You don’t need Galaxy Note 10+’s fourth rear camera for bokeh videos
We’re getting a feeling of deja vu as we write this: You do not need the fourth rear camera of the Galaxy Note 10+ to capture bokeh videos. When we tested the Galaxy S10+’s dual front cameras for Live Focus (bokeh) photos, we had discovered that the benefits of a second camera sensor aren’t really substantial enough compared to the bokeh pictures you get the single front camera on the Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10. And now, on the Note 10+, we decided to test the Live focus video feature using the rear and front cameras and came away with a similar conclusion, that you don’t need that fourth camera — a 3D ToF sensor — for bokeh videos.
If you check out the two videos below, you’ll notice that one of them has stronger background blur (the first one), but that’s pretty much it. The video captured with the single front camera does a swell job with the bokeh – it manages to keep the foreground and background well separated and even does a good job around the hair. The only real issue we notice is the lower frame rate and jittery nature of the video from the front camera, although we’re assuming Samsung will be able to improve things with a software update.
If you were to ask us if the fourth rear camera is a solid reason to choose the Note 10+ over the Note 10, we’d say it isn’t, at least based on the short time we’ve had with the Note 10+ (we will reserve final judgement for our reviews). Most people will want to take bokeh videos of themselves rather than others and will, therefore, use the front-facing camera more often, which means those who’re buying the smaller Note 10 aren’t really missing much as far as Live Focus video quality is concerned.
What do you think? Is the difference in background blur in the videos taken with the rear and front cameras big enough for you?
- Model: SM-N970F
- Dimensions: 151.0 x71.8x7.9mm
- Display: 6.3"(160.02mm) Super AMOLED
- CPU: Exynos 9825
- Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F2.2 Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide
- Model: SM-N975F
- Dimensions: 162.3 x 77,2 x 7.9mm
- Display: 6.8"(172.7mm) Super AMOLED
- CPU: Exynos 9825
- Camera: 12 Ultra Wide: 16MP F2.2 (123°) & Wide-angle: 12MP 2PD AF F1.5/F2.4 OIS (77°) & Telephoto: 12MP F2.1 OIS (45°) & DepthVision Camera: VGA
14 Comments
Sign in »14
Leave a Reply
It’s because the ToF sensor is not active yet on the new Note 10’s. Same happened with Huawei and their P30 pro at the time it was launched.
First video is Note 10 rfont and secodn 10+ rear?
“Media error: Format(s) not supported or source(s) not found’
From hands on time at the store, Note 10 has live focus video but it needs to be on a face. Note 10+ has live focus video on any object in front of it
Yeah, no… The ToF is for AR and live video effects. Not jus bokeh.
will the s10 series get live focus video feature via a software update as both share the same rear primary cameras?
Dont know if you have the s10e but the s10 and s10+ both have live video focus mode.
Only S10 5G has live focus video if I’m not wrong
Let’s see. They might, but can’t be sure. It’s clearly not a hardware based feature so it’s all about whether Samsung wants to bring them over or not.
I hope night mode for selfies and live focus video camera features be carried over to S10 series
I never thought even for a moment that the 3D rear sensor was necessary for bokeh effect. Its function is related only to AR features as far as I’m aware. It’s the combination of the other two lenses that make for bokeh. I think I actually read on a Samsung blog that the TOF combo with the other camera has no other function, only Augmented Reality.
Yeah, Samsung kept it exclusive to S10 5G and A80, both of which have a ToF camera, which is what made us think it’s needed.
Abhijeet, just in case your interested. My colleague made a very short YouTube video using one of those cool Note10 wallpapers you showed on Sammobile. He also made a couple of very short AR examples on his Note10 plus. Here’s the link to the wallpaper in case any subscribers are interested in seeing it.
https://youtu.be/JvspG6nMNJ4
The second video effect is much more realistic…
