You probably might not want to use the secondary camera in very low-light situations.

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Well, here are the specs for the secondary camera.

It's a 1/3.6" sensor with a 12MP effective resolution, resulting in a pixel size of approximately 1-micron, coupled with an optically stabilized f/2.4 lens and a roughly 52mm-equivalent focal length, resulting in a 45 degree field of view.

Long story short, while the presence of OIS will be a big deal for stability and can help aid in soaking up a bit more light due to slower shutter speeds, this isn't a camera you'd want to use in low light.

Even though it is very possible to drop the shutter speed down to as low as 1/15s or 1/10s, the camera module itself won't be as good at soaking up light compared to the main camera. There is kind of a reason why it's called a secondary camera.

With all that being said, the sensor is just part of the package. It remains to be seen just how the software is able to compensate, though David on Android Police reports that the Note 8 seems to resort to using the primary camera when shooting photos in very challenging light conditions.

 

[Aquila]

Thanks for the work up front on the research and analysis!

 

[dpham00]

Hopefully Samsung will provide seamless integration like Apple. It will automatically choose the best between primary Digital zoom and using the telephoto lens.

 

[chyeo1979]

Hopefully Samsung will provide seamless integration like Apple. It will automatically choose the best between primary Digital zoom and using the telephoto lens.

Think all camera (phone or dedicated) will use optical zoom first before digital zoom. So the first 2x will be optical and further zoom will be digital. Dun think there is an option to use digital zoom for the first 2x.

 

[dsignori]

Thanks for the info! Sounds like the camera will automatically switch away from the secondary camera in low light situations ... https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-8-cameras

 

[dpham00]

Think all camera (phone or dedicated) will use optical zoom first before digital zoom. So the first 2x will be optical and further zoom will be digital. Dun think there is an option to use digital zoom for the first 2x.

In even moderate indoor situations, the iPhone will default to the digital zoom over the telephoto lens "optical zoom". That is even at 2x.
I have pics of digital vs optical zoom here on the iPhone if interested.

https://forums.imore.com/iphone-7-plus/378464-dual-camera.html#post2854285

 

[palmor]

Think all camera (phone or dedicated) will use optical zoom first before digital zoom. So the first 2x will be optical and further zoom will be digital. Dun think there is an option to use digital zoom for the first 2x.

It isn't a 2x optical difference though because the "equivalent" focal length is a combination of sensor size and lens focal length. With a smaller sensor the lens focal length is not 2x the main camera although the equivalent focal length is.

Still better then cropping the main camera in good light I'm sure but there is a bit of marketing speak in there.