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I am in the market for a new phone. I use an old Samsung S3 now. The Z3Compact seems perfect, but my only concern is the camera. I use my phone as my main camera, but general consensus seems to be that it is not as good as the camera on the S5 of iPhone6. I like to shoot directly in HDR mode, but that seems to be a problem on the Z3. Without rooting, could I install the Google Camera apk and if so, would the Z3C be able to use the HDR mode from the Google Camera app?
Or should I change my plans and go for the S5?
The Google camera app on the Play Store installs fine. I'll post some comparison shots later this morning.
My sister has an S3 and we were taking comparison photos in her kitchen yesterday - obviously the z3c is a significant step up in quality from the S3, though I realize that's not really your question.
Thanks! And it is no problem to use the HDR setting in the Google Camera app? On my Nexus 7 the HDR is greyed-out in the Google Camera App, it will nog show up on every device i read in the Google Q&A
Google camera app permits HDR on the z3c.
Sony camera app also has HDR toggle in manual mode, but is grayed out if resolution is set higher than 8mp.
I know of several reviews claiming that Sony's Superior Auto mode isn't HDR, but since that mode captures at 8mp I'm wondering if it doesn't use it's internal HDR algorithm in auto mode, despite what I've seen the reviewers claim. I can't really tell the difference between Superior Auto and Manual 8mp HDR photos taken with the Sony camera app.
---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 PM ----------
Ok, here are some comparison pictures of the Z3C's camera, using both the Sony Camera App, and the Google Camera App from the Play store.
I have uploaded the pictures to an imgur album, and added descriptions for the six photos. Just for clarity's sake, I should mention I am not really into photography that much, and my skills are probably not up to par for composing or technique, so take that into account.
There are six pictures (they're labeled appropriately in the album, but I'm reproducing them here so people can decide if they're interested before viewing them, since the images are large):
1) Sony App, Superior Auto setting (8mp), No Flash
2) Sony App, Superior Auto setting (8mp), Flash
3) Sony App, Manual Setting at 20mp, No Flash
4) Sony App, Manual Setting at 20mp, Flash
5) Google App, HDR setting at 20mp, No Flash
6) Google App, HDR setting at 20mp, Flash
Here is the link to the imgur album:
http://imgur.com/a/KjL4D#0
Hope this is helpful.
I just did a quick Google cam vs stock cam test myself. The stock cam in auto mode definitely takes pics that are a little on the cold side. In manual mode though, it was more accurate. The google cam seemed more or less the same. I'm sticking with the stock Sony cam.
DrPanz said:
I am in the market for a new phone. I use an old Samsung S3 now. The Z3Compact seems perfect, but my only concern is the camera. I use my phone as my main camera, but general consensus seems to be that it is not as good as the camera on the S5 of iPhone6. I like to shoot directly in HDR mode, but that seems to be a problem on the Z3. Without rooting, could I install the Google Camera apk and if so, would the Z3C be able to use the HDR mode from the Google Camera app?
Or should I change my plans and go for the S5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People shouldn't act as if the camera is bad, it's not bad at all. Just in some situations it under performs against iOS and the S5 for example, but in other situations it' better.
Check out the topic I made for people with doubts, you can see samples there:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/themes-apps/post-pictures-xperia-z3-compact-t2889119
Thank you. Not quite made up my mind yet. I read a lot of horrorstories on broken glass... maybe the S5 proves out to be a more secure option. Good camera, waterresistant and plastic - which in my S1 and S3 has survived a lot of drops.
I think it comes down to how important the form factor and potential battery life advantages are over other stuff.
There are choices with slightly better cameras and certainly ones less vulnerable to accidental damage.
For me, coming off Nexus 5 and Note 3, I am really prioritizing battery longevity, pocket friendliness and better one-handed comfort and use. So far I'm pleased but it's still early days so the jury's still out for me.
Be sure you can live with TouchWiz and other Samsung bloat (bugs with erroneous Knox warnings on the AT&T Note 3 model nearly drove me crazy). It really ruined my Note 3 experience for me and is what drove me to the Nexus 5, which in turn was somewhat spoiled by awful battery life despite rooting and aggressively optimizing (to the point of limiting usefulness) power consumption. Never got more than 8-10 realistic hours on the 5 no matter what I tried.
Form factor is great. As is battery life. That's one side. Other side is the camera, and how it stands up to a drop from the pocket. That last bit worries me.
Well I haven't had the Sony long enough to try and convince you the advantages outweigh the drawbacks - I may drop mine and destroy it this afternoon!
But I'm not sure any unprotected high end smartphone stands all that good a chance of surviving any particular dropping incident, and adding a protective case to a smaller device still nets you a slightly larger small device that is still a a lot smaller profile than a bigger device with a protective case. Just my. 02 worth.
