The highly-anticipated Xiaomi 13 Ultra model, which features a camera body inspired by Leica and supports on-camera filters, is finally confirmed to be a real product that will soon hit the market. With its advanced camera capabilities, this smartphone is being touted as the closest we’ve ever come to a true replacement for standalone cameras in the mobile device market.
Moving on to the teaser posters for the upcoming Leica camera flagship, Xiaomi has announced that it will feature a special mode for street photography that utilizes Hyperfocal Distance Shooting to enable faster shutter speeds. As previously speculated over the past weekend, the camera will also be available in a unique version with a filter thread and even a grip handle for added stability.
In a recent Weibo post, Xiaomi emphasized that the upcoming launch of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is not for a mere camera phone, but rather a professional-grade imaging device. The tagline goes like this – “This is a professional imaging device, not a camera phone,” and this teaser only adds to the excitement surrounding the device, with the launch event set to take place next Tuesday.
The above teaser image of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has revealed a design that truly looks like a professional imaging device. With its sleek and sophisticated appearance, the smartphone offers a level of aesthetic and functional appeal that cannot be matched by devices such as the iPhone 14 Pro or the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
While we have already seen numerous leaks regarding the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, this is the first time that we are getting a glimpse of the special version that will reportedly be sold with a camera handgrip accessory and support for threaded filters. This means that users will be able to screw on polarizing filters, ND filters, and other filters, just like they would on a professional camera, further cementing the device’s status as a professional imaging device.
It’s interesting to note that leaked photos of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra have previously shown some enigmatic connectors on the camera system, and it appears that these connectors will be utilized for the threaded filters that can be attached to this phone. Furthermore, leaks have also revealed that the phone will support 67mm filters, which is a remarkable feature for a smartphone.
Moving on to the teaser posters for the upcoming Leica camera flagship, Xiaomi has announced that it will feature a special mode for street photography that utilizes Hyperfocal Distance Shooting to enable faster shutter speeds. As previously speculated over the past weekend, the camera will also be available in a unique version with a filter thread and even a grip handle for added stability.
Following Xiaomi’s confirmation of the Leica-optimized quad-camera system with 8K resolution and a variable aperture, more teaser posters were released, revealing additional features such as a special street photography mode that can be triggered in just 0.8 seconds. This is made possible by using “Hyperfocal Distance,” a technique that ensures the majority of the scene is displayed with “acceptable sharpness,” in combination with the optional F/4.0 aperture of the 1-inch main camera.
In addition to the stylish and trendy design, Xiaomi has announced that the special edition 13 Ultra has been optimized for street photography, where capturing fleeting moments is crucial. According to Xiaomi’s camera chief, the collaboration with Leica has allowed them to incorporate Hyperfocal Distance technology into the phone, which enables quick and accurate focusing without wasting time setting up the camera. This technology is essential for capturing spontaneous moments on the street or in a crowded environment.
To elaborate further, hyperfocal distance is a concept in photography that refers to the distance beyond which all objects in a photo appear acceptably sharp when the lens is focused at a particular distance. By setting the focus at the hyperfocal distance, you can ensure that everything from a certain distance to infinity is in focus and sharp. In street photography, where you need to capture fast-moving moments, hyperfocal distance is particularly useful since you don’t have time to focus on a particular object or adjust settings.
According to the Xiaomi camera chief, the key to capturing fast-moving moments in street photography is to eliminate the need for focusing, which is exactly what the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers. With its setup optimized for this purpose, the camera can be activated with just a double click of the volume button and can capture a picture within 0.8 seconds. Additionally, the interface is simplified specifically for street shooting, making it easy to capture those fleeting moments without fumbling with complicated settings.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra comes with a default focal length of 35mm, but it provides a toggle switch that allows users to switch between 23mm and 50mm focal lengths. Additionally, the aperture is set at ƒ/4, which ensures that the entire scene is in focus.
Earlier today, we reported about the camera specs of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra:
- 50MP Wide (Sony IMX 989, 1″ sensor): 23mm Summicron lens with variable aperture (f/1.9 – f/4.0)
- 50MP Ultra-wide (Sony IMX 858, 1/2.51″ sensor)
- 50MP 3.2X Zoom (Sony IMX 858): 75mm with f/1.8 aperture
- 50MP 5X Periscope zoom (Sony IMX 858): 120mm with f/3.0 aperture
- 32MP Front cam
Xiaomi has been promoting the camera of the 13 Ultra on Chinese microblog Weibo, taking a different approach from the current trend of over-sharpened smartphone images. The colors produced by the 13 Ultra are more true-to-life, with a cinematic quality to them. Additionally, photos taken with the zoom cameras demonstrate the benefits of fast apertures, making them highly effective in low-light conditions.
Source: Weibo