Moto Z2 Play Camera (12MP 1.4um Dual Autofocus Pixel, ƒ/1.7)

[Ry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShuffMnkG68

https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-z-play-gen-2#advanced-camera

10x the pixels. way better photos.
Embrace your inner shutterbug with our first camera combining laser autofocus and dual autofocus pixels. It captures 25% more light‡‡ using a large ƒ/1.7 aperture and 10 times the number of autofocus pixels as its predecessor. Take better selfies, too, with the the 5 MP wide angle camera featuring our first front-facing dual CCT flash.

rear camera
12MP 1.4um Dual Autofocus Pixel
ƒ/1.7
Laser Autofocus (Up to 5 meters)
Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF)
Color Correlated Temperature (CCT) dual LED flash
Professional mode
Auto Night mode
Video Encode: 480p (30fps) 720p (120fps) 1080p (60fps), 4K (30fps)

front camera
5MP 1.4um
ƒ/2.2
Wide-Angle lens
Color Correlated Temperature (CCT) dual LED flash
Auto Night mode
Beautification software
Professional mode
Video Encode: 480p (30fps) 720p (120fps) 1080p (30fps)

 

[PowrDroid]

Why no optical image stabilization?

 

[sangs]

Why no optical image stabilization?

It's a cheaper mid-range model. Can't load it up with flagship specs and sell it at $408.

 

[PowrDroid]

Load it up with flagship specs?

These phones are in the same price range, have image stabilization, and are not flagships:
OnePlus 3 has OIS
OnePlus 5 has EIS
LG G5 has OIS
Samsung Galaxy A5 has OIS

I'm sure there are more.

 

[sangs]

Huh?

-- OnePlus 3 and 5 aren't the OnePlus flagships? What else do they have?
-- LG G5 was most CERTAINLY a flagship when it landed.
-- Don't know anything about the A5.

 

[PowrDroid]

Huh?

-- OnePlus 3 and 5 aren't the OnePlus flagships? What else do they have?
-- LG G5 was most CERTAINLY a flagship when it landed.
-- Don't know anything about the A5.

I don't know whether or not the manufacturer considers their phones a flagship, I was merely looking at the cost of the device. All of these devices are under $500, probably now are under $400, and have image stabilization.

Another thing to consider--Motorola 'flagships' of years past, like the Droid Turbo, Turbo 2, Moto X Play, Droid Maxx 2, etc. did not have OIS, but other manufacturers flagships that were released at about the same time, or even before the Moto phones did, like Samsung Galaxy S6 , Note 4 (Oct 2014, same time as Droid Turbo 1), Apple phones, LG G3 (June 2014), LG G4, etc.

It wasn't until the Moto Z and Force Z were released September 2016 that they had OIS on their cameras, two full years after other manufacturers.

 

[jtcannonball]

OnePlus models are different, less battery and iOS. They do what they can to make a dent in the market and establish a foothold. They picked battles, no NFC in the 3t but the Z2 does.

 

[sangs]

I don't know whether or not the manufacturer considers their phones a flagship, I was merely looking at the cost of the device. All of these devices are under $500, probably now are under $400, and have image stabilization.

Another thing to consider--Motorola 'flagships' of years past, like the Droid Turbo, Turbo 2, Moto X Play, Droid Maxx 2, etc. did not have OIS, but other manufacturers flagships that were released at about the same time, or even before the Moto phones did, like Samsung Galaxy S6 , Note 4 (Oct 2014, same time as Droid Turbo 1), Apple phones, LG G3 (June 2014), LG G4, etc.

It wasn't until the Moto Z and Force Z were released September 2016 that they had OIS on their cameras, two full years after other manufacturers.

Gotcha. I was going by what the manufacturer considers the flagship, as there can only be one, or a variation of one (such as the Galaxy S8 and S8+).

 

[jtcannonball]

But is the camera good. Reviews seem to have a lot of difference or opinion on this.

 

[PowrDroid]

But is the camera good. Reviews seem to have a lot of difference or opinion on this.

I've owned and have followed Moto's phones for about 7 years now. I pay close attention to their cameras because after battery it is second on my list of priorities for a phone.

From what I've read it's like the typical Moto camera. Takes great photos in good to decent light. While the low light photos are an improvement over past Moto phones, they are not up to Samsung, Pixel, and LG quality. And of course, they suffer from blurry photos of action shots, largely because they don't have OIS. The Z2 Play seems to open the app and is ready to take shots faster than any previous Moto phone, according to the reviews I've seen so far.

I guess my advice is the same as it's always been for Moto phones. Hold the phone with two hands, brace an elbow on something stationery, hold your breath and tap the screen to take the shot. This is especially true for low light shots or action shots. I've noticed their newer phones--Play Z, Force Z, Z Play--actually have a built in message reminding the shooter to hold the phone steady.

So, Moto is incrementally improving their cameras. While they are getting better and better, so are the other manufacturers so they never catch up.

 

[johnnyshinta]

Why no video stabilization at 1080p 60fps?