Nexus 5 is better than the iPhone.

[SDSilverM3]

Thanks for sharing, Jeff. The Macros look great!

This might be old news to some but came across this today... Google is working on a new Android camera API, supports Camera RAW | Ars Technica. Maybe that'll be step in the right direction towards further improving the camera on Android phones. This seems mostly focused on image quality so I wonder how or if speed will be improved with the new API.

 

[JHBThree]

As for iPhone comparisons...I was quite surprised to see THIS little comparison online (iPhone 5s is on top, Nexus 5 on bottom):

http://forums.androidcentral.com/at...5-camera-photos-videos-thoughts-full-crop.jpg
Click here for full size: http://forums.androidcentral.com/at...5-camera-photos-videos-thoughts-full-crop.jpg
Source: Nexus 5 camera samples appear (compared with iPhone 5s)

Check out the full images on that link...the detail is better than it seems even from this image. That is just awesome macro quality for a phone camera. I have never owned a DSLR that can do that.

Whoever took that iPhone picture took an intentionally bad one.


Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

 

[Rule9]

Whoever took that iPhone picture took an intentionally bad one.


Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

I was holding off saying anything but yeah, that's one of the worst iPhone pics I've ever seen. The photographer has also pressed themself right up into the picture more than the other one, causing blur. And you'll notice the other shot is allowing the window lighting in, you can see it reflecting off the mat. He's pressed in the iPhone shot he lost the light

Sent from my Sony Xperia Z1

 

[Haalcyon]

This is my experience as I've had a lot of phones. The iPhone, and specifically, the iPhone 5s has been the best camera w/in a phone I've used. I've been able to get the best photos w/out tinkering in the settings with the iPhones. Apple, for your money, makes it a point to make the cameras very very good. I hope that Android OEMs begin to make cameras as much a priority as I believe Apple does. I'd be more than willing to pay more for the phone if it had a better camera. A camera that takes photos as or better than the latest iPhone w/out tinkering in settings. That said, my LG phones take photos that just fine for the purposes that I use them for.

 

[alexlam24]

I've used a friends iPhone before. The lack of a dedicated back button means the app developer needs to implement a back button, which takes up screen space. Oh and your app has to get approved by Apple and most of them aren't free at all.

Sent from HTC Note Ultra Pro on T-Mobile

 

[Haalcyon]

I've used a friends iPhone before. The lack of a dedicated back button means the app developer needs to implement a back button, which takes up screen space. Oh and your app has to get approved by Apple and most of them aren't free at all.

Sent from HTC Note Ultra Pro on T-Mobile

That is one of my pet peeves with the iPhone...no back button. ...but ignorance is bliss. iPhone users don't know what they're missing...and when they find out to the Dark side they come.

OptimuS G Pro

 

[JeffDenver]

Whoever took that iPhone picture took an intentionally bad one.

Post better samples.

Why are there no better samples anywhere?I'm not saying this to be snarky...I'd really like to see them.

 

[JeffDenver]

I was holding off saying anything but yeah, that's one of the worst iPhone pics I've ever seen. The photographer has also pressed themself right up into the picture more than the other one, causing blur.

It was the same distance...you can see that in the photo. The fact that it was a blur is telling me the iPhone is having problems focusing at that distance. The Nexus was not.

 

[Rule9]

It was the same distance...you can see that in the photo. The fact that it was a blur is telling me the iPhone is having problems focusing at that distance. The Nexus was not.

Take another look at the amount of placemat that is showing in each photo. There's also more light coming in from the window behind the photographer because he's not blocking it as much as he is in the iPhone pic. You can see the angle is also different.



Now take that angle difference and extend the imaginary lines outwards towards where the photographer was actually standing and it would translate to him moving possibly around a foot in either direction, easily enough to make a big difference in lighting from the window behind him.

Sent from my Sony Xperia Z1

 

[Almeuit]

It was the same distance...you can see that in the photo. The fact that it was a blur is telling me the iPhone is having problems focusing at that distance. The Nexus was not.

The only thing I notice is the distance. Is slightly different. You can tell the top is closer.. You see the front of the table less.. And the back more.. Suggesting it's closer. It seems like the camera is just closer for sure.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[JeffDenver]

The only thing I notice is the distance. Is slightly different. You can tell the top is closer.. You see the front of the table less.. And the back more.. Suggesting it's closer. It seems like the camera is just closer for sure.

There are several people on this thread who have iPhones...post some macro shots.

Your table measure could be just due to angle.

 

[Rule9]

There are several people on this thread who have iPhones...post some macro shots.

Your table measure could be just due to angle.

Here's some overall comparisons. Source

Google Nexus 5

Apple iPhone 5s

Google Nexus 5

Apple iPhone 5s

Google Nexus 5

Apple iPhone 5s

Google Nexus 5 - Strong light

Apple iPhone 5s - Strong light

Google Nexus 5 - Low light

Apple iPhone 5s - Low light

Google Nexus 5

Apple iPhone 5s

 

[JeffDenver]

Here's some overall comparisons.

http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/reviews/147371-image/07-overall-ratings.jpg

Your source seems to be saying the nexus 5 is comparable to the iPhone 5s.

I did not see any Macro shots though. (And I do know for a fact that the 5s does take better flash photos...the difference is obvious in a way that no fanboy could ignore)

 

[Rule9]

Your source seems to be saying the nexus 5 is comparable to the iPhone 5s.

I did not see any Macro shots though. (And I do know for a fact that the 5s does take better flash photos...the difference is obvious in a way that no fanboy could ignore)

As stated, those are just some overall shots for anyone's perusal. Yes, the N5's camera photo quality is comparable to any other 2013 smartphones. It's not one of the top runners that's all. Definitely a good camera for regular usage people like me though.

 

[Adranalyne]

The Nexus 5 camera is every bit as good as the iPhone 5S....until you try to capture something quickly and then it's weakness is very obvious. Software issue? Yes. Acceptable for a camera this good to be this slow out of the box? No. There's really no need for debate right now---the 5S is the better camera right now. If Google ever fixes this issue, then it could be the other way around.

 

[JeffDenver]

As stated, those are just some overall shots for anyone's perusal. Yes, the N5's camera photo quality is comparable to any other 2013 smartphones. It's not one of the top runners that's all. Definitely a good camera for regular usage people like me though.

I think anyone would consider the iPhone 5s's quality to be a top runner, and the Nexus 5 matches that in most areas and exceeds it in some. What impresses me about the Nexus 5 camera is that Apple clearly puts a lot more effort into their camera than google does, yet the Nexus 5 still produces comparable photos. If google did the same as Apple the camera would be outstanding.

 

[Rule9]

I think anyone would consider the iPhone 5s's quality to be a top runner, and the Nexus 5 matches that in most areas and exceeds it in some.

Except that it's not one of the top runners. I saw what you did there

 

[JeffDenver]

One thing I'd like to add on shutter speed...you can take photos while taking video by tapping the screen. This method is VERY fast. So that is one solution if shutter speed is an issue.

It is not a cure, but it is a bandaid solution.

 

[JeffDenver]

Except that it's not one of the top runners. I saw what you did there

It's not one of the top runners according to Phone arena.

But look at all the smartphones on the market...Phone arena considers the nexus and iPhone to be in the top 5 in most of those tests. That sounds like a top runner to me.

 

[sdc1]

If you're going to buy a phone based on image quality alone the only phone to buy is a Lumia 1020. I did this and quickly found that you should not buy a phone based on image quality alone.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using AC Forums mobile app