The atmosphere has shifted dramatically. Just last week, we shared the positive feedback from the initial reviewers of the Vivo X200 Pro, but this week, we must caution potential global buyers considering importing one of these new Zeiss camera flagship models. Buyers of an expensive Vivo flagship are often motivated by the brand's claims of superior lens quality, which Vivo and Zeiss heavily promote. They talk about Vario-APO-Sonnar lenses and the renowned T* Zeiss coating, designed to minimize reflections and undesirable apochromatic aberrations.
Concerns About Lens Performance
Numerous tests, like those involving the Vivo X100 Pro, have supported these claims. However, the Vivo X200 Pro is facing a significant challenge, as numerous early users' reports from Chinese social media platforms indicate troubling lens flares. If you search for "x200pro炫光" on Weibo or Bilibili, you will quickly find unattractive images and videos highlighting this issue. Notably, outside of China, user @Devinarde has brought these potential issues to a broader audience.
Comparisons With Previous Models
This issue appears relatively new for Vivo smartphones, especially when compared to the Vivo X100 series, which shows much less of a problem under similar circumstances. Users point out that shooting at an angle of approximately 45 degrees towards a bright light source tends to create these intense lens reflections. It raises the question of why the T* coating isn't effective in this case. According to @Devinarde, the difference could be due to Vivo integrating the coating directly into the main camera with the new LYT-818 sensor/optics design, which differs from previous models.
Reactions from Buyers and Vivo's Response
The frustration of early buyers seems to be directed at the reviewers who did not mention this significant issue. However, some reviewers, like Ben Sin and Ben Geskin, claim they haven't encountered any problems. As of now, Vivo has not officially addressed this issue or offered a solution. Consequently, anyone who purchases a Vivo X200 Pro may have to accept a higher chance of experiencing lens flare compared to older models.
Recently, Vivo addressed the situation through Vice President Huang Tao. In an extensive Weibo post, the company explained that the Vivo X200 Pro's increased lens flare is related to its larger aperture and the coating used on the optics. While this coating is intended to reduce ghosting, it seems to enhance the visibility of blue reflections. Vivo is preparing a software update to assist with this issue. They have also publicly apologized and are actively seeking ways to lessen the impact of light, promising users a free solution, which could include a type of sun visor.
Image: Weibo
