Xperia 1 Ii Developer Interview Reveals Insights On Camera, Display And More


Xperia 1 II developer interview reveals insights on camera, display and more

The Sony Xperia 1 II is due to hit many more regions across Europe and Asia from next week. If you're interested in finding out some of the design decision behind the device then it's worth checking out a comprehensive interview with the development team conducted by Engadget Japan.

The interview covers a number of areas giving insight on the camera, display, headphone jack, the colours used amongst other points. We’ve included some excerpts from the discussion below, revealing interesting titbits on why certain decisions were made, for example why choose a triple 12MP camera array rather than a bigger sensor? Or, why is super slow mo recording no longer available? All of these questions and more are answered below. Check out Engadget Japan for the full interview.

On the 90Hz-equivalent display using motion blur reduction technology

The motion blur reduction technology equivalent to a 90Hz display will increase the voltage in time with the activation of the OLED pixels when displaying an image. In this way we are able to switch between images more quickly. There is a "Motion Blur Reduction Settings" option in the settings which will enable the 90Hz mode across all functions.

On the 21:9 CinemaWide display

We heard from a lot of users that the 21:9 ratio was one of the top three reasons why they bought the Xperia 1. We also took into account the ease of viewing content displayed on the screen, as well as the comfort of the grip, and in the end we decided to continue using this ratio.

On the display quality

We’ve also added a feature to select the white balance based on standard light source and colour temperature. Specifically, by setting the white point to a number such as D55 or D65, the colour of a printed photo can be faithfully reproduced on the display of the Xperia 1 II. This means a photographer is now able to check the colours of a photo taken on the Xperia 1 II using the display on the Xperia 1 II before printing it. We have created a display that should even satisfy the pro users who are used to using Sony’s α series cameras.

On all 3 rear camera sensors being 12 MP

12 megapixels is of course more than enough resolution to be displayed on most monitors, and it is also enough for A4 size prints. Also, by making all 3 sensors the same resolution of around 12 megapixels it prevents the issue of the resolution changing when changing the magnification. We’ve used 1/1.7-inch sensors this time, which are able to gather more light than before. The sensors now gather around 1.5 times more light than the ones used in the Xperia 1.

On the lack of super slow motion recording

We designed the video recording features in the Xperia 1 II around the needs of cinematographers and other video creators. The vast majority of the time they were using slow motion at around 4 to 5 times slower than real time. 960fps can’t be used for recording long scenes, so it was decided that 120fps (shot at up to 2K resolution) was enough.

On bringing back the 3.5mm headphone jack

The reason for bringing the 3.5mm headphone jack back for the Xperia 1 II is from the same mindset we had when developing the Xperia 1, which is to say "giving people a smartphone that they will love." We also felt it was indispensable for viewing entertainment-related content and for playing games.

On the purple colour of the Xperia 1 II

We’ve combined the recent flagship trend of a chrome finish (almost like a mirror) with a reddish-purple. As a result, depending on the light, the colour will look more ashy or red, with reddish-browns and greys also shining through. For the purple, the metal frame has a slightly glossy finish so that the reflection of light intensifies the sense of mirroring.

Thanks Diogo and Miroslaw!

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