It's not only dropping, but also spontanious cracks when carrying the Z3C in te front pocket. of your jeans. Been reading a lot of reports on that the last days.
Most of those reports are duplicates. Only a few confirmed cases.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
As far as I'm concerned, every other phone has more so-called "dealbreakers" than the Z3C. This phone has so many plusses that outweigh any possible negatives that people need to imagine faults and come up with ridiculous issues not to get it, and that's their loss.
In this German test of the Z3C the back panel cracked spontaniously:
http://www.areamobile.de/handys/4275-sony-xperia-z3-compact/testbericht
Sony states it was an isolated incident. Yeah...
DrPanz said:
I am in the market for a new phone. I use an old Samsung S3 now. The Z3Compact seems perfect, but my only concern is the camera. I use my phone as my main camera, but general consensus seems to be that it is not as good as the camera on the S5 of iPhone6. I like to shoot directly in HDR mode, but that seems to be a problem on the Z3. Without rooting, could I install the Google Camera apk and if so, would the Z3C be able to use the HDR mode from the Google Camera app?
Or should I change my plans and go for the S5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you like to take nature photos, and if you are planning to watch the photos on something larger than the phone display, the Z3/compact is a bad choice. In this post is a comparison with the galaxy note 3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55980596&postcount=127
Now, this is viewing the pixels 1:1, which probably most people won't bother with. But even when scaling down this particular photo to about 2MP, the compression artifacts can still be noticed, and the GN3 photo is the better one! And it definitely proves that in certain cases, like photos with much detail, there are much better cameras out there.
But in other cases the Z3 camera produces beautiful images (if you don't look too closely), and it is great for low light photos. But for anything with trees or grass - definitely no!
radicans said:
If you like to take nature photos, and if you are planning to watch the photos on something larger than the phone display, the Z3/compact is a bad choice. In this post is a comparison with the galaxy note 3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55980596&postcount=127
Now, this is viewing the pixels 1:1, which probably most people won't bother with. But even when scaling down this particular photo to about 2MP, the compression artifacts can still be noticed, and the GN3 photo is the better one! And it definitely proves that in certain cases, like photos with much detail, there are much better cameras out there.
But in other cases the Z3 camera produces beautiful images (if you don't look too closely), and it is great for low light photos. But for anything with trees or grass - definitely no!
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Click to collapse
Thanks. the camera performance issues, the fact that HDR is a bit of a hustle to reach, and the reports of cracking displays have made me nervous enough to put my plans for buying the Z3C on hold, and maybe buy the S5. Not as pretty as the Z3C, but it may prove out to be a safe choice for now.
DrPanz said:
Thanks. the camera performance issues, the fact that HDR is a bit of a hustle to reach, and the reports of cracking displays have made me nervous enough to put my plans for buying the Z3C on hold, and maybe buy the S5. Not as pretty as the Z3C, but it may prove out to be a safe choice for now.
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The HDR is easy, you just have to set it to 8MP or less, then HDR switch becomes available. And with the Z3 there is no point whatsoever to shoot in anything larger than 8MP anyway!
But yeah, if I would have known about the camera compression/oversharpening issues I would have settled for another phone. And speaking of compression, the funny thing is that in the comparison photos i posted, the file size of the inferior Z3 photo is about twice as large over the galaxy note photo!! Nice one Sony..
What would have been the smartphone you would have chosen in stead?
Well, there are not many options, if you want to keep pocketability, form factor and dedicated camera button.
I have some nice results with Pro Capture, but compared to stock camera app with a little touch of post processing (Snapseed e.g.), the camera is capable of some nice shots. But it's nothing THAT special really.
Still, beats my Nexus5 in terms of focus speed, which is kinda important for me, so...
But, YMMV.
DrPanz said:
What would have been the smartphone you would have chosen in stead?
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Well, I really want the "small" form factor of Z3c, but without compromises. So that leaves most phones out I guess. Samsung galaxy alpha would have been nice, if it wasn't for the battery time and the big price tag. Probably would have waited with the purchase another 6 months or so, and see what the market looked like at that point.
I know I have ranted lots on the camera, but all things considered, it's still a great phone!
Well according to this site Exynos version has different Camera sensor than Snapdragon. Specifically,Exynos uses a Samsung based sensor "SLSI_S5K2P2" whereas SD uses Sony based sensor "IMX240". Also it says that historically, Exynos camera Sensors were superior to Snapdragon's!
If anyone is interested in checking/verifying the sensor then open the dialer app and type the following number *#34971539#, choose ISP Ver Check.
Nice find. The low light shots on the Exynos look significantly better.
