Oppo a72 camera quality

Introduction

The OPPO A72 is a mid-range smartphone that has garnered attention for its balanced performance, solid build quality, and impressive features for its price point. One of the standout features of the OPPO A72 is its camera system, which is equipped with a quad-camera setup designed to offer versatility and high-quality imaging. This review delves deep into the camera quality of the OPPO A72, exploring various aspects such as image and video quality, camera features, software enhancements, and how it compares to competitors in the same price range.

1. Overview of the OPPO A72 Camera System

The OPPO A72 features a quad-camera setup on the rear, which includes:

• 48 MP Main Camera (f/1.7, PDAF): This is the primary camera that captures the majority of your images. With a high resolution of 48 megapixels, it’s designed to capture detailed photos with good color accuracy.
• 8 MP Ultra-Wide Camera (f/2.2, 119˚ field of view): This camera is ideal for landscape photography or when you want to fit more into the frame, offering a wider perspective than the main camera.
• 2 MP Depth Sensor (f/2.4): The depth sensor assists in capturing photos with a bokeh effect, where the subject is in focus and the background is blurred.
• 2 MP Macro Camera (f/2.4): Designed for close-up photography, this camera lets you get up close and personal with small subjects, capturing details that would be missed with the main camera.

On the front, the OPPO A72 is equipped with a 16 MP selfie camera (f/2.0), which supports features like AI beautification and portrait mode.

2. Image Quality

2.1. Daylight Photography

In good lighting conditions, the OPPO A72’s 48 MP main camera shines. It captures images with a high level of detail, vibrant colors, and good dynamic range. The large aperture (f/1.7) allows for more light to enter the sensor, which helps in producing well-exposed images with minimal noise.

• Detail and Sharpness: The 48 MP sensor excels at capturing fine details, especially in well-lit environments. Whether it’s a landscape or a close-up shot, the level of detail retained is impressive for a mid-range smartphone.
• Color Reproduction: Colors are generally accurate, though slightly saturated, which is typical of OPPO’s image processing. This makes the images more visually appealing without looking unnatural.
• Dynamic Range: The dynamic range is quite good, with the camera able to balance highlights and shadows effectively. This is particularly noticeable in outdoor shots where the sky remains well-exposed while retaining details in the shadows.

2.2. Low Light Photography

Low light photography is where many mid-range smartphones struggle, and the OPPO A72 is no exception. However, it performs decently considering its price point.

• Night Mode: The OPPO A72 features a dedicated night mode that improves low-light performance by combining multiple exposures to enhance details and reduce noise. While it’s not on par with flagship devices, it does a commendable job of brightening up dark scenes and preserving colors.
• Noise Levels: In low light, the images tend to get noisy, especially in the shadows. The noise reduction algorithms sometimes soften the image too much, leading to a loss of detail.
• Color Accuracy: Colors tend to shift slightly in low-light conditions, with warmer tones becoming more pronounced. However, this is a common issue in most smartphones at this price level.

2.3. Ultra-Wide Photography

The 8 MP ultra-wide camera offers a broader field of view, making it ideal for capturing landscapes, architecture, and group shots. However, there are trade-offs in terms of image quality.

• Distortion: As with most ultra-wide lenses, there is some barrel distortion at the edges of the frame. This is more noticeable when shooting architecture or straight lines, but it’s not overly distracting.
• Detail and Sharpness: The level of detail is lower than the main camera, and images can appear soft, particularly at the edges. In low light, this softness becomes more pronounced.
• Color Consistency: The color reproduction is slightly different from the main camera, with a tendency for cooler tones. This can lead to inconsistency in colors if you switch between the main and ultra-wide cameras frequently.

2.4. Macro Photography

The 2 MP macro camera is designed for close-up shots, allowing you to capture subjects from as close as 4cm. While the idea of a macro camera is appealing, the execution on the OPPO A72 is somewhat lacking.

