Camera should be 16mp

[PowrDroid]

All manufacturers are aware of the misconception that many people have that higher mp is always better regardless of everything else.

They moved to 12 mp because it gives the best user experience

OK, I'll bite. What user experience is enhanced by smaller image?

 

[PowrDroid]

Yes if everything remained equal, however in doing so the package size of the camera would not be the same...so again its not that simple.

Also check out the review of the camera...it really sucks https://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Pixel-smartphone-camera-review-At-the-top

Yeah, I've seen it. It's still "only" a 12MP image.

 

[Aquila]

Yeah, that's the latest talking point from Samsung and others. All things being equal, I'd rather have a 21MP image than a 12MP image.

All things aren't equal though. There are no 21 MP cameras that are the same or better quality than the 12 MP you're seeing in the leader devices.

 

[MrSlippery519]

Yeah, I've seen it. It's still "only" a 12MP image.

Yep and it performs better than any other smartphone camera they tested. I would love an even better camera as well, heck who wouldn't, but the fact remains it would not have fit in the package Google wanted and it would have added even more cost. As it sits they seem to have come out with an extremely good camera that so far looks to beat everything else available.

That is enough for me, maybe not for you. That is the nice thing about choice, you can choose to not buy it

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I want a 50MP full frame sensor on my phone.

Until that can happen without a camera hump I'll be happy with 12MP that doesn't suck in low light.

 

[MOHANAD SHARAF]

as long as it performs good at low light and can capture all the details in all conditions the MP doesn't matter that much

 

[dpham00]

OK, I'll bite. What user experience is enhanced by smaller image?

Here's a good article explaining why Samsung went from 16mp on the s6 to 12mp on the s7

"Last year the Galaxy S6 brought one of the best smartphone cameras available, taking on all competitors and more often than not coming out on top in terms of speed and quality. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are looking to continue Samsung's strength in phone cameras by improving on what was already a great rear-facing camera. The changes come down to three main areas: a larger aperture, bigger individual pixels and even faster auto focusing.

The immediate difference you'll notice is a drop to 12MP of resolution from the previous 16MP, but don't worry about that translating into a drop in quality. The lower pixel count means in this case that each individual pixel is larger at 1.4-microns, up from 1.12-microns in the GS6. That's not quite as large as the 1.55-micron pixels in the Nexus 6P's camera, but in any case it's going to translate into much more light hitting each pixel to improve low-light shots.

>Three big improvements, potentially without losing anything in the process

Adding to the low-light prowess is an even wider aperture, now f/1.7 instead of f/1.9 in the previous generation, which was already one of the widest available in a phone. Just like the larger pixels, a wider aperture lets the camera take in even more light in all circumstances — and the more light you have, the better your pictures can look.

As if those two improvements weren't enough, Samsung has also borrowed a feature from its DSLR cameras and moved to an entirely new type of sensor that lets the camera's auto focus mechanism work even faster. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have a new "dual pixel" sensor in which every pixel is used for phase-detection auto focus, rather than just some of the pixels in most other sensors. Samsung is claiming dramatically improved auto focus time, all without the need for a laser focusing system as seen on other cameras.

All of this was done while retaining the same great camera interface, home button quick-launch action and optical image stabilization (OIS). We're excited to give the Galaxy S7's camera a full review treatment."


https://www.google.com/amp/amp.andr...pixels-and-even-faster-focusing?client=safari

 

[PowrDroid]

Yep and it performs better than any other smartphone camera they tested. I would love an even better camera as well, heck who wouldn't, but the fact remains it would not have fit in the package Google wanted and it would have added even more cost. As it sits they seem to have come out with an extremely good camera that so far looks to beat everything else available.

I agree with what you are saying. I am also agreeing with the OP. It seems odd that a flagship, state of the art phone from Google only has a 12MP camera with a f2.0. I'm eagerly awaiting more reviews of the camera.

That is enough for me, maybe not for you. That is the nice thing about choice, you can choose to not buy it

It's on my short list. Need to see more reviews and actually go handle the thing myself.

 

[dpham00]

I agree with what you are saying. I am also agreeing with the OP. It seems odd that a flagship, state of the art phone from Google only has a 12MP camera with a f2.0. I'm eagerly awaiting more reviews of the camera.



It's on my short list. Need to see more reviews and actually go handle the thing myself.

To get the 1.55 micron pixel, no doubt. They could do f1.8 but with smaller pixel

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

My Nikon D3 only has 12MP. It sucks.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

More megapixels =/= Better photos

I get so damn tired of saying the same damn thing, but I'll say it anyway.