Oh damn, I'm from the US, guess I'm not getting a Note 4 anymore. It has a lesser quality sensor
SM-N910U Exynos model unsupport sony imx240 sensor.?
Here's GSMArena's review of the S-805 Note 4's camera. It's ISOCELL with phase detection so everyone can relax their sphincter.
Finally, a real camera evaluation. GSMArena's posted their review of the Note 4 ( http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4-review-1147.php ). They and Anandtech both due ridged objective testing which they subject all the devices they test to equally. So the results can be compared across devices. I personally put little value in sites that basically offer their opinion which, so far, all that's been posted represent. There are some pro and semi-pro photographers on XDA whose opinions I value but most people here posting pics of their dog and critiquing it aren't really reliable references. And people owning each brand of smartphone swear their brand's camera(s) are the best. And let's face it, if you search the Internet hard enough you can find substantiation for just about any point you're trying to make. That's why objective testing is so important - you can't fight facts and controlled examples.
Here are some excerpts from GSMArena's testing of the S-805 version of the Note 4's camera...
Focusing has been improved this year with the inclusion of phase detection pixels on the sensor. It's the same technology that premiered on the Samsung Galaxy S5 but it's even faster this time around. The LG G3 and the Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus offer a similar hybrid auto focus systems combining the traditional contrast detect auto focus with phase detect.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 takes excellent pictures. The higher megapixel count is noticeable and we welcome the wider aspect of the images as both allow a bigger, better photo. Detail is superb, especially in the center of the photo but still doesn't degrade too much towards the far edges.
Images came out tack sharp across the frame and focusing was spot on. We noticed that the Galaxy Note 4 was very fast to lock on and even surpassed the Samsung Galaxy S5 on every occasion.
Colors aren't as punchy as those of the Galaxy S5 but are still vibrant. The white balance was spot on, finding a great middle ground between cold and warm. Scenes are well exposed and we like the dynamic range from the 16MP camera - the shadow and highlight areas of the image are well exposed.
There is some noise visible in the shadows and in solid colors (such as in the sky) but it's kept reasonably under control.
The autofocus when capturing close up (macro) images fares extremely well. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can get very close to its subject (around 6cm) and capture detailed images. There is also a reasonable separation from the object and the background leading to a nice blurred effect (bokeh).
HDR samples aim to expose the entire frame better by capturing a series of shots at different exposures and matching them for the final result. We like the HDR effect on the Galaxy Note 4 - it gets a lot of detail back into the shadows but also improves upon the highlights
Overall, we can say that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 carries one of the most capable cameras you can find on a smartphone. The quality is very high, detail is aplenty and things are always in focus and always sharp. The large resolution is welcome and the 16:9 makes much more sense than 4:3 (or any other ratio for that matter) on a 16:9 device.Versus Note 3
Looking at the samples in good light it's clear the Galaxy Note 4 has the upper hand. It manages to squeeze a little bit more detail compared to its predecessor. However the Galaxy Note 3 doesn't lag too far behind. Truth be told, there is more noise in the Galaxy Note 3 image, especially in the sky. The noise in the Galaxy Note 4 image is better controlled and finer.
In scenes with more fine detail the 16MP snapper of the Galaxy Note 4 is clearly superior. The textures on the wall of the building below indicate just that. Not only that, but it clearly has a better dynamic range, as the highlights on the left are not blown as on the right, while keeping nearly the same exposure of the shadows.Versus SGS5
When it comes to low light we pit the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 against the Samsung Galaxy S5. Both have 16MP ISOCELL cameras with identical f/2.2 apertures so the amount of light hitting the sensor should be about the same. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has the added bonus of optical image stabilization, which should allow it to snap photos at lower shutter speeds than the S5.
The images below are shot at ISO 500 (automatic ISO) and with a shutter speed of 1/10s. As you can see the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a blurrier image while the Galaxy Note 4 keeps things a little more sharp at the same shutter speed. All four images were captured handheld.
Here's GSMArena's six device camera shoot out test. In order of performance:
Lumia 1020
SGS5
LG G3
Oppo Find 7)
Xperia Z2 [Z3 has the same camera]
iP5s
They left out the HTC M8 because its 4MP camera doomed it from the beginning.
http://www.gsmarena.com/camera_shootout-review-1104p8.php
SAVVAS. said:
Well according to this site Exynos version has different Camera sensor than Snapdragon. Specifically,Exynos uses a Samsung based sensor "SLSI_S5K2P2" whereas SD uses Sony based sensor "IMX240". Also it says that historically, Exynos camera Sensors were superior to Snapdragon's!
If anyone is interested in checking/verifying the sensor then open the dialer app and type the following number *#34971539#, choose ISP Ver Check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh my God.. please read http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55749031&postcount=44. And need check not ISP !!! but Phone/CAM FW ver !!!:laugh:
On now date all Note4_devices have Sony IMX240 sensor.
