Sony Xperia XZ Premium vs iPhone 7 Plus quick camera comparison

30 April 2017
Our first hands-on with the Xperia XZ Premium at the European launch event quickly turned into an impromptu camera comparison with the iPhone 7 Plus.

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  • AnonD-664474
  • UD%
  • 02 May 2017

Xz8441, 02 May 2017oh god, since when did more Megapixel = more colors? mo... moreI'm a Sony fan but cameras of Xperias must be done better

LG and Apple could prove that 1/3.06" sensor is enough for great low light photography, and Google Pixel/Pixel XL with the same sensor size as all Xperia flagships since Xperia Z1, can manage to get incredible results, and yes, I do agree - it's the processing that stinks

Xperia Z3 was nearly perfect at that time. The only problems it faced are the very high ISO (that causes blue/purple tint on images in extreme low light), color rendering issues, loss of detail (because S. Auto was only utilizing 8mp at max), and exposure/DR management, but it never faced such issues like corner softness, aggressively noise reduced photos, and even some motion blur (despite the blur-free photos advertisement).

Every year, I always get hyped about a new sensor they introduce, but as I see the images, instead of making me even happier, just makes me even more sad, and I always cry of shame comparing the XZs's low light photo to even the phones that I really don't like (such as the 3T, Huawei phones, Xiaomi phones, etc.).

I don't like Samsung, but I must admit that they have excellent post-processing algorithm.

I'm needing a new Xperia camera UI with proper interface w/c includes important manual settings like RAW photo (others already have this since 2014), and more flexible settings (at least make the shutter time as long as 30 second instead of 1).

Best DSLR/Mirrorless/Point-And-Shoot camera maker, best sensor producer, worst smartphone camera manufacturer

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    • AnonD-664474
    • UD%
    • 02 May 2017

    Switch to Manual Mode, keep the settings all in Auto, and welcome to a proper flagship low light grade camera quality.

    Sony's Superior Auto always have issues with processing
    It's the hardware that's upgraded, but processing was kept lousy - even worse is it's even worse than predecessors. Xperia Z3 only had issues with white balance and detail preservation (because it only utilizes 8mp in S. Auto that time) but it never faced such issues like corner softness, smudgy details, and aggressive noise reduction.

    This problem started on the Z5 family, and I don't see anytime soon that Sony would fix this, but who knows? Only time will tell

    For right now, I'm looking at Sony's IFA 2017 flagship lineup with same 19mp camera but sensor enlarged to 1/2" and higher capacity DRAM for unlimited 960fps Slow Motion Videos. The increase in sensor size should help the pixels go bigger up to 1.3um from 1.22um, but this shouldn't be mattering that much at all since LG and Apple have proven that 1.12um pixel size on a 1/3.06" sensor is more than enough for low light shooting - my budget Asus phone with the same hardware as the G6's camera (same sensor size but different sensor, same 13mp but only has f2.0 and no OIS, but probably of the same pixel size) can take reasonably decent photos in low light - surprisingly better than what the XZs and XZ can do

    Sony fanboys may hate me, but whether they believe or not, I'm also a Sony fanboy with their amazing software and support, fantastic audio, lovely display, and unique phone design, but the camera must be taken seriously

      AnonD-635604, 02 May 2017More mp mean more colour in every pixel....oh god, since when did more Megapixel = more colors?

      more megapixel doesn't mean squat if the lens, camera, image processing sucks

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        • AnonD-251354
        • P@@
        • 02 May 2017

        but in good light XZs blow S8+, XZs is sharper compare to S8+

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          • AnonD-635604
          • KZ8
          • 02 May 2017

          When XZP competes with iPhone 7
          =iPhone 7 looks more natural
          When XZP competes with S8
          =S8 has more contrast and colours,and much more detail

          If XZP has the highest score in DxO
          =Don't trust Dxo,it is fake
          If S8 has the highest score in DxO
          =S8 is the new king and haters will jealous

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • v6J
            • 02 May 2017

            AnonD-96745, 02 May 2017That sample from S8 is very strong oversharpening failure. ... moreIf you prefer the sony pic that has that much noise it looks out of focus your welcome to it.
            I'm guessing 99% of people would chose the S8 in those two photos.

