Nokia's lengthy collaboration with Zeiss resulted in some of the best cameras in the smartphone segment (RIP Lumia 1020 ), and that partnership is kicking off once again. HMD Global — the company with the exclusive rights to Nokia's brand name — has announced that it has signed an exclusive partnership with Zeiss to deliver the "ultimate imaging experience possible on a smartphone" and set "new imaging standards within the smartphone industry."

Nokia teamed up with Zeiss over a decade ago, bringing several innovations to this industry, including the first multi-megapixel mobile phone, PureView, and more. By rekindling its partnership, Nokia is looking to once again raise the bar for smartphone cameras:

With a joint ambition to advance the quality of the total imaging experience on smartphones spanning the entire ecosystem from software, services, through to screen quality, and optic design, the partnership will see ZEISS and HMD Global co-develop standard-defining imaging capabilities and will bring the ZEISS brand back to Nokia smartphones.

From Arto Nummela, CEO of HMD Global:

Collaborating with ZEISS is an important part of our commitment to always deliver the very best experience for our customers. Our fans want more than a great smartphone camera, they want a complete imaging experience that doesn't just set the standard but redefines it. Our fans expect it and, together with ZEISS, we're delivering it – co-developed imaging excellence for all.

The Nokia phones that already made their debut this year — the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and the Nokia 6 — are aimed at the budget segment, and it looks like the Zeiss optics will be reserved for Nokia's oft-rumored flagship, the Nokia 9. Earlier leaks showed off two dual 13MP cameras at the back, and Nokia alluded the same in a tweet announcing the partnership with Zeiss:

Nokia smartphones to feature ZEISS optics. Together, we look forward to an exciting journey into the future of smartphone imaging. pic.twitter.com/GNWwuMAveK — ZEISS Camera Lenses (@ZEISSLenses) July 6, 2017

It'll certainly be interesting to see what comes out of Nokia's renewed partnership with Zeiss, considering camera quality is a key differentiator in the high-end segment.