Sony generally makes excellent camera sensors. Nikon even uses them.
Pako7 said:
oh my God.. please read http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55749031&postcount=44. And need check not ISP !!! but Phone/CAM FW ver !!!:laugh:
On now date all Note4_devices have Sony IMX240 sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go blame that website which reported that, those are their words... Nonetheless, thanks for contributing on this matter:good:
This is interesting and I'd like to get the bottom of this.
Looking at pictures and some videos how N4 camera works, live HDR, S5's widescreen pixel resolution etc., the Note 4 seem to perform very similarly to the S5 in terms of white balance, saturation and exposure, results are only a little sharper during the daylight, more so in HDR and during the night. But if either or both N4 versions have an IMX240, then Sony has a 16:9 sensor that perform 95% like a Samsung ISOCELL and that's a little harder to believe with such different technologies.
Of course Sony can always make an ISOCELL sensor for Samsung as they make a PDAF-type for Apple, but then I'd have to ask why, Samsung comfortably supplied the bigger launch of the S5 with enough ISOCELL units so numbers cannot be the problem. Some say OIS can be, but if Sony has an exact same size sensor as S5 ISOCELL, I don't see an issue packing ISOCELL sensors into an OIS camera unit. BTW I like ISOCELL cause it's very fast and reliable, almost always perfect WB which is always an issue with Sony sensors, 2-6 out of 10 shots come out with improper white balance either on the colder or on the yellower side. Apple phones are the only ones getting it almost always right.
IMX240 equipped sensors with the proper ISP however can do up to 32s shutter speeds, and longer shutter options are a huge missing option for Samsung devices, usually SW capped at 1/15s. That's not only a problem cause you either have to use the multi-shot stability mode or higher ISO for VERY noisy results, but with optical image stabilization this capping is totally unnecessary, one could hold the phone for up to half a second with OIS and not get a shaky result. So far Note 4 shots are impressive during daytime and improved during the night, but I don't see any longer shutter samples or options. That is just silly from Sammy at this point in mobile photography. EVERYTHING is there for great night shots except for some reason Samsung's willingness to either allow longer shutter speed options for the automatic mode, or provide it for manual mode. This lack of judgement makes Samsung phones inferior in night comparison to counterparts that happily go for long shutters. The Oppo Find 7 makes great night shots with a Sony IMX sensor.
BoneXDA said:
This is interesting and I'd like to get the bottom of this.
Looking at pictures and some videos how N4 camera works, live HDR, S5's widescreen pixel resolution etc., the Note 4 seem to perform very similarly to the S5 in terms of white balance, saturation and exposure, results are only a little sharper during the daylight, more so in HDR and during the night. But if either or both N4 versions have an IMX240, then Sony has a 16:9 sensor that perform 95% like a Samsung ISOCELL and that's a little harder to believe with such different technologies.
Of course Sony can always make an ISOCELL sensor for Samsung as they make a PDAF-type for Apple, but then I'd have to ask why, Samsung comfortably supplied the bigger launch of the S5 with enough ISOCELL units so numbers cannot be the problem. Some say OIS can be, but if Sony has an exact same size sensor as S5 ISOCELL, I don't see an issue packing ISOCELL sensors into an OIS camera unit. BTW I like ISOCELL cause it's very fast and reliable, almost always perfect WB which is always an issue with Sony sensors, 2-6 out of 10 shots come out with improper white balance either on the colder or on the yellower side. Apple phones are the only ones getting it almost always right.
IMX240 equipped sensors with the proper ISP however can do up to 32s shutter speeds, and longer shutter options are a huge missing option for Samsung devices, usually SW capped at 1/15s. That's not only a problem cause you either have to use the multi-shot stability mode or higher ISO for VERY noisy results, but with optical image stabilization this capping is totally unnecessary, one could hold the phone for up to half a second with OIS and not get a shaky result. So far Note 4 shots are impressive during daytime and improved during the night, but I don't see any longer shutter samples or options. That is just silly from Sammy at this point in mobile photography. EVERYTHING is there for great night shots except for some reason Samsung's willingness to either allow longer shutter speed options for the automatic mode, or provide it for manual mode. This lack of judgement makes Samsung phones inferior in night comparison to counterparts that happily go for long shutters. The Oppo Find 7 makes great night shots with a Sony IMX sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing your insight!
Do you also have the spec sheets for the IMX240 sensor? It is one of the better sensors on the market this year, right?
an_xda said:
Thanks for sharing your insight!
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@BoneXDA is smart, photographically savvy, and has contributed a ton to discussions of various devices camera performance. He's getting his hands on a Note 4 soon. Look for his review when it's posted. It'll provide insight in to a lot of the open questions hanging around. I'm looking forward to it.
