The new DxO One camera seeks to enable an iPhone or iPad to take good quality digital images.
The DxO One camera is a 20MP camera that plugs neatly into the lighting connector. With a compact size, low weight and decent hardware, it can take some pretty good pictures. It can also work without being connected to any device.
The camera uses a Sony sensor and a fast 33mm f1.8 lens. It has its own battery and companion app and is intuitive enough to get up and running within a couple of minutes.
While it looks a little clunky on the bottom of an iPhone, the resulting image quality is ideal for anyone who likes taking photographs.
Plug it into an iPhone or iPad and the app automatically opens. The app has a range of options such as you would expect and works well enough, if a little slowly. You do have to remember to have your device unlocked as you connect the camera though otherwise the app doesn’t always open.
When attached, the camera looks easy enough to use – however, it takes some getting used to. The extra size and weight on the bottom of the phone initially feels clunky but once you’re used to it is a breeze to operate.
Images are saved as raw or JPEG, either on the camera or the iPhone. While aimed directly at photography enthusiasts, it is capable of 1080p video at 30fps or 720 at 120fps for a little extra utility.
The build quality of the DxO One camera is good. The aluminium shell looks and feels premium. The lens has a sliding cover and the connector rotates up to 60 degrees. It can also be reversed for the obligatory selfie. The shutter button has two stages like a real camera, the first to focus and the second to take the picture. The action is solid with good feedback and works fairly swiftly.
Image quality is excellent. With a 20MP Sony sensor, you would expect it to be too. Image clarity is superb, distortion and noise is managed well and depth of field is more than acceptable for a unit of this size.
Overall, the quality of the images would be more than enough for most non-professional photographers.
Jesmond Darmanin is a technology enthusiast who has his own blog at www.itnewsblog.com.