I’m a big fan of the Middle East, especially when it’s not summer (as the heat hits 50 degrees and more!) When Nokia announced the Lumia 920 with Optical Image Stabilisation back in September, I knew that finally I would be able to complete a stunt that I had wanted to pull for over two years.
The concept for the Lumia 920 OIS test stems from when I took the Nokia N8 to the Pitlane Walk at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix back in 2010. Once the N8 was proven to be great for photos, I knew there would come a time when a smartphone was capable of shooting professional video. I don’t mean the kind where you use a professional setup, but those videos that are just captured without rigs, stabilisers and tripods. Fast forward to February this year and we saw the introduction of the Nokia 808 PureView. With full HD 1080p video recording surely this smartphone could complete the stunt? I pondered with the idea but after September 5th and the Nokia announcements, I knew that the Lumia 920 was the one.
Dubai is in the desert and the desert provides ample opportunity to showcase both the photo and the video capabilities of a smartphone. You’ve got the desert planes, large sand dunes, camp fires, wild animals and amazing views, all backed up by the ever bright sun. So what is this stunt I hear you ask?
The stunt involves testing Optical Image Stabilisation on the Lumia 920 in the most EXTREME manor possible – not when we were shaking it by hand (anyone can do that) but when we took the Lumia 920, plastic cable ties and a 4×4 vehicle. Add in the desert safari and dune bashing (one of the best things to do in the desert and a really bumpy experience) and you have the EXTREME optical image stabilisation test. We hooked up the Lumia 920 to the front of the 4×4, protected it, secured it and took off safely inside the 4×4, ready to go sideways on sand dunes, all whilst the Lumia 920 was recording video from the front!
How did the video come out? This week we’ll be bringing you a step-by-step diary of the Extreme OIS test. The next installment is how we protected the Lumia 920 from damage and dust. Stay up to date with the rest of Windows Phone 8 Week in our portal.
About The Author: Nirave Gondhia
Founder of UK Mobile Review and MEA Mobile Review - I'm in my twenties and based in London with a passion for mobile tech, travelling and the Middle East. Connect with me using the links below.
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