Oliver Schindelbeck, Senior Smartphone Technology Manager at ZEISS Consumer Products

“We’re integrating superior lens technology to create state-of-the-art photography smartphones,” says Oliver. A pioneer in lens technology, Oliver is Senior Smartphone Technology Manager at ZEISS.

For over 4 years, vivo and ZEISS have partnered to elevate the imaging experience of the consumers as part of their global strategic partnership. Recent developments in this collaboration have showcased significant advancements in the photography capabilities in vivo smartphones, combining cutting-edge technology with superior lens quality.

Today, where every detail is looked at with precision, having a device that seamlessly blends design, cutting-edge technology and an exceptional camera is more important than ever.

Join us in an exclusive interview with Oliver Schindelbeck, Senior Smartphone Technology Manager at ZEISS Consumer Products as we gather insights about how vivo-ZEISS collaboration is setting new standards in smartphone photography and making professional-quality imaging accessible to users.

Q. Can you share the journey and evolution of the partnership between vivo and ZEISS? How did it start, what was the inspiration behind this partnership?

A. Well, let me begin with the inspiration behind our partnership. From the very beginning, both vivo and ZEISS shared a mutual goal: bringing the best possible photography experience to the users. With that common goal, it was quite easy for us to come together.

However, given the situation at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020, things were uncertain and challenging. The pandemic had just started and all contact was through video calls and emails. I, personally, thought this would never work out. However, I was amazed to see how easy and seamless this partnership turned out to be.

When we commenced this partnership, the first step was to get to know each other and understand what we could achieve together. Once we got that out of the way after the ‘finding’ phase, we directly dove into joint R&D work.

Q. What are some of the key milestones that have resulted from this partnership?

A. To be honest, it’s difficult to pick one milestone. However, one of the key milestones for us is definitely the X60, where we kicked things off with this partnership. It was the starting point of everything.

Besides that, it is really hard to point a single milestone because every generation of the X Series has introduced amazing new features. A notable highlight has been the introduction of the V1 chip in the devices. It has significantly advanced image processing.

We are also focusing on professional portrait photography whilst developing telephoto lenses and medium focal lenses. This is my personal favourite as I really like to shoot pictures of people in portraits. This definitely counts as a highlight, right?

Q. How does the co-engineering process work between vivo and ZEISS teams to develop innovative lens technology?

A. Our co-engineering process is quite holistic. We start by addressing the basics like what the product will be, where will we talk about it and key features of the upcoming device.

Before development begins, we focus on the design and optimize simulation of the performance of the device. This involves building prototypes, testing each generation of prototype, capturing thousands of images, and finally analyzing them to discuss the progress. Once it all comes together, we add the ZEISS branding to the device as the final touch.

Since we are discussing the process, my personal favourite part is being on events like vivo Tech Day 2024, as we get to experience real-time reactions and feedback about the product from people. Hearing from consumers is crucial for improving and refining the product to achieve high performance.

Oliver Schindelbeck explains the testing and certification of the vivo ZEISS Imaging System at vivo Tech Day 2024

Q. How does your expertise in lens technology enhance the photography capabilities of a smartphone?

A. As I mentioned earlier, we accompany the entire development process, bringing our technical expertise and a deep knowledge of optical technologies. We also prioritize scientific insights by collaborating with professionals such as photographers, cinematographers, and directors of photography, among others.

For example, when perfecting our ZEISS cinematography lenses, we work with a number of cinematographers both in Hollywood and Bollywood to gather direct feedback on our lenses. We try to understand their needs and future expectations. Keeping that in mind and with our technological expertise, we develop the lenses. Ultimately, the positive feedback from our consumers provides the confidence and credibility that our products are delivering real value.

Q. What sets the vivo ZEISS imaging system apart from other smartphone camera systems on the market?

A. As a team, we do not really compare ourselves with the competitors. While we do perform benchmarking during the development process to gauge our progress, our goal is to set industry benchmarks rather than follow others. We prioritize discovering and implementing innovative features based on our vision and expertise, without being swayed by what competitors are doing. This approach allows us to push the boundaries and set new standards in smartphone camera technology.

Different ZEISS style portraits showcased at vivo Tech Day 2024

Q. How do you see the advanced imaging technologies developed by vivo and ZEISS benefiting everyday users and professional photographers?

A. Oneof the key benefits is that we serve consumers like me, actually. I am not a professional photographer, I am a ‘snap shooter’ for which we want to offer professional features at an easy use.

If I were to use a professional camera, the image I would take would likely be disappointing. I would have the perfect hardware but not the skills to use the camera. But with a smartphone like the V40 Pro, we are offering features to take snaps with professional photography outcome – easy to use at your fingertips.

This is something we are aiming to do – to make professional photography available and accessible for everyday users.

Q. Are there any upcoming innovations or features that vivo and ZEISS are currently working on that you can give us a sneak peek into?

A. Unfortunately, we can’t disclose the exact innovations we’re working on. However, I can tell you that since the beginning of this partnership, we have been working on R&D projects, exploring new technologies in hardware and software. We constantly evaluate the potential of these new technologies to determine their suitability and integration into smartphones.

It is usually a long process and it’s hard to define it at the beginning. It leaves us with questions such as, ‘Does it work?’, ‘Will it be beneficial for our device and our users?’ and more. And sharing details too early would spoil the surprises!