Sony Xperia XZs camera low-light performance examined in detail

11 April 2017

We take the Sony Xperia XZs for another spin at night.

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AnonD-521587
kcM
13 Apr 2017

Tann Hauser, 13 Apr 2017Eeerm, no. All that most people want is marketing.... ... moreSony doesnt have to move to this new aspect ratio, but I think it definitely needs to reduce bezels. Bring back the ZL or whatever with the same technology as the XZ/s. That would be really good while maintaining whateve rgreat features it has.

ZL shows sony started the bezeless war way before lg and samsung. The new aspect ratio is weird but it definitely gets more awesome looking the more you look at it. Will still buy a sony phone over samsung or lg for now.

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Tann Hauser
m@g
13 Apr 2017

[deleted post]Eeerm, no.
All that most people want is marketing....
So if you spend 10 billion dollars on it, they will most certainly love you for it....

Even if you offer them nothing new except bigger and bigger screens, with weird aspect ratios that arent supported by 80% of existing media...

And they ask them over 900$ for that "nothing new", and them are ready to buck out and buy, cause they spent 10 bill dollars to convince them its worth it. And revs they like to read think its a bit expensive, but then "explain" it is worth it, cause same people that want marketing wrote them, they are just plain ol suggestable people like all . And they like them because they write what they expect from them. So....

Im most certain very few revs will notice how much more expensive (20-30%) that favourite of yours is than last year flag, and what minority of new things it offered for it.
Cause we know its all about marketing, not what people actually want, but what you convice them they want.

For ex, Do people actually want a phone without 3.5mm audio socket? No. But market it as tech advancement with expensive and lousy Bt earbuds along it, and millions will buy for highest price.

Do people actually want 2.35:1 aspect ratio screens that are unused by most media, games and apps? No. But market it as beautiful, with some widescren movies along, and millions will buy for highest price.

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Tann Hauser
m@g
13 Apr 2017

Photo guy, 12 Apr 2017Why do u all post same picture of XZs which was taken at IS... moreNonsense. Camera is all about what sensor can really do, not how some automode behaves with ISO and shutterspeed. What use is that?

We could also easily say every phone camera with 3200 ISO and 1/4 shutterspeed will make same results as Xperia in automode.
And no, not all cameras can provide same results at 100 ISO and 1s shutter, as not all are 19 mpx resolution, or have RGB sensor for true color, and just dont keep that much detail at that setting.

Btw, Whats the point of manuals on cameras then?
I dont want my camera always deciding how to shoot a photo.

Automodes are for ease of use only, in lowlight they usually use higher ISO to make shutterspeed faster, but automodes are for taking shots to share on social media and in your photo albums. Quality photography requires manual knowhow...

Any way, Xperias have great automodes, that take superb daylight and really good lowlight shots, but if one wants superb lowlight shot one must use manual settings and he ll get superb results, as shown here.

I am yet to see any mobile camera getting same quality results from manual in lowlight as XZs has shown here.

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I love Lenovo
Q}4
13 Apr 2017

Anonymous, 13 Apr 2017Will you retest the endurance of Samsung Note7 after the re... moreLol. You've just admitted that sony always gives half baked camera software in the first release date.
This is unacceptable. Samsung and apple always give perfect stable camera software when they release their devices for the first time. No need to wait for updates.

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Anonymous
IVS
13 Apr 2017

Kaloyan, 12 Apr 2017Hey there. There isn't any other major competitor (Apple... moreWill you retest the endurance of Samsung Note7 after the refurbish version? ...to praising it?!
Will you retest the camera image of Xperia XZs after the Camera software updates? to updates the quality?!

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AnonD-566980
0xY
13 Apr 2017

Anonymous, 12 Apr 2017Still waiting for the other fanboy to explain how he made t... morewell you see mate,most people look just at nuumbers,and when it comes to cam,only number they look it number of pixels

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Photo guy
M5h
12 Apr 2017

Why do u all post same picture of XZs which was taken at ISO 100 with 1 second shutter speed ? Whit these settings u can get good shot with all flagships or with any camera no matter sensor size. Camera sensor quality is determined at higher ISO levels and higher shutter speeds. Sony always had problems with their cameras, like Sony A6000 or A6300 always overheated while filming 10 minutes, their own sensors used by other brands like Nikon were giving better results than their own cameras, so nothing new here, same as always - its SONY

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Anonymous
4S2
12 Apr 2017

Anonymous, 12 Apr 2017Only geeks care about DxOMark scores etc. The only things t... moreWhen you say consumers don't care about the settings, it certainly reminds me of those mundane people in society who does not care and indulge in simplistic life. No wonder why there is always conflict in the world because of you mundane people and below.

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Anonymous
4S2
12 Apr 2017

Anonymous, 12 Apr 2017Why are you so concern with what's going on there when it's... moreNothing to worry about because the phone delivers. Unlike a certain company whose dirty secret has been exposed.

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Anonymous
4S2
12 Apr 2017

Anonymous, 12 Apr 2017You are right. In digital camera world, acceptable noise is... moreThis is why people don't think and always take advantage of gsm's article. I am sure that if the noise is reduced even further, then you will have the best results coming from Sony.

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tonymancs
snd
12 Apr 2017

So besides having DRAM for slow-mo video, again, nothing special. With steady hands I can make 1 very good 8MP low-light shot with Nokia 808 from 3-4 shots, with object support almost every shot. With tripod it can make beautiful, noiseless photos. In daylight 808 is even more brutal, utilizing full 41 (38 effective) MP. So Xperia XZ is a flagship with good enough camera for everyday happy FB/IG photos and some action videos. I'am waiting for some flagship to finally beat 808 at still photos (Lumia 1020 and Lumix CM1 don't count).

