
PureView camera technology is a game-changer for smartphone photography.
It uses a large image sensor to capture more light and details, resulting in better low-light performance and zoom capabilities.
This technology was first introduced by Nokia in 2012 with the Lumia 920, which featured a 8.7MP camera with a 1/3-inch image sensor.
The larger image sensor allows for a more efficient use of pixels, resulting in a higher quality image.
The PureView camera also features a pixel binning technology that combines multiple pixels into one, increasing the sensitivity of the camera.
This technology is particularly useful for capturing images in low-light conditions, where other cameras might struggle to produce clear images.
For another approach, see: Nokia 9 PureView
Camera Features
The PureView Pro camera is a game-changer in smartphone imaging technology, thanks to its large 1/1.2 in image sensor and high-performance Carl Zeiss optics.
This setup enables pixel oversampling, which means the combination of many sensor pixels into one image pixel, resulting in high image quality and improved low light performance.
The Nokia 808 PureView's image sensor is a 41.3 megapixel CMOS FSI sensor, built by Toshiba and branded HES9, with a pixel size of 1.4 μm and a sensor size of 10.67 × 8.00 mm.
The sensor can capture a maximum of 7728×5368 pixels, although third-party apps can capture the full resolution of 41.3 MP.
Image Sensor
The image sensor in the Nokia 808 PureView is a 41.3 megapixel CMOS FSI sensor built by Toshiba and branded HES9.
It has a pixel size of 1.4 μm and a sensor size of 10.67 × 8.00 mm.
Depending on the aspect ratio chosen, the sensor will use a maximum of either 7728×4354 pixels or 7152×5368 pixels.
The sensor's output is processed using an on-chip image processor, which results in a lower-resolution final image with a default resolution of 5 MP through pixel binning.
Pixel binning is non-destructive, meaning the user can reframe the image or zoom in after the shot was taken.
The image processor also highly reduces external processing needs and data rates, as well as image noise.
Autofocus
Autofocus is a crucial feature for capturing sharp images, and the PureView Pro delivers with continuous autofocus in all shooting modes.
This ensures that your photos are always in focus, even in fast-paced situations.
The camera also features close-up (Macro) focus, allowing you to capture intricate details with ease.
Face detection is another useful feature, automatically adjusting the focus to ensure your subject is in sharp focus.
You can also manually select a focus point using touch focus, giving you more control over your shots.
Hyperfocal distance focus is also available, allowing you to achieve a defined depth of field for creative effects.
Video and Reception
The PureView camera was a game-changer in the smartphone world, and its video capabilities were just as impressive as its still photography.
The on-chip oversampling image processor of the 808 PureView enabled oversampling of all 38 megapixels, even at high video data rates of 1080p with 30 fps. This allowed for maximum possible zoom of 4× for 1080p, 6× for 720p HD, and 12× for nHD (640×360) video.
Critics praised the PureView camera's capabilities, and Nokia received several awards for its release, including the TIPA Best Imaging Innovation award in 2012.
Video
The 808 PureView's on-chip oversampling image processor is a real game-changer, enabling the oversampling of all 38 megapixels even at high video data rates of 1080p with 30 fps.
Maximum possible zoom is 4× for 1080p, 6× for 720p HD, and 12× for nHD (640×360) video. This means you can get a much closer look at your subjects without sacrificing video quality.
Encoding is up to 25 Mbps in 1080p H.264/MPEG-4HD video format, making it perfect for capturing high-quality video on the go.
Reception
The reception of the PureView camera was a mixed bag. Critics praised its advanced capabilities, but some found it made devices bulky and heavy.
The camera's low-resolution screen on the 808 PureView made it harder to appreciate its capabilities. This was a drawback for many users.
Nokia received several awards for the release of its PureView camera, including the TIPA Best Imaging Innovation award in 2012.
Nokia Phones
Nokia Phones have a rich history, and one of the most notable features they're known for is their PureView technology. This technology was first introduced with the Nokia 808 PureView, which boasted an impressive 41MP camera.
The Nokia 808 PureView was released in 2012, and it's still remembered for its exceptional camera capabilities. Its 41MP camera was paired with Carl Zeiss optics and a Xenon flash, making it a standout feature at the time.
Here are some key specs of the Nokia 808 PureView:
Nokia's PureView technology has been licensed to other companies in the past, but it seems that HMD Global, the current owner of the Nokia brand, has acquired the license again. This could mean that we'll see more PureView-enabled Nokia phones in the future.
Nokia 808
The Nokia 808 is a legendary phone that's hard to forget. It was announced in 2012, February and released in June of the same year.
This phone has a sleek design, measuring 123.9 x 60.2 x 13.9 mm and weighing 169 grams. You'll find a Micro-SIM slot and a removable 1400 mAh battery, which can last up to 465 hours on standby.
For more insights, see: Nokia X Family
The Nokia 808 sports a 4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 360 x 640 pixels, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and Nokia's ClearBlack display technology. You can also expand its memory with a microSDHC card.
One of the standout features of this phone is its 41-megapixel main camera, which uses Carl Zeiss optics and has a Xenon flash for better low-light performance. You can also record 1080p video at 30 frames per second.
