Several new functions have been added to the video recording: it can shoot 60fps + ultra-stable anti-vibration, and all lenses including ultra-wide-angle can shoot 4K/60fps video, which is quite impressive and an upgrade that is often available.

But the most important thing is that the main lens BP5047B15 of the S21 Ultra uses a new photosensitive element, and the heart is also replaced by the Snapdragon 888 processor, which injects new computing power, so even the same function, the performance should be different. And there are two telephoto lenses, which can shoot high-magnification zoom videos that are rarely found on mobile phones, which is also one of the selling points.

Let’s read another article about static photos. We mainly play video here. Of course, we also pull in the iPhone 12 Pro Max and watch it together.

Basic video recording, anti-shock, backlight test shot

Video comparison tests the capabilities of the flagship machine, let's look at the difficult tasks first.

The basic functions of video recording include: it can shoot 8K/24fps, 4K/60fps and other high-resolution videos, all can apply video anti-shock, and also automatically detect and apply HDR dynamic range. Only if you choose below 4K/30fps, you can zoom all the way in "recording", from super wide-angle to a maximum of 20 times. After shooting HDR10+ video, because the screen also supports, you can shoot and watch HDR video immediately.

There are also professional video recordings. In addition to manually adjusting some basic parameters, you can also choose which microphone to use for sound recording. The S21 series has added the option of BT Mix, which means that when recording, you can simultaneously receive the sound of the mobile phone and the Bluetooth headset microphone, which means that you can take into account the sound. Speech and ambient sounds. However, this feature currently has a condition, and it can only be used with Galaxy Buds+ series headphones.

For comparison, I used a dual-camera gimbal, so that the S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max can shoot the same scene at the same time, and the same set of actions can be regarded as a straight ball duel.

There are also many scenes, including smooth light, backlight, main lens, zoom lens, and different degrees of anti-shake tests, which are very comparable.

In order to avoid too much video, I cut various scenes together, from this compilation you can see:

4K60fps various dynamic anti-shake.

Smooth and backlight video quality.

Apply the look of beautiful skin.

Ultra wide-angle, telephoto lens quality.

60fps super stable effect.

and slow motion.

iPhone 12 Pro's video recording is very strong (clear picture, bright, comfortable color tone, good anti-shock, good backlight correction, all lenses can shoot 4K/60fps video with anti-shock.. etc.), after comparing the same scene this time, I think The video recordings of the S21 Ultra and the i12 Pro Max are not obvious, and they are both strong. If you want to look carefully...

1.) Hue difference

The color tone of the S21 Ultra is relatively bright, for example, the sky is very blue, and the face exposed to the sun is more orange, and the contrast is high. In contrast, the color tone of the i12 Pro Max takes a comfortable route. If it is not compared, the color of the i12 Pro Max is relatively normal and natural.

2.) HDR is all good

The effects of HDR are also very good. For example, the backlit scenes such as car windows and upside down shots can improve the dark part and keep it natural, but I personally think the i12 Pro Max's brightening/suppressing effect is a little stronger, and shooting people in backlight It's a little brighter, but the difference is not very big. Generally, the backlight is easy to shoot.

3.) Shockproof and reassuring

Don't worry too much about the anti-shock effect of the main lens. The irregular dynamic images of running, shooting in a car, or dribbling at 4K/60fps are still stable. The quality and intensity of the direct radio from the mobile phone are similar.

Oh, can't they be all strong...

4.) But adding a telephoto lens makes a difference.

For example, the S21 Ultra has 3x, 10x higher optical zoom for shooting, and also has a smoother effect such as ultra-stable shock resistance, greater motion, or travel video, the S21 Ultra will be better for shooting.

5.) However, the smoothness of the iPhone's zoom in video is still stronger than that of the S21 Ultra.

10x zoom video still clear, 20x zoom available

After the test shooting, I feel that the S21 Ultra is right to separate the low-magnification zoom and the high-magnification zoom lens.

As a result, it means that we have brought two more lenses to go out, which is suitable for more scenes.

Second, because you can shoot 10x directly with the lens, you can ensure the quality of the high-magnification zoom.

But I think many students still have some doubts about zoom video recording, for example, is it necessary? Is it very shaky? Is the picture dark? ...Wait, let's take a look at the quality of the zoom video alone, and whether the zoom is smooth in the video?

Only if you choose below 4K/30fps, you can use the lens relay zoom in video recording. It can be changed from ultra-wide angle to 20x hybrid zoom. Among them, 3x and 10x are shot directly with the lens, so the picture quality is obviously better, so 20x video recording is made. quality, still usable

During the test shooting, I was lucky to see a window washer in a high-rise building, just to test the zoom video, and I was a little surprised by its 10x zoom video. In good weather conditions, not only the picture quality is very good, but the handheld is still stable.

but forgot to cut the resolution to 4K in a hurry...

And when the S21 Ultra is recording video, it still cannot zoom in and zoom smoothly and seamlessly like the iPhone 12.

In the following test, you can see that when the camera is enlarged to 3x and 10x, there will still be a little pause when the camera is handed over, but the jumping feeling of the screen is much better when switching the camera. Let the lens relay and complete the side zoom to video recording. Although the S21 Ultra is not perfect, it has made progress.

The front part of the video is zoomed on a tripod, and the back part is hand-held. It's fine when recording at 10x handheld, and the picture quality is usable at 20x, but the handheld is very shaky. In addition, the speed of focusing on small objects in front of the zoom video seems to be improved. In addition, the aperture of the telephoto lens is relatively small, and the picture will inevitably become dark, so it is more suitable to use the zoom lens to record video during the day.

Shooting 8K video is not a problem, the problem is that most people do not have the editing environment and equipment. If you edit directly on your mobile phone, the output will be 4K video, so I personally think that the greatest significance of 8K video is that you can capture the picture from it and save it as a file. A 33 million pixel photo.

But the best director is practical

"Best Director" mode is when recording, you can see the main, 3x and super wide-angle three lenses, so you can switch to any lens / field of view to shoot at will, you don't need to stop, change the lens and shoot again , you can shoot three different sizes in a row, and the actors don't have to play it three times.

And at this time, you can also use the front + rear camera to split the screen and record at the same time.

However, when the director mode is activated, the film has no anti-shock effect, and it is suitable for use on a tripod or stabilizer.

It is very suitable for scenes with some process turning points. For example, in the process of drinking a drink, the tension is different when shot with different sizes of shots, and the point is that the actor can finish the shot after one drink. However, this shot is more useful when designing the picture, and it is not used for daily burst video.

There is also a portrait video after the last video. This function can be used for both front and rear cameras, but it seems that if there is still action, the cutout effect is still not good. It is still suitable for shooting scenes like sitting and talking, where people are not very moving . But this portrait video is quite interesting, and you can change the background styles such as abstraction and bokeh.

Just writing this and thinking I didn't take night video...Orz...I'll make it up tomorrow...

Now that the computing power of mobile phones is getting better and better, there are more and more people who like to shoot videos and upload them to YouTube, and then the flagships are becoming more and more professional, which makes the capabilities and tricks of mobile phone video recording more and more abundant.

After this test shoot, I think the S21 Ultra should be the best mobile phone for Samsung's video recording. It has both the ability to "shoot well" and "shoot well".

For example, there are general zoom and high-magnification zoom lenses available at the same time, and the video quality of 3x and 10x is also good, and there are more scenes and compositions that can be taken. Another example is the anti-shock stability, HDR correction, focusing speed, etc. are not bad, to solve the problem of difficult scenes.

Oh also, the screen is bright enough this time, you can clearly see what the scene is in the sun (well... but it's still a little dark if the line of sight is a little off).

If the filming is good, you can see that the color tone is pleasing, the HDR has an effect, and the phone itself has a clear sound.. etc.

But there are still deficiencies. For example, if you want to use the skin-beautifying video, want to use the director mode, and want to use the super stable, it will still be reduced to 1080p. I don’t know which flagship will solve it.

Then you talk about professionalism. I think it is possible to shoot YouTube videos for daily sharing or conversation, but the cleanliness of the picture is still worse than the one recorded with a single eye. It may depend on the professional requirements of the creator.

Can it be used to make commercial movies and commercial MVs? ...There is currently a lack of actual case evidence. If a director happens to see this, do you want to try it? ...commercial film, not a cooperative demonstration short film...