The Note 4, Snapdragon version, has a Sony sensor. More to come!
BoneXDA said:
The Note 4, Snapdragon version, has a Sony sensor. More to come!
Click to expand...
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The s/w on Exynos reports the sensor differently than on S-805 for some reason. That's why everyone thought there were two different sensors. There aren't. Or, if there are, they're both made by Sony. Thanks to @Pako7.
I guess all we know is that it is a Sony sensor. Darn!
I just hope it takes better low light shots than the S5... The comparison photos I have seen between the iPhone 6+ and the Note 4 thus far have me a bit saddened. I really want to use the Note 4 but what is holding me back is TouchWiz (do not want to root and lose warranty before it expires) and the camera.
Can't you use Nova Launcher instead? Are you considering an iPhone 6?
JCM800 said:
Can't you use Nova Launcher instead? Are you considering an iPhone 6?
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Click to collapse
Does Nova Launcher change the way notifications work too? The TouchWiz skin takes up half the notification drop down... That is truly my only grip with the OS right now, the rest is not so bad.
EP2008 said:
Nice find. The low light shots on the Exynos look significantly better.
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No they don't.
The Black Droid said:
Oh damn, I'm from the US, guess I'm not getting a Note 4 anymore. It has a lesser quality sensor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you're being sarcastic.
an_xda said:
I guess all we know is that it is a Sony sensor. Darn!.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does the iPhone since the 4S.
BarryH_GEG said:
The s/w on Exynos reports the sensor differently than on S-805 for some reason. That's why everyone thought there were two different sensors. There aren't. Or, if there are, they're both made by Sony. Thanks to @Pako7.
Click to expand...
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lol i knew it. knew it wasn't the Samsung isocell... which honestly makes me happy bc again, I hated the s5 camera.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
jayochs said:
lol i knew it. knew it wasn't the Samsung isocell..
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Click to collapse
It may be ISOCELL manufactured for Samsung by Sony. @BoneXDA said after looking at SGS5 and Note 4 pics back to back they're 95% the same which would be hard to accomplish with two divergent technologies. I think he has one in hand so we'll know soon enough.
Note8 + iPhoneX both have dual rear cameras however in some portrait photos especially your hair, ears etc is blurred out incorrectly. iPhone X seems to do this job a lot better despite having similar hardware specs.
Is this something a software could fix/enhance?
everybodylovesfebs said:
Note8 + iPhoneX both have dual rear cameras however in some portrait photos especially your hair, ears etc is blurred out incorrectly. iPhone X seems to do this job a lot better despite having similar hardware specs.
Is this something a software could fix/enhance?
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Click to collapse
1. two TOTALLY different devices
2. I've made some "portrait"-pic's: no problems at all
Ah okay, yes agreed that Note is a phablet and other a phone. However I'd assume that in the camera department at least they would both perform similar.
Particularly, portrait modes where Note 8 blurs out lot more than your face where IPhone X does the same lot more accurately.
They are both phones, the ill-term "phablet" is no longer valid, as it was only referring to big screen sized phones in the days of the first Note, now all flagship phones are even bigger than the first galaxy note, the differences that henklbr refers to, are mainly how both OEM design, build and manage their devices
Found the reason. IPhone uses Kinect like 3D imaging for its algorithm. Samsung uses 2D which unfortunately isn't anywhere as accurate as the iPhone for pleasing bike and portrait photos.
Hopefully the next iteration will have something as good or better.
everybodylovesfebs said:
Found the reason. IPhone uses Kinect like 3D imaging for its algorithm. Samsung uses 2D which unfortunately isn't anywhere as accurate as the iPhone for pleasing bike and portrait photos.
Hopefully the next iteration will have something as good or better.
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Click to collapse
The 3D imaging is only for front camera when used to unlock the phone. So no that's not the reason. Its software.
Not according to the internet.
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/255771-apple-iphone-x-truedepth-camera-works
http://bgr.com/2017/10/02/iphone-vs-android-camera-truedepth-face-id/
What does it really matter.. Ultimately, it's (a camera, any camera), is just a tool.. I've seen terrible (and I mean terrible, terrible) shots with the X, and I've taken some bad ones with my 8 in the learning process. Ultimately, it's up to the user to learn what the camera can and cannot do, and it's shortcomings.
I(and I'm sure many others)don't know why there is always someone "iPhone can do this".. Ok.. and, so what... Go buy an iPhone and see all that it cannot do, that the note can. And then, go post in an isheep (which the op sounds like) forum and see how many sensible responses you get..
We deal with notes.. Not iPhones here.. Who cares what that overpriced and over hyped single task piece of yesterday's hardware can or can't do(which can't, is a massive lot!).. I'll take my note on the worst day and night over that ugly screen and lack of multitasking on that ijunk..
