realme 12 Pro+ 5G – Preserve iconic experience!
The realme 12 Pro+ 5G is a smartphone that aims to be the “Portrait Master”, packing an impressive array of camera hardware and software features. I recently had the chance to test out the photography capabilities of this device on a trip to Barcelona, capturing shots at iconic locations like the Sagrada Familia, Cathedral of Barcelona, and Arc de Triomf.
Camera Specifications
Before diving into the photos, let’s take a quick look at the camera specs of the realme 12 Pro+ 5G:
- 64MP Periscope Portrait Camera with 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, OIS
- 50MP Sony IMX890 main camera with OIS
- 8MP 112° ultra-wide angle camera
- 32MP Sony IMX615 front camera
- Flagship Omnifocal Photography System
- Master Portrait Filters co-developed with Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda
The star of the show is the 64MP periscope telephoto camera, which enables high quality zoom shots. This is paired with a versatile 50MP main camera using Sony’s excellent IMX890 sensor. An 8MP ultra-wide rounds out the rear camera system.
64MP Periscope Portrait Camera & 50MP Sony IMX890 Main Camera
The periscope telephoto and IMX890 main camera work together as part of realme’s Flagship Omnifocal Photography System. The periscope camera has an impressive 3x optical zoom and 6x in-sensor zoom, allowing you to get closer to your subject without losing detail. In portrait mode, it provides an 80mm equivalent focal length – perfect for flattering portraits. Meanwhile, the 50MP IMX890 excels in low-light thanks to its large 1/1.56″ sensor size. It uses pixel-binning to output 12.5MP images with improved light sensitivity. OIS on both these cameras helps keep shots sharp.
Photo Samples & Impressions
Now let’s take a look at some of the photos I captured with the realme 12 Pro+ 5G around Barcelona:
Sagrada Familia (Exterior)
The 50MP main camera did a great job capturing the intricate details of Gaudi’s famous basilica in daylight. Colors looked natural and there was plenty of dynamic range. At night, night mode produced a clean, noise-free shot with good exposure. Zooming in with the periscope camera allowed me to focus on architectural details that would be lost in a wide angle shot. The 3x optical zoom retained excellent sharpness.
Sagrada Familia (Interior)
Shooting inside the Sagrada Familia was more challenging due to the high contrast lighting. However, the IMX890 sensor performed admirably, preserving both shadow and highlight detail. The ultra-wide camera was useful for capturing the expansive interior.
Cathedral of Barcelona
Another challenging night shot, this time using night mode on the main camera. The realme 12 Pro+ 5G lit up the scene nicely, producing a detailed image with very low noise. The periscope camera’s zoom also came in handy to get a tighter composition.
Arc de Triomf
In bright daylight, the main camera captured the warm tones of the Arc de Triomf beautifully, with plenty of detail in the shadows. Portrait mode with the periscope camera allowed me to compress the perspective and blur the background for a striking portrait of the monument.
Portraits
For portraits of people, the periscope camera’s 80mm focal length produced very flattering results, with natural bokeh. Edge detection was also spot on. The Master Filters, co-developed with renowned cinematographer Claudio Miranda, provided some creative options for processing portraits.
Impressive Camera Smartphone
After shooting with the realme 12 Pro+ 5G extensively, I came away very impressed with its photography features. The 64MP periscope camera and 50MP IMX890 main camera are a powerful combo, providing excellent zoom and low-light capabilities respectively.
Portrait mode and the Master Filters also produced beautiful people pictures. While it may not be an absolute top-tier flagship, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G can go toe-to-toe with the best in terms of photography – at a more affordable price point. If you’re looking for a smartphone that prioritizes camera quality and versatility, the realme 12 Pro+ 5G should definitely be on your short list.
For more details on the rest of the phone’s features and price, check out our first impressions and full review by March 7, 2024.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
