8 megapixel mega shootout: Picture this

10 November 2011
In a time honored tradition, we have the latest and greatest cameraphones lined up and ready to shoot for the top. It's been a while, we know. The last time we had a taste of 8MP sharpshooting action was in the distant 2008. 8MP then and 8MP now...

Sort by:

  • L
  • Lugano
  • 9K5
  • 23 Nov 2011

iPhone is the best on the planet for sure.

    • S
    • Seba medi
    • LEx
    • 21 Nov 2011

    there are cameras whit 8 mp sense. the nokia n8 best camera phone. is better quality and realism. best regards.

      • D
      • AnonD-1479
      • Nv1
      • 21 Nov 2011

      a video i made shoud clear things up and who's the real king dont forget to enable hd. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPCOwj8vC4&feature=autoshare

        • H
        • Hello
        • Ld0
        • 19 Nov 2011

        Why is that N8 fanboys still crying out loud that their N8's not included in the test... Hellooooo!!! this is an 8mp camera shootout, and your N8 is 12mp so quit crying

          • D
          • AnonD-23771
          • uE5
          • 19 Nov 2011

          I am quite worry with this test, it does not specify which firmware/software update did they use with it. Because some phone already has software and firmware update to fix their problem. I really want to see N9 with the PR1.1 update performance, as I just tested last night in Nokia Store that have N9 with PR1.1, and it performs very well. And secondly, yes iPhone has built in HDR Software in it, so it can manipulate pictures but in result sometimes too yellow, but it can reduce by using manual setting. And to be fair, Apple has done a good job in here, but to be fair, not too much compare to SGS2 that in my personal opinion can be improved a lot if has the same built in HDR Software with it. So please do it again few months later but with some latest software/firmware update to see how well they have improved. And frankly speaking to all Nokia fans, N9 is not a camera phone, it stand for highest craftmanship that Nokia has achieved in manufacturing. So no need to argue with the test, I am, personally sees that this N9 need to be tune well again, it need another firmware update to fix their camera problem. And for Nokia camera phone fans, please be patient, they will soon release the mammoth sensor size for the next N8 successor probably somewhere arround Q1 2012.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • ef9
            • 18 Nov 2011

            AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

            SONY WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!because sony is the maker of the camera on the iphone 4s

              • G
              • G. Fatih Gokce
              • mZb
              • 18 Nov 2011

              I think you forgot the legendary Nokia N86 8MP.....and sure Nokia N82...

                • M
                • Mark
                • pJM
                • 18 Nov 2011

                I thought it was a good and balanced review of the x6 phones picked for review.

                My only question was which of the 6 takes the best action shots? Quite often I want to take pics of moving subjects, so which of these phones copes best with this demand?

                  • D
                  • Darkangels6sic6
                  • q8Q
                  • 17 Nov 2011

                  Check out the camera comparison of the N8 vs the Pixon12. They are fairly matched it seems. Only thing is that Pixon12 has a xenon and led flash. You would have to see more to make the full judgment, but in the three comparisons it's a give and take of quality.

                    • M
                    • Mobilephonefreak
                    • UG4
                    • 17 Nov 2011

                    Anonymous, 17 Nov 2011Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz was asked which came... moreThat's because she never touch the Nokia N8.

                      • M
                      • Mobilephonefreak
                      • UG4
                      • 17 Nov 2011

                      GSMARENA did a very systematic shootout here. But here are the important things that were left out:
                      1. All the shots are doing on subjects that are motionless which did not demonstrate real life photo take which usually are on subjects that moves. Please add that for both with flash and without flash. This will add a realistic dimension.

                      2. The N8 is still the best camera phone out there so should have use that as the base line for scoring. Although N8 is a 12 megapixel camera, it's default is 9 megapixel. Anyhow, 1 megapixel should matters since is the overall system.

                      3. There was no comparison on how well the light distribution between the images. This is an important factor when you take pictures of a larger frame eg group picture.

