Huawei P9 Leica camera sample image was actually shot with a $4500 Canon kit
Jul 4, 2016
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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I’m not entirely sure what they thought they were doing when Huawei posted this shot to Google Plus. Did they forget to rip the EXIF data out of it before doing so? Or did they just not realise that Google told the world exactly what camera an image was shot with?
There’s been a lot of talk and fuss over the Huawei P9‘s dual camera system, and how it’s supposed to “rival DSLRs”, but if the claims were true, you’d think they’d not upload a shot made with an actual DSLR to promote their phone’s camera.
It seems a nice enough evening shot that could possibly be have created by a phone with dual camera technology, simulating depth of field with its gathered distance information. But, the reality is that it isn’t.
If you don’t believe it, just check out the EXIF data extracted by Google.
The shot was actually created with a Canon 5D Mark III and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM which, between them, have a combined price of around $4500 on Amazon right now.
The wording of the description next to the image sure doesn’t outright say that this photograph was shot with the P9, giving them an out.
We managed to catch a beautiful sunrise with Deliciously Ella. The #HuaweiP9’s dual Leica cameras makes taking photos in low light conditions like this a pleasure. Reinvent smartphone photography and share your sunrise pictures with us. #OO
– Huawei Mobile
But it certainly does suggest it, and they obviously want the viewer to assume as such.
It seems that Huawei’s marketing department must have hired a few former politicians. Either that, or the whole Leica thing was a scam, and they’ve somehow managed to pack a 5D Mark III and 70-200mm f/2.8 into that little phone.
What do you think? Seems like dodgy and unethical marketing to me rather than a simple oversight. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
[via G+]
P.S. This is kinda of surprising with Huawei. On the previous model, the Huawei P8, the company went through great lengths to capture a unique and authentic image. The company hired Benjamin von Wong to make an elaborate in-camera fire wings photo. Compared to that effort, it really is weird. Here is the vidoe recap from that shoot. All in-camera, no Canon cameras used ;)
[UPDATE 2016/07/05] – Huawei sent us the following statement: It has recently been highlighted that an image posted to our social channels was not shot on the Huawei P9. The photo, which was professionally taken while filming a Huawei P9 advert, was shared to inspire our community. We recognise though that we should have been clearer with the captions for this image. It was never our intention to mislead. We apologise for this and we have removed the image.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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77 responses to “Huawei P9 Leica camera sample image was actually shot with a $4500 Canon kit”
damn! I wanted to comment like this
Confess Huawei Confess!
He highlight of my day! ???
:)))))))))))))))))) Nice one!
oddly the 6+ photos were better than i have ever got with the camera, i bet they cheated then too
Great marketing, taking a leaf from Nokia here
I’ve briefly owned the phone and it does take great photos. Not DSLR quality, but better than an iPhone IMO. This though, is clear deception. Shame on Huawei.
You got rid of it already? lol
Matt Sully yep. You know me…buy, try and sell ?
If you really, at first look, can not guess that this image is not taken with phone camera… You really have no idea how phone camera look like
but thats the deception, not every one has that knowledge
The average smartphone buyer would not see this.
was this picture associated with the P9? I can’t find any sources.
Really? Did you click the link to where it’s hosted on Google+?
it does not specify that the picture was camptured with the P9.
Also the exif is visible and not altered, i wouldn’t call this a fraud.
the wording implies, maybe thats lost in translation ro something from an original source, but the wording does suggest it
Epic fail worse than Nokia
as always.
What a “surprise”
Lies, damned lies, and ….
U got to be stupid to use a shot from a full frame DSLR with a 70-200mm lens at f4 as phone shot image.
Let’s see the positive thing: If you ever wanted to work for Huawei, they might have a few empty seats right now! :-)
Maybe if your smartphone has a mediocre camera, you have to lie.
Akos Kiraly
Erre már rá kellett jönnöm… xD
By the way, they didn’t say it was taken by their model.
the wording is ambiguous and implies it, very sneaky.
