Vivo’s new V40 series introduces a compelling feature—Zeiss-engineered cameras at a more affordable price. Starting at ₹36,000, the V40 is the first in Vivo’s non-Pro series to include Zeiss optics, making high-quality photography more accessible. But what makes this phone stand out against its pricier counterparts? Let’s dive into its camera setup and examine how it performs in real-world scenarios, especially in terms of image quality and user experience.
Camera Set-up:
- 50-MP Main Camera with ISOCELL GNJ Sensor, 4K up to 30fps
- 50-MPl Ultra-Wide Camera
- 50-MP Front Camera, 4K up to 30fps
- Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
- Aura Light
Daylight Main
The Vivo V40’s camera outputs at 14.3 MP, with a notable feature being the main camera’s intuitive slider that allows seamless switching between cameras, a user-friendly alternative to the traditional slider wheel found on most phones. In daylight conditions, the camera delivers decent images, though they may lack the sharpness expected by some users. Upon zooming in, noise becomes noticeable. However, the camera excels in colour reproduction and accuracy, consistently capturing colours true to life. In backlit situations, the camera does exhibit some issues, with increased contrast and over-sharpening, which can cause the shadows and highlights to appear slightly blown out.
Daylight Wide
The wide camera on the Vivo V40 delivers an actual output of 13.8 MP with a 15mm focal range. The images produced are accurate, with good colour balance and saturation. The camera also performs well in terms of detail, offering above-average sharpness for a wide lens, though it could still be a bit sharper. However, the camera does occasionally underexpose shots, leading to some loss of detail in shadows and highlights. On a positive note, distortion control is impressive, especially considering the price range, making the wide camera a solid performer overall.
Daylight Telephoto
The wide camera on the Vivo V40 delivers an actual output of 13.8 MP with a 15mm focal range, producing images with accurate colour balance and saturation. It performs well in capturing details, offering above-average sharpness for a wide lens, though there is room for improvement in sharpness. Occasionally, the camera underexposes shots, leading to a loss of detail in shadows and highlights. However, distortion control is impressive, particularly given the price range, making the wide camera a strong performer overall.
Lowlight Main
The Vivo says that V40’s camera has been specifically tuned to allow more light to pass through to its sensor, which significantly improves lowlight performance. The concept behind this is straightforward: a fast lens with an aperture like f/1.8 lets in more light, resulting in brighter images even in very lowlight conditions. The main camera performs impressively in lowlight, with accurate colour reproduction, warm tones, and overall pleasing visuals. However, despite the strong colour performance, the camera does fall short in terms of detail and sharpness. Zooming in on images reveals noticeable noise, and beyond a certain point, the images lose clarity, which is disappointing.
Lowlight Wide
The low-light performance of the wide-angle camera on the Vivo V40 falls short in its category. While the camera is quick to focus, it struggles to capture sharp images, resulting in visible shake and a lack of clarity when zoomed in. To the casual observer, the images may appear acceptable, but closer inspection reveals these flaws. However, the colours remain consistent and accurate, which is a positive aspect. Despite the drawbacks, the V40’s wide-angle lens still manages to deliver decent results in well-lit conditions, though improvements are needed for low-light scenarios.
Lowlight Telephoto
In the telephoto section, the Vivo V40’s performance is inconsistent due to the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens. The results can be hit or miss, with some images appearing sharp while others fall short. Without a dedicated telephoto lens, achieving high-quality zoomed-in shots is challenging. This limitation is noticeable in scenarios requiring precise detail at a distance. Overall, while the V40 excels in many areas, its telephoto capabilities are a clear area where it struggles.
Portraits
The Vivo V40 offers several portrait modes familiar to users of other Vivo phones. It provides shooting options at 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm focal lengths. At 24mm, images are sharp, though sharpness diminishes at 35mm and 50mm. Despite this, the photos remain visually pleasing with accurate colour reproduction. However, edge detection could be improved, as the camera sometimes struggles with sharpness and distinguishing outlines in certain conditions. This issue could potentially be addressed in future software updates. Overall, the depth and focus performance are commendable, and Zeiss provides additional settings for those seeking more customization.
Festive Mode
Another notable feature is the Festive mode, which appears to be specifically designed for the Indian market. This mode uses two LUTs (Look-Up Tables) to enhance photos. A single tap activates LUT 1, while tapping twice switches to LUT 2, providing different enhancements to suit festive settings.
Super Macro
The Vivo V40 also features a Super Macro mode on its main camera, allowing users to capture detailed close-ups. The images are generally good, although there may be a reddish tinge in some cases. Despite this minor issue, having a macro mode in this price range is a valuable addition for users, even though similar features are available on many other phones.
Front Camera
The Vivo V40 features a 50 MP front camera that delivers decent results. The images have a warm and pleasing tone, which is likely to appeal to users who prefer warmer selfies. The portrait mode also offers three different focal lengths, and the camera performs well overall. Edge detection and sharpness are decent, contributing to a satisfactory overall camera performance.
Video
The Vivo V40 can shoot videos in 4K at 30 fps and offers up to 10x zoom. The video quality is decent, with fast focusing and good stabilization. However, the camera tends to produce videos that are slightly more saturated and warm compared to the actual scene, which aligns with current consumer preferences for richer, warmer tones.
Conclusion
When initially approached about the Vivo V40’s cameras, there were reservations due to it being a non-Pro variant. However, the performance of the V40’s camera pleasantly exceeded expectations. A key factor in evaluating a phone camera is its consistency across different lenses, which can be challenging given varying specifications and sensors. The V40 stands out by delivering a consistent colour and tonal range across its cameras, a significant advantage. While it may not offer the sharpest images available, the overall camera performance at this price point is commendable. The Vivo V40 earns a thumbs up for its impressive consistency and value.