                      4. There was not real measurement on how natural the color of images compare to natural color under the sun which our eyes are use to under natural light and flash.

                      I would suggest GSMARENA benchmark with the real and serious people in www.preview.com which real digital camera reference is when comparing camera.

                      All of you who are having a pissing contest because of your fanatism to a particular phone brand or OS should take a hike if you cannot appreciate the pulse of this shootout as a pure camera comparison and nothing else. The best camera phone is still the 1 year old N8. Nokia, Apple, Samsung and HTC had made compromises in the camera department here. Apple is always the laggard in terms of adoption of new technologies but had catched up here but had fooled every consumer with a substandard camera system. Nobody at Pple would dare compare Iphone 4s with a real digital camera or the N8 in real photography image quality.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 3Yb
                        • 17 Nov 2011

                        Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz was asked which camera (not smartphone camera) she would recommend, and she answered the iPhone, calling it "the snapshot camera of our times"

                        http://gizmodo.com/5860261/legendary-photog-annie-leibovitzs-surprising-camera-recommendation

                          • i
                          • isyaqoob
                          • Gg8
                          • 17 Nov 2011

                          I am really disappointed with gsmarena iphone 4s camera is on top??? i own iphone 4s the pictures are fine but the video laags Just check the iphone 4s camera video samples on youtube and you will see the video laags and skipping frames how can u give 9 and 10 points???? not fair comparison hands down to the site....

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • YPb
                            • 17 Nov 2011

                            I don't see why SE&Nokia fanboys are so annoyed by the review.

                            If you want the camera on your phone that badly, then get Samsung Pixon 12, which has a physical zoom lens and proper cmos which matches to omlypus EPL-1.

                            While they are arguing over nonsense i will keep my GS2 which is the best camera among anroid phones and beats hell out of N9. I respect iphone4s camera, but i don't like ios since it has too much restrictions.

                            So, cheers for my GS2. SE&Nokia fanboys can cry more :)

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • 4cS
                              • 16 Nov 2011

                              I have both SGS2 and iPhone 4S. The review is right on. SGS2's LED light is much brighter than 4S', but 4S has very fast shutter compares to SGS2. iPhone 4S' camera quality is better but not much. Many people have pink camera issue on SGS2 like I have.

                                • e
                                • eddie8880
                                • q8x
                                • 16 Nov 2011

                                I actually thought the review was very good and balance. Good job GSM!

                                  • a
                                  • abhi
                                  • uv1
                                  • 15 Nov 2011

                                  Arch, 13 Nov 2011I completely disagree with this shootout... Arc produces th... moreYeah Arc has the best camera... but not the Arc S.
                                  I wonder why gsmarena didn't use the original xperia arc in this shootout... did they fear of other phones losing to xperia arc ???

                                    • A
                                    • ALonZo
                                    • 9EL
                                    • 15 Nov 2011

                                    Alex, 12 Nov 2011What??? Iphone4 and Samsung GS2 beating the Arc?? i just ca... moreI've experienced the camera on a Galaxy S2 and the iPhone camera is much higher quality for me.

                                      • A
                                      • ALonZo
                                      • 9EL
                                      • 15 Nov 2011

                                      Why cant people get over the fact that the iPhone is a premier phone with arguably the best camera? I mean fanboys of other phones get angry and so annoyed over a camera comparison????!!!!! I mean if the Galaxy S2 was voted as having the best camera, I wouldnt care less. But the iPhone has the best camera and video capture, get over it!

                                        • M
                                        • Mike
                                        • n{a
                                        • 15 Nov 2011

                                        Camera/video quality is personal taste. If you like the photo or video your handset produces, good for you (most of us don't 'analyse' our media). I have a SGSII, my first Android. The one thing I don't like about Android is the "background" stuff, synching, etc. I nearly used up my monthly data allowance in ONE DAY before I realised how to turn this off. Used to get instructions once upon a time... Android's too much like Big Brother for me. May be a waste of Dual Core, but I'm going back to my Wave and using the GSII as a music/video player.