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
the only thing these two phones have in common is that they both have cameras
WaxysDargle said:
the only thing these two phones have in common is that they both have cameras
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And that both can do voice calls and text messaging :laugh:
rodrigofd said:
And that both can do voice calls and text messaging :laugh:
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that is debatable! lol
everybodylovesfebs said:
Not according to the internet.
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/255771-apple-iphone-x-truedepth-camera-works
http://bgr.com/2017/10/02/iphone-vs-android-camera-truedepth-face-id/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both of those articles are referring to the front facing camera, not the rear cameras.
Geez I'm not an i sheep I've owned s2,3 4 5, s7e, s8 and now note 8. My close friend is however an apple fanboy and likes to compare both and up until the iPhone x I always had the upper hand in most things.
I spent hours trying to find a camera that takes portrait photos(both front and rear) with bit more accuracy when it comes to blurred background.
The 3D imaging is apparently only for the front camera which explains why the front self portraits are a lot better on the iPhone X where as the rear camera portraits are a lot closer in good lighting.
In dim lighting such as a restaurant, the Note 8 selective focus, live focus doesn't fire up due to "no contrast detected.." error.
I'm pretty happy with the Note and use proper mirrorless cameras (a6500 + 18-105 and Samsung NX500+45/1.8) for photography needs however thought I could ask the question here and see if I'm doing something wrong or get some constructive advice on ways to improve the portrait modes. Thanks
Well, yes, your reason is valid, but, in the end, it is always a matter of balance, even the mere fact of using a cell phone to take pictures ultimately reflects this, if taking pictures is the most important factor, a camera is the choice, but you have to pay a price, as I said, it is all about balance, Samsung tried to adress it with the galaxy cameras, but they abandoned it
So, got my phone yesterday and wanted to test the camera out. The s21 ultra will cost me around 60USD per month so I want to be blown away when moving up from s9+. But, so far I have experienced a "meh" situation where of course, the image on the screen is good, the scrolling is fantastic with 120Hz and the stereo speakers are awesome. But the image quality when just firing up the camera app and not doing any setting is just "meh". I am not impressed so far. I took some photos in the house today. Mostly with normal settings auto but the one with the deers are with pro mode and the same settings. I checked all settings and alla iso(plus rest) parameters. Am I missing something? Or why am I not impressed going from s9+ to s21 ultra?
I have not tested 4k/60fps video yet but I am already thinking of returning the phone and waiting for a good second hand version. Uploading some pictures. Let me know if I should test in another way
Forgot to add that the left pictures are always s21 ultra
Started checking the tube for some comparison and I mean videos, the look really good. I think just perhaps shooting neutral and color correct will do a nice job
Return the Phone.
I u are not happy with it.
I am just wondering if it's me, the phone or something else that makes me feel that s9+ to 21 ultra is not a big leap. I am planning to use my gimbal with my phone to capture some nice b-roll movies but what I can see so far not much has happened to the images. I am afraid to use the new s21 to much as I am thinking of returning it but I really want it to be a good buy, but already after 1 day I am thinking of a return. Perhaps I was expecting VHS to bluray difference but cameras are already so good that it's hard to make giant leaps.
It's not a big leap in terms of camera. Personally I regret not returning it in time. Now I am stuck with it and the main problem for me is the weight. I bought it thinking I was going to use this for years but now I can't stand the thought of holding this brick for so long. Also, the photos are not a huge step forward. There are instances where I see more details but also more noise. I find them to be noisy and videos blotchy in low light. I mean, the truth is, it's not worth the money. Also, pay attention to the photos you are taking with it, because the S21 Ultra has the HDR processing on, no matter if you turn it off or not. So, if you see any difference between your S9+ and S21, it's actually the HDR. The biggest problem of them all is the fact that I cannot find a good alternative to it. All of the other flagships are basically the same thing, most of them don't even have the 10x optical zoom. Cameras just cannot be better than they are now as long as they have tiny sensors. So if you do return it, you might want to hold off upgrading for some time.
Randi03 said:
It's not a big leap in terms of camera. Personally I regret not returning it in time. Now I am stuck with it and the main problem for me is the weight. I bought it thinking I was going to use this for years but now I can't stand the thought of holding this brick for so long. Also, the photos are not a huge step forward. There are instances where I see more details but also more noise. I find them to be noisy and videos blotchy in low light. I mean, the truth is, it's not worth the money. Also, pay attention to the photos you are taking with it, because the S21 Ultra has the HDR processing on, no matter if you turn it off or not. So, if you see any difference between your S9+ and S21, it's actually the HDR. The biggest problem of them all is the fact that I cannot find a good alternative to it. All of the other flagships are basically the same thing, most of them don't even have the 10x optical zoom. Cameras just cannot be better than they are now as long as they have tiny sensors. So if you do return it, you might want to hold off upgrading for some time.
