Smartphone camera comparison: Android's top snappers compared

It’s getting harder to tell different firms’ flagships apart: they tend to have similarly big screens, similar processors, similar amounts of storage and similar price tags too. But one area where they still differ dramatically is in their optics. Is your favorite flagship a super snapper? Let’s find out in our Android smartphone camera comparison.

 

We’re going to look at the five flagships here: Sony’s Xperia Z3, Samsung’s Galaxy S5, LG’s G3, Google’s Nexus 6 and HTC’s One M8. We know that newer versions of some of these are imminent, and we’ll update when they actually go on sale: otherwise we’re comparing phones you can buy with promises that manufacturers might not actually keep.
Let’s see how the cameras compare.

Android flagship phone cameras: Sony Xperia Z3

As you might expect from a firm that makes high-end cameras and sensors for all kinds of phones - including many of the phones we’re talking about here - Sony has impressive hardware: its 1/2.3” Exmor RS sensor is capable of up to ISO 12800 for extreme low-light performance as well as 1080p HD video at 60 fps and 4K (3840 x 2160) video recording at 30fps. The megapixel count is a whopping 20.7 MP, the aperture is an impressive f/2.0 and the 25 mm wide angle lens (compared to the more common 31mm you’ll find in rivals’ devices) makes it easier to get group portraits.
For stabilization Sony offers its SteadyShot system, which analyzes multiple frames to produce smoother-looking videos, but that’s only supported up to 30fps in full HD: if you’re filming 4K you might want to consider a tripod. It’s a shame that Sony didn’t use its excellent optical image stabilization here.
The Xperia Z3 also has the usual front camera. This one delivers 2.2 MP and 1080p video at 30fps.

Android flagship phone cameras: Samsung Galaxy S5

 Samsung used to use Sony sensors, but for the Galaxy S5 it’s decided to use its own ISOCELL sensor instead. It promises higher ISO settings without as much of the noise that often plagues high-ISO shooting, and in addition to contrast detection autofocus it uses a technique called phase detection focusing that offers similar results to the tech you’ll find in some digital DSLR cameras. It’s the first smartphone to use it. The sensor is slightly smaller than the Sony’s - it’s a 1/2.6” sensor - and the megapixel count is lower too at 16 megapixels, but once again you can record HD and 4K video at 60fps in HD and 30fps in 4K. You can set the ISO at up to ISO 800 (2000 in auto mode) for lower light shooting and the aperture is f/2.2.

As with the Sony, Samsung’s camera is stabilized but it’s via software, not hardware. The front camera delivers 2.0 MP and 1080p video at 30fps.

Android flagship phone cameras: LG G3

 on paper at least it looks rather underpowered - but of course megapixels aren’t the most important thing about a camera. This one has proper optical image stabilization, and there’s laser autofocus for quick focusing too, a feature that means it’s faster on the draw than its rivals. The sensor is a Sony one - it’s an Exmor RS IMX135 with a 1/3.06” sensor - but you can’t adjust ISO settings or exposure. Once again we’re in 4K recording territory, but only at 30fps.
The front camera is a 2.1 MP model with 1080p video at 30 fps.

Android flagship phone cameras: HTC One M8

 

The HTC One M8’s camera is completely different to its rivals: its ultrapixel sensor promises to capture lots of light, but it also has a second “camera” that records depth information that it then applies to the shot. That means you can adjust the focus level after you’ve taken it, change the background and generally mess around with it without having to use an image editing program.
It’s fun, but there’s a price to pay: brightly lit photos can be far too bright, and the sensor is noisy too. You can record HD video at 1080p / 60 fps but there’s no 4K option, and the dual 4 MP cameras mean that you’re getting considerably fewer megapixels than with rival devices. If you want to take photos you’ll blow up to huge sizes and hang on the wall this isn’t the camera for you, but if you’re more interested in fun than fidelity it’s hugely entertaining.

Android flagship phone cameras: Google Nexus 6

 Here’s another Sony sensor, this time the Exmor RS IMX 214. That’s a 1/3.06” sensor with optical image stabilization, 13 megapixels and up to 4K video recording (at 30fps). The aperture is f/2.0, which is good for low light, but the smaller size of the sensor means that cameras with worse apertures but larger sensors are likely to take much better pictures in low light - unless you have shaky hands, in which case the optical image stabilization will make a really big difference here.

The sensor in the Nexus is a newer version of the one in the LG, so while the latter has the better focus the Nexus has the better sensor, especially for HDR shooting and for poor lighting conditions.
The Nexus’s front camera is a 2.0 MP effort capable of 720p video at 30 fps.

Android flagship phone cameras: which one is best for you?

It’s important to note that none of these cameras are bad; it’s just that some of them are better at some things than others. The Samsung and the LG are great for fast focusing and the Sony is amazing in low light, but if you suffer from shaky hands the optical stabilization in the LG and the Nexus 6 may well be the most important feature on offer. For photo geeks we suspect that the Sony is the most exciting camera here, but the Samsung and Nexus both give it a serious run for its money and the HTC One M8 is either really interesting or really odd.
What do you think? Have you found one flagship’s camera to be massively better than rivals’?

Via : http://www.androidpit.com