Engineering thought has reached the ceiling - further improvement of cameras is objectively impossible without a radical change in the design of the smartphone itself. All flagship models are equipped with almost ideal, from a technical point of view, modules, and in order to determine the winner, you will have to go an alternative way.

As smartphone users race to fill up their file storages and social media accounts with photos of cats, landscapes and themselves, engineers are scratching their heads over how to improve already excellent cameras. Moreover, the competition among the latter is even tougher, because the struggle is not for likes, but for millions of dollars of potential profit for the company.

A few years ago, looking at the results of the cameras of the flagship devices of Apple, Samsung and other A-brands, it seemed that the evolution of these modules was about to stop. High-quality, "silent" photos even in low light conditions, ultra-fast autofocus, optical stabilization when shooting video - what more? However, there is no limit to perfection, the emergence of new features and improvements depends solely on user demand.

By the middle of spring, all leading vendors have already pleased the public with announcements and releases of fresh flagship smartphone models, which means that intermediate results can be summed up. In this article, we will look at the 10 best cameras in mobile devices as of 2020.

All the smartphones below take excellent photos and videos, but narrowly focused specialists can still prioritize, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model. This rating is based on data from DxOMark experts and other reputable resources.

Which smartphone has the best camera - Top 12 in 2020

12th place iPhone 11

Unlike its predecessor, the iPhone XR, which had only one lens (a standard 12-megapixel wide-angle module), received an additional ultra-wide-angle camera, which not only added the ability to "reverse" wide-angle zoom, but also significantly expanded the functionality of the camera as a whole. Among other things, the iPhone 11 has: , auto-correction, improved Smart-HDR, etc.

11th place Honor P20 Pro and OnePlus 7 Pro

Huawei's sub-brand pleases customers with more affordable price tags and very good cameras, the experience in building which is clearly borrowed from its older brother. The Honor P20 Pro doesn't have the same zoom capabilities as the Huawei P30 Pro or the latest Samsung smartphones, but still delivers excellent image quality with a DxOMark score of 111. The hardware characteristics of the camera phone are as follows:

• 1/2″ Sony IMX586 main lens, 48 ​​MP, f/1.4 aperture, OIS, 28mm focal length;
• 8-megapixel "telephoto", matrix size 1 / 4.4 ", aperture f / 2.4, focal length 80 mm;
• 16 MP wide-angle lens with a size of 1 / 3.06 ″ and f / 2.2 aperture;
• Macro lens with 2 MP sensor.

Like its DxOMark neighbor Honor P20 Pro, OnePlus' flagship smartphone has a Sony IMX586 main lens and a 48MP 1/2″ sensor, but with a slightly weaker f/1.6 aperture and a focal length of 26mm. Two additional modules are also almost indistinguishable: the “telephoto” 8 MP, f / 2.4 and the “wide” 16 MP, f / 2.2, however, at the same time, the telephoto lens, unlike its competitor, has its own optical stabilization system. As a result, we get a smartphone that is able to take pictures and shoot videos at a very high level of quality by the standards of 2020, for which it deserves a high place in the camera phone rating.

10th place Honor V30 Pro

Another top camera phone developed by Huawei specialists. One of the most noticeable shortcomings of the Honor V30 Pro, compared to the same Mate 30 Pro, is the lack of a portrait ToF camera, in addition, the smartphone shoots video of noticeably lower quality, but at the same time it wins in direct comparison with many competitors on the market. The feature list looks like this:

• Main: 40 MP, matrix size 1/1.7 inch, focal length 27 mm, aperture F/1.6, optical image stabilization;
• Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, pixel size 1.4 microns, focal length 16 mm, aperture F / 2.2;
• Telephoto lens: 8 MP, 1/4-inch sensor, focal length 80 mm, f / 2.4 aperture, optical image stabilization.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the dual front camera of the Honor V30 Pro, consisting of a wide-angle (32 MP, F / 2.0 aperture) and an ultra-wide-angle (8 MP, F / 2.2 aperture) lenses. Another advantage of the camera phone is the combination of phase and laser autofocus on each of the three main cameras.

9th place Samsung Galaxy S20

The new flagship was positioned, in particular, as the best camera phone in the world, and therefore should compare favorably not only with competitors, but also with their brothers in the line. At the same time, even the difference between the models was deliberately emphasized - the most budget smartphone did not receive a module Depth sensor, the cost of which is not so high, but in practice, many Galaxy S20 users will feel its absence. This camera is designed to enhance the now very popular portrait shots with background blur. Otherwise, the specifications of the Galaxy S20 cameras are identical to the S20+ model.

