Camera Samples & Comparisons

[jephanie]

Since the most consistent (and persistent) concern revolves around the camera quality, I thought I'd seek out a few galleries of example shots. My personal belief is that the camera is not the best on the market but that it is also very capable when used in an equally capable fashion.

It appears that low-light performance is a weakness but I also believe that the very fact of the zero shutter lag capability contributes to poor image quality, too. I would bet that many of the poorer shots are a result of excessive "camera shake" due to the users' over exuberance with hammering the soft button shutter release with far too much force. I see this a lot with every other camera and believe the zero shutter lag feature exaggerates the problem with the GNex camera.

In the end, I am very encouraged by the photos in the galleries below (and others that I have seen). I don't expect a perfect shot each time. It's just a phone. If I want perfect, I'll use my DSLR. Of course, contrast control, color saturation and other factors are always up for personal preference but review these and judge for yourself.

Galaxy Nexus sample shots - Engadget Galleries

Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy SII (S2) [Camera Test] | Hemorrdroids.net

Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Apple iPhone 4S: camera comparison

Galaxy Nexus sample pictures | SoyaCincau

? Confronto fotografico Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Motorola RAZR vs Samsung Galaxy S II ? News Android, - AndroidWorld.it

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs iPhone 4S Sample Photos | The Verge

 

[tx_tuff]

Thanks for finding these and putting them all together.

The first GN vs iP4s favors the iP4s, while to me looks like the GN did better in the 2nd one (The Verge). Pertty sure over all that the iPhone 4s has a better camera. But then again I'm being a Android OS so that really doesn't matter to me.

They all look better then the 3.2 MP cam I'm rocking on my BB Storm 2 LOL. Although in good lighting (outside with sun) the BB takes some pretty good pictures.

 

[jerrod6]

I'll have those french fries that the GN took(and I don't even eat french fries). These look closer to real life than the GSII and what about that those night time shots of the houses....looked OK to me. So what do we want close to photo shopped over saturated photos or those closer to the real thing?

 

[jafels]

It would appear that the Nexus takes perfectly good pictures.....not as good as the iphone, which should be the goal, but it looks to be as good or better than any other android phone. Of course the key for me is that its light years better than my og droid camera which is nearly unuseable!

 

[CynicX]

While the iPhone looks better for the most part there are a few I prefer the GN. And other then the vividness of the s2 I prefer the GN esp. the macro shots...

The GN has a better camera then I need on a cell phone. I'll take it....while I'm sure they could make it better I wouldn't want to pay more...

 

[mechapathy]

Man, for a cell phone, this camera is freakin' legit. One please.

 

[greydarrah]

Some people just love to complain (about a phone they haven't even tried yet). These Nexus images look amazing!

 

[kilofoxtrot]

Engadget's Nov 25 Mobile Podcast torn into the GN camera. Saying it was on par with the last year's Nexus S and a step down from the Galaxy S II.

 

[kilofoxtrot]

The 4S has a f/2.4 aperture and my Rezound has a f/2.2 aperture.

Anybody know has fast.... or slow.. the Nexus lens is????

 

[jephanie]

Engadget's Nov 25 Mobile Podcast torn into the GN camera. Saying it was on par with the last year's Nexus S and a step down from the Galaxy S II.

Several reviews have singled out the camera as being questionable, which is why I went on a mission to find some actual samples.

Interestingly enough, Engadget's review still praised the GNex as "definitely the best Android phone available today -- it's possibly even the best phone available today, period." Their overall view seems to be the consensus about the phone. And based on the pics I was able to find, I am more than eager to get my hands on this device as my first foray into Android-land.

 

[Jeff43]

The 4S has a f/2.4 aperture and my Rezound has a f/2.2 aperture.

Anybody know has fast.... or slow.. the Nexus lens is????

Don't quote me on this, but based on EXIF data from uploaded photos on photo sites such as PicasaWeb. The specs seem to be:

Aperture: 2.75 @ 3.4mm

 

[_JKK_]

I'm wondering if some software tweak might fix some of the issues people are having. I know this is the usual excuse (i.e., they can fix x in software update y, so don't worry!), but at least a subset of these issues seem correctable on a software level, which should be able to be updated.

Anyways. Just saying. I honestly don't care; think of it this way: you get one bad photo, and then you take another to make it good. With this shutter, it'll take about the same amount of time to take two photos as it does on comparable phones to take one.

 

[jephanie]

I'm wondering if some software tweak might fix some of the issues people are having.

Believe it or not, but a lot of bad pictures are captured by people who simply don't know how to use the given equipment. I can't begin to count how many bad pictures people take of my wife and me with the same equipment I use that takes beautiful photographs. There is a HUGE difference between a "picture" and a "photograph."

Based on some of the results I've seen posted, I am betting that a lot of the poorer image results being reported are by people taking pictures instead of people taking photographs. Hammering down on a zero shutter lag device with the pressure of a jackhammer will absolutely mess with image quality just as a surgeon performing brain surgery with the same jackhammer.

 

[mechapathy]

Believe it or not, but a lot of bad pictures are captured by people who simply don't know how to use the given equipment. I can't begin to count how many bad pictures people take of my wife and me with the same equipment I use that takes beautiful photographs. There is a HUGE difference between a "picture" and a "photograph."

Based on some of the results I've seen posted, I am betting that a lot of the poorer image results being reported are by people taking pictures instead of people taking photographs. Hammering down on a zero shutter lag device with the pressure of a jackhammer will absolutely mess with image quality just as a surgeon performing brain surgery with the same jackhammer.

This. 100% this.

 

[estebancam]

I'll have those french fries that the GN took(and I don't even eat french fries). These look closer to real life than the GSII and what about that those night time shots of the houses....looked OK to me. So what do we want close to photo shopped over saturated photos or those closer to the real thing?

I'm offended that you call them "french" fries.

 

[Poopai]

I wish there were side by side comparisons of the shutter speed with phones other than the Iphone, so I could get a bigger idea of the difference.

 

[TBolt]

I'm offended that you call them "french" fries.

I was looking for a 'thumbs down' button under your comment, but I couldn't find it. I hope you aren't one of those "freedom fries" clowns. hahaha

 

[TBolt]

Thank you to the OP for collecting these links. Some of the shots are washed out when bright daylight or strong reflections are present, but I wonder if maybe there is a setting that helps fix the issue. Most of the shots are very good for a phone.

What worries me, though, is the video capture. Every video I've seen seems slightly choppy. Zooming in/out while shooting video on this phone appears to be a major No No unless you're going to take the time to edit the footage - performance during the zoom is terrible. (But, hey...it's a phone.) I just hope video capture is something that can be improved with a software update.

When I first watched this video, I was turned off by the quality. Then, I noticed I was watching it in 480p. The 1080p version is better. Still there is a stutter.

 

[cj100570]

I found these and they seem to show that the GNex camera is on par with it's contemporaries which is exactly what I've found in my own tests.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Nokia Lumia 800 vs iPhone 4S Comparison/Review. Part 1

Galaxy Nexus camera: better than you may have heard (gallery) | ZDNet

 

[blazin247]

Thread necro, but I'll comment anyhow. I've found the camera to be just fine. Honestly, I'm not a professional photographer. They may notice the difference between these cameras, but I do not. The same goes with headphones, I bought a $150 pair of Etymotic's IEM because audiophiles said they had amazing sound. I get them, and they are nice, but I'm just not trained enough to know the difference between them and my $50 Sennheiser's.

Long story short, it's fine for 95% of the people, but everyone listens to the 5% who have a much better, more discerning eye than we could ever.