Galaxy S4 Camera Dominates the competition.

[pipe7]

Looks like a fairly unbiased review here:
Samsung Galaxy S4: Where the smartphone excels, what needs work - News - MSN CA

"the S4’s camera does prove that megapixels are not the only factor to be considered when it comes to taking high-quality photos. When compared against the two phones with the best cameras on the market — the iPhone 5 and the Lumia 920, both of which have only eight megapixels – the S4 still isn’t quite as good. Its photos are not quite as sharp or detailed as those snapped by its rivals."

IMO Samsung is too hung up with trying to wow people with hard specs more than how the phone actually functions. I'm not a Samsung hater, my next phone may be an ATIV S (but mostly because I can't get a high end Lumia from the decent carriers where I live).

 

[Slai]

Weird seeing such a spread in tests. Generally it seems to best out the iphone5, in most areas. Some colours could be better represented on the ip5, but generally tests show that the camera surpasses the ip5.

Again; weird.

 

[christenmartin]

What really drags for me are these android "plants" who pop into a pro Windows Phone forum and proselytize a device they don't own. Not to mention, a device that runs on an OS that competes with this one. They never owned the GS4 or maybe even the GS3. Just looked at a few pictures, watched a youtube and are now the consummate expert on the device.

Even worse, they talk as if we should give a flip. We know its there. If we want it, we know how to find it. Thanks anyway.

The best one i heard is the IIPhone 5
and how it was going to have virtual key board that displayed when you went to landscape mode. It was on YouTube and everything!

 

[hary536]

I disagree. The s4 camera clearly is in the win here.
With retards to lags, every review says its smooth, but cant really say anything until i get a copy to test.

But as pertains to camera, it clearly outperforms the iphone5 and 920.

So you can say camera outperforms without personal testing, but for lagging, you want to test yourself and not trust reviews?

 

[Slai]

Of course.

Even with personal use I probably couldn't determine the better camera, since Im not that knowledgeable about photography. It would be like someone with no real knowledge of MMA being a judge.

However, mainly the difference is that while camera quality will be more or less static, lag can be nonexistent in the first weeks, then grow to be a huge pain in the *** after some use. Its far more likely to change on use.

That's mainly the difference there.

 

[Slai]

http://m.connect.dpreview.com/post/...sunggalaxys4-vs-htcone-vs-iphone5-vs-lumia920

Another test.

 

[falconrap]

Under perfect lighting conditions, the S4's higher pixel count does allow for more detail, but that's on a tripod. Without OIS, you will introduce more noise into any picture. Further, the night shots, on the S4 are horrible. Just pull up the raw picture and it's noise galore. But the real icing on the cake is the fact that these guys just pressed the camera button and didn't do anything else; i.e. they used Auto. The software on the Lumia WP8 devices isn't the best in terms of picture noise/sharpening balance. The next update is supposed to improve this if I recall properly. When it comes to real life use, the 920 is going to produce, generally, better pictures than the S4. Some more tweaking on the algorithms should make it even better. Nevertheless, does this thread's title really jive even after reading that article? I don't think so. Take the S4 off the tripod and take regular hand-held shots, especially in moderate to low light situations and see what happens.

 

[Slai]

The thread title is very bombastic. Read more tests, youll see more handheld shots If youre interested.

 

[vlad0]

Super Shootout: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One vs Apple iPhone 5 vs Nokia Lumia 920: Connect

Another test.

the s4 is fine when the sun is out, and even then, the fine detail looks like an oil painting:

now compare that to the 808

Original: http://www.esato.com/phonephotos/cam/nokia/808_pureview/2012081318304JKafV.jpg

Now take a look at the fine detail (hair) in the portrait setting:

Original: http://s1.ipicture.ru/uploads/20130426/O78dSpSF.jpg


Like I've said many times before... no matter what they do, they can't escape those small 1.1 micron pixels. Samsung have done a good job to mask it as well as they could.. but if you really look at the pics, they are very far from the benchmark. Also.. not to mention that after the sun goes down the difference will be even greater.. add to that xenon and lossless zooming.. no contest.

