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3x Optical zoom?

How does the zoom actually work?
From the specs both colour lenses are fixed, so below 3 times, is this simply digital zoom on the wide lens?
At 3x it also does not seem to always switch to the telephoto lens. Why?
I bought the phone for the camera abilities but currently question whether they work as advertised.
One review mentioned Open Camera as a better alternative, so I tried that, but from testing, that seems to never use the telephoto lens in any conditions?
I notice as well that apps like Lightroom do not pick up an option for the second lens either.

Ajf350d said:
How does the zoom actually work?
From the specs both colour lenses are fixed, so below 3 times, is this simply digital zoom on the wide lens?
At 3x it also does not seem to always switch to the telephoto lens. Why?
I bought the phone for the camera abilities but currently question whether they work as advertised.
One review mentioned Open Camera as a better alternative, so I tried that, but from testing, that seems to never use the telephoto lens in any conditions?
I notice as well that apps like Lightroom do not pick up an option for the second lens either.
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Hi, I dont claim to be an expert, but I think I can answer your questions
Yes, any zoom level below 3x is effectively digital based. It's not a straight crop so you will get better results from using that zoom than cropping in to a wide shot later.
For 3x zoom will use the tele camera provided the subject is far enough away for it to focus, and there is enough light. i.e trying to take macro-type shots with the zoom lens is a no go, and in low light the software will use the big primary sensor as the tiny sensor used for the tele would just give a noisy mess of an image.
N.B: The image preview shown in the app when zooming doesn't always update to reflect the feed coming from the tele lens. (you can normally see it transition) when you actually take the image, it will use the correct lens for the conditions, even if the preview suggested otherwise.
Seems that third party apps can't access the other sensors, at least for now.
Finally, the same as above it true when recording video. Contrary to what some sites have reported the phone WILL switch to the tele camera for zoom levels of 3x+, and can do so whilst recording. The same applies as photos, 1-2.9x will be digital zoom (and for video is does appear to be a straight crop, no clever digi-zoom). In this range the quality is pretty poor, so try videoing a 1x or 3x only. (note the tele cam has ois which is great for shake-free video)

Thanks for thr clarification.
Think I understand better now what is happening!
I had also emailed Huawei support and their response was basically the same.
Think it would be good to have this clearer in reviews and spec sheets though.
I am generally happy with the camera but bought it to use the 3x a lot for close ups, which seems to be one scenario where it may not be using the actual tele lens in full.

Thank you!
I've been having same issue all day with my new P20 pro and been thinking that the phone or app is broken. So pleased the 3x works like that. I'll now try test it. ?
Thanks for giving this response. B&W sensor on it is insanely good so I was bummed by the broken 3x

camera problems greyscale while zoom

Guys, anyone having this problem too? If you zoom from above 1x to 5x (before the switch happens) all pictures from my camera become almost monochrome, I screen recorded what happens.
Check this link, I uploaded a video of what happens to my viewfinder whenever I click the shutter button in zoom option.
Check for example the difference between 1x and then above it
https://streamable.com/5f5nx

Hey did you find a fix for this? I just picked up a P30 pro and i discovered the exact same behavior with my camera. im seriously considering returning this device because of it!!!

Errrrm, it's a grey cat sat next to a grey cupboard?

Yes, the issue is there on my phone too.... hope they'll fix it somehow

Telephoto lens is a lot lower spec than the main 1x lens, only 8MP
Sometimes for fairly close subjects like that cat and stuff, you're better off using main camera @ 1x and cropping

Help
Hi did you manage to get this fixed? I have the same issue when I zoom the viewfinder is full colour but the picture de saturates when you press shutter
I have been to. Huawei who replaced the camera and I'm still having the issue
Please help if you have the answer
Many thanks

This seems to be a lower specced lens or sensor more than software, it makes the telephoto lens useless.

I have the same problem. To debunk some of the replies, it's not because the cat is grey. It's not because the telephoto lens is of lower quality because it's not used between 1.1-2.9X zoom where muted colors happen and what does "only 8MP" have to do with the colors.
There's definitely a software bug. Like others said, it looks good in the viewfinder but comes out almost greyscale when saving. A bug, just like the main camera being out of focus when zooming back out in video recording. Such simple bugs but still not fixed.

Noticed this too :/

I have this problem too. I had it on emui 9 and now on emui 10. I writed to the support but they think it's hardware defect..