• Ultra wide-angle: 12 MP, dot size 1.4 microns, aperture F / 2.2;
• Wide-angle: 12 MP, size 1.8 microns, aperture F / 1.8, optical image stabilization;
• Telephoto lens: 64 MP, 0.8 microns, aperture F / 2.0, optical image stabilization;

8th place Galaxy Note 10, Samsung Galaxy S10, Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S10 and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

At the very beginning of 2019, they set a high bar for the quality of shooting photos and videos for other manufacturers - both gadgets received a triple camera with an additional ultra-wide lens.

• 16 MP (Ultra Wide / F2.2), FF;
• Dual Pixel 12 MP OIS (Wide / F1.5 / F2.4), AF;
• 12 MP OIS (Tele / F2.4), AF.

In addition, the Galaxy S10 + model received a dual front camera:

• Dual Pixel 10 MP AF (F1.9);
• 8 MP AF (with adjustable depth of field / F2.2).

DxOMark experts rated the efforts of Samsung engineers at 109 points, and this is a repetition of the high result of Huawei Mate P20 Pro. Experts consider the main advantage of Korean cameras to be excellent detail and clarity of images even in low light conditions. In addition, the software functionality has been significantly improved, including: the capabilities of the Live Focus mode have been expanded, new animojis have been added, real-time shooting tips for beginners and specific options for professionals in the Pro section have been added.

In turn, presented in August 2019, the Galaxy Note 10 received the main camera, which traditionally does not have cardinal differences from the older Galaxy S10 for half a year. However, some minor nuances and software improvements allowed the Galaxy Note 10 to take a high place in the DxOMark camera phone rating, surpassing the Galaxy S10 due to video quality (experts noted a wide dynamic range and autofocus accuracy when observing an object).

7th place Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition

Perhaps the most anticipated camera phone of 2019, which was rated by DxOMark experts as equal in terms of shooting capabilities to the rating leader Huawei Mate 30 Pro, but at the same time it costs significantly less than its competitor.

In the description, the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition 5-module camera looks very impressive:

• Primary lens: 108MP, 25mm focal length, f/1.69 aperture, optical image stabilization;
• Small telephoto lens: 12.19 MP, 50mm focal length, aperture f/2.0;
• Large telephoto: 7.99 MP, 94mm, f/2 aperture, optical image stabilization;
• Ultra wide-angle lens: 20.11 MP, 16mm focal length, aperture f/2.2;
• Macro lens: 2 MP, aperture f/2.4

Add here two dual LED flashes and get a camera phone that has no equal on the market in terms of the listed characteristics. Nevertheless, in fact, an impressive technical description gives a result comparable to more modest, but more carefully designed and well-executed systems, for example, in the same Huawei Mate 30 Pro.

6th place Huawei P30 Pro

Shown at the presentation on March 28, 2019, the Chinese flagship Huawei P30 Pro expectedly raised a new bar of quality for premium camera phones. Successfully continuing the tradition of its predecessors (Huawei P20 Pro and Mate 20 Pro).

To create a photo and video is used:

• 40 MP base lens with f1.6 aperture;
• 20MP wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture;
• 8MP telephoto lens with f/3.4 aperture;
• ToF camera;
• Front camera with a resolution of 32 MP and f/2.0 aperture.

However, this is the very rare case when the advantages of the device are not very noticeable “on paper”, but leave no chance for competitors in practice. Main feature Huawei P30 Pro- this is the ability to shoot in any lighting conditions and even complete darkness:

Such miracles are possible thanks to an innovative spectral sensor with an unusual RYB (red, yellow, blue) structure instead of RGB (red, green, blue), which captures 40% more light.

Another trump card of the camera phone is the possibility of 5x optical, 10x hybrid and 50x digital zoom. As a "spyglass" gadget uses a periscope lens with 5 lenses, providing 125 mm focal length.

5th place Samsung Galaxy S20+

The middle brother of the updated Samsung Galaxy line is significantly inferior to the flagship, but at the same time it looks quite decent against the background of most competitors. Installed here:

• Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 MP, dot size 1.4 microns, aperture F / 2.2;
• Wide-angle: 12 MP, size 1.8 microns, aperture F1.8, optical image stabilization;
• Telephoto lens: 64 MP, size 0.8 microns, f / 2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization;
• DepthVision for portrait photography;
• Hybrid optical zoom 3x, digital zoom 30x;
• Front: 10 MP, size 1.22 microns, aperture F / 2.2.