• Detail and Resolution: The low resolution of 2 MP means that the images lack the detail and sharpness you might expect from a dedicated macro lens. This makes the macro camera more of a novelty than a useful tool.
• Lighting Requirements: The macro camera struggles in anything but perfect lighting conditions. Due to the small sensor size, images can quickly become noisy and lack detail in low light.
• Focus Accuracy: The fixed focus of the macro lens can make it difficult to capture sharp images unless the subject is at the perfect distance.

2.5. Portrait Mode

The OPPO A72’s portrait mode utilizes the 2 MP depth sensor to create a bokeh effect, blurring the background while keeping the subject in focus.

• Edge Detection: The portrait mode does a decent job of separating the subject from the background, but it can struggle with more complex edges, such as hair or intricate objects.
• Bokeh Effect: The depth of the bokeh is adjustable, allowing you to control the intensity of the background blur. While it’s not as refined as on higher-end devices, it still produces pleasing results.
• Skin Tones and Beautification: The AI beautification feature can be a bit aggressive, smoothing out skin tones to the point of losing natural texture. However, this can be adjusted or turned off entirely.

3. Video Quality

The OPPO A72 is capable of recording video at 4K resolution at 30fps, which is impressive for a mid-range device. It also supports 1080p recording at both 30fps and 60fps.

3.1. 4K Video Recording

• Detail and Sharpness: 4K video captures a high level of detail, making it ideal for recording landscapes or scenes with a lot of fine details. The sharpness is commendable, though not on par with flagship devices.
• Stabilization: Unfortunately, there is no optical image stabilization (OIS), which means that 4K footage can appear shaky if you’re not careful. However, the electronic image stabilization (EIS) does a decent job at smoothing out minor shakes, especially in 1080p mode.
• Dynamic Range: The dynamic range in video mode is slightly less impressive than in photo mode, with highlights sometimes appearing blown out in bright conditions. Shadows can also lose detail, particularly in high-contrast scenes.

3.2. 1080p Video Recording

• Smoothness: The 1080p 60fps mode is great for capturing smoother video, especially for action scenes or fast-moving subjects. The trade-off is slightly reduced detail compared to 4K, but the increased frame rate can make the footage look more fluid.
• Stabilization: EIS is more effective in 1080p mode, making it the preferred choice for handheld video recording. It helps to reduce the impact of minor shakes and movements, resulting in more stable footage.
• Low Light Performance: In low light, 1080p video can become grainy, and the focus can struggle. The footage is still usable, but it’s clear that the OPPO A72 is not optimized for low-light video recording.

4. Camera Features and Software

The OPPO A72 comes with a range of camera features and software enhancements that aim to improve the user experience and enhance the quality of the images and videos captured.

4.1. AI Scene Recognition

OPPO’s AI Scene Recognition feature automatically detects the scene being photographed and adjusts the camera settings accordingly. Whether you’re shooting a sunset, a landscape, or food, the AI attempts to optimize color, exposure, and contrast.

• Accuracy: The AI is generally accurate in identifying scenes and making appropriate adjustments. However, it can sometimes be too aggressive with saturation and contrast, leading to images that look slightly over-processed.
• Performance: In most cases, the AI enhancements improve the overall image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. However, users who prefer a more natural look may want to turn off this feature.

4.2. Ultra Night Mode 2.0

Ultra Night Mode 2.0 is OPPO’s dedicated night photography mode, designed to improve low-light performance by using longer exposures and combining multiple shots.

• Image Quality: Night mode significantly brightens up dark scenes and improves detail retention. The images are clearer and less noisy compared to standard mode, making it a useful feature for night photography.
• Processing Time: The processing time for night mode is longer than standard shots, which means you need to hold the phone steady for a few seconds to get the best results. This can be challenging without a tripod.

4.3. Dazzle Color Mode

Dazzle Color Mode is a feature that enhances the saturation and contrast of images, making colors appear more vivid and lively.

• Usage: This mode is best suited for vibrant scenes, such as flowers or colorful landscapes, where you want to emphasize the colors.
• Effectiveness: While Dazzle Color Mode can make images look more eye-catching, it’s not always suitable for all types of photography. In some cases, it can lead to over-saturated images that lack natural color balance. It’s a matter of personal preference whether you prefer the enhanced vibrancy or a more subdued, natural look.