Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know that OnePlus has recently taken the curtains off its latest offering, the OnePlus 5 in India on June 22nd. While much has been said about the smartphone and its capabilities, we think what requires a double take (pun intended) is its dual cameras. In our camera comparison, the latest offering from OnePlus has been able to stand up against stalwarts like the Google Pixel and the Samsung Galaxy S8. So impressed were we with the OP5’s camera performance that we decided to take its dual cameras for a spin. So without further ado, let’s delve into what the dual cameras of the OnePlus 5 bring to the table.
Before we begin however, here is a lowdown of the OnePlus 5 – the latest flagship killer. The rear camera module of the handset has a 16MP camera with f/1.7 aperture, stacked with a 20MP telephoto lens with f/2.6 aperture. On the front panel is a 16MP shooter for capturing selfies. The innards of the device comprise a Snapdragon 835 SoC, paired with either 6 or 8GB RAM depending on the variant, a 3,300mAh battery and Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system.
So, the highlight of all new OnePlus 5 is the all new dual camera module, but the point is do we actually need it? The answer is a big yes, simply because of the capabilities unlocked by the secondary camera. The second telephoto lens in the OP5 works in tandem with the primary camera to create stunning portrait pictures by simulating Bokeh (blurring the background effectively), ensuring the subject pops out. Secondly, as the name suggests, it also helps in zooming in on the subject without actually moving towards it or losing the details. OnePlus claims to offer 2X lossless zoom with the dual cameras on the 5, and it was evident with the images we clicked.
Now coming to the camera interface, as soon as you fire it up you are greeted with a very simple camera interface. The interface is easy to use with all frequently-used options laid out on the display. Tapping on the hamburger button will allow you to change the modes, which include a photo, video, portrait, pro, slow motion, and timelapse. Selecting the Pro mode will get you more control over aspects like exposure, white balance, focus, ISO and shutter speed. For more technically-inclined photographers, there is also a histogram on the screen that will help you get the contrast and lighting correct to take a good picture.