best phone for photography

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I suppose I see the issue here - I probably expected in 2017 for higher end smartphones to be far better than they are now,looking at what is possible on the market and the billions made out of smartphones. I used to remember when spending lots on a higher end phone was a big improvement at all levels. But the reality things have more or less slowed down,and its my disappointment leeching through - I see so many reviews where they state image quality has stagnated compared to previous models(or is slightly worse),etc and I just feel sad when old compacts can compete with 2017 tech. I honestly think we need more of the Chinese companies to start putting the screws on Apple,Samsung,etc - quite a few have not properly entered the phone market here yet,and the incumbents are just in a holding pattern.

Edit!!

I will shut up now.

[peterb]

Now you need to compare it to a more modern S95 which is smaller,has a 1/1.7" sensor and OIS,and upto ISO 800~1600 is usable. The RX100 is just another league above it - the sensor is a few times bigger and coupled with OIS its utterly wipes out the previous generation of compacts.

I mean sorry but by now we should have at least 1/1.7" sensors in £500 phones.

We should be having some degree of optical zoom.

Its almost like phone companies gave up after Nokia left the phone market.

I still regard the camera on a phone as a bonus - the intention was initially for a quick record type photo for upload to social media - and they do that well - and the fact that they do that so well and under good conditions produce very good results, is testament to the tech - but the drive for slim models really precludes the mechanical assemblies for optical zoom, and to some extent limits the sensor size.

The small format sensors produce very good results for their size - I have a rear view camera in a vehicle that produces excellent results using a Sony sensor (two in fact, one looks down at the ground when reversing - the other looks behind for rear view)

[Mangomonkey]

I suppose I see the issue here - I probably expected in 2017 for higher end smartphones to be far better than they are now,looking at what is possible on the market and the billions made out of smartphones. I used to remember when spending lots on a higher end phone was a big improvement at all levels. But the reality things have more or less slowed down,and its my disappointment leeching through - I see so many reviews where they state image quality has stagnated compared to previous models(or is slightly worse),etc and I just feel sad when old compacts can compete with 2017 tech. I honestly think we need more of the Chinese companies to start putting the screws on Apple,Samsung,etc - quite a few have not properly entered the phone market here yet,and the incumbents are just in a holding pattern.

Edit!!

I will shut up now.

Amen to that! A couple of years ago each new generation of phone had huge upgrades! Now you have to look closely to see the small incremental upgrades. If you look at the patents some of these manufacturers are filing, its clear hey can do much better, but it is as if they are holding back these features to make more money. Problem is I don't think the Chinese companies are doing much to push the box either.

[Saracen]

My opinion is that the world is filled with two types of people - those that are keen on photography, and those that take snaps. Several of the contributors to this thread, and me, fall into the first group, own high end cameras and lenses and aren't likely to be terribly impressed with any phone's camera ability, unless just taking a quick snap.

Most of the second group, however, would probably be happy with the results from many phones.

It all comes down to expectations. If your 'photo's end up being viewed on your phone screen or uploaded to some social media site, you're expectations are different from someone entering photo competitions, or hanging A3 prints on the wall.

[outwar6010]

I have the s7 and it's awesome. The pictures look amazing and the focus is just soooo fast. The s8 is going to be using the same camera as the s7. So you should be able to get the s7 at a more normal price once the s8 releases.

[Mangomonkey]

My opinion is that the world is filled with two types of people - those that are keen on photography, and those that take snaps. Several of the contributors to this thread, and me, fall into the first group, own high end cameras and lenses and aren't likely to be terribly impressed with any phone's camera ability, unless just taking a quick snap.

Most of the second group, however, would probably be happy with the results from many phones.

It all comes down to expectations. If your 'photo's end up being viewed on your phone screen or uploaded to some social media site, you're expectations are different from someone entering photo competitions, or hanging A3 prints on the wall.

I agree that SLR and mirrorless cameras are way better and I do use a pro body with pro lenses. But I wouldn't discourage anyone from using their mobile camera for artistic shots. If you look on Google there are lots of famous photographers who have put on whole exhibitions using smart phones as a challange. They obviously aren't as good as using a DSLR but they are very impressive.

[Mangomonkey]

If you want to take it to an extreme, Digital Rev do a series of videos of pro photographers using cheap cameras (way worse then a camera phone). Heres a good one with Lara Jade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDAn...CB90D96DF59DE5

[Saracen]

I agree that SLR and mirrorless cameras are way better and I do use a pro body with pro lenses. But I wouldn't discourage anyone from using their mobile camera for artistic shots. If you look on Google there are lots of famous photographers who have put on whole exhibitions using smart phones as a challange. They obviously aren't as good as using a DSLR but they are very impressive.

I take your point, but I'd suggest that them doing it "as a challenge" also kinda makes my point.

Oh, there's exceptions to every rule and any sweeping statement is begging for an "ah, but .... " response. Godness knows I've done enough "ah, but..."s myself over the years.


Another way of looking at it, I guess, is that the best camera is the one you have with you and everybody carries a phone.

On that subject, and about sweeping statements, everybody BUT ME carries a phone. And when I do carry a ohone, it is usually off. And doesn't have a camera anyway,

I do, however, nearly always have a camera with me, or close to hand, even if it's a very compact P&S. I carry a camera the way 'most' people carry a phone.

[Bobster]

Camera scores for mobile devices
https://www.dxomark.com/category/mobile-reviews/page/1/

[Smudger]

You can apparently download the google camera APK and sideload it on Android, giving you the software benefits that the Pixels have.

[virtuo]

I'm finding the step up in image quality going from a single camera smartphone to a dual camera smartphone to be really impressive. If you are just viewing on-screen and not printing, then even the cheaper dual camera models pull off some great shots.

[peterb]

I was looking at some shots taken with a Samsung phone - really impressive - at least on the phone screen. The real test of course (and this is true for any 'simple' camera) is how the images scale up on a larger screen, or when printed.

[Jonj1611]

I'm getting some nice pictures from my Mate 20 Pro.

[Jonj1611]

Any reason for that? Personal experience? Reviews?

[Retne]

Hmm, I wonder if this question still applies? I see the original date and there's a lot of different phones now.
Tricky that bit "for all conditions" as no single phone has nailed it in reviews I've seen (including photo specific reviews like DPReview does at times)

[cptwhite_uk]

The question has become more complicated as phones offer differing lenses etc, but as a general rule:

Pixel 4 has the best point and shoot camera with natural results
Samsung S10 / Note 1 has the best "ready to use" camera with punch colours and vibrancy
iPhone has the best video recording, and 2nd best stills, but also have wide angle which Pixel 4 doesn't.

Other phones like One Plus 7 Pro, Mate 30 Pro and many others also perform admirably, if less consistently.