Sony Xperia 1 V: More camera specifications emerge with talk of improved variable zoom periscope camera

Last month, reports emerged that Sony might equip the Xperia 1 V or a next-generation PRO model with 48 MP cameras, following in the footsteps of Apple with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Subsequently, a leaker on Weibo claims that Sony's next flagship smartphone will actually borrow the iPhone 14 Pro series' primary camera, the exact sensor of which remains unknown at this stage.

Still, the camera should offer a 1/1.28-inch optical format with 1.22 μm-wide pixels. However, the camera in the Xperia 1 V is rumoured to contain a different Bayer CFA colour filter, presumably to improve colour accuracy. Potentially, the camera will support 4-in-1 pixel binning to produce 12 MP images, mirroring the device's expected 48 MP ultra-wide-angle camera. Allegedly, Sony is developing a new cinematic app that will reproduce burst photography features from the company's Alpha camera series to the Xperia 1 V.

Moreover, the same leaker asserts that the device's rumoured 48 MP telephoto camera will be a modified Sony IMX557. For context, Sony has used the IMX557 in the Xperia 1 series from the Xperia 1 II onwards, as well as the Xperia 5 II, Xperia 5 III and the Xperia 5 IV. Reputedly, the modified sensor will be capable of delivering 70-200 mm equivalent focal lengths, or 2.9x-8.3x optical zoom. Orientated as a periscope camera, the modified IMX557 will measure approximately 4 cm across.

Currently, the Xperia 1 V is anticipated to arrive in early 2023 with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. While MWC 2023 would appear to be a likely candidate for an Xperia 1 V announcement, it is worth remembering that the Xperia 1 IV launched in May instead. By contrast, we would be roughly a year away from the Xperia 5 V's debut.

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