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              • AnonD-635604
              • KZ8
              • 02 May 2017

              Anonymous, 02 May 2017More MP doesn't mean more detail. It way work in really br... moreMore mp mean more colour in every pixel....

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                • AnonD-96745
                • IVJ
                • 02 May 2017

                Anonymous, 02 May 2017More MP doesn't mean more detail. It way work in really br... moreThat sample from S8 is very strong oversharpening failure. XZs looks more natural & close to reality and i got to admit, Sony's Bionz noise reduction is a bit too much cause the image looks smudge. Then again, that shot taken using 19mp, if use 12mp the image quality are better. Despites this, i'll still prefer sony image quality.

                  • c
                  • cena
                  • nT8
                  • 02 May 2017

                  In my opinion Better colours and details on xz premium . I like that . But I phone has good camera too . Both phone are lovely :)

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                    • Anonymous
                    • v6J
                    • 02 May 2017

                    Tann Hauser, 02 May 2017That is not true at all.... simply put XZ Premiums shots ... moreMore MP doesn't mean more detail.
                    It way work in really bright conditions but as soon as the light is less it simply adds noise.

                    As you can see, the S8 blows the XZs away in low light with a lot more details.
                    http://www.gsmarena.com/piccmp.php3?idType=5&idPhone1=8599&idPhone2=8523

                      Anonymous, 02 May 2017Well.. to each his own then. While I like the color on Sony... moreThat is not true at all....
                      simply put XZ Premiums shots have much more detail preservation due to higher mpx,
                      Along with more acurrate color, also no hdr overprocessing so more acurrate to what your Eye sees actually, natural shading, etc("Eye" trademark, get it?)
                      And you can always turn on hdr on XZ, but cant turn it off on iphone.

                      Really dont understand why some people like this "instagrm" type processing, I can always download that and get same results on Xperia as is here by iphone. But certainly not other way around.

                        Anonymous, 02 May 2017Actually, you miss something. If you know science, then you... moreOf course it is.
                        Those seashells shot tells it all.

                          • D
                          • AnonD-349701
                          • t0L
                          • 02 May 2017

                          Anonymous, 01 May 2017The sensor Sony uses for flagships are exclusive... Exclusive for an year or two , but Still , chinese get the old sensors and process way better. Like I said Sony Really needs help with the image processing department.

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                            • AnonD-96745
                            • IVJ
                            • 02 May 2017

                            What are u guys smoking? Picture results in Xperia XZ premium are impressive and a lot better that IP7 Plus! The only downside maybe their noise reduction a bit too much and causing a bit artifact but hey, they preserve much more details! Obviously its better than IP7!

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                              • Toasty Bear
                              • q{E
                              • 02 May 2017

                              Colours are decent. Contrast is excellent. Too much sharpening. Decent sensor overall.

                              Useless comparing against the iPhone 7 since apple overloaded their phone with software that recovers shadows for low light performance. Taxing heavily on colours and contrast.

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                                • Anonymous
                                • 4S2
                                • 02 May 2017

                                Anonymous, 02 May 2017All of you fail to see one thing, but I am not going to tel... moreActually, this hint is vague, so it has something to do with the environment (also related to science).

                                  • A
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 4S2
                                  • 02 May 2017

                                  All of you fail to see one thing, but I am not going to tell. I will give you guys a hint: it has to do with science.

                                    • A
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 4S2
                                    • 02 May 2017

                                    Anonymous, 02 May 2017Well.. to each his own then. While I like the color on Sony... moreActually, you miss something. If you know science, then you will spot it right away. Xz premium is more accurate and natural looking.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • vV5
                                      • 02 May 2017

                                      Anonymous, 01 May 2017I don't know whether the colors produced by the Xperia are ... moreYes the color produce by XZP is more realistic. You can see the color is true to real life. The iphone color is pale + washed out + incorrect with sunlight yellowish effect (but you can't see the big! sun in the wheather).

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                                        • blank
                                        • PSv
                                        • 02 May 2017

                                        Anonymous, 01 May 2017Yes, better at producing fake coloursfake colors? then Set whitebalance manually.. or color adjustment on superior auto.. with that, you can have 100% color accuracy.. having controls makes it perfect than no controls and does miss the accuracy at times..