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AnonD-660969
yQJ
12 Apr 2017

Kaloyan, 12 Apr 2017Bigger screen, bigger battery, more RAM. But that's not the... moreSony fanboys are just too sensitive. I swear, they are even worst than Apple loyalist. It's better to let them be.

Kaloyan
3FJ
12 Apr 2017

Tann Hauser, 12 Apr 2017Hey there, do you remember this: http://m.gsmarena.com/... moreBigger screen, bigger battery, more RAM. But that's not the point, is it? The Xperia XZs also offers more RAM and a new camera. Here is the first sentence, which I wrote by the way: "Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, as its name suggests, is the bigger and flashier sibling of the original Galaxy S6 edge smartphone."

But there is more to it. The S6 edge+ at the time of announcement, still featured top of the line resolution, top of the line chipset, top of the line design, and top of the line camera. There wasn't a new technology on the market, which could best the S6 edge specs. So, any arguments of why Samsung used old tech would have been irrelevant and wrong.

On the contrary, the Xperia XZs isn't offering top of the line resolution or top of the line chipset, though the latter could have been easily improved (by S821).

And here is most important bit - our review doesn't say anywhere the Xperia XZs is bad because its not up to date hardware. Anywhere. In fact, the phone was praised for quite a few features, and we even applauded Sony for making some very nice advancements. It's beyond clear we liked the phone and the tone is positive. But apparently this wasn't enough. Just look at our competitors to see how bashing is really done.

I could add the Xperia XZs costs as much as an LG G6 in the States, but that's a whole different topic.

My point is, we said mostly positive things about the phone, and shared just few concerns (not bad things, not backlash, concerns!), and suddenly somehow we are biased. We actually did a whole new low-light tour to satisfy the Sony fans because they deserve it, something most of the flagships we review don't get at all, not even the LG G6 or OnePlus 3T. Even the Galaxy S8 wouldn't have gotten more than our balcony photos, but we are thinking of changing our routine, so we'll see.

That's it. All the facts are there, and I think we have one of the best, detailed, honest, and truthful reviews online, where all the facts are clean of personal bias and blind journalism.

Cheers,
Kaloayn

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AnonD-481725
X1E
12 Apr 2017

Someone Else, 12 Apr 2017+1 Don't worry. Don't listen to the fanboys. You guys ma... moreNo actually they have to start to worry.

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Anonymous
fjU
12 Apr 2017

Someone Else, 12 Apr 2017+1 Don't worry. Don't listen to the fanboys. You guys ma... more+1 from me too

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Tann Hauser
m@g
12 Apr 2017

Kaloyan, 12 Apr 2017Hey there. There isn't any other major competitor (Apple... moreHey there, do you remember this:

http://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_edge-7079.php

http://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_edge+-7467.php

Slap a bigger screen and call it a new model.

What is the difference here exactly?

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Someone Else
tZ4
12 Apr 2017

Kaloyan, 12 Apr 2017Hey there. There isn't any other major competitor (Apple... more+1

Don't worry. Don't listen to the fanboys. You guys make the most honest, unbiased and most complete review on the net. Sometimes, you guys even make some entertaining and enjoyable reviews (The Card phone XD). Keep up the good work!

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Anonymous
pVN
12 Apr 2017

NokiaBeast, 12 Apr 2017"Lowest battery apart from iPhone" -Because a good battery... moreI never said that mah means much. I said that it has atrocious battery. Even cheapos like oneplus win over it. LG is equally bad though, I agree. Both terrible companies.

The video you uploaded is very bad, very few apps tested. Put more / more tabs and seen Sony start reloading like crazy and iphone plus oneplus holding their ground. And ultimately does open those many apps in the long run. Hence the reloading mess

Everybody wears cases to their phones and they are still smaller than Sony's ugly as sin design and they are still better protected. The idea to use bezels for protection is so foreign. There are much better materials for that, like the ones used in -I don't know- phone cases?

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NokiaBeast
Kg{
12 Apr 2017

Kaloyan, 12 Apr 2017Hey there. There isn't any other major competitor (Apple... moreI hope so. It just doesn't make any sense for others to get great photos with Sony Xperia phones while you guys can't seem to. Not saying Sony is really flawless, but I think people overreact on Sony phones too much as if their phones did anything bad to their lives. If majority of the people really can't get the desired results they want, I think I'll just have to deal with it. Saying it the worst is just an understatement, and I consider Sony phones only "decent" in low light.

Maybe Sony has some workout here.
Thanks for making everything clear
Have a nice day and more power :D

Kaloyan
3FJ
12 Apr 2017

NokiaBeast, 12 Apr 2017This world is so messed up. Seriously I don't want to beli... moreHey there.

There isn't any other major competitor (Apple, Samsung, LG, Huawei, HTC) to have done this thing so far for a flagship phone - change the camera and present the device as a new model. Either way, this statement is 100% true "Slap a new camera on the Xperia XZ, et voila - you have yourself a brand-new flagship" and isn't meant as offensive at all as that's the actual reality.

And out of context - sure it may seem a bit harsh, but did you keep reading? After presenting this argument, as it would be obvious for any reader, fan or not, I tried to extract everything new and positive there is about the Xperia XZs. Not because I wanted it to look good, but because I needed to present all the facts. And they are that Sony literally copy-pasted their previous model and just changed the camera, but maybe, just maybe! the camera is worthy enough to make the XZs a good pick. And if it was any other reviewer, the Xperia XZs would have probably gotten backlash for this decision, but our objective opinion is now considered bias. No, it's not bias when you tell the truth.

Best,
Kaloyan

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