Or in other words, its far from dominating in the camera department..

 

[Jaripi]

I think that it is very clear that 808 is still unbeatable ...

I would really like to know what was firmware of Lumia 920, some they used in that "Connect" review ... and by the way, I believe that there will be a lot of blurry low light photos by S4 in a real, when used by ordinary guys (a big sensor and no OIS does not make sense for low light, even they would use good software to improve those photos)

 

[Slai]

I agree, the 808 isn't even in the running. Its so far ahead atm.

Seems like the S4 has the night mode, but basically it just cranks up the iso iirc, so with a bit shaky hands (ie. nir.al nonrobot hands) its... going to be a tricky shot.

I get my s4 tomorrow, so if you want me to do some unbiased comparisons please let me know what you want tested and how

 

[vlad0]

The capabilities shown by the 808 bond very well for the Lumia camera centric phone.. if they are using the exact same sensor/optics/jpeg algorithms combination, or better... it will be really interesting to watch what the android OEMs are going to do.

They got lucky with the 808 and Nokia's position at the time, which gave them more "breathing room" ... almost a year now... but once the WP version gets out.. Nokia will push it much, much harder than the 808. The 808 had almost no marketing, little to none carrier subsidizing... the OS was declared "dead" before it even went on sale..

 

[Slai]

After using my S4 for a but on and off today Ive noted a few things.

- The ui is far smoother when turning off animations in Developer Mode. Before doing this it kind of hung on pressing Home.
- The screen is ridiculously good.
- Air View in the video player is amazingly nice, but for instance Air Gestures aren't generally that useful. Scrolling using your eyes works well, though Im not sure Ill use it much. Might be a habitual change needed for it to work.
- View cover is amazing. Needs to be used a bit before it fits as snugly as one would like, as the hinge part is a tad too rigid at first.
- The phone has a very nice premium feel to it, the balance is amazing when holding the phone.
- The UI is very smooth

Ive only used it in total about two hours or so during the day (due to work), but if anyone has any questions or comparisons they'd want made with regards to the 920, Id be happy to check it out for you

 

[Jaripi]

Low light review: Samsung Galaxy S4 delivered the noisiest shot of the bunch. Whilst we can attest to its outstanding daylight photography chops, in the dead of night, compared to the Lumias, it's dead in the water.

Low light camera test: Galaxy S4, HTC One, Lumia 720, 920 and Xperia Z

Low light (near dark): http://nokiapoweruser.com/2013/04/29/lumia-920-vs-sgs-4-vs-iphone-5-low-light-near-dark-comparison/

 

[squire777]

Nice to see even the 720 embarrassed the GS4 in low light

 

[Slai]

Doing some low light shots with my own s4, it's nowhere near as dark as those tests suggest. Surely they know what they're talking about, but it almost seems like Auto instead of night mode.

 

[montsa007]

I am not sure if readers here went through these,

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Nokia Lumia 920 Camera Comparison | TechnoBuffalo

Phone Camera Shootout: Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One vs. iPhone 5 vs. Lumia 920 | Lifehacker Australia

Super Shootout: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One vs Apple iPhone 5 vs Nokia Lumia 920: Connect

Also this video - Lumia 920 vs Galaxy S4 video stabilisation test - YouTube

 

[HaibaneReki]

Waiting for Slai's test results

 

[Slai]

Oh I haven't even given it another thought so far =)

What specifically do you want me to test? Never done a camera comparison so not sure what to test and how =(

 

[HaibaneReki]

I was under impression You were eager to prove Your points

1, daylight - panorama
2, daylight - portrait/macro
3, sunset/evening
4, night time - auto+night mode
5, night time - with flash
6, ultimate results - install some photo app and try to take the best shot possible in all scenarios

I suggest taking 5 photos for each scenario and using the best result only

maybe I'm missing something but whatever.. Sounds like lots of work