As can be seen from a dry comparison of numbers, the gap from the flagship is noticeable to the naked eye, however, there are a number of advantages over last year's models.

In particular, the Samsung Galaxy S20 + is also equipped with a "space zoom", although not as sharp-sighted as the Ultra models - it is possible to increase the image by 4 times through optical and up to 30 times through digital zoom.

The Nonacell mode was not implemented for the S20+ model, but the device got a number of other flagship functions. For example, the Single Take mode, which shoots from all cameras for 10 seconds, and the result is short clips and some of the best shots selected by artificial intelligence.

4th place Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

The new Xiaomi flagship, dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the company's presence on the market, was equipped with cameras according to the most advanced example of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, only slightly inferior to the Korean manufacturer in details. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro camera specifications are as follows:

• Wide-angle: 108 MP, aperture F / 1.7, laser autofocus, optical image stabilization;
• Telephoto lens: 8 MP, f/2.0 aperture, 1.0 micron pixel size, PDAF, laser autofocus, optical image stabilization, 10x hybrid optical zoom;
• Portrait: 12 MP, f / 2.0 aperture, size 1.4 microns, 2x optical zoom;
• Ultra wide angle: 20 MP, aperture F/2.2.

Experts note that the main achievement of Xiaomi specialists was the improvement of algorithms for processing data from smartphone cameras, which made it possible not only to make the process of shooting and saving the result instant (not least thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip), but also to implement a whole list of new functions for users, which are likely to be widely used in practice. For example, during the presentation, it was shown how, in a couple of clicks, you can add an effect to a photo that creates the illusion of a picture due to glass, on which “live” water drops flow. In addition, a lot of work has been done to introduce new video shooting modes, among which support for recording videos in 8K quality stands out.

3rd place iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

In the DxOMark ranking, the cameras outperformed the South Korean smartphones Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, while the overall score of iPhones was significantly reduced for video capabilities - only 117 points, 124 for photos and 102 for video. Nevertheless, the company's experts noted that Apple managed to introduce the technologies necessary for direct competition with the best camera phones on the market in a year.

Following the trends, Apple has equipped its flagship smartphones with a triple camera with the following characteristics:

• 12 MP primary wide-angle lens with ƒ/1.8 aperture;
• 12MP telephoto lens, ƒ/2.0 aperture;
• Ultrawide 12MP lens with ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120-degree field of view.

In addition, in 2019 smartphones, Apple has implemented, which improves the quality of photos and videos taken in extremely low ambient light conditions, which is important for all lovers of mobile photography without exception.

2nd place Huawei Mate 30 Pro

If we consider the technical characteristics of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro cameras, then there are not so many differences with the predecessor P30 Pro and they concern, first of all, the ultra-wide-angle camera:

• Primary: 40 MP, 1/1.7-inch sensor, 27 mm equivalent focal length, f/1.6 aperture, PDAF autofocus, optical image stabilization;
• Ultra wide-angle: 40MP, 1/1.54-inch sensor, 18mm focal length, F/1.8 aperture, PDAF;
• Telephoto lens: 8 MP 1/4-inch sensor, 80 mm focal length, aperture F / 2.4, PDAF, optical image stabilization;
• ToF 3D portrait camera.

So, roughly speaking, two separate modules of 40 MP each are responsible for shooting photos and videos, the first one has optical stabilization, while the second noticeably cuts the quality of videos when using digital camera movement correction.

In fact, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro camera can offer a higher level of detail in the corners of the photo when shooting in the daytime and slightly less noticeable noise in low light conditions, the rest of the differences are almost impossible to notice with the naked eye.

As for the video, here the main feature was the slow motion mode with a frequency of 7680 frames per second. In the video below, you can compare such a SlowMo with a frequency of 960 fps.

1st place Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Undoubtedly, the best camera phone on the market at the time of its release, which fully met and even exceeded the expectations of Samsung fans. From a technical point of view, the device is equipped with the following main modules:

• Ultra wide-angle camera: 12 MP resolution, 1.4 micron pixel size, aperture F/2.2;
• Wide-angle: 108 MP, pixel size 0.8 µm and 2.4 µm in Nonacell dot-binning mode, f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization;
• Telephoto lens: 48 MP, size 0.8 microns (1.6 microns in Nonacell mode), f/3.5 aperture, optical image stabilization;
• Depth sensor: camera for portrait shots;
• Hybrid optical zoom 10x, digital zoom 100x;
• Front camera: 40 MP, pixel size 0.7 microns (1.4 microns in Nonacell mode), aperture F / 2.2.