Here's a brief rundown of the phone's connectivity features:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA and UPnP technology
- Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP
- GPS with A-GPS and NFC
- Stereo FM radio with RDS and FM transmitter
- microUSB 2.0 with OTG
The Nokia 808 is a powerful phone that's worth considering if you're in the market for a device with a great camera and good battery life.
Nokia 9
The Nokia 9 PureView is a highly anticipated smartphone that's been making waves in the tech world. It's the latest addition to the Nokia lineup, and it's packed with a penta-lens camera at the back.
Nokia 9 PureView's camera system is quite impressive, and it's a nod to the company's legacy with the PureView technology. This technology was first introduced with the Nokia 808 PureView, which was a game-changer in its time.
The PureView technology was later acquired by Microsoft, but HMD Global, the company behind Nokia smartphones, has recently bought it back. This move has sparked speculation about the return of Nokia PureView smartphones.
I remember being excited about the Nokia 8 when it was launched last year, and it's great to see that HMD Global is working on new and innovative devices. The Nokia 9 PureView has the potential to shake up the smartphone market and bring back the magic of the old Nokia days.
Lens and Models
The Nokia 808 PureView boasts an impressive Carl Zeiss 5-element lens with a f/2.4 aperture and 8.02 mm focal length, equivalent to 26 mm in 16:9 and 28 mm in 4:3 aspect ratio.
The lens has a focus range of 15 cm to infinity, making it suitable for a wide range of photography needs. This is achieved through a shiftable fixed-focus lens, which varies the distance to the image sensor to achieve focus.

The lens consists of only one group with molded elements, providing a highly stable and precise mechanical alignment. This is possible due to the use of plastic, which provides sufficient stability at this size and allows for extreme aspheric shaped lens elements.
Here's a list of some of the notable Nokia-branded mobile devices that feature impressive cameras, including the Nokia 808 PureView:
- Nokia 808 PureView (Symbian Belle)
- Nokia Lumia 920 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia 925 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia 928 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia Icon (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia McLaren (Windows Phone 8.1)
- Nokia Lumia 830 (Windows Phone 8.1)
- Nokia Lumia 930 (Windows Phone 8.1)
- Nokia Lumia 1020 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia 1520 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia 9 PureView (Android One based on Android Pie 9.0)
- Nokia 8.3 5G (Android One based on Android 10)
- Nokia X30 5G (Android 12)
Shutter
The shutter on your camera can make a big difference in capturing the perfect shot. The 808 PureView has a mechanical shutter, which is a type of shutter that uses a physical mechanism to open and close the camera's aperture.
This type of shutter is known for its short shutter lag, which means it can take a photo quickly without any delay.
It also comes with a built-in ND8 (3 f-stops) neutral density filter, which helps to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, allowing for more creative control over exposure.
Lens
The 808 PureView has a Carl Zeiss 5-element lens with a f/2.4 aperture and 8.02 mm focal length.
This lens is quite unique, as it uses a shiftable fixed-focus lens design, similar to prime lenses in Zeiss Planar or Tessar optics.
The optics are based on a unit focusing lens, which means that focus is achieved by varying the distance to the image sensor, eliminating the need for a movable focus group.
This design has the advantage of reducing unwanted reflections and increasing sharpness.
The lens consists of only 1 group with molded elements, providing a highly stable and precise mechanical alignment.
Part of the lens is made of plastic, which provides sufficient stability at this size and allows for the use of extreme aspheric shaped lens elements.
5 all-aspherical lens elements are used, which helps increase border-sharpness and lower distortion and astigmatism.
A neutral density filter with approximately ND8 (3 f-stops) is employed to reduce chromatic aberrations when shooting in high light levels.
The lens is named a Tessar, but it has almost nothing in common with the original 4 element in 3 group, non-aspherical Tessar.
The camera has a quite shallow depth of field, equivalent to approximately f/7.8 at 26 mm on 35 mm full-frame.
Models
Let's talk about the different models of Nokia-branded mobile devices. The Nokia 808 PureView was one of the first devices to feature a high-quality camera, and it was running on Symbian Belle.
The Nokia Lumia series was a significant departure from the traditional Symbian-based devices, and it was the first to run on Windows Phone 8. Some of the notable devices in this series include the Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 925, and Nokia Lumia 1020.
The Nokia Lumia 920 was a flagship device that featured a high-quality camera and was known for its excellent image quality. The Nokia Lumia 925 was a more compact version of the 920, but it still packed a punch with its camera capabilities.
The Nokia Lumia 1020 was a beast of a device, featuring a 41-megapixel camera that was unmatched at the time. It was a favorite among photography enthusiasts and professionals.
The Nokia 9 PureView was a more recent device that ran on Android One based on Android Pie 9.0. It featured a unique camera system with multiple lenses, which provided excellent image quality.
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Here are some of the notable Nokia-branded mobile devices, listed in chronological order:
- Nokia 808 PureView (Symbian Belle)
- Nokia Lumia 920 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia 925 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia 928 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia Icon (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia McLaren (Windows Phone 8.1)
- Nokia Lumia 830 (Windows Phone 8.1)
- Nokia Lumia 930 (Windows Phone 8.1)
- Nokia Lumia 1020 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia Lumia 1520 (Windows Phone 8)
- Nokia 9 PureView (Android One based on Android Pie 9.0)
- Nokia 8.3 5G (Android One based on Android 10)
- Nokia X30 5G (Android 12)
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