Of the four cameras, the wide-angle module and the camera with the normal focal length can convince us the most. The telephoto is a specialist and can only be used well in a lot of light to capture distant details. We also only recommend the super-wide-angle for shots in good light. The aggressive signal processing is annoying in JPEGs.

Wide angle (main camera) – 1.6/4.7 mm lens,

(full-frame equivalent: 25 mm), 48MP sensor, JPEG with 48 OR 12 MP

The main camera offers photographers a choice between 48MP and 12MP. The former leads by points - our score is therefore based on 48MP JPEGs. The gap is quite small overall and due to the higher resolution. In high light (5000 lux), the lead of the 48MP JPEGs is commanding, even if not all structures are displayed without problems. The 48MP JPEGs also have a higher noise - but this is not yet problematic. In low light (200 lux), they increasingly show artifacts that disturb the image impression. The 12MP JPEGs look cleaner in this respect. At night (5 lux), the advantage of the latter is then clear. Vivo tunes the signal processing extremely aggressively in the wide-angle, especially in the 12 MP resolution pictures and the edges are sharpened a lot too.

Normal focal length – 2.5/7 mm lens,

(full-frame equivalent: 50mm), 13 MP sensor, JPEG with 13 MP

For portraits, the Vivo X51 offers a dedicated module with a 13 MP sensor and 2.5/7 mm optics (50 mm KB). This is a good decision, as this camera is one of the better ones among the 2x zooms, but it is not good at all light levels. Even if the image quality in high light (5000 lux) remains below the performance of Samsung S21/S21+ and the signal processing interventions are sometimes much too aggressive, the images are still good. Samsung can display structures with low contrasts better, though. The edges are sharpened even more in low light (200 lux) - some structures look distorted. In addition, there are noise and artifacts. Overall, the quality drops to an acceptable level, although the main camera is already a better choice for portraits. At night (5 lux), the detail level drops noticeably - we recommend switching to the main lens now at the latest. 

Tele lens – 3.4/11 MM LENS,

(full-frame equivalent: 120 MM), 8 MP sensor, JPEG WITH 8 MP

A 5x telephoto is welcome in itself. However, the combination of a telephoto lens with an aperture of F3.4 and an 8MP sensor proves to be problematic and, unfortunately, subpar in the end. Even in high light (5000 lux), the image is not particularly detailed because the 8MP sensor does not bring enough "volume". But the zoom factor still pays off in high light - the quality of the "crop" is higher at the same shooting distance: So, as long as you want to capture certain details, the tele is worth it. We can also praise a certain restraint in the image adjustment: Contrast enhancement and edge re-sharpening turn out quite moderate. In low light (200 lux), the resolution drop is significant - already the tele is out of the game as an option. At night (5 lux), the device then switches to the main lens and zooms digitally. But this is also in vain - the JPEGs hardly show any details.

Super wide angle – 2.2/2 mm,

(full-frame equivalent: 15 mm), 8MP sensor, JPEG WITH 8 MP

Of the four cameras, the wide-angle module and the camera with the normal focal length can convince us the most. The telephoto is a specialist and can only be used well in a lot of light to capture distant details. We also only recommend the super-wide-angle for shots in good light. The aggressive signal processing is annoying in JPEGs. 

SAMPLE PHOTOS

Wide angle (main camera) – 1.6/4.7 mm lens (48 MP JPEGs)

Normal focal length – 2.5/7 mm lens 13 MP JPEGs)

Tele lens – 3.4/11 mm LENS (8 MP JPEGs)

Super wide angle – 2.2/2 mm lenS (8 MP JPEGs)