As you can see from the description, the front camera of the flagship has been significantly improved compared to both the previous models of the line and the younger versions of the Galaxy S20 / S20 + with last year's 10-megapixel lens installed.

However, the main innovations have touched, of course, on the main camera, which has the latest 108-megapixel module of Samsung's own production, which takes pictures with the highest level of detail and can combine pixels using Nonacell technology to obtain an image that is optimal in terms of quality and energy consumption. In practice, this means that the user can, for example, enlarge the resulting image several times, cut out the scene from the background and get a picture that is almost as detailed as the original image.

Another interesting novelty is support for shooting video in 8K resolution. Actually, such functionality is not very in demand on the market, because monitors with such a high resolution are still very rare, but owners of new Samsung 8K TVs may well be interested in purchasing a flagship smartphone.

In addition, it is impossible not to mention the 4x optical, 10x hybrid and 100x digital zoom, which, with proper skill, allows you to shoot objects at a very long distance in quite acceptable quality.

Camera test: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and iPhone 11 Max Pro

Over the past few years, a new trend has emerged in the premium sector of the mobile market. No no. This is not about the race for size and not about the craze for fingerprint scanners. We are talking about the slo-mo shooting function.

In theory, everything is simple. You just need to record video at a high frame rate, and then play everything at normal speed. More frequency change - more frames per unit of time. And the more frames, the longer it will take to play them. And one second of real time stretches for six to ten seconds, giving rise to the so-called "Matrix effect" (although the Wachowskis themselves "borrowed" it from Hong Kong action movies).

But when it comes to the question of which smartphone offers the best slo-mo quality, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Firstly, the video camera sensor and video compression algorithms. The reason is quite prosaic: the greater the resolution and detail of the image, the better it will look. And image defects are very noticeable when playing back slow motion;

Secondly - the maximum number of frames per second (fps). The more of them, the smoother the shooting will become;

Third, convenience. Some of the smartphones offer manual shooting control mode. It is difficult to overestimate its importance in capable hands.

Armed with this knowledge, we tried to select the 5 most suitable smartphones for filming in the style of The Matrix. We did not set ourselves the task of determining the best of the best, so they are all placed in alphabetical order.

1. Apple iPhone 6S Plus

This creation of Cupertino is not only one of the best phablets to date, but also a great device for those who want to try their hand at slow-mo filming. Like its smaller brother, the iPhone 6S, it can shoot at 120fps at 1080p, or 240fps at 720p.

In terms of hardware, the iPhone 6S Plus has a 12MP camera with a 1/3-inch sensor, optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 1.22µm pixel size.

And although the iPhone 6S Plus software is the same as the iPhone 6S, it has a significant advantage thanks to the hardware OIS. Moreover, if the OIS iPhone 6 Plus had a limit on the number of frames processed, then the new generation of iPhone converts the video as it is.

Another interesting thing about the iPhone 6S Plus is that the 5MP front camera also supports slow motion. The shooting modes are the same as the main ones. We have no idea who would come up with the idea to take a selfie at 240fps, but the very fact of the possibility of such a possibility inspires respect for the creators of the phablet.

2. Google Nexus 6P

Huawei's Google Nexus 6P was the first Android smartphone capable of shooting 720p video at 240fps. That alone gives him entry to this list. Additional advantages of the Google device are the unique advantages of stock Android and regular software updates.

The main camera of the Google Nexus 6P has a 12MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, a physical size of 1/2.3” and 1.55µm pixels. Unfortunately, the Nexus 6P has a weak image stabilization system, which is very important when shooting like this.

3.LG V10

The South Korean camera phone LG V10 has become the epitome of today's mobile photo and video shooting. And of course, it has a slo-mo shooting function. And while it offers a modest 120fps at 720p, it has another trick up its sleeve to make it on this list. This is a manual shooting mode. And if you apply it wisely, the result will be great.

Speaking of the camera itself, the LG V10 has a 16MP sensor with a 1/2.6”, f/1.8 aperture, laser focus and optical image stabilization.

