Seville To Paris: Putting The Oppo Find N3 Cameras To The Test
Oppo's Find N3 was announced in October and we were able to test the larger phone late last month. In the midst of all this, we spent a few days with the phone in Europe and the Find's camera proved to be a good companion, both on the sunny streets of Seville and in the hustle and bustle of cloudy Paris. .
The Find N3 camera system features a new image from Sony: the LYT-808, part of Sony's new LYTIA range, which leverages the latest array architecture to improve light gathering capabilities. It wasn't particularly tested in this regard in the bright Andalusian sun, but in the high-contrast scenes we experienced it performed excellently in terms of dynamic range. The bright colors of the photographs also convey the atmosphere of the city well.
Main camera (1x)
When we arrived in Paris the story was different, we were not warmly welcomed. Color was hard to find in the French capital, but the overcast weather was another test that showed how the Find N3's main camera handles difficult light.
Main camera (1x)
The 50mm equivalent focal length is a popular choice for street photography, and we pressed the 2x button on the Find N3's viewfinder several times. Despite using the main camera for this task, the phone manages to capture reasonably detailed photos. A separate 2x camera won't be missing any time soon.
Main camera (2x)
However, it's the 3x telephoto lens that sees most of the action. The high-resolution 64-megapixel sensor captures 16-megapixel photos with lots of detail and no noise. The 70mm equivalent focal length and compression allow for very attractive compositions.
Cell phone camera (3x)
The telephoto lens seemed to see the colors of Paris better: the narrower framing allowed us to focus on details rather than panoramas, and we found more life in the details.
Cell phone camera (3x)
The biggest selling point of telephoto lenses is their ability to capture photos at twice the native standard: a full 6x zoom, down 24mm from the main camera. Here are some impressive photos that demonstrate the benefits of a large, high-resolution sensor on a phone camera. Maybe that makes more sense than two different special modules.
Cell phone camera (6x)
At the other end of the zoom range, the ultra-wide-angle camera didn't disappoint either. Interestingly, this left us with a more positive impression of the dynamic range than we saw in our test with normal ambient scenes. To put it simply, it was a “very good” level compared to an “okay” farewell. Of course, the extreme coverage and distortion are also a visual eye-catcher.
Ultra wide angle camera (0.6x)
Once again, we had to shoot interiors or close-ups to bring some color to Paris, but the Find's ultra-wide angle works well with both.
Ultra wide angle camera (0.6x)
We had a few low light photography opportunities on this trip, but Discovery rose to the occasion with some famous Parisian landmarks. The Flamenco show, on the other hand, showed that the phone can cope with dim indoor lighting and the white balance was also quite difficult, but the Oppo came out unscathed.
Low light examples, associated cameras.
Low light examples, associated cameras.
Because it's a large, foldable device, the Find N3 is more versatile than you can imagine. And from a travel camera perspective it is also very good. The three camera sets with different focal lengths cover all types of photo situations and hardly make any compromises. If the price didn't include that extra charge for folding...
