Dedicated cameras are becoming less and less important as increasing numbers of people are happy to perform all photography duties through a smartphone. CBR rounds up some of the best smartphones for the job.
1. Nokia 1020
The Nokia Lumia 1020 came out two years ago now but there has not yet been another phone matching its 41 MP camera. It also provides full HD video and Rich Recording to provide high-quality audio capture, allowing high quality capture of events.
The device comes with the Lumia Camera app, which allows users to manage, edit and enhance photos and easily switch between auto and manual mode. The PureView technology featured in the device was first pioneered in the Nokia 808.
2. Saygus V Squared
The crowd-funded Saygus V Squared is garnering a fair amount of hype for its souped up features, and the camera is no exception. The device boasts a 21 MP main camera and a whopping 13 MP front-facing camera for selfie lovers.
The main camera can shoot 4K video, so it’s handy that the device also packs in almost half a terabyte of storage. The device is currently available on Indiegogo for $650 and is set to ship in the Autumn.
3. HTC One M9
The latest release from HTC carries a 20 MP main camera, with a host of software features to compliment its performance. The device has taken the company’s trademark UltraPixel software and moved it to the front to perform selfie duties, where its sensitivity to low light environments will be useful.
The main camera provides detailed shots and allows HDR, ISO and white-balance effects to be applied.
4. iPhone 6
Apple’s latest flagship smartphone doesn’t pack in as many megapixels as some of its competitors, clocking in at 8 MP, but it has prioritised other features. The main innovation is ‘Focus Pixels’, which aim to provide faster autofocus and improved photo clarity.
Apple aficionados can also manually alter the exposure of the shot using the touch-screen, allowing them to quickly adjust brightness. The front-facing camera provides better brightness than previous models and brings an HD option.
5. Samsung Galaxy S6
The celebrated S6 carries a 16 MP camera with a improved auto-focusing speed, performance in low light and detail capture. Samsung has also made the user interface as easy and instinctive as possible, with a feature allowing users to double-tap the home button and open up the camera in under a second.
There are also simplified swipe and slide features to navigate the gallery and the capture mode.
6. Huawei P8
Huawei’s pitch for the luxury market packs in a 13 MP main camera and 8 MP front camera. The P8 is capable of taking close-up, landscape and low-light shots and can take Full HD video. It brings optical image stabilisation and DSLR-level independent image signal processor.
Software-wise, the device has a camera app with a Beauty mode, Time-lapse and Light painting modes as well as all focus, allowing you to re-focus a shot you have taken.
7. Sony Xperia C4
Sony decided to tap into the social media age by prioritising selfies on their recent C4, with a powerful 5MP front camera with a 25 mm wide angle lens. The Exmor R for mobile sensor, soft LED flash and HDR features provide good captures within low light conditions, and a SteadyShot feature is built in to compensate for camera shaking.
There is also a suite of modes to manipulate the pictures. The 13 MP main camera, for "those rare moments you’re not in the picture" is also fairly powerful.
8. LG G4
The LG G4 has a 16 MP main camera, carrying a f/1.8 lens which lets in more light than the G3 and beats the S6’s at f/1.9. Its laser focus system improves low-light focusing, removing the need for a pre-flash.
The optical image stabilisation doubles correction available and adds a third access of stabilisation. Unlike the S6 and iPhone 6, the G4 allows SD storage expansion so there’s more space for photos on the device for snap-happy photographers.
9. Oppo N3
The Oppo N3 makes it onto the list due to its camera’s unique motorised swivel feature. The mounted lens and sensor can be controlled to switch between the two sides of the phone.
The main attraction of this for many will be that the 16 MP camera can be used to take selfies as well as other shots, but it can also provide automatic panorama shots and sports Ultra HD capabilities.
10. Google Nexus 6
Google’s latest flagship device uses Google Camera to run a 13 MP main camera and 2 MP front camera. The HDR+ technology increases dynamic range in low-contrast situations and can also boost image quality in low light.
The Lens blur feature can simulate a shallow depth-of-field, allowing isolation of the photo’s subject from the background. It can then use this information to create a 3D model. Google’s Photos app provides a useful gallery view and editing interface.
