Vivo X90 Pro camera overview: analysing the phone’s ZEISS-tuned optics | 91mobiles.com

The Vivo X90 Pro (review) has been announced with a sizeable price tag of Rs 84,999 and can be considered a true flagship offering from the company. The device features a triple-camera setup on the rear heralded by a large 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor, and Vivo has enlisted the help of iconic German brand ZEISS to enhance the camera’s capabilities. Apart from that, the handset also makes use of a 50MP IMX758 portrait camera and a 12MP IMX633 ultra-wide shooter. The X90 Pro’s dedication to photography is evident from the moment you open the camera app. So, let’s take a closer look at the device’s imaging capabilities to determine whether it truly deserves the title of “camera champ.”

Primary sensor: Daylight and Landscape

I got a chance to take the Vivo X90 Pro on a test drive in Vietnam and tested out its optical capabilities. Whether it was the stalactite-covered caves in Ninh Bình or the rising limestone islands of Hạ Long Bay, seeing the world through Vivo’s flagship smartphone turned out to be great. As mentioned above Vivo X90 uses a 50MP 1-inch Sony IMX988 sensor for its primary image capturing.

The ZEISS Natural Color tab in the camera app is part of the collaboration with Vivo, and it adds more natural tones to the shot. This means that saturation levels and highlight clipping are better controlled than when the mode is turned off. While it may come down to choice, my personal preference remained the Natural Color mode for most of the images I took.

While default images are pixel-binned to 12.5MP, the High-Res mode allows full 50MP snaps that are good enough for up to a 10X crop without losing detail. The large sensor size also allows for a much shallower depth of field which in turn gets a natural bokeh effect for close-up subjects. Speaking of which, to go even closer, the sensor automatically switches to Super Macro for some very pragmatic shots. The ZEISS T* Coating does a good job of reducing lens glare when pointed directly at a light source. 

Camera features and Portrait Mode

Portrait imagery is handled by the 50MP Sony IMX758 Portrait camera. There are six ZEISS-themed portrait mode styles to choose from, each slightly different than the last. I preferred the natural look of Biotar and used it for the majority of my portrait captures. The other modes make slight changes to the level of bokeh or add facial toning to make the subject pop out more.

The thing that remained common across all scenarios is the ability of the sensor to immaculately separate the background. Edge detection almost always was on point even in a variety of lighting conditions. Portraits from the front camera also worked in a similar fashion although here I much prefer the look of ZEISS Cinematic mode. And of course, the final image is capable of having the background blur adjusted or even the focus changed to suit your needs.

Other nuanced features include the ZEISS Landscape and Architecture mode that uses a targeted blur to make landscapes look miniaturised. Utility-wise the feature is a bit of hit or miss depending on how well you shoot the image. There’s also a ZEISS APC mode which adjusts and corrects a certain degree of slants in a landscape shot.

There is also Double Exposure which basically overlays a translucent preset or a photo you took with the current viewfinder image. It also works similarly to combine the front and back camera shots in real time. It’s a cool feature that can produce amazing results, but it takes some practice to master. More impressive is the Pro mode which allows you to experiment with a lot of photography parameters such as White Balance, Exposure, Shutter speed, Focus, and more. What I really like is that Pro mode can be implemented across all three lenses, whereas most phones only allow you to fiddle with the primary shooter.

Low light, Sports mode, and videography

Night-time photography is one of the highlights of the device. Vivo’s V2 chip is especially geared towards reducing noise levels while brightening the image at the same time. What’s more, the IMX989 has an f/1.7 aperture, which Vivo claims is the highest for current generations of 1-inch sensors. Apart from that it is Vivo’s computational photography that adds a lot of details in the shadows, outputs colours accurate to the scene, and latches on focus quite effectively. Also, the sensor reaps the benefit of a highly stable OIS mechanism which steadies any involuntary shakes while shooting. The ZEISS Natural Color tab is again handy to add a touch of realism and stay true to the night. 

A more cracking feature, one which I used more than any other, is the Sports Mode. It facilitates a near-zero shutter lag and faithfully replicates exactly what the viewfinder is displaying. So if I turned down the exposure in a night shot and captured using Sports mode, then the final image does not add more light unnecessarily. It is really a feature to marvel at and one I have not seen on any of the modern flagships to date. 

Videography also reaps the benefits of both the V2 chip and excellent stabilisation, especially during scenes with very low light to latch on. Exposure is adjusted well in the viewfinder and behind the scenes, Vivo’s computational chops add more detail to the video. In regular conditions, with plenty of light to fall on the sensor, the X90 Pro manages highly stable shots with great dynamic range and vibrant colours. HDR10+ videos just add to the detailing although the frame rate is capped to only 30fps. Add to that there’s ZEISS Cinematic mode for portrait-style videos that shift focus from subject to subject.

Verdict

Clearly, the X90 Pro has been designed with a host of impressive features that cater to a diverse range of smartphone photographers. I wish it came with a telephoto sensor too, but barring that, I can confidently say that the device’s advanced computational capabilities and large sensor size make it a compelling option for professional photographers.