vivo Global Imaging Partnership with ZEISS: Dominating Optics from the Moon to Smartphones

ZEISS has long been a household name in the world of optical technology. From capturing humanity’s first steps on the moon to revolutionising smartphone photography, this German optics pioneer has set the gold standard for precision across multiple industries.

The company’s legacy continues to thrive through its co-engineering efforts with vivo, bringing cutting-edge camera technology to the palm of your hand.

Founded in 1846 by Carl Zeiss in a small workshop in Germany, the company initially made a name for itself by producing exceptionally accurate spectacle lenses. ZEISS has been committed to innovation in optical technology for 178 years. ZEISS quickly expanded into other fields, designing the world’s first high-resolution microscope—a milestone that established its foothold in scientific research. Since then, ZEISS lenses have been used in everything from photographic and cinematic cameras to medical devices, microscopes, binoculars, and telescopes.

ZEISS technology has played a crucial role in advancing healthcare. Its optical diagnostics have revolutionised medical imaging and surgery, with its lenses contributing to the research of more than 30 Nobel laureates. This commitment to precision has had a profound impact on global health, raising the quality of diagnostics and treatment around the world.

However, ZEISS’s influence extends far beyond Earth’s laboratories. The company’s collaboration with NASA resulted in the creation of the Biogon 5.6/60 wide-angle lens, which captured some of the most iconic images of the Apollo 11 mission and Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon. ZEISS’s advanced optical technology is also featured in the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the famed Hubble Telescope, furthering its legacy in space exploration.

In the world of cinema, ZEISS lenses have helped create some of the most memorable films in history. Its cinematography lenses were used in the filming of Oscar-winning classics such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Over the years, ZEISS has won multiple Academy Awards in the scientific and technical categories, earning accolades in 1987, 1999, and 2012 for its contribution to the film industry.

As technology evolves, ZEISS continues to stay ahead of the curve. Since 2021, the company has been co-engineering with Global smartphone giant vivo to integrate its premium camera systems into X series smartphones. This partnership has already produced the vivo X-series, which combines ZEISS’s legendary optics with cutting-edge smartphone technology. vivo & ZEISS joint R&D program brings innovation in photography and cinematography. The result is a smartphone camera experience that rivals professional photography, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mobile imaging.

Rumours are now circulating that ZEISS will soon be making its debut in vivo’s V-series smartphones, bringing its high-quality lenses to a more affordable range. This move could make ZEISS’s renowned optical technology accessible to a broader audience, further cementing its position as a leader in the field of smartphone photography.

From capturing the first moments on the moon to transforming the way we photograph our daily lives; ZEISS continues to be a trailblazer in optical innovation. Its ongoing collaboration with vivo is yet another chapter in a legacy of excellence, ensuring that everyone—from scientists to smartphone users—can benefit from the best in optical technology.

About vivo
vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company’s core values, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.
While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xi’an, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide.