I have had this thought for quite some time, but I suppose I better spew it out and get it out of me.
The reviewers, including Android Central, have consistently stated that the quality of pictures in the S4 is better in daylight conditions than it is on the HTC One. Conversely, the shots from the HTC One at night look better than the S4. In addition to reviewers, most comments agree. Herein lies the issue with this comparison...
I have yet to find a reviewer who actually takes into account one VERY important aspect of both cameras: the HTC One has a wider field of view, while the S4 has a smaller field of view. The issue? This can alter lighting DRASTICALLY. Try it with your own smartphone camera. Go outside, point the camera out, and take a shot in areas where there is shadow and light. Next, take a few steps back so that the your field of view is wider.... you will notice that the camera will take in more light IF there is more light in the now-wider field of view.
This can also alter lighting in the dark. The S4 has a smaller field of view so it takes less light in than the HTC One with its wider field of view. The HTC still takes better night shots due to the ultrapixel camera and the larger aperture, but based on the shots I have seen from my (past) S4 and my HTC One, the daylight difference is nearly negligible unless you zoom in.
I owned both devices for a few week to see how they worked and that was my experience when I tried the cameras. The daylight shots on the HTC One impressed me just as much as the shots taken with the S4. I did, however, in my comparisons try to match the field of view. I no longer have the S4, so I can't properly post comparison shots, but I would hope that some reviewer takes this into account.
They both have great cameras, really they do. But the S4 is not THAT much better in the daylight when the same field of view is taken into account. On the same token, the HTC One is MUCH better at night and indoor shots. So what reviewers should say is that overall (when taking an average of all uses), the HTC is the better camera. The S4 has the megapixel advantage and the better software (IMO), but the actual camera performance goes overall to the HTC based on what I have seen and taking into account the above.
The reviewers, including Android Central, have consistently stated that the quality of pictures in the S4 is better in daylight conditions than it is on the HTC One. Conversely, the shots from the HTC One at night look better than the S4. In addition to reviewers, most comments agree. Herein lies the issue with this comparison...
I have yet to find a reviewer who actually takes into account one VERY important aspect of both cameras: the HTC One has a wider field of view, while the S4 has a smaller field of view. The issue? This can alter lighting DRASTICALLY. Try it with your own smartphone camera. Go outside, point the camera out, and take a shot in areas where there is shadow and light. Next, take a few steps back so that the your field of view is wider.... you will notice that the camera will take in more light IF there is more light in the now-wider field of view.
This can also alter lighting in the dark. The S4 has a smaller field of view so it takes less light in than the HTC One with its wider field of view. The HTC still takes better night shots due to the ultrapixel camera and the larger aperture, but based on the shots I have seen from my (past) S4 and my HTC One, the daylight difference is nearly negligible unless you zoom in.
I owned both devices for a few week to see how they worked and that was my experience when I tried the cameras. The daylight shots on the HTC One impressed me just as much as the shots taken with the S4. I did, however, in my comparisons try to match the field of view. I no longer have the S4, so I can't properly post comparison shots, but I would hope that some reviewer takes this into account.
They both have great cameras, really they do. But the S4 is not THAT much better in the daylight when the same field of view is taken into account. On the same token, the HTC One is MUCH better at night and indoor shots. So what reviewers should say is that overall (when taking an average of all uses), the HTC is the better camera. The S4 has the megapixel advantage and the better software (IMO), but the actual camera performance goes overall to the HTC based on what I have seen and taking into account the above.
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