Some Pixel 2 questions

[kolyan2k]

1. Does everyone have issues with 3.5mm dongle and using headphones for calls with mic?
2. Anyone know where to buy USBC to 3.5mm + charge port? One sold by Google is not available and it's $45 bucks
3. More of an observation....I think the camera is way over hyped. I took many shots with original Pixel and Pixel 2. Most pics look almost exactly the same and I noticed that Pixel 1 is actually sharper most of the time (if you hold it stable). I mean the camera is great, but I just don't see the improvement over P1. I figured with new CPU, new lens, 1.8f, OIS, and difference should be very obvious...

Oh yeah and 4. I see that everyone is talking about blue tint, burn-in, muted colors etc on 2XL, all that doesn't bother me much, but what does is the grain at very low brightness on white background. Does anyone see that? (I read a few mixed reviews on this issue)

 

[LeoRex]

With regards to the camera... The thing isn't even fully operational yet. Once that custom imaging chip is enabled in full, I have a feeling it'll be a game changer.

 

[kolyan2k]

With regards to the camera... The thing isn't even fully operational yet. Once that custom imaging chip is enabled in full, I have a feeling it'll be a game changer.

I read it's not meant to change anything as far as image quality goes. It's there to speed up HDR processing and to make 3rd party apps compatible with Google code or whatever.
It would be pretty stupid of Google to release phone with imaging chip disabled if it's a game changer, 99.9% it's not that why they didn't care if it's enabled or not

 

[LeoRex]

I read it's not meant to change anything as far as image quality goes. It's there to speed up HDR processing and to make 3rd party apps compatible with Google code or whatever.

I think that's just initially. You don't include a custom designed SOC that can do 3 trillion calculations a second just to speed up something that's already pretty fast. I'm not buying that for a second.

It wasn't enabled because whatever they were stewing up wasn't going to be ready at launch.

 

[kolyan2k]

I think that's just initially. You don't include a custom designed SOC that can do 3 trillion calculations a second just to speed up something that's already pretty fast. I'm not buying that for a second.

It wasn't enabled because whatever they were stewing up wasn't going to be ready at launch.

Will see, they could have said something. The whole Google presentation paragraph on this chip talks about it's benefits, image quality is just not one of the benefits ever listed anywhere.
So far Pixel 1 takes better pictures regardless of better CPU with better image processing, OIS, and better lens. Something isn't calibrated as good as it is in previous gen Pixels

 

[Mike Dee]

Will see, they could have said something. The whole Google presentation paragraph on this chip talks about it's benefits, image quality is just not one of the benefits ever listed anywhere.
So far Pixel 1 takes better pictures regardless of better CPU with better image processing, OIS, and better lens. Something isn't calibrated as good as it is in previous gen Pixels

It's confusing depending on what you read, however they imply through image comparisons in a couple of articles that it's improved when the SOC is turned on. Whats not clear is whether or not the before pictures had HDR+ on.

https://9to5google.com/2017/10/17/p...-on-chip-pixel-2-xl-hdr-camera-functionality/

 

[kolyan2k]

It's confusing depending on what you read, however they imply through image comparisons in a couple of articles that it's improved when the SOC is turned on. Whats not clear is whether or not the before pictures had HDR+ on.

https://9to5google.com/2017/10/17/p...-on-chip-pixel-2-xl-hdr-camera-functionality/

The image comparison is 3rd party apps that don't have access to HDR today without chip enabled. Google camera app does not benefit from that because it already has all access it needs

 

[LeoRex]

Will see, they could have said something. The whole Google presentation paragraph on this chip talks about it's benefits, image quality is just not one of the benefits ever listed anywhere.

Perhaps they are withholding information? They made absolutely no mention of the SoC at the launch event... it wasn't until after that they announced it once they figured someone would be tearing the thing down they'd notice there's an extra processor on board and start asking questions. So they've given us a couple of breadcrumbs related to what they've turned on with the first 8.1 beta build. Do you honestly think that what they are enabling in this early build is the only thing that imaging chip will do?

Just because they haven't mentioned anything about quality improvements doesn't mean it won't do... as for quality, not sure what to tell you. All I know is that across the board, every review, video, etc, they are universally praising the P2's camera and have remarked about its improvements over the P1. I get that your experience may be different, but don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else's experience matches your own.

 

[Almeuit]

Will see, they could have said something. The whole Google presentation paragraph on this chip talks about it's benefits, image quality is just not one of the benefits ever listed anywhere.
So far Pixel 1 takes better pictures regardless of better CPU with better image processing, OIS, and better lens. Something isn't calibrated as good as it is in previous gen Pixels

I suggest taking a read here...

https://www.androidcentral.com/pixel-2-has-custom-chipset-meet-pixel-visual-core

.

 

[Mike Dee]

Perhaps they are withholding information? They made absolutely no mention of the SoC at the launch event... it wasn't until after that they announced it once they figured someone would be tearing the thing down they'd notice there's an extra processor on board and start asking questions. So they've given us a couple of breadcrumbs related to what they've turned on with the first 8.1 beta build. Do you honestly think that what they are enabling in this early build is the only thing that imaging chip will do?