Of course, the accelerated video shot by the LG V10 is inferior to that of the other participants in this list. But full control over camera settings makes it a great choice for the experienced photographer.

4. Motorola Moto X Pure Edition

If you can't afford premium smartphones, check out the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition.

The main camera of Motorola's current flagship has a 21MP sensor with a physical size of 1/2.4” and a pixel size of 1.1µm (the largest sensor and the smallest pixel on the list). An f/2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus complete the picture.

As a result, Moto X Pure Edition is capable of shooting videos of excellent quality. Unfortunately, its maximum shooting speed is 120fps at 720p. Similar to the LG V10, but the Moto X Pure Edition lacks a manual shooting mode.

5. Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Despite dashed hopes, Samsung's latest flagships are some of the best smartphones we've ever owned. And of course, in terms of shooting video, there is complete order.

Both smartphones feature a 12MP f/1.7 camera with OIS and dual-pixel autofocus. The matrix has a size of 1/2.6”. Pixel size 1.4 µm.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge can capture both 720p and 1080p fast motion video. In the first case, the frame rate will be 240fps, in the second - 60fps. OIS systems take care of the video, while lightning-fast dual-pixel autofocus ensures your subject stays in focus at all times.

What do you know about modern flagships? Can you name the exact diagonal of the screen or say how many gigabytes of RAM the manufacturer has installed in a novelty? If you are not a mobile market expert or a geek, the answer is unlikely to be easy for you. However, today almost everyone knows how many cameras the new iPhone has and what an incredible night mode has been installed in the device from Huawei.

Cameras are what every smartphone manufacturer lives for today. Companies pay attention to the photo and video characteristics of flagships: more and more lenses appear on the back of smartphones, the detail and resolution of images are growing, and the video mode is already quite capable of replacing a movie camera - in a word, manufacturers are confidently moving into the professional industry segment.

Over the past few years, smartphones have received a lot of cool features that have made it possible to seriously talk about replacing a large and heavy camera with a compact and inconspicuous phone. The development of artificial intelligence has made it possible to introduce a portrait mode, which today works great on all flagships and blurs the background no worse than expensive high-aperture optics. In addition, the technology for the production of hardware has improved significantly - the sensors have received high resolution and a developed focusing system. The synthesis of hardware and software features made it possible to get good photos in low light. Covers of popular magazines and Hollywood films are shot on phones.

A phone with a good camera today can be purchased for 15-20 thousand rubles, but the best smartphones for photographers remain in the premium segment. We look into the world of flagship camera phones and look at which smartphones in 2019 shoot photo and video masterpieces.

iPhone Xs and iPhone 11 Pro - what has changed in a year?

Last year's iPhone Xs and Xs Max are still excellent cameras, but the 11th iPhone introduced in September received the Pro prefix, and it refers to an updated camera system. The new iPhones received a third, wide-angle camera and an advanced night mode, as well as 4K video on the front camera with the ability to record slow motion videos.

Many accuse Apple of representing innovations that already exist on the market. Indeed, three cameras are not news for a long time. The same Samsung Galaxy A70, not the most expensive smartphone, already in March shone with a triple module. We already saw the night mode on Huawei and Google Pixel long before the iPhone, and the front camera in the new "apples" is not ahead of the competition. However, Apple engineers and marketers look at what other companies are doing, refine and bring “test” technologies into trends. Remember how much noise the triple camera module of the iPhone 11 Pro made on the Internet: a flurry of memes, analytical articles, reviews. Apple is a recognized trendsetter in the industry. For example, it seems that there used to be wireless headphones, but before AirPods came to the market, they were not in great demand. Apple knows how to make a feature accessible and popular. By accessibility, we mean the convenience of interacting with technologies and how complex algorithms work imperceptibly.

Why are the cameras in the new "proshki" so good? Apple engineers have managed to make seamless switching between each module. The time lag is almost imperceptible, and the difference between the contrast and color reproduction of images from different cameras is minimized. In addition, you can record video from three cameras at the same time: the Filmic Pro application displays an image from each module on the screen and allows you to switch between images. Imagine: to record an interview in the near future, you will not need a setup of three cameras at different points: large, medium and long shots are recorded immediately in one device. Yura Dud, we are waiting for new releases shot on the iPhone 11 Pro! Of course, professional videographers will only laugh reading these lines, but it's all about trends! In the 2010s, for example, no one believed that a camera could replace a video camera.

