Why do smartphones have triple-quadruple cameras when “dedicated” cameras have just one? What makes it better and why do we not see the 3-camera setup on actual cameras then?
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It all depends on what goals you have for a camera system. In many cases, 3 prime lenses can be smaller and lighter and have a faster aperture than 1 zoom lens covering the same range of focal lengths. Engineers have come up with all sorts of solutions to meet different needs.
[The DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone has 3 cameras](https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-worlds-first-drone-with-three-optical-cameras-just-launched-why-that-matters/) specifically to save space and weight versus one camera with a zoom lens.
In the past, motion picture film cameras often had rotating lens turrets with 3 lenses. Someone is designing a new one to use with modern digital cinema cameras. [Here’s a picture of an old German Arri film camera with a lens turret next to a new German Arri digital camera with a prototype lens turret.](https://www.cined.com/content/uploads/2023/04/VERTIGO_old.jpg)
For reference, [here’s the same Arri digital camera with a cinema zoom with third-party zoom motors and other accessories.](https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/mvabwx/focus_puller_amanda_wojtaszek_with_an_arri_amira/)
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