Picture Quality

[can3gxw]

Hey all, brand new Pixel XL owner. Coming from a Galaxy S5 (great phone). I have a question about the camera. My S5 was a 16MP at 16:9 resolution and was SHARP.

The best I can find on the Pixel is 4:3 (12.3 MP) or 16:9 (8.3 MP).

Why can't I choose the 16:9 for the 12MP back camera?

Or am I over thinking things on the ratio and/or resolution?

 

[Chuckcell]

The 8.3/16:9 is a crop of the 12.3/4:3 and therefore a subset so it is smaller.

 

[can3gxw]

So the best overall quality photo is going to come from the 12.3 / 4:3 photo?

 

[muzzy996]

Yup. The native resolution and aspect ratios for the sensors are different so the options afforded to you are different.

For me I always shoot at a camera's native resolution (it's max setting) and crop after when I need to use the image. I do understand the challenge moving to another aspect ratio, I had gotten used to the wide aspect ratio on my Note 4 and when I switched over to the Pixel I had to get used to the 4:3. All in all the camera is great though.

 

[can3gxw]

Yea... I've read all the reviews with the Pixel (and XL) having the best cameras on the smartphone market. Then to go from 16:9 to 4:3 (all my past phones have been Galaxys - 1, 3, 5) just feels strange since I have been stuck in the Samsung ecosystem.