Xz Premium Camera: Default Mode Explained

The default mode for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera is the Intelligent Auto mode. This mode adapts to the lighting environment, delivering well-exposed shots with high detail and minimal blurring. It also includes features such as face detection, laser autofocus, and predictive phase detection, which can follow targets to keep them in focus.

The XZ Premium's camera has a super slow-motion mode that can capture footage at 960fps

The super slow-motion mode captures footage at 720p resolution and is limited to 0.18 seconds of filming time. This gives you around 180 frames of super slow-motion footage. While the video quality may not be the highest, the ability to capture action at such a high frame rate is impressive and allows you to see things that would normally be invisible to the naked eye.

The slow-motion feature is not the only highlight of the XZ Premium's camera. Sony has also improved the panorama mode, which can now capture high-resolution images up to 4,000px in height, and you can stop the panorama at any time. Additionally, the camera has a predictive capture feature, which uses motion detection to snap up to four photos before you even press the shutter button, ensuring you don't miss the perfect moment.

The XZ Premium also offers impressive specifications beyond its camera capabilities. It features a 5.5" 4K HDR display, a powerful quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 3,230mAh battery that supports Quick Charge. The phone is also waterproof and wrapped in durable Gorilla Glass 5.

It has a dedicated physical camera button, which is a rarity for high-end phones

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has a dedicated physical camera button, which is a rarity for high-end phones. The two-stage key allows you to focus your shot by pressing the button halfway down and then fully depressing it to snap an image. This is a handy inclusion that makes taking pictures easier, especially since the large size of the Xperia XZ Premium can make hitting the on-screen shutter key tricky if you're using it one-handed. You can also hold the shutter key down at any point to launch the camera app.

The physical camera button is not the only way to take photos on the Xperia XZ Premium. The phone also features a self-timer, smile detection, and palm detection. The self-timer can be set up by pointing the camera at your subject and waiting for it to smile, which will then automatically take a photo. Alternatively, you can use the palm detection feature by turning your palm towards the camera to turn on the self-timer and take self-portraits.

In addition to the physical camera button, the Xperia XZ Premium also has a touch capture feature, which allows you to take a photo by simply tapping anywhere on the camera screen. This feature can be useful when you want to capture a photo quickly without having to press the physical button.

The phone also has a Quick Launch setting that allows you to launch the camera when the screen is locked by pressing and holding the camera key. This can be useful when you want to capture a photo quickly without having to unlock your phone first.

The Xperia XZ Premium offers a range of camera modes and settings to suit different scenarios and user preferences. In addition to the physical camera button and touch capture feature, the phone also has an Intelligent Auto mode, which adapts to the lighting environment and delivers well-exposed shots. The laser autofocus ensures that detail is high and blurring is kept to a minimum.

For those who want more control over their images, the Xperia XZ Premium also offers a manual mode that allows you to fine-tune the focus, exposure, white balance, and shutter speed. The focus control is especially useful and easy to use, allowing you to pinpoint your focus using a simple slider on the side of the display.

Overall, the Xperia XZ Premium's dedicated physical camera button, along with its other camera features and modes, makes it a great choice for photography enthusiasts looking for a high-end phone.

The camera has a predictive phase detection feature that can follow targets to keep them in focus

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium has a camera feature called Predictive Capture, which is enabled by the on-board memory of the Motion Eye camera's image sensor. This feature uses motion detection to snap up to four full-resolution photos in the background before the shutter button is pressed, allowing the user to select the best one afterward. This is particularly useful when the right moment is missed, as the camera will likely have already captured it.

The camera's Predictive Capture feature is possible due to the built-in RAM chip on the image sensor, which is also used for capturing 960 fps super-slow-motion videos. The RAM chip enables the camera to record super slow-motion videos at 960 fps, at a steady 720p resolution. Recording at super slow motion is limited to 0.18 seconds per buffer due to limitations.

The camera's autofocus system also has predictive capabilities. The hybrid autofocus system utilizes Phase Detection (PDAF) to lock focus on a subject within 0.03 seconds and includes phase and contrast detection along with predictive motion tracking. This allows the camera to track subjects in motion and keep them in focus.

The camera has a manual mode, allowing you to fine-tune the focus, exposure, white balance and shutter speed

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera has a manual mode that allows you to fine-tune the focus, exposure, white balance, and shutter speed. This mode gives you greater control over the camera settings, enabling you to capture photos with specific effects or in challenging lighting conditions.

To access the manual mode, open the Camera app and tap on the "Pro" section on the left side of the screen. Here, you will find options to adjust various settings.

For example, you can adjust the focus by tapping on the desired area of the screen or using the touch-to-focus feature. The exposure can be adjusted manually by tapping the plus or minus controls within the range. This allows you to increase or decrease the image brightness and overall exposure.

Additionally, you can manually set the white balance to match the lighting conditions, such as warm lighting under light bulbs or fluorescent lighting. This ensures that the colours in your photos are accurate.

Finally, you can adjust the shutter speed manually to capture sharp photos in low light conditions or create long exposure shots.

By utilising the manual mode and fine-tuning these settings, you can enhance your photography skills and capture more creative and technically superior images with the Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera.

The XZ Premium has a 19MP rear camera sensor with features including HDR, face detection, EIS and laser autofocus

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is a powerful smartphone with an impressive camera. Its rear camera sensor has a 19MP resolution, which is a step down from the 24MP of its predecessor, but this is a good thing. By retaining the same physical dimensions as the previous sensor, Sony has made each individual pixel 19% bigger, improving low-light photography.

The rear camera has a range of features, including HDR, face detection, EIS (electronic image stabilisation), predictive phase detection, and laser autofocus. The HDR feature helps the camera to capture images in bright light with good exposure and generally good colour accuracy, although images can suffer from a slight colour cast. The camera also performs well in low-light conditions, with good exposure and low noise. The laser autofocus feature ensures that captured images are highly detailed with minimal blurring.

The XZ Premium's camera also has a super slow-motion mode that can capture footage at 960fps, far beyond the 240fps offered by the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S8. This mode is enabled by the sensor's on-board memory, which allows for a faster readout of the image. The camera can also snap full-resolution photos in the background, enabling the Predictive Capture feature, which uses motion detection to capture the best moments.

The XZ Premium also has a dedicated physical camera button, a rarity on modern smartphones, which makes taking pictures easier. The camera app also has a manual mode, allowing granular control over images by letting you fine-tune the focus, exposure, white balance, and shutter speed.

Frequently asked questions