People, there are so many different variables to take into account when judging camera performance. Judging camera performance based on its resolution is a very narrow-minded and flawed approach. There are so many more variables that need to be taken into account. Here are just some of the few.

• Sensor size - The size of the actual sensor. A larger sensor will be able to handle either larger pixels or a higher resolution without sacrificing too much in other conditions. Larger sensors also allow for a shallower depth-of-field, but the con is that they require more space, and typically a larger camera hump.
• Pixel size - Correlates with sensor size. A larger pixel is able to receive more light information, which translates to better low light photos as the camera does not have to crank the ISO as high and may also utilize a slightly slower shutter-speed.
• Stabilization - How a camera stabilizes the image. Most flagships utilize optical image stabilization, where the actual lens is moved to stabilize the image. They may also utilize electronic-image-stabilization where it crops the field-of-view and wiggles that crop to smooth out handshake.
• Software processing - Arguably one very important factor, sometimes more so than the others. How a camera processes an image is key. Ideally, a camera that processes an image to appear more natural with evenhanded noise-reduction to reduce as much noise as possible while preserving detail is considered to be excellent.
• Lens quality - To reduce annoying defects like color-fringing and chromatic aberrations, lens quality is important. This also relates to the size of the aperture as a larger aperture is more prone to these defects.

There are many other factors, like saturation, dynamic range, speed and more, but discussing about cameras is much more complicated than just megapixels and that I mentioned above, but I hope this lets our fellow ACers understand that cameras are more than just their megapixel count.

 

[PowrDroid]

There are many other factors, like saturation, dynamic range, speed and more, but discussing about cameras is much more complicated than just megapixels and that I mentioned above, but I hope this lets our fellow ACers understand that cameras are more than just their megapixel count.

We know.

But if all the things you listed were equivalent on two phones of the same make, wouldn't you want the phone with more megapixels? It would give greater image detail and a bigger area to crop.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

We know.

But if all the things you listed were equivalent on two phones of the same make, wouldn't you want the phone with more megapixels? It would give greater image detail and a bigger area to crop.

When you double the size of each individual pixel, you have to double the physical size of the sensor plate or reduce the number of pixels. These things can never be equivalent unless the width and thickness of the phones were increased to accommodate the changes, Which would mean the sensor with fewer megapixels could have even bigger pixels and take even better pictures with a higher aperture so they had sharper focus.

 

[dpham00]

It seems like some people are insistent that higher mp automatically equals better. Although they are wrong,there are plenty of 16mp phones,and some with even higher mp...if that is what you want.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

We know.

But if all the things you listed were equivalent on two phones of the same make, wouldn't you want the phone with more megapixels? It would give greater image detail and a bigger area to crop.

No.

First of all, I value image quality, not image resolution. High megapixel counts will be nice in daylight but will not be so good in lowlight since the smaller pixels would need more sensitivity to receive light, which in turn creates more noise, which results in more noise reduction needed, so you'll end up with a smudgy image that may actually have less detail overall.

The compromise would be something I already have as an app on my Note 7 and iPad Pro. Being able to take multiple shots and using software to combine them together to increase resolution and also reduce noise. It's not as elegant or simple as a high res sensor, but I'll have that for now.

The exception would be the Moto Z Force versus the Moto Z, but that's because it has a larger overall sensor while maintaining the same pixel size as the Z.

 

[EnemiesInTheEnd]

My Nikon D3 only has 12MP. It sucks.

The Nikon D5 has 20.8MP. They should probably lower it down to 12MP for enhanced image quality. Stupid Nikon.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

It's also worth noting that the sensor on the Pixel is approximately 1/2.3".

 

[tunic330]

Now here comes a question from an overall noob in the smartphone territory: I know that a bigger sensor equals better lowlight photos, but does the width of the lens make a big difference or is it the length that matters? I'm asking because most phones nowadays has ugly camera bumps which pisses me off. Could they not just increase the width of the camera? Does increasing width also mean that you'll have to increase length? Are they linked? If so, why aren't smartphone manufacturers just making their lenses wider? Is it due to aesthetic reasons?

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Now here comes a question from an overall noob in the smartphone territory: I know that a bigger sensor equals better lowlight photos, but does the width of the lens make a big difference or is it the length that matters? I'm asking because most phones nowadays has ugly camera bumps which pisses me off. Could they not just increase the width of the camera? Does increasing width also mean that you'll have to increase length? Are they linked? If so, why aren't smartphone manufacturers just making their lenses wider? Is it due to aesthetic reasons?

Camera lenses are round because it was found to produce the best results from all the other shapes.

They have to do it diagonally so that it remains circular.

 

[tdizzel]

Pfft 16 mp sucks. I want a full spectrum 3d holographic scanner.