Yes it is, this would not happen in the middle age when people lost their fingers or heads for serious lies. I miss some laws from that time.
Yeah… you can also trust them on how much Leica was really involved in the process yadda yadda
Lmao
They didn’t turn the flash on, though.
cmon guys these are photos for promotion bought on stock photo websites. and moreover do you really think that for example apple uses its iphone to record their promos for real??? wake up!
at least they clear the exif data :)
They got busted. Plain and simple.
Kristian
In terms of exif information P9 matches DSLR.
Is it only technically possible to get such lens flare with a tiny cell phone camera? I always thought that the risk/chance of getting lense flare was higher with larger diameter lenses …
No, Instagram has a filter for that….
Thanks, Captain Obvious!
Anyone thinking that any promotional shots are actually taken from the device is stupid and ignorant. Even nikon used a cabon 5d mark ii timelapse i thier promotional shots for the d810 lol. Dont kid yourselves.
that would make it a downgrade. just saying
Well the regularly use Contax medium formats for their product shots. No downgrade there
http://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/cameras/photos/
;)
nice try. Nikon vs Canon always sells. just enjoy your equipment.
Surprise surprise
If p9 can shoot with that bokeh, i will throw my sony a7 to trash can
it can, if you tape your p9 to a 5D mark III with a 70-200 f2.8 of course
And sound extractly like fujifilm xt promotion video shoot by sony a7s. Lol.
“marketing strategy”
There’s just no fucking way a phone with 1/1.7″ sensor can create that level of bokeh with that kind of distance.
I think it’s even worse. 1/2.9″.
I guess Apple was a good teacher LOL
Zohar Shemesh
never buy china’s shit. stay safe. that’s it.
Then you have live without a phone then
HA! What do you expect from a Chinese owned+made stuffs! They are such a Fakers!
Busted!For those in defensive mode of this,give it up,the obvious intent was to present this as a photo from their phone(common sense).
Sweet phone tho https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EC6G1QO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=vladimir062-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01EC6G1QO&linkId=5438560f51ade471f3d49130d668f84f
Good job Huawei, you’ve copied Apple and Samsung perfectly!
Did Apple and Samsung lied too…
They do so on every promo that they make. Do you really think those photos they use on TV are shot by their devices? I think not. Especially the “shot by iPhone” bullshit.
I have no problem selling foolish people things on false promises if they can not discern for themselves the difference. It’s like if I posted an Ad to sell my Mustang and they swung by to come see it and it was a prius yet they still bought it… if they can’t tell the obvious difference then what does it matter?
can’t get that kind of DOF from a phone sized sensor at the distance required to fit the subject in the frame. A phone would have had everything in focus by that distance.
Not to mention the phone lens would have a lot more subject distortion due to being wide angle.
Mobile Phones will NEVER be able to replace the quality of DSLRs! The photos might look good on the device’s screen itself but if you look at it 1:1 in Lightroom, you’ll see a difference FOREVER.
Not even 1:1. Dynamic range will be way limited, and forget about comparisons above ISO 400.
The closest you’ll get to a DSLR is the Panasonic CM1 with the 1″ Sony sensor (same as Sony, Canon, Panasonic, and Nikon point and shoots). Even then, it’s the quality of 6+ year old APS-C DSLRs.
Hahaha. P9 Leica camera is good for its price. Don’t expect more than what it can offer. It’s a general point-and-shoot camera with a little more than the ordinary, to offeroffer.
If Hillary ran away with all the lies in her last few years…I dont think Huawei is less than her ! Let them lie…everyone is lying …What’s wrong with that lol
I also have no fucking idea what happened to them to make that big mistake, but what I guess is that this will help boost sales CANON 5D Mark III ;D
That is no surprise at all! People will do everything for promotion. Including everything you’ve mentioned in here!
http://www.edgephotography.com.au/
Wow. Actually I have The Huawei p9. Here some photos taken with Huawei P9.
Close up
Another one
Thing is, they didn’t have to lie. The camera is actually pretty good. They could have taken any number of great shots with it and posted those. Geez.