Samsung Galaxy S6 camera detailed: 20MP sensor with OIS, will feature Pro mode with manual focusing [RUMOR]
Early this morning, Samsung R&D Chief DoonHoon Jang took to the official Samsung Tomorrow blog to tout the company’s history of cutting edge smartphone cameras, while teasing a new camera for their 2015 flagship model (Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge). How exactly did Samsung show off 15 years worth of R&D? With a cheap megapixel table. How wonderfully basic.
Of course, as most photographers will tell you, MPs alone does not a good photo make. Thankfully the boys at SamMobile are helping shed a little more let on the specific hardware being used in the upcoming Galaxy S6/Galaxy S6 Edge, with an exclusive on some of the finer details. According to them, Samsung could be going with their own in-house 20MP camera sensor with OIS (model numbers SLSI_S5K2T2_FIMC_IC and SLSI_S5K4E6_FIMC_IS) and the same 5MP front facing shooter as found on Samsung’s current Galaxy A series line.
Still up in the air is which variant these sensors will wind up on — the Samsung Galaxy S6 or Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Due to manufacturing constraints, it’s entirely possible the 20MP sensor will find itself landing on the Galaxy S6 Edge only. This also explains why the Galaxy S6 Edge popped up in benchmarks not too long ago reporting a 20MP camera.
As for the software, Samsung is said to be leveraging Android 5.0 Lollipop’s new camera APIs for a new “Pro” mode inside their camera app. Pro mode will give users the ability to choose between 3 different focus modes, one of which will allow for manual focusing. There was no word on whether the phone will shoot in RAW, but for a “Pro” mode, it’s definitely a possibility.
As for the more causal shooter, Samsung did mention that their 2015 flagship phone will feature an “intelligent” camera that does all the thinking for the user, providing for better image quality “under any conditions.” If the Galaxy Note 4 taught us anything, it’s that Samsung definitely knows photo quality. Here’s to hoping that with the Galaxy S6, Samsung is able to put their money where their mouth is.