s10 vs 10e: photo

[tostaky]

Hi !

I'm looking to replace my lg g5 for an s10. I'm debating between s10 vs s10e. Since one of the main reason for the phone is travel photo what would be the best choice ?

The s10e is 200$ less in Canada and I do like the flat screen and form factor.

From my point of view the s10 have 2 advantages over the s10e:

1) Bigger battery (how much time more we get with it it's not clear)

2) telephoto lens. How much better is that than digital zoom? Does the telephoto lens is use to get better bokeh effect or better low light picture or it's really only use for zooming? If only zooming it will be better than the s10e only at 2x I guess.

thanks !

 

[Rukbat]

2) telephoto lens. How much better is that than digital zoom? Does the telephoto lens is use to get better bokeh effect or better low light picture or it's really only use for zooming?

The telephoto lens is slower than the normal lens, so the Bokeh effect is less (that's photography, not the particular phone). Optical zoom is like walking closer to the subject, but there's a foreshortening effect. (You won't notice it much with 2X, but take a picture with a 10X telephoto down a long avenue with cross streets, and the cross streets will appear to be much too close together.)

Digital zoom is just taking a part of the picture and making it larger - 2X takes 1.4 of the picture and makes that portion full size. You lose 3/4 of the quality that way.

If you want a phone for the camera, but don't want to spend the money for a Pixel 3 (or wait for the 4), you can still get the Pixel 2 for the same price range as the S10, and it has a better camera (post-processing is done in hardware, meaning that you can take a rapid series of shots and still get the processing, like Bokeh, Portrait. (And the Night Sight is pretty amazing - it "sees" in dimmer light than the human eye does.) Oh, and the HDR+ (expanded high dynamic range) is pretty impressive too.

 

[tostaky]

Thanks for that answer !

Is the telephoto lens on the s10 only good at 2x ? For example, would the s10 and the S10e have the same results at 4x ?

The Pixel have a major weakness for me, no ultrawide lens. It's something a use a lot when travelling. Its also the main reason I made it my number one requirement.


By the way I can have the pixel 3 for 200 less than the S10 (pixel 3 xl is 170$ less than the S10)

 

[tostaky]

And I can have the pixel 3 for 200$ less than the s10 (pixel 3xl is 170 less than the s10)

 

[usedtolovephones]

If camera is a priority then I'd also suggest getting a Pixel. Anything from Pixel 2 above works wonders. You can even save a lot of money and get the 3a.

But if you like keeping phone for yearssss, then either get the Pixel 3 or 3XL or the S10. Don't get the Pixel 2 or 3a.