The Portrait Mode, introduced in 2016 on the iPhone 7 Plus, has been greatly improved, packed with a ton of AI algorithms, and is still one of the best on the market. Night vision was introduced to the iPhone camera system for the first time this year. One of the drawbacks of the chips was the inability to turn the mode on and off on their own. The phone itself understands the lighting conditions in which the shooting is being done, and makes the choice for you whether you need to turn on the night mode. A controversial decision. However, the output images are natural and not noisy. In the future, most likely, Apple will give us the opportunity to choose. They made access to manual camera settings several generations of iOS back. The good news is that the phone sees the story the way we see it. Smartphones from other manufacturers often try to turn the night into day or simply push up the ISO. You can read more about Apple's September presentation in our review.

Camera Cheat Sheet

Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note10 - learning to count!

While the hype around the controversial Galaxy Fold excites the minds of Internet users, I propose to guess the riddle: how many cameras do all modifications of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note10 have in total? The answer will surprise you - as many as 22! And it's not a typo. There are three models of the Galaxy S10 alone: ​​the Galaxy S10+ has five cameras. The usual "ten" has three rear cameras and one front camera, while the Galaxy S10e is equipped with two rear cameras and one front camera. In the Note line, everything is a little simpler - both versions of the Galaxy Note 10 and 10+ are equipped with five cameras (four on the back + one front).

The Korean company has designed smartphones with really powerful photo potential. The rear module is a "classic of 2019" - wide-angle lens, main module and telephoto. The ultra-wide camera is equipped with a higher resolution sensor to compensate for distortion and distortion. Samsung has been working with this format for years, so the wide shots in the 10th generation of Galaxy can be called the best to date.

Night mode is implemented using a dual aperture f / 1.5-f / 2.4. The sensor records data even before the shutter button is pressed, and automatic algorithms select the optimal exposure settings, several frames are combined into one. The result is good shading and good dynamic range. The dual front camera module in the S10+ deserves special attention. The two sensors work in pair to capture selfies in portrait mode and feature Live Focus, which allows you to change the depth of field in post-processing. All five cameras record 4K UHD video, there is a 960 fps super slow motion mode. In Full HD resolution, a super stabilization option is available, which allows you to get video that is comparable in smoothness to electronic gimbals.

The Galaxy Note10+ has a triple PV module. The characteristics of all cameras are similar to the Galaxy S10+. On the body you can see another small eye - a 3D camera with a depth sensor. The device allows you to measure the parameters of physical objects using augmented reality, as well as create three-dimensional 360-degree photos of objects. Impressive? In addition, the "basic" versions of the new Galaxy are much cheaper than the "apple" competitors.

Camera Cheat Sheet

Galaxy S10+
	Wide camera	Main camera	Telephoto camera	Front camera (dual module)
Viewing angle
Diaphragm
Permission				10 MP + 8 MP
Optical stabilization			no, software only

Huawei P30 Pro and HONOR 20 Pro - value for money

In light of recent stories with Android and the US market, Huawei is having a hard time right now. Despite this, the manufacturer represents an important niche in the photo smartphone market - the buyer acquires extensive functionality at a price much lower than that of competitors. In addition, Huawei P30 Pro is not the first camera phone in collaboration with Leica.

The rear camera is equipped with four lenses. Wide and telephoto work together with a super-sensitive 40 megapixel lens and a special TOF lens. The hybrid zoom of the telephoto gives a 10x zoom. Maximum light sensitivity - ISO 409.600. Sounds like a marketing gimmick, but the camera is really good at taking pictures in low light conditions. The TOF camera mentioned above analyzes the depth of the frame and helps with blurring the background or stabilizing the frame. All this is under the strict guidance of artificial intelligence. It turns out that Huawei has the most "reasonable" camera, which anticipates shooting scenarios and finalizes the picture for you. Of course, you can disable this if you wish. However, intelligent modes quite adequately cope with their professional duties. Similar to the iPhone, the P30 Pro has the ability to record video from multiple cameras simultaneously, without even needing third-party software. The device attracts with the price - for 60 thousand rubles we get a modern smartphone with the latest developments in the field of software and hardware and 256 GB of memory on board. Huawei captivates with figures in price and in the resolution of matrices: 40 + 20 + 8 megapixels of the rear module and 32 megapixels of the front camera. But not by megapixels alone - the picture quality can be decent even at 12 megapixels. In terms of hardware, the P30 Pro is also very cheerful: the device is based on its own Kirin 980 chip, which you can read about on our website.

Under the Honor brand, which Huawei positions as a product for creative youth, the flagship 20 Pro is presented, which has a complete creative toolkit. For a little over 30 thousand rubles, the buyer will receive 256 gigabytes of memory and all the same four rear cameras. There will even be more megapixels here - a 48 megapixel main camera and a 32 megapixel front camera. The phone can easily live a full day with a heavy load thanks to a 4000 mAh battery. 20 Pro is built on the same Kirin 980, which is installed in the “older” P30 Pro. A variety of functions and modern trends bring Honor 20 Pro to the flagship line, and the image quality is much inferior to phones from a more expensive price segment. Hybrid superzoom (30 MP) and night photography are here, but added more to match the trends. Honor 20 Pro is a camera phone balanced in terms of price and features, clearly outperforming competitors in the price range up to 40 thousand. On our website, you can read a report from the presentation and a first look at the Honor 20 Pro.

Camera Cheat Sheet

Huawei P30 Pro
		Wide camera		Main camera		Telephoto camera
Focal length		16 millimeters (120 degrees)		27 millimeters		125 millimeters
Diaphragm
Permission
Optical stabilization
Hhonor20pro
	Wide camera		Main camera		Telephoto camera		macro camera
Focal length	18 millimeters (120 degrees)		28 millimeters		80 millimeters
Diaphragm
Permission
Optical stabilization

Google Pixel 3 - no frills classic

Smartphones from the Android manufacturer have long established themselves as reliable devices at an attractive price. "Pixels" are not so popular in Russia, but the model has enough fans. The smartphone is loved for stock Android and wide customization options.

Surprisingly, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL only have one rear camera. Against the background of previous competitors, even somehow awkward. Nevertheless, the 12.2 MP camera pleases with good shots in low light conditions and Dual Pixel phase autofocus. The maximum open aperture - f / 1.8 - we get a natural bokeh that is not bad for a smartphone, which is combined with the work of artificial intelligence algorithms. 4K video recording is available using optical and software stabilization.

The single rear camera is offset by the dual front module. Two cameras are installed here - 8 megapixel wide-angle and telephoto with f / 1.8 aperture. Don't forget about the Google Photo service, which will help save space on your phone - Pixel users are provided with unlimited storage for photos and videos. The camera is also integrated with the Google Lens application, which works in augmented reality and helps to recognize and locate objects from real life on the Internet.

In addition, on October 15, the company will introduce a new generation of Pixel, where a rear camera module is expected to be similar, at least externally, to the iPhone 11 Pro. We will follow the presentation of new items.

For most people, a smartphone is a tool to get online or chat with friends, and the best tool for taking lots of photos.

A huge amount of money is invested in the creation of smartphones, most of it, of course, goes to improving the camera. The cameras of today's flagships have many features and benefits. Let's take a look at 10 shooting features that we would like to use in our smartphone.

You should immediately understand the meaning of abbreviations: A utomatic (automatic) E xsposure (exposure) A utomatic (automatic) F ocus (focus). All this is usually accompanied by the word "blocking". That is, some smartphone models (for example, iPhones, Galaxy flagships) allow you to lock the exposure and focus on one point through a long press. This feature can often greatly improve the quality of your photo, especially when shooting macro. Simply hold your finger where the subject is on the screen until the autofocus and exposure lock, then the camera can be freely moved around the subject.

Speaking of exposure compensation, APPLE deserves credit. Controlling the exposure in iPhone cameras is very easy and simple, you just need to press the screen and adjust the settings by moving your finger up and down. This wonderful feature would be useful in other models of smartphones.

3. Shutter speed control

Different shutter speeds give different effects when photographing, and by changing the shutter speed you can create many amazing, interesting photos. By using a fast shutter speed, you can create the effect of frozen motion, such as water splashing in the air. A slow shutter speed allows you to achieve the effect of visible movement, in which the object turns into blurry stripes. Unfortunately, the shutter speed control feature is extremely rare in smartphone cameras.

If you're creative with your photography, manual settings are what you need. It is they who allow the photographer to fully control the process of photographing and determine how the final image will look. Some smartphone models can offer us this advantage, such as the iPhone 6.

5. Bokeh photo editor

Bokeh - blurring the background with optics is used in many DSLRs. Smartphone cameras do not have this feature. Therefore, software or a bokeh photo editor is used.

