the cellphone and towards the complete digital camera, whether or not for a budding fanatic contemplating investing in a bigger setup or an skilled photographer who needs one thing lighter.

This isn’t a digital camera, however it’s not making an attempt to be — it simply needs to satisfy photographers within the center.

Images by Dominic Preston / The Verge