Hot topics

Samsung Clarifies: Galaxy S23's Moon Snaps Are the Real Deal

Samsung Moon
© rangizzz / Adobe Stock, nextpit

Read in other languages:

Like with previous flagship shooters, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is capable of capturing moon shots using long zoom levels and software enhancements. But earlier this week, a Reddit post alleged that Samsung has been faking these moon shots by adding non-existent details, which has now been refuted.

First, Samsung introduced Space Zoom on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. This allows extended digital zoom for up to 100x magnification, which is also enough to put the moon in your camera frame. It has been improved on the Galaxy S23 Ultra with a bigger 200MP camera sensor and increased zoom up to 200x.

But a viral post is claiming these images aren't the actual pictures captured by the device. Rather, the source suggests using Artificial Intelligence, Samsung is adding and augmenting textures to the moon even though the unprocessed pictures are blurry and indistinguishable. It added that Samsung has fed the AI on where exactly to correctly overlay details, consequently concluding these moon images are fake.

In a press release with a detailed guide, Samsung goes to explain it utilizes several algorithms to process the moon pictures taken by capable Galaxy camera phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra (review).

An infographic explaining how the Space Zoom feature works on the Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone
Here are the enhancements Samsung's Scene Optimizer brings to moon pictures when utilizing the Space Zoom mode. / © Samsung

Accordingly, a device first taps the Scene Optimizer to refine the moon's photo. This stage requires that the moon should be recognized first before this effect is applied. The second step is through Super Resolution mode to take multiple shots of the moon at 25x zoom level or higher and eventually compose this multi-frame shot into one picture.

Perhaps the most interesting is how Samsung uses an AI deep learning model to detect whether the object being pointed at by the camera is a moon or not. And as stated by Samsung, it trained the neural network with images of the moon (possibly in thousands of quantities) in different forms and phases. Samsung adds that the Scene Optimizer is also using AI-based deep learning to reduce noise and sharpen the final output.

Graphic shows how the Scene Optimizer works for Space Zoom.
The Samsung "Scene Optimizer" workflow, including detection for moon shots. / © Samsung

At the same time, it is specified there will be instances where the moon will not be recognized if obscured by clouds or the celestial body is not well-lit such as in new moon phases. Thus, it is only when a moon is intelligently detected that Samsung's Scene Optimizer can work.

Lastly, the third stage is also where the camera will continuously control the focus and brightness of the entire image in favor of a clearer view of the moon. The former is enabled by combining the optical and digital image stabilization capabilities of the phone.

What are your thoughts on the techniques used by Galaxy smartphones for capturing moon shots? Do you believe they fall within the realm of standard smartphone computational photography and are not fabricated? Share your opinions with us.

Source: Samsung

  Editor's choice Best smart home control center Best price-performance ratio Best sound Best sound supplement Best display
Product
Product image Amazon Echo Dot (5. Gen) 2022 Product Image Amazon Echo Hub Product Image Amazon Echo (4.Gen) Product Image Amazon Echo Studio Product Image Amazon Echo Sub Product Image Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd. Gen) Product Image
Review
Review: Amazon Echo Dot (5. Gen) 2022
Review: Amazon Echo Hub
Not yet tested
Review: Amazon Echo Studio
Not yet tested
Not yet tested
Price Compariosn
Go to comment (0)
Jade Bryan

Jade Bryan
Junior Editor

I still remember how amazed I was when I first got hold of the Nokia 3210 back when I was a kid, and it was during that time I developed my love for technology, particularly for mobile phones. I started sharing my knowledge through writing in different blogs and forums back in Nokia Nseries era. I even make videos before where I put different phones side-by-side. Today, I'm still an avid enthusiast of smartphones, but my interests have evolved into smart devices and electric vehicles.

To the author profile
Liked this article? Share now!
Recommended articles
Latest articles
Push notification Next article
No comments
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing