Upon its release, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra gained attention due to its remarkable camera capabilities, which were backed by a 200-megapixel sensor and a custom Snapdragon processor. However, recent discussions on Reddit have raised concerns about the veracity of the S23 Ultra's acclaimed Moon shots.
Utilizing the S23 Ultra's space zoom feature, users can capture images of the Moon that display an incredible level of detail. However, a Reddit user has alleged that the space zoom feature is not authentic and adds details that are not actually visible through the camera.
Utilizing the S23 Ultra's space zoom feature, users can capture images of the Moon that display an incredible level of detail. However, a Reddit user has alleged that the space zoom feature is not authentic and adds details that are not actually visible through the camera.
The problem with Samsung's Moon Mode is that its software creates artificial details that are not actually visible through the camera, leading a Reddit user named ibreakphotos to accuse Samsung of "faking" moon photos. This accusation went viral, prompting Samsung's press site to respond. Moon Mode, which is heavily promoted in Samsung's marketing campaigns, is a feature that utilizes AI functionality specifically for moon photos. However, ibreakphotos claimed that the AI system can be tricked by blurring and compressing a photo of the moon in Photoshop and then taking a picture of the monitor, resulting in the Samsung phone adding detail that does not actually exist. The Reddit post received numerous upvotes, likely due to the current interest in AI.
However, this use of AI to enhance photos is common in smartphone photography, as small cameras tend to produce low-quality images. Smartphones use computational photography, which involves quickly taking multiple photos before and after the shutter button is pressed, aligning them into one photo, applying AI filters, and compressing the final image. This approach allows smartphone manufacturers to avoid using protruding camera lenses while still producing decent-quality images.
However, this use of AI to enhance photos is common in smartphone photography, as small cameras tend to produce low-quality images. Smartphones use computational photography, which involves quickly taking multiple photos before and after the shutter button is pressed, aligning them into one photo, applying AI filters, and compressing the final image. This approach allows smartphone manufacturers to avoid using protruding camera lenses while still producing decent-quality images.
Samsung is trying to address the controversy surrounding its camera processing technology, particularly with regards to its Moon photo detection system. Samsung has explained that the system works by using AI to detect clear photos of the Moon at 25x zoom or above when Scene Optimizer is turned on. It then captures multiple frames and lowers the brightness to produce a bright, low-noise picture. Finally, it enhances the detail using a neural network with a high-resolution reference image for comparison. However, Samsung notes that this won't work with obscured Moon snapshots or photos clearly not taken on Earth.
While Samsung is not creating outright fakes, it is using algorithms that produce photos that don't accurately represent what's visible through the lens. Samsung has acknowledged this and says it's working to refine Scene Optimizer to minimize confusion between actual Moon photos and mere images of it.
While Samsung is not creating outright fakes, it is using algorithms that produce photos that don't accurately represent what's visible through the lens. Samsung has acknowledged this and says it's working to refine Scene Optimizer to minimize confusion between actual Moon photos and mere images of it.
Author
-Anurag