Mobile photography has long come to the fore: Instagram has allowed people to share what they see in a couple of clicks. More than 80 million photos improved with free photo editing software are uploaded to social media every day, and these are high-quality photos from a smartphone rather than glossy shots.
And it’s not only about mobile photography, but also about the video: today, bloggers are increasingly abandoning expensive equipment. They simply record proficient 4K video on their phone and then carefully edit it in free video editing software like this one for a couple of days. We must pay tribute to TikTok and YouTube.
The ability to record videos in 4K is the remit of flagships. This requires a powerful processor with a graphics unit, as well as a top-notch camera sensor. Not all top-class phones can cope with this task, so a hefty price tag is not a guarantee of high-quality 4K shooting.
So we decided to make a list of camera phones that will surprise you with the quality of photos and videos.
First off: what should you pay attention to when choosing a camera phone?
- Matrix
If you take choosing a smartphone for mobile photography seriously, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the matrix.
One of the most important characteristics is its size. The larger the matrix, the higher the chances of getting a high-quality picture. A larger sensor can accommodate larger pixels, which means that the sensor can capture more light. And light, as we know, is the basis of photography.
The size of a smartphone camera is measured in inches (as a rule, it’s indicated in decimals, and the word “inch” is replaced with quotes). The closer the second number to the first one, the larger the matrix: a 1/1.5″ matrix will be better than a 1/3″.
- Resolution
Let’s be honest, this is the only thing everyone pays attention to when buying a camera phone. Well, the number of megapixels is important, but here is the case when “more” doesn’t necessarily mean “better.”
The number of megapixels corresponds to the resolution of the image or its size. A lot of megapixels means the pixels will be small, but the image itself will be large and well-detailed.
But it’s also important to understand that the larger the size of the pixels, the better the light is captured and the greater the image will be in low light. This is why traditional large sensor cameras used by professionals have a moderate number of large pixels (about 24 megapixels) instead of millions of small ones.
So, don’t chase megapixels. Even 12-megapixel cameras can be as great as 100-megapixel ones.
- Diaphragm
The diaphragm is especially important if you are going to shoot something in low light because it determines how much light gets into the camera.
The diaphragm is expressed in f-stops (e.g., f/2.0). The lower the value, the more open the diaphragm is. That is, the lower the number, the better.
- Display
The display is also important as during shooting, you understand what kind of image will turn out thanks to displaying. This also applies to resolution and color reproduction.
- Extra features
Some additional features worth looking out for are autofocus, stabilization, RAW shooting, HDR, and optical zoom. By the way, you can always buy cell phone lens attachments to improve your pics.
Top 5 cool devices with the best smartphone camera
iPhone 11 Pro
While everyone is waiting for the next generation of Apple’s flagship smartphones, 11 Pro is still the best camera iPhone. The model is equipped with three photosensors, each with a resolution of 12 megapixels. The main one has an f/1.8 diaphragm, optical stabilization, and dual pixel autofocus.
The second sensor has 2x optical zoom. Moreover, there is also optical stabilization. The third sensor – with an ultra-wide-angle smartphone camera lens – is of great help for shooting in nature.
The main thing is how the cameras of the iPhone 11 Pro shoot video. Optical stabilization, a clear picture in 4K at 60 frames per second, and excellent sound quality. There is no Flip camera, but a front module can record UHD videos – this makes the smartphone a perfect option for vloggers. By the way, all content can be edited in the best camera apps for iPhone, which will make them even sweeter.
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
The smartphone shoots on the three massive camera modules: the main camera, ultra-wide-angle one, as well as on the telephoto lens of the periscope type. All three have phase detection autofocus, but only the latter has an optical stabilizer. Leica optics are used. There is also a bright dual-LED flash and TOF module.
The main camera has a 50MP RYYB sensor. The picture is of the highest quality in terms of detail and sharpness, but the main thing is a wide dynamic range and the work of AI, which allows you to accurately expose the scene, improving all segments from light areas to shadows.
Honor 30 Pro+
The main camera received a 50-megapixel Sony IMX700 sensor and an f/1.9 aperture lens. The RYYB sensor has a large size of 1/1.28” and a pixel size of 2.44 micrometers. For such parameters, the developer dubbed it “SuperSensing camera.”
By default, the camera shoots at 12.5 megapixels with 4-pixel smart merging, but you can also take pictures at full 50 megapixels.
Oppo Find X2 Pro
The main module has three cameras. The first one has a wide-angle lens with optical stabilization and a new 48MP Sony IMX689 sensor; the second has ultra-wide-angle optics and a 48-megapixel IMX586 sensor.
Moreover, the smartphone has a 13MP camera with a periscope lens, which provides 5x optical and 10x hybrid zoom. In practice, it allows you to take excellent pictures in good lighting, even when using zoom.
Vivo X50 Pro+
This smartphone is among the top 5 best camera phones in the world at the moment. It even surpassed the iPhone 12 Pro Max and is hard on the Huawei P40 Pro heels.
Vivo X50 Pro has four cameras: the main one, with f/1.6 illuminated optics and a dual-articulated three-axis stabilization system, unique for smartphones, a wide-angle camera, and two modules with different focal lengths, realizing a five-fold and two-fold optical zoom.
The main camera uses a 48MP Sony IMX598. You can shoot at 12MP with 4-in-1 Smart Combine or go up to 48MP full resolution. 12-megapixel images are AI-processed.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there is a choice, and quite diverse. All in all, now, most smartphones can decently shoot in good lighting conditions. More complex tasks require more expensive equipment.
When choosing the best camera phones, focus on thorough reviews from experts and regular users. Good luck with your choice!