The Huawei P9 is out with this unique dual-camera module and it has some neat glass from Leica — Leica calls those lenses the “Summarit H 1:2.2/27 ASPH” — as a naming convention, Panasonic has an interchangeable lens authorized by Leica named the “DG Summilux 1:1.4/25 ASPH.”
As is Leica’s wont to make quality lenses for quality rangefinders, though, it did not make the cameras on the P9. So, who made the cameras?
Well, MyDrivers seems to believe that Chinese manufacturer Sunny Optical — claimed to be the world’s largest mobile phone camera module supplier — has made the module. Gotta wonder if the company’s made the modules on the ZTE Axon Pro — those weren’t exactly the brightest performers.
Maybe Sunny Optical took Huawei quite seriously as a client — after all, it is the third-largest smartphone shipper globally right now.
Update: We’re clarifying our story by including the fact that Leica approved, but, according to MyDrivers, did not make both Panasonic and Leica’s camera lenses.
Update 2: Huawei has released this statement:
“The P9 and P9 Plus were co-engineered between Huawei and Leica. This is the first collaboration between the two companies following a long-term partnership that was announced in February. From the very beginning, Leica has been deeply involved in the development of these devices. There has been significant technological collaboration between Huawei and Leica around many aspects of the camera, including optical design, imaging quality, image data processing, optimization, and the mechanical construction of the camera module to the graphic user interface. The devices meet Leica’s highest imaging quality standards.”