Super Resolution with Nokia Lumia 1520. How pure can a Pureview be?

As Nokia made RAW format available in Lumia 1520, we took a chance to test Almalence Super Resolution technology with it.

Left: Nokia Lumia 1520; Right: the same device with Super-Resolution

As Lumia 1520 always outputs 5 Megapixel image, the comparison has been made between:

  • Standard image at maximal zoom (pixel-to-pixel crop from the sensor with no resampling) bicubically upsized 2x, and
  • 5 Megapixel crop from 19 Megapixel RAW, zoomed 4x with Almalence Super Resolution Zoom

Results in brief

  • Noticeable increase of effective resolution
  • Simultaneous noise reduction
  • Processing time for 5Mpix output at 4x on MSM8974 at 2.3GHz (Lumia 1520 chip set): 0.38 sec

Examples

Notice the branches of the tree at the right, the bars of the vent in the coach.

Notice the branches of the tree at the right, the bars of the vent in the coach.
Text became readable, noise level decreased.
Left: standard shot, right: Super-Resolution Zoom.
The text became readable, noise level decreased.
Left: standard image taken with Nokia Lumia 1520; Right: Super Resolution image. Fine details became visible.
Left: standard image taken with Nokia Lumia 1520; Right: Super Resolution image.
Fine details became visible.

Conclusion

Nokia’s approach to improving the quality of zoomed images is using higher-resolution sensors. The results of Super-Resolution testing clearly show that Almalence Super Resolution Zoom is not just an alternative, but a great addition to that approach, providing not only higher resolution and allowing higher zoom levels, but also drastically reducing the noise.