Huawei Pura 80 Ultra’s Dual Switchable Telephoto Camera: Here’s How It Works

Huawei has once again redefined camera technology with the latest Pura smartphone lineup, but something worth your attention is the Pura 80 Ultra’s dual switchable telephoto camera. It’s time to check how this lens structure works!

Pura 80 series is now official in China. While it is unclear when the device will make its way to the global stage, we can take a glance at its amazing hardware capabilities.

The Pura 80 series has welcomed top-notch camera features this time. It uses the signature triangular lens bump on the back. But the arrangement of the lenses has caught everyone’s attention.

Before we look into Pura 80 Ultra’s switchable camera, let’s understand what is periscope lens.

A periscope camera on a smartphone is mainly responsible for macro shots. It uses a folded optical path to obtain higher optical zoom without making the phone bulky.

Such lenses use a prism and a series of camera sensors to bend the light at a 90-degree as well as enabling the camera to focus on objects at a greater distance with less physical space. It offers optical zoom without digital cropping or quality compromise.

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra camera module (Image Credits: Huawei)

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra’s Dual Switchable Telephoto Camera

Although Huawei has just reinvented the telephoto camera technology with the Pura 80 Ultra’s dual switchable lens. Simply put, the device has a single zoom camera that houses two periscope lenses (3.7x optical and 9.4x optical zoom).

Switchable Tele Lens – that’s what’s embossed on the camera module of the Pura 80 Ultra. Unlike an ordinary periscope lens setup, the latest phone is using a movable prism that shifts between the two periscope lenses when required.

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra’s Dual Switchable Telephoto Camera: Here’s How It Works (Image Credits: Huawei)

The latest periscope camera mechanism is different and advanced than Sony’s variable telephoto camera system, which shows lenses moving to gain various zoom levels.

Moreover, the Pura 80 Ultra equips a 1/1.28-inch zoom camera sensor that is the largest telephoto camera in the industry. Although Sony still lack this technology.

In the image, both lenses are visible side-by-side in the biggest camera ring on the Pura 80 Ultra. Both periscope lenses are attached to the same set of sensors and elements. Meanwhile, the movable prism directs light from the chosen lens.

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra dual switchable periscope camera (Image Credits: Huawei)

Dual Switchable Periscope Camera: Benefits

In the era where image sensors have become the most expensive parts of a smartphone, integrating multiple lenses in one sensor is not a bad idea. It can help save costs in the long run. On the greener side, switchable lens tech is space saver.

The company has used two lenses on a single camera instead of using two full periscope sensors. This move not only makes the phone slimmer but also spacious for better components.

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra camera sample (Image Credits: Huawei)

Dual Switchable Periscope Camera: Features

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra has a 50MP ultra-large telephoto camera (F/2.4 + sensor shift and anti-shake properties) and a 12.5MP large-bottom ultra-telephoto camera (F/3.6 + sensor shift and anti-shake properties). These lenses support:

• 3.7x Portrait zoom: The characters are vivid and 3D, without losing the natural atmosphere.
• 10x Portrait zoom: Lessens the distance between distant scenery and characters with a sense of spatial compression.
• 10x Videography: Zooming in can bring the far objects nearer with clearer, brighter, and more realistic visuals. It supports ultra-high magnification zoom and 4K stage video to restore colors and the subject’s presence.

This is how the Pura 80 Ultra Dual Switchable Telephoto Camera works!