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Thanks, this is exactly what I was afraid of. I want to create some nice b-roll movies and I have a good gimbal for my phone. It feels like with a stable camera and normal daylight, there will be no difference. It's only if I want to do alot of lowlight or wide angle shots. It's just not worth the 60USD/month when I have an ok phone. I will wait for the s22 and see if it has some new power. According to the new qualcom the nextgen chip will wonders....but that is what every generation of phone says also, but when it comes to daily use I have not seen big leaps.
Tomorrow I will return the phone and sorry for all you s21u lovers, this one wasn't for me.
Thanks again @Randi03 for giving an open and honest view of the phone from a daily user
Glad to be of help. I also hope the next generations will bring something new and worth upgrading to... For me personally I will do my best to test them before buying and ignore all the hype from the manufacturers and the reviews.
A number of users have stated the S9 is Galaxy's best camera. I'm pretty sure you're not operating the S21 camera at optimal settings. Everyone knows the Exynos SoC lags behind the Snapdragon for camera quality but those photos are awful. Somethings not right but I doubt it's just the camera or chipset on your device.
varcor said:
A number of users have stated the S9 is Galaxy's best camera. I'm pretty sure you're not operating the S21 camera at optimal settings. Everyone knows the Exynos SoC lags behind the Snapdragon for camera quality but those photos are awful. Somethings not right but I doubt it's just the camera or chipset on your device.
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The snapdragon version is better than the Exynos because it gives good performance in all aspects. The camera quality is best compared to the Exynos version.
varcor said:
A number of users have stated the S9 is Galaxy's best camera. I'm pretty sure you're not operating the S21 camera at optimal settings. Everyone knows the Exynos SoC lags behind the Snapdragon for camera quality but those photos are awful. Somethings not right but I doubt it's just the camera or chipset on your device.
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I did not set the camera to optimal settings. I wanted to try the s21ultra "out of the box". I tested some pictures on auto mode and when I switched to pro mode I made sure to at least use the same settings. Then of course we can discuss if the settings where optimal but this was not the point. 2 phones with same settings where one is a couple of generations behind should not have almost same quality pictures. And I cannot show you side-by-side the displays in preview mode but in some places I saw better preview of the image in the camera app on the s9+.
There is no doubt that the s21ultra is better, it is, but it's not 60USD/month better with my current phone
Well, I wanted to be wow-ed and really looke forward to the s21 ultra but yesterday I returned it. Waiting for the next generation but will really really check comparison videos before I decide anything
S22 is a note rather than an S
pixellegolas said:
I did not set the camera to optimal settings. I wanted to try the s21ultra "out of the box". I tested some pictures on auto mode and when I switched to pro mode I made sure to at least use the same settings. Then of course we can discuss if the settings where optimal but this was not the point. 2 phones with same settings where one is a couple of generations behind should not have almost same quality pictures. And I cannot show you side-by-side the displays in preview mode but in some places I saw better preview of the image in the camera app on the s9+.
There is no doubt that the s21ultra is better, it is, but it's not 60USD/month better with my current phone
Well, I wanted to be wow-ed and really looke forward to the s21 ultra but yesterday I returned it. Waiting for the next generation but will really really check comparison videos before I decide anything
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This is what I'm afraid of. I'm currently on note 10+, love it but I want better camera, by that I mean better crop ability. Gcam makes things better but I still hope those mpx do the diffrence in crop ability
Hello there, everyone! I'm in the market for a new phone, and I currently own a Google Pixel 2. When it comes to phones, photo quality is a significant priority for me, therefore I'm wondering if the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best option for the camera, or if the Google Pixel 6 or perhaps a different phone altogether would be better. Is the Samsung Galaxy S21, in general, the greatest phone on the market right now?
https://router-address.uno/
In general is s21u the best (in android phones)
For camera pixel 6 pro is better.
bisky24 said:
Hello there, everyone! I'm in the market for a new phone, and I currently own a Google Pixel 2. When it comes to phones, photo quality is a significant priority for me, therefore I'm wondering if the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best option for the camera, or if the Google Pixel 6 or perhaps a different phone altogether would be better. Is the Samsung Galaxy S21, in general, the greatest phone on the market right now?
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If you're talking about stills alone, the S21 ultra is easily in the top 5 phones in the market, possibly top two, depending on your visual preference. As far as lens array versatility is concerned, it's probably the best.
