This RealMe concept turns a smartphone into an interchangeable lens system
Phone manufacturers are continuously trying to find ways to make the cameras in their devices bigger and better, allowing them to serve as a true replacement for dedicated cameras. To this end, Xiaomi recently announced the "Modular Optical System" concept phone, which features a lens module with a built-in Four Thirds sensor that attaches magnetically to the phone's back. RealMe, a fellow Chinese smartphone brand, said, "Hold my lens," and upped the ante, releasing a concept phone with an M-mount. While Xiaomi's approach uses a sensor built into a lens that attaches magnetically, RealMe opted for a bare sensor built into the back of the phone and an existing lens mount. RealMe says the concept features a customized Type 1 (13.2 x 8.8 mm) Sony sensor, which is covered by glass to protect it. Granted, no matter how tough that glass is, it is vulnerable to scratches and cracks, which would then impact image quality. The phone's M-mount allows users to take advantage of existing full-frame lenses rather than buying a proprietary lens system. The prototype is on display at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. RealMe is reportedly providing lenses to try out the system, though the current concept isn't able to power autofocus motors and lacks electrical contacts to provide EXIF data. Given those limitations, it makes sense that the company chose the manual focus-only M-mount. The mount itself is rather large, even before attaching a lens. Image: RealMe The concept phone features also two traditional phone cameras, both of which use Type 1 sensors. It's still not all that common to get one sensors that large in a phone, let alone three, so it's possible the phone could be a standout shooter even without an external lens attached. The concept of a phone with an interchangeable lens mount isn't new – Xiaomi did something very similar a few years ago – and the end product can be quite unwieldy. That is especially true with larger lenses, which would get incredibly front-heavy when attached to a slim, lightweight phone. It's hard to imagine the ergonomics would be anything you'd want to experience for very long. After all, you would have to essentially only hold the lens, not the phone itself. Plus, the required lens mount is bulky before attaching a lens, so it isn't exactly a compact system. However, despite all its potential flaws, it is nice to see companies working to push the boundaries. Who knows where it could take us, after all.
Phone manufacturers are continuously trying to find ways to make the cameras in their devices bigger and better, allowing them to serve as a true replacement for dedicated cameras. To this end, Xiaomi recently announced the "Modular Optical System" concept phone, which features a lens module with a built-in Four Thirds sensor that attaches magnetically to the phone's back. RealMe, a fellow Chinese smartphone brand, said, "Hold my lens," and upped the ante, releasing a concept phone with an M-mount.
While Xiaomi's approach uses a sensor built into a lens that attaches magnetically, RealMe opted for a bare sensor built into the back of the phone and an existing lens mount. RealMe says the concept features a customized Type 1 (13.2 x 8.8 mm) Sony sensor, which is covered by glass to protect it. Granted, no matter how tough that glass is, it is vulnerable to scratches and cracks, which would then impact image quality.
The phone's M-mount allows users to take advantage of existing full-frame lenses rather than buying a proprietary lens system. The prototype is on display at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. RealMe is reportedly providing lenses to try out the system, though the current concept isn't able to power autofocus motors and lacks electrical contacts to provide EXIF data. Given those limitations, it makes sense that the company chose the manual focus-only M-mount.
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The mount itself is rather large, even before attaching a lens. Image: RealMe |
The concept phone features also two traditional phone cameras, both of which use Type 1 sensors. It's still not all that common to get one sensors that large in a phone, let alone three, so it's possible the phone could be a standout shooter even without an external lens attached.
The concept of a phone with an interchangeable lens mount isn't new – Xiaomi did something very similar a few years ago – and the end product can be quite unwieldy. That is especially true with larger lenses, which would get incredibly front-heavy when attached to a slim, lightweight phone. It's hard to imagine the ergonomics would be anything you'd want to experience for very long. After all, you would have to essentially only hold the lens, not the phone itself. Plus, the required lens mount is bulky before attaching a lens, so it isn't exactly a compact system. However, despite all its potential flaws, it is nice to see companies working to push the boundaries. Who knows where it could take us, after all.