1 year with this phone and the problem isn't resolved yet. And not only that problem, white balance is too blue, the sharpness is really hard, absurd amount of contrast. I'm very disappointed with this phone, because was publicize as "the best photography phone" and It's a lie. This phone do "good photos" if you hate photography.

P20 Pro Tele Camera Problem?

Hi, I got my p20 pro as a 2nd hand/used phone.
So if I understand correctly, the top camera/tele lens is supposed to give a better image quality than the main camera's digital zoom, right?
Mine is the opposite. The tele lens...well....sucks big time. The image quality honestly looks like the image quality of a phone from 15 years ago. The digital zoom of the main camera is way better looking. The video in the link below is the video capture of the moment when it automatically switched to the tele lens. Everything seems blurry and glowing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBkFjNTDnw
Physically, I can see that the lens is a bit murky, by shining a small flashlight directly above the lens. Anyone have a tip on how to clean the lens safely? Or is the only option is to replace the whole camera unit?
I found a replacement part on aliexpress, and watched a video of the replacing process on youtube. Seems simple enough, can a layman like me pull it off (replacing the part myself)?
Thank you in advance.

zoom outside on cars or trees not inside on an table.
there is no problem with your phone

!Manu! said:
zoom outside on cars or trees not inside on an table.
there is no problem with your phone
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Hello, thank you for the reply.
Actually that's the first time I noticed the problem, when shooting outdoor in bright daylight. I just didn't screen record it at the time.
Made another screen video, shooting in bright daylight, at 1 PM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBIh3Y5P7a4

Why is video recording so much zoomed in on 1x?

I made new account just for be able to ask this. I don't know if its annoying to you but why is video recording so much zoomed in 1x, so much more compared to 1x on photo? I tried samsung, iphone even regular p30 and only only p30 pro is so much zoomed in.On other phone you can even turn off and video recording on 1x is same as taking photo on 1x. I can use wide when video recording but the quality just isn't the same as on 1x. Its really really annoying to the point i actually wanna sell my phone. Everytime i have to video something in front of me i have to step back few meters but most of the time well i just can't. I don't know if this problem is some kind of bug, error of whatnot. I thought maybe update 10 would fix this but nothing..

It's due to Huawei's implementation of image stabilisation. The camera is recording a slightly wider field of view than you actually see, but to compensate for hand movements the camera crops the frame and adjusts its position in real time relative to any movements. Each phone will do this in slightly different ways and it seems Huawei's implementation is heavier on the cropping.

NekoMichi said:
It's due to Huawei's implementation of image stabilisation. The camera is recording a slightly wider field of view than you actually see, but to compensate for hand movements the camera crops the frame and adjusts its position in real time relative to any movements. Each phone will do this in slightly different ways and it seems Huawei's implementation is heavier on the cropping.
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Its too heavy, its too much crop. You can't even record something in front you. Its so terrible. I wish we could turn off video stabilization like on other phones

I mean, an alternative is to zoom out to 0.9x and utilise the wide angle lens, then you can video at pretty much the same frame as 1x photography - just not ideal in low light situations as the wide angle lens (understandably) can't let in as much light per pixel.

I have same issue on huawei mate 10 pro. I downloaded other camera app (named open camera ) and it works normal. I use it mostly for videos to record something in front of myself.

Question Video Stabilisation at 10x Zoom - anyone else noticed or can reproduce a "wobble effect"?

With my previous phones (S7 and S9+), I found video stabilisation did more harm than good. With the S21 Ultra, it actually does a very good job stabilising video when moving.
However, I've disabled video stabilisation by default even on the S21 Ultra now. I rarely record video while moving, so there isn't much benefit in my context, and there can actually be a lot of "harm". One example of this is when recording video with the 10x zoom lens - I've noticed significant "wobble" effect when switching to this lens. It's hard to describe, but it's as if the whole picture/video is "wobbling" and distorting when using this lens. This only occurs when video stabilisation is enabled and only with the 10x Zoom lens (I think I may have noticed it on the 3x Zoom lens a few months ago too). When disabled, this issue goes away.
Can anyone else reproduce this? You may need to test in different lighting conditions - I find it's most noticeable with outdoor lighting. A separate issue is what I would describe as "micro-jitters" appearing when video stabilisation is enabled.

Same here, I don't recall having this issue when first purchased.

This was always present for me. And I always thought it is normal...