However if by camera you mean video as well, then the iPhone still takes the crown overall. Of course this is personal opinion (and it pains me to admit this), but I've used both and if I had to choose one phone based on camera package alone, I'd go for the iPhone 13 Pro/ Max.
enigmaamit said:
If you're talking about stills alone, the S21 ultra is easily in the top 5 phones in the market, possibly top two, depending on your visual preference. As far as lens array versatility is concerned, it's probably the best.
However if by camera you mean video as well, then the iPhone still takes the crown overall. Of course this is personal opinion (and it pains me to admit this), but I've used both and if I had to choose one phone based on camera package alone, I'd go for the iPhone 13 Pro/ Max.
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Agreed. I'd also say that the iPhone has the edge for "on the fly" whip it out & shoot. The s21 Ultra requires a few extra seconds to frame, focus and iris. I haven't tried a camera app outside of stock and I can only see this getting better with better software.
That said, camera was huge to me when I got my s21 Ultra at the end of last month. I am very happy and I believe this phone is currently as close as Android will get to the camera quality of the iPhone. Something tells me we'll always be playing catch-up in this department but hey, what can you do. I'll never own an iPhone. I will deal.
bisky24 said:
Hello there, everyone! I'm in the market for a new phone, and I currently own a Google Pixel 2. When it comes to phones, photo quality is a significant priority for me, therefore I'm wondering if the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best option for the camera, or if the Google Pixel 6 or perhaps a different phone altogether would be better. Is the Samsung Galaxy S21, in general, the greatest phone on the market right now?
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for android the pixel 6 pro is the best (pixel 6 too)
lol the s21 ultra is not as good as the iphone 13 pro max calling it the greatest camera is wrong
The S21U has the Hardware and the Versatility of different lenses and the Zoom range which makes it a Great Buy.
It definitely has a Very Good Camera system and its up there among the Top Phones.
It definitely needs software improvements to really make use of the Hardware.
So In the Grand scheme of things Overall for an Android Phone its the Best Out there.
Also Do note that the S21U uses WYSIWYG ( what you see is what you get) technology for the camera so you know how your photo will look before you take it.
The Pixels do the Processing later after you have taken the photo. So the Photo looks better after the processing although it will look crap while taking it.
Honestly if huawei wasn't banned and lost google services the camera on the p50 pro might have been the best.
I had the P40 pro plus and the s21 ultra now both on par but i would give Huawei the edge for the better (more stable video) and night mode
I like to point and shoot....HDR is a bit wild in the sun....can't fault it for easy use....
I took this just random plane was according to flight radar at 30000 ft. Took a few shots to get
Sorbert said:
I took this just random plane was according to flight radar at 30000 ft. Took a few shots to getView attachment 5508531
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Honestly that's a pretty fantastic shot given that it's 6 miles above you.
S21 ULTRA is the best. Period. iPhones may have an edge in some areas but the s21U still beats it. You just cant fight with the ZOOM cameras, they are super useful! And again, Android is just better than IOS, unless you are a girl or a guy who does not care about anything deeper than basic App use.
Alas, YES, the default camera app does NOT record great video, iPhone certainly beats it out of your pocket. However, if you install Filmic PRO on your S21U and set a profile properly, the quality is out of this world, slashes the iPhone.
By setting up Filmic properly, I mean to put it in 4K, Filmic Quality, 30 FPS, OIS, Sharpness to DISABLED, and Noise removal to FAST or HIGH QUALITY. Try it, it is worth it.
babyboy3265 said:
S21 ULTRA is the best. Period. iPhones may have an edge in some areas but the s21U still beats it. You just cant fight with the ZOOM cameras, they are super useful! And again, Android is just better than IOS, unless you are a girl or a guy who does not care about anything deeper than basic App use.
Alas, YES, the default camera app does NOT record great video, iPhone certainly beats it out of your pocket. However, if you install Filmic PRO on your S21U and set a profile properly, the quality is out of this world, slashes the iPhone.
By setting up Filmic properly, I mean to put it in 4K, Filmic Quality, 30 FPS, OIS, Sharpness to DISABLED, and Noise removal to FAST or HIGH QUALITY. Try it, it is worth it.
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Hadn't heard of that app before. Went to play store to download it but skeptical due to the poor reviews (3.4 star rated)
I filtered reviews by device and the S21 Ultra user reviews are terrible, mostly 1 star.
It costs a pretty penny too, so I decided not to go for it unless I get more confirmed testimonials from other users.
I can't stand Apple but I have loved their camera for a long time, I used to think it was better until I started using Gcam on the S21 Ultra. I like it way more now, the stock Samsung camera apps have always left so much to be desired. You have this amazing piece of hardware, but a clunky, under optioned, restrictive camera app. Never made any sense to me. I guess since I come from a full frame, I'm always left wanting more customization. Gcam has been great so far.