Pictures taken with the rear (main) camera are clearer and more beautiful, especially if you do not have a flagship phone, then there is a chance that the selfie from the front camera will not be of the best quality. The Rear-cam Selfie feature on your Samsung smartphone camera allows you to take selfies with the rear camera.

7. Selfie panoramas.

A kind of wide-angle selfie that allows you to create a selfie panorama by combining 3 shots with a simple hand movement from side to side in Samsung smartphones. Ideal for a group selfie, otherwise you will only be able to capture yourself, because the front camera lens is too narrow.

8. Panorama 360 degrees

Quite an amazing feature, the full benefits of which can be appreciated in a few minutes browsing the Streets by Google.

9. Time-lapse

Pictures are taken at selected time intervals. With a little patience and creativity, impressive videos can be achieved.

10. Slow motion mode

More and more flagship smartphone manufacturers are adding the ability to shoot in Slow-Mo mode to their devices, such as the LG G3, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+ and others. The iPhone camera allows you to shoot slow motion video at 240 frames per second, the LG G3 camera 120 frames per second.

Are you already familiar with slow-motion, are you shooting or just planning? It seems that this type is already in the past: the era of Super Slow-Motion videos is coming.

Everything you forgot about the Samsung Galaxy S9+ camera

I've been testing the Samsung S9+ camera for a month now. Although the DxO tests put the Chinese flagships Xiaomi and OnePlus in the first place, real tests in automatic mode show the complete superiority of Korean developers.

Should we be surprised?

The smartphone itself chooses the appropriate aperture value and regulates the flow of light entering the sensor, instantly transfers the image to the camera’s own memory, processing it like a built-in DSP processor.

At this time, the CPU is free from processing, so all its resources are directed to the work of the camera application: focusing, frame zooming, automatic selection of appropriate camera parameters and color / white balance correction.

Thanks to the incredible speed of all components, the developers have realized super-fast shooting at a speed of 960 frames per second, previously only available in professional slow-motion cameras for shooting special effects or fast-moving processes.

We can say that testing the Super Slow-Motion mode of the Samsung Galaxy S9 + (the S9 also has it) called Super Slow-Motion became for me a kind of symbol of the superiority of its camera: the capabilities of professionals in a small, grippy flagship.

It's time to figure out how Super Slow-Motion works and what it can do.

Super Slo-mo vs. the competition

Super Slow-Motion - Several unique 960 fps slow motion modes. Incredibly cool feature.

What is unique about 960 fps? This is exactly 4 times higher than the capabilities of the iPhone X camera module, which shoots the basic 240 frames for smartphones! Other photo flagships from Huawei, Google (Pixel), Sony, ZTE and even action camcorders lag behind as well.

On normal playback, 1 second of slow motion turns into 4. Too short to keep a bullet flying🔫 or a drop of water falling💧.

As a rule, cameras offer to shoot short slow-mo videos at one speed. If you need more than just a storyboard of movements, you either have to reduce the number of frames per minute using a video editor, or use a second camera.

Life hack. With the Galaxy S9+, you can shoot non-stop: maximizing the shooting speed for only the scenes you need while recording video at normal speed.

Shooting is possible in two modes: either only until the end of the recording of the Slow-mo section (“One frame”), or repeatedly within one regular video (“Multiple Frames”). In manual or automatic mode, to choose from.

A small caveat: competitors in the face of the iPhone X, Huawei P20 and Xperia XZ2 shoot video at 240 frames per second at FullHD (1920x1080) resolution, while Samsung's Super Slow-Motion video resolution is always HD (1240x720).

In fact, the difference is almost imperceptible: even professionals today shoot special effects at this resolution, carrying out software processing in the final part of the editing.

How to use Super Slow-mo The recording time of 960 fps video is limited to 0.2 seconds. When shooting several Slow-Motion scenes in one video, the maximum time is no more than 6.4 seconds.

Step 1. Selecting a mode and setting the capture area

1.1. Launch the stock camera app. At the top, swipe to select the Super Slow-Motion mode.

1.2. A bright yellow frame will appear in the center - the Super Slow-Motion motion capture area.

Note. To move the frame of the capture area, you need to touch the center and drag it to the desired location. To change the size of the zone, you need to drag the corner of the selected area.

Step 2 Select a shooting mode

2.1. Select in the settings the recording mode of super slow motion video (auto or manual), the type of shooting (single Slow-mo or series).

Note. On the “automatