Android Cameraphones Against Nokia 808 PureView
Beyond a shadow of doubt Android is the most popular operating system in the world, but the question is if it deserves that title or not. Apparently, many stunning handsets run Google’s platform, and it’s THIS circumstance that makes Android this popular. But what would happen if this OS were on the handsets of only one manufacturer? Would it be as popular as it is now? To discover the truth behind that we decided to compare the Nokia 808 PureView, which runs Nokia Belle OS and sports the largest lens — 41MP, and several Android cameraphones in face of the LG Thrill 4G (aka LG Optimus 3D), the T-Mobile MyTouch Slide 4G and the HTC Evo 3D.
Nokia has been working on PureView technology for 5 years, and due to it smartphones can now sport camera a lens larger than 20MP, though I have to say there is no any smartphone featuring more than 16MP lens (the HTC Titan II). The Nokia 808 PureView’s powerful sensor comes with:
- Carl Zeiss optics of focal length: 8.02mm.
- 35mm equivalent focal length: 26mm, 16:9 | 28mm, 4:3.
- F-number: f/2.4.
- Focus range: 15cm – Infinity (throughout the zoom range).
- Construction: 5 elements, 1 group. All lens surfaces are aspherical.
- One high-index, low-dispersion glass mold lens.
- Mechanical shutter with neutral density filter.
- Optical format: 1/1.2”.
- Total number of pixels: 7728 x 5368.
- Pixel Size: 1.4 microns.
But the technology is not this powerful due to the sensor and only. There is an outstanding feature called oversampling as well. The latter allows taking snaps in smaller sizes at the same time keeping three main peculiarities — great image quality, lossless zoom and excellent low light performance.
For example, the actual size of an image taken by a 38MP camera will be about 10MB. It’s something unacceptable for current smartphones the owners of which hold dear each megabyte. So Nokia developed a method allowing to shoot photos in smaller sizes and store them in the phone.
Another advantage of this technology is conditioned by zooming without quality loss. Find the modes in which you can take photos below:
- 3x is the default zoom mode
- 4x lossless zoom at 1080p
- 6x at 720p
- 12x when recording videos at nHD (640×360)
Moreover, its large f/2.4 aperture allows you to take photos with faster shutter speed and without noise.
Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Sample Photos
Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Sample Video
The LG Optimus 3D is the first 3D smartphone launched in the US with the name the LG Thrill 4G. It sports a camera with two 5MP lenses allowing users to have 3D pictures and videos. The phone can’t boast of a monster-sized lens, but being the first 3D shooting smartphone is a rather good title.
The LG Optimus 3D will record 3D videos at 720p and 30fmps, but there is a toggle allowing to easily switch to 2D mode and record videos at 1080p (Full HD) at the same 30fps. You will easily tell the difference between photos shot in 2D and 3D modes as there are 3D marks on each 3D image.
One annoying feature is you will not be able to open the camera app if there is less than 10% of battery remaining. We must note the 3D feature on the LG Optimus 3D is a real battery killer though it’s promised to be corrected on its successor, the LG Otpimus 3D MAX.
LG Optimus 3D Sample Photos
LG Optimus 3D Sample Video (3D)
LG Optimus 3D Sample Video (2D)
The first smartphone in the US enabled to shot 3D photos and videos is not the LG Thrill 4G, but the HTC Evo 3D launched via Sprint (it’s seen even from the name). In some sense it has many common lineaments with LG’s phone, therefore geeks couldn’t reach an agreement. The HTC Evo 3D sports the same double 5MP camera and it can be switched between 2D and 3D modes easily. The biggest difference between this handset and the LG Optimus 3D is the HTC Evo 3D records videos in both 2D and 3D modes at 720p.
HTC Evo 3D Sample Photos
HTC Evo 3D Sample Video (3D)
HTC Evo 3D Sample Photos (2D)
Finally, we have another HTC-branded smartphone dubbed the T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G determined as the best cameraphone running Android OS, though only HTC used to think so.
Unlike previous Android phones, this one sports an 8MP camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash meaning this camera will feel free when taking snaps in dark conditions. Another feature helping with better pictures in low light is the backside illumination. When users snap the camera button, a special Zero Shutter lag technology begins recording everything it sees in its memory buffer. So when you push the button to get a photo, it pulls the picture from cash. The camera also comes with an f-number value of f/2.2, which will help users capture with greater depth of field.
T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G Sample Photos
T-Mobile myTouch Slide 4G Sample Video
Camera’s special features:
- SweepShot™: Used to capture ultra-wide panoramic shots, so that you can sweep across an entire scene in a single shot.
- ClearShot™ HDR: Used to capture objects in high contrast settings, so that photo details are not lost.
- BurstShot™: Used to capture multiple photos in a quick burst, so that you don’t miss the perfect photo.
The question I raised at the beginning is still actual, so let us know what you think in this regard.
