Sony Xperia Z's 13.1 megapixel camera review!
The Sony Xperia Z isn't only water resistant, it also has a great camera. The past weeks I went out to test it in various places in Belgium and the Netherlands. This also means that I was able to take pictures and film in both good and bad weather.
In this review I'll be comparing the main features, show you original footage of the phone and the specific camera functions.
Before I go into detail, let's just overview the specifications of the camera:
13.1 megapixel back camera
FULL HD filming with the front and back camera!
If you're interested in comparing this to the big phones at this moment:
iPhone 5: 8 MP back camera, 1.2 MP front camera, Full HD filming back, HD (720p) front
Samsung Galaxy S4: 13 MP back camera, 2 MP front camera, Full HD filming back and front
HTC One: 4 MP back camera, 2.1 MP front camera, Full HD filming back and front
Here are some pictures I've taken with the Xperia Z. Please note that these have been taken before the firmware update had been released. You can find more information over here.
Watch a sample video compilation I made with my Xperia Z. All video has been shot with the phone, without enhancement! The video you'll be watching has been exported and uploaded in the same resolution as the original footage, so feel free to watch it in full HD.
Please note that I just noticed that my stabilizator had been switched on the whole time (I recommend to turn it off when you want to film while walking or turning).
Please set the video to full HD when watching.
The camera starts quickly and you'll easily be able to snap pictures when you want to. You'll find the snap and record-buttons on the right, and all settings on the left.
The camera app has 9 different modes:
Superior Auto, which will detect what's best for you (back light, macro mode, etc.)
Normal, where you can set whatever you like
Burst, to snap more than one picture at a time
Many picture effects to choose from. The effects Sketch, Kaleidoscope and Fisheye are my favourite. You can even customize the effects... Kaleidoscope for instance lets you change the size of the pattern by just pinching the screen.
To make a panorama shot, just set the camera mode to "Panorama sweep" and move your camera slowly. On the bottom left you can choose whether the camera should adjust its brightness or not.
HDR, one of the Xperia Z's key features
You can't only take pictures with HDR effect, you can also film in HDR mode! This makes it possible to film against the light and to let colours stand out more, while non-HDR photos and videos will turn out dark.
When HDR is switched off, you can take pictures up to 13.1 megapixels. When HDR is switched on, you can still take wonderful 12 megapixel shots.
One of the camera settings is "Smile shutter", which will automatically take a picture when everyone on it is smiling. You can also adjust the "smile amount" according to your friends' enthusiasm...
Well, that's it. Remember to watch the video above to see the results of my filming the past weeks!
See you in my next reviews!