Just because they haven't mentioned anything about quality improvements doesn't mean it won't do... as for quality, not sure what to tell you. All I know is that across the board, every review, video, etc, they are universally praising the P2's camera and have remarked about its improvements over the P1. I get that your experience may be different, but don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else's experience matches your own.

I believe enabling the SOC will open the path to a whole new world

 

[Chex313]

I believe enabling the SOC will open the path to a whole new world

Better VR porn? LoL

I still catch the HDR + processing, so I would like to have that done by the time I look at a pic...even if it's only taking it a second currently.

 

[kolyan2k]

Just because they haven't mentioned anything about quality improvements doesn't mean it won't do... as for quality, not sure what to tell you. All I know is that across the board, every review, video, etc, they are universally praising the P2's camera and have remarked about its improvements over the P1. I get that your experience may be different, but don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else's experience matches your own.

I've seen ALL Pixel reviews and most if not all do not compare Pixel 1 to Pixel 2 cameras. All just say its the best. Well I went a little further and actually got Pixel 2 and compared images side by side on PC monitor (I am not a pro and I did not take pics in some specific environment, just random indoor and outdoor shots) . Its called HYPE, even if its 1% improvement, everyone will be paying $1000 bucks and screaming its the best in the whole world. Not saying that its not, but the difference is very small.

Here I am seating on Pixel 1XL and Pixel 2 (that I got for free), and I cant decide which one to keep. I cant image people are paying up to $1000 bucks to get these new phones when I am not sure if I want to keep it for free.....its crazy

 

[LeoRex]

Well, I'll be able to give you my own perspective since I'll be ordering mine in a hour or so.

 

[kolyan2k]

I am leaning towards Pixel 2 just because its actually $700 bucks, but this lack of 3.5mm jack is driving me nuts. Bluetooth doesnt work for me and I always charge phone when using headphones. Google $45 bucks accessory is not available and no one seems to sell something that would work 100%. I use 3.5mm jack every single day.......

 

[scgf]

Put it like this. The original Pixel camera I found unusable because of the severe lens flare and halo issue. The Pixel 2 doesn't have that issue so the difference to me is huge!

 

[kolyan2k]

Put it like this. The original Pixel camera I found unusable because of the severe lens flare and halo issue. The Pixel 2 doesn't have that issue so the difference to me is huge!

That's true. I can't say that flare was huge, but it was abit annoying that some images came out simply unusable. Pixel 2 fixed that.
I just don't understand why some images come out sharper on Pixel 1 then 2. Better lens and OIS should have a completely opposite effect and should give night and day difference.

 

[svenEDGE]

That's true. I can't say that flare was huge, but it was abit annoying that some images came out simply unusable. Pixel 2 fixed that.
I just don't understand why some images come out sharper on Pixel 1 then 2. Better lens and OIS should have a completely opposite effect and should give night and day difference.

Sharper isn't always better. I found that my OG Pixel XL over sharpened my images sometimes. Not as bad as Samsung, but still too much. I haven't played with my 2 XL enough yet, but from what I've seen, it's much better.

 

[LeoRex]

That's true. I can't say that flare was huge, but it was abit annoying that some images came out simply unusable. Pixel 2 fixed that.
I just don't understand why some images come out sharper on Pixel 1 then 2. Better lens and OIS should have a completely opposite effect and should give night and day difference.

Not all pictures are the same... Even a slight change is focus point has a big impact. When I'm comparing cameras, I take several shots of the same subject to reduce that chance.

In a different note, Google's processing actually does very little artificial noise reduction and sharpening. HDR+ handles most of that processing, using data from all the images in the set. There are very few, if any, processing artifacts like halos, oil painting like smudging, etc.

If you want to do a very technical side by side of the cameras, GSMArena has a cool photo comparison tool that you can look at. You can pixel peep to your heart's content and see the low level differences.

I'll have mine, hopefully, in a week or so and I plan to do a full shake down with the XL and the 2XL

 

[kolyan2k]

I'll take a look, I am running out of time. Tomorrow I have to either give away my Pixel 2 or 1XL

All images that I compared I took one with 1XL and other same image with Pixel 2. Maybe I used a wrong term, I noticed Pixel 2 produced just a bit more noise. Ex. I took a low light picture in my office, Canon sign on printer was visible better on 1XL then 2. Image was more sharp and had less noise. It's not night and day difference, but I figured it was going to be 100% opposite

Ill test some more today....

PS. I just noticed that sensor on Pixel 1 is bigger then on Pixel 2....maybe thats why differences are so minimal. Pixel size is also larger on Pixel 1, although I am not sure what this means

 

[LeoRex]

PS. I just noticed that sensor on Pixel 1 is bigger then on Pixel 2....maybe thats why differences are so minimal. Pixel size is also larger on Pixel 1, although I am not sure what this means

Correct.. the 1 used one of the largest sensors on the market, 1.55 microns.. with the two, thatv dropped to 1.4 BUT... they gained the dual pixel layout... Which allowed much faster focus and the ability to build a depth map without a second sensor.. it's basically the same sensor Samsung has been using. To compensate they bumped the aperture from f/2 to f/1.8.

How that translates to noise, I'll have to see for myself.