Samsung wants to redefine mobile resolution with its new ISOCELL HP1 sensor, and the presentation of this 8K sensor is proof of that. The deck shows a couple of seconds of video taken with the ISOCELL HP1 that would probably be implemented on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. This technology is supposed to constitute a counter strike to Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro regarding video capabilities. Who will win the ‘cinematic’ war?
The pursuit after mobile cinematography
The announcement of the iPhone 13 Pro has transformed mobile cinematography into a hot trend. Talented filmmakers have been using smartphones to make movies, and now with the Cinematic mode + ProRes, these movies will definitely give a fight to well-produced content by professional and very expensive cinema cameras. Thus, a new era of mobile videography arms race has born. The revolutionary ISOCELL HP1 sensor might be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s most recent iPhones, regarding video capabilities.
ISOCELL HP1: World’s first 200MP mobile sensor
As stated by Samsung: “Combining ultra high resolution with fast autofocus and unparalleled low-light performance, Samsung’s newsiest image sensor allows you to capture any moment in impeccable detail”. This powerful sensor was introduced at the beginning of September. The ISOCELL HP1 (1/1.33 inches) offers industry-first 200MP (16,384 x 12,288) resolution, with a goal to revolutionize 8K videography in smartphones.
8K (30fps) and 4K (120fps)
“From cinematic travel videos to epic slow-motion clips, the ISOCELL HP1 captures vides with impeccable deal. For 8K video recording with minimal loss in the field of view, the ISOCELL HP1 combines 4 pixels into one, bringing resolution down to 50MP. This allows you to record detail-rich 8K videos at 30fps and pull stunning images from your footage. You can record 4K video at 120fps for slow-motion home videos”. This is how Samsung defines this sensor’s videography capabilities. The potential host for the ISOCELL HP1 is the Galaxy S22 Ultra which is a flagship smartphone that will be launched in a couple of months; Renders show a sophisticated camera apparatus, that indicates a special emphasis on the image capture of this mobile phone.
A few seconds of video samples
A week ago, Samsung has published a presentation regarding its ISOCELL HP1. In the presentation, you can find a few seconds of sample footage taken by this sensor. The camera was not specified. It’s hard to discuss the quality of the footage, but it looks impressive, with a special emphasis on the ‘cinematic look’. Yes, it seems that every smartphones manufacturer wants its products to output this ‘cinematic look’.
Explore the presentation below. Try to find those fractions of video footage taken by the 8K sensor:
So, who will win? The Cinematic mode and ProRes function of Apple, or the 8K and 4K (120fps) video capabilities of Samsung?
