As a photography enthusiast, there’s nothing better than having a reliable camera on hand at all times. However, lugging around a DSLR or mirrorless camera – no matter how “compact” it is – can be, well, tiring, to say the least. And, that’s not even factoring in accidental slips, risks of theft, and the inevitable bouts of forgetfulness. But, that’s why smartphone photography exists.
With smartphones, you get the opportunity to capture snap-worthy moments without the inconveniences of calibrating your in-camera settings, adjusting your lens, and dealing with small viewfinders or dim displays. Basically, you get the whole “Point and Shoot” package in its full glory. And, with a wide selection of great smartphone cameras, the casual photography race for more expensive or more complicated equipment has since trickled down to more affordable budgets.
This is where the vivo X70 comes in. Sporting a triple rear camera that features Zeiss optics and a co-engineered imaging system, the X70 is in a smartphone camera league of its own. When put to real-world use, it delivers stunning color accuracy and third-party gimbal-like stabilization that is impressive beyond its own means. And, while it’s not perfect, it is close to bridging the gap between professional and casual photography.
But, the X70’s tenacity for smartphone photography doesn’t end with just color or stabilization. It also delves into more AI-backed features that are a testament to its own photography prowess. And, let’s just say there’s more than meets the eye.
Table of Contents
Photo Mode
OK, yes, photo mode should be the least special feature, right? But, with the X70, it seems that this out-of-the-box feature is more than what its lackluster name implies.
For daylight photography, it delivers impressively color-accurate images right off the bat. While its attention to detail and clarity is overwhelming in a good way. It strays away from the usual HDR saturated and heavy AI post-processing to produce almost true-to-life photos, only fine-tuning small areas such as blur, lighting, and depth.
But, the most interesting feature of Photo Mode is its ability to capture macro images. Devoid of the standard macro feature, it incorporates its dedicated 12MP f/2.0 telephoto camera right into this mode. And, on the subject of actual image production, we’ll have the sample photos do all the talking
For low-light photography, the hardware combination of its Zeiss T*Coating and Sony IMX766V sensor gives way to amazing low-light photography. I actually had a hard time deciphering what makes the Photo Mode different from the NIGHT mode as they both produced equally vibrant images. In fact, I had to take almost zero light photos to see the difference.
NIGHT Mode
Without a doubt, AI-backed night mode has become a trending sales pitch for most smartphones. But, whether they deliver to the hype is another debate on its own. However, the X70 seems to take its NIGHT mode a little differently.
Instead of relying on AI post-processing, it relies more independently on its hardware. As I mentioned before, the Photo Mode already delivers impressive low-light images on its own and is almost comparable to the NIGHT Mode. But, what sets them apart is actually only seconds. With this mode, you get an average of 2.5 seconds of shutter speed compared to the 3-4 seconds of the Photo Mode. This means you get more detailed and clear images without that extra few seconds of motion blur.
ZEISS Bokeh Styles
I’m personally not a fan of the overly saturated use of bokeh that most smartphone portrait modes offer. While they do add a more “professional touch” to regular selfies and portrait snapshots, sometimes the blur is just a little too…blurry. Fortunately, vivo collaborated with ZEISS not only for hardware but also for software features. Hence, Zeiss Bokeh Styles.
Found in portrait mode styles (rear camera only), it comes with four styles (Biotar, Sonnar, Planar, and Distagon) and offers the option to adjust the bokeh filter even after snapping the photo. An aspect I really want to highlight since I have small hands and cannot really reach for the bokeh slider without losing my framing or composition.
Beauty Feature
OK, so I’m not the best at taking selfies. I generally prefer being behind the camera. But, the X70’s beauty option in its portrait mode is a godsend for taking easy selfies for noobs like me. And, it doesn’t hurt that it also uses a 12MP snapper coupled with a flattering 50mm lens.
It doesn’t overly fine-tune your face (except for the occasional loud lipstick tints) and produces flattering selfies even when you strike an awkward smile. In addition, you also have the option to play around with the settings to achieve your preferred look without going through a third-party beauty app. As an extra feature, it also gives you guides for posing – both for selfies and portraits.
Next-level mobile photography
The vivo X70 is taking smartphone photography to the next level. With its ZEISS optics, wide array of in-camera features, and amazing color and detail reproduction, the X70 is a great option to elevate your smartphone photography game. It leaves room for practice, while not overly saturating photos with post-processing.
So, if you’re in the market for a great camera packed in an all-in-one device, the vivo X70 is really one to watch out for.
There’s no doubt this has excellent cameras, buy if you have the budget and are willing to spend this much.