# vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South Africa with X300 Ultra

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/vivo-x-sam-kolder-a-cinematic-journey-across-the-landscape-of-south-africa-with-x300-ultra
- Published: 2026-05-14T14:31:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

SHENZHEN, China, May 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — vivo today announced a milestone collaboration
with the talented filmmaker Sam Kolder to present "The Garden Route", a cinematic
short film shot entirely on the latest vivo X300 Ultra – offering an immersive portrait
of South Africa’s natural beauty. Filmed along the region’s shifting coastlines 
and open expanses – part of a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve – the film captures
a journey shaped by movement, friendship and discovery. Created using only X300 
Ultra, without relying on Sam Kolder’s usual traditional camera equipment, this 
collaboration signals a new chapter in what mobile filmmaking can be, when the distance
between creator and moment begins to disappear.

[⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South Africa with
X300 Ultra⌉⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South
Africa with X300 Ultra⌉[
vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape
of South Africa with X300 Ultra

**Redefining What a Camera Can Be**

Traditional imaging tools often require careful framing, adjustment, and refinement
to achieve perfection. At the heart of this collaboration is a shared vision: to
empower creators with innovative tools like the vivo ZEISS Co-engineered Imaging
System, which brings professional-grade imaging capabilities into the moment—bridging
the gap between creativity and technology. As part of vivo’s commitment to user-
oriented innovation, X300 Ultra is designed with demanding creators in mind – supporting
a cinematic-style workflow through the co-engineering of advanced optics with ZEISS,
refined imaging algorithms, and system-level optimization, all built into a device
that fits in your pocket.

**A Filmmaker’s Creative Vision, Uninterrupted**

For those who follow his work, Sam Kolder’s films have never really been about where
he goes, but how it feels like being there. Blending travel, lifestyle and adventure
into deeply personal narratives, his work is defined by fluid movement, intuitive
transitions, and a quiet sense of presence within each frame. For this project, 
he arrived in South Africa with no traditional camera kit. Just his team, the open
road, and a couple of X300 Ultra devices.

[⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South Africa with
X300 Ultra⌉⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South
Africa with X300 Ultra⌉[
vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape
of South Africa with X300 Ultra

Setting aside his usual camera arsenal entirely, the assignment became a creative
experiment as much as a production. "I thought leaving my cameras behind would make
the job harder. It ended up being a liberation. Stripping away the technical barriers
let me be fully present with my friends and the raw beauty of this place," said 
Kolder.

The film moves through the Garden Route the way Kolder experiences it – not as a
sequence of destinations, but as moments that unfold and disappear just as quickly.
Ancient cliff faces and crashing coastlines, kelp forests and stretches of quiet
savannah, wildlife undisturbed and landscapes that feel unchanged by time. The intent
was not to explain this land, but to inhabit it – transforming fleeting, unscripted
moments into a cinematic work that feels less like it was produced, and more like
it was lived.

[⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South Africa with
X300 Ultra⌉⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South
Africa with X300 Ultra⌉[
vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape
of South Africa with X300 Ultra

**No Heavy Setups. No Distance from the Moment.**

What enabled this approach was X300 Ultra’s ability to support a cinema‑style workflow
in a single device – minimizing weight, setup time, and interruption compared to
professional camera systems. Kolder noted the natural bokeh rendered by ZEISS Triple
Prime Lenses, while both telephoto extenders proved to be a key creative asset –
delivering background separation and subject isolation that approach what Kolder
is used to achieving with his DSLR setups, while maintaining consistent quality 
across focal lengths. The device also demonstrated strong low-light performance,
maintaining image clarity and minimizing noise in challenging lighting conditions.

With the core functionality inspired by a professional camera and Log recording 
built into the device, X300 Ultra delivered footage with the color depth and dynamic
range suitable for professional color grading workflows – giving Kolder’s team complete
post-production flexibility from footage captured entirely in the field, on a single
device. "It’s the first time I’ve felt that a phone manufacturer has actually thought
about what professional filmmakers need," said Kolder. "Everything we needed was
in the box."

[⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South Africa with
X300 Ultra⌉⌊vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South
Africa with X300 Ultra⌉[
vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape
of South Africa with X300 Ultra

**Cinematic Power in Your Pocket, Built for How Creators Actually Work **

Prioritizing the complete creative workflow, X300 Ultra empowers storytelling by
simplifying technical complexity, enabling creators to capture life as it happens,
without compromise. Central to this capability is the industry-leading ZEISS Master
Lenses Collection – a versatile, professional-grade imaging system that offers a
set of prime focal lengths, including the 14 mm ZEISS Ultra Wide-Angle Camera, 35
mm ZEISS Documentary Camera, 85 mm ZEISS Gimbal-Grade APO Telephoto Camera. Telephoto
reach is further extended with the 400 mm Equivalent vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender
Gen 2 Ultra or the 200 mm equivalent vivo ZEISS Telephoto Extender Gen 2, all of
which were spotlighted throughout the film. 

Beyond the optics, X300 Ultra gives filmmakers granular control over the entire 
video workflow. Features like Multi-Focal 4K 120 fps 10-bit Log Video, which provides
the expansive dynamic range needed and deep color depth needed for professional 
color grading in post-production. The high-spec video capability is complemented
by the All-New vivo Color Science, an end-to-end system that renders rich, layered
depth recreating the feel of classic optics and delivering film-like color performance.
The entire experience is brought together in the All-New Pro Video Mode, which presents
a camera-grade user interface and supports real-time 3D LUT monitoring, allowing
the crew to preview and focus on creative composition.

This cohesive software is matched by hardware built for the realities of filmmaking
in motion. Advanced gimbal-level OIS ensures that handheld shots remain stable and
composed, a crucial feature for the dynamic, on-the-go shooting style seen in the
film. For creators focused on an HDR workflow, the device supports recording in 
Multi-Focal 4K 120 fps Dolby Vision Video, providing a streamlined path for creating
vibrant, high-dynamic range footage. The professional ecosystem is completed by 
the vivo SmallRig Pro Video Rig Kit, a toolkit that offers superior stability and
accessory mounting options, transforming X300 Ultra into a fully integrated pro-
grade tool.

Because the most powerful stories aren’t staged – they’re happening all around us.
This collaboration with Sam Kolder marks a shift in cinematic storytelling, beyond
technical innovation. When technology no longer stands between the creator and the
experience, what remains are the things that have always mattered most – the people,
the places, and the moments worth holding onto. With vivo X300 Ultra, cinema doesn’t
just fit in your pocket; it puts you back in the moment.

Watch the film here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc0z9bQGwkY](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Doc0z9bQGwkY&data=05%7C02%7Ccnhubs%40N0151C.onmicrosoft.com%7C1304370f48974f2ebe3608deb17f704e%7C887bf9ee3c824b88bcb280d5e169b99b%7C1%7C0%7C639143358226440641%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eV%2F4aDJQYJbqD3FLW3tFfAYBK1u7SiUG9qfP8Gyw6I0%3D&reserved=0)

**About vivo**

vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a user-oriented
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, which include Benfen*, 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, Xi’an and more cities, 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 500 million users worldwide.

*"Benfen" is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing 
things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to create value 
for society.

Stay informed of latest vivo news at [https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news](https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news)

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**Read the original article :** [vivo x Sam Kolder: A Cinematic Journey Across the Landscape of South Africa with X300 Ultra ](http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/4958588_AE58588_0?rand=184833)
