Test Drive: Zeiss Zoom Lens on Vivo X200 Premium Smartphone
Rewritten Article:
Embrace the extraordinary with Vivo's latest masterpiece, the X200 Ultra. Boasting a mind-blowing camera system, it's poised to take over the "best smartphone camera" crown in 2025. But Vivo didn't rest on its laurels. Partnering with Zeiss, they pushed the boundaries further with a remarkable zoom lens attachment, extending the X200 Ultra's 85mm optical zoom to an astounding 200mm.
After testing this marvel for a week, I must admit, I'm blown away. The zoom lens, known as the ZEISS 2.35x Telephoto Converter, is built to last, crafted mostly from metal and housing 13 glass elements. It attaches snugly to the X200 Ultra via a special case mount, which comes as part of the kit.
The case, in my humble opinion, looks sleek with a two-tone finish consisting of faux-leather and plastic that secures seamlessly onto the X200 Ultra. The case features a built-in kickstand at the bottom, along with a circular ring wrapping around the camera module with a 67mm filter thread.
Attaching the lens to the mount feels luxurious, reminiscent of attaching a real camera lens. The add-on lens system is far more premium than other smartphone attachments I've tested.
A camera grip also attaches to the bottom of the case, transforming the setup into something that vaguely resembles a camera. The grip includes a dedicated shutter button for photos and videos, as well as two dials for adjusting camera settings. The grip is also equipped with a 2,300 mAh battery, delivering extra power to the phone.
Now, let's talk performance. Keep your expectations in check—we're still dealing with a smartphone, albeit a high-end one. The telephoto sensor size (1/1.3-inch) is large for a phone but still smaller compared to a dedicated camera. So, photos captured by the lens exhibit a digital look due to sharpening for zoom photos.
However, under the right lighting and a steady hand, you can seize jaw-dropping long-zoom photos for a phone. I managed to capture a 800mm portrait of my buddy, who was standing more than 20 feet away. The resulting image exuded strong natural bokeh and background compression, with a touch of digitally sharpened features that actually enhanced the portrait.
You'll need good lighting to get such shots, which appear as if they were snapped with a real camera. In dim light conditions, the image quality suffers, but for the price, it's a worthwhile investment for mobile photography enthusiasts. I can see myself using this lens at concerts or during vacation trips.
The Photography Kit, which includes the 200mm lens, case, camera grip, lanyard, retails in China for 1599 yuan, roughly $219. The X200 Ultra, priced around $900, is a top-notch flagship phone with remarkable camera hardware and screen. Even without the lens, the phone takes stunning images, albeit not as far as 200mm.
In summary, the Vivo X200 Ultra with the Zeiss 2.35x Telephoto Converter delivers a standout performance among smartphone camera accessories, particularly in telephoto zoom capabilities. Its impressive image quality and robust physical controls set it apart from other smartphone camera add-ons, making it a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking advanced telephoto capabilities from a smartphone.
- The Vivo X200 Ultra, partnering with Zeiss and equipped with a Zeiss zoom lens, is revolutionizing smartphone camera technology, aiming to claim the title of best smartphone camera in 2025.
- This collaboration has resulted in a remarkable 200mm zoom capability, making the Vivo X200 Ultra an attractive gadget for photography enthusiasts, especially those interested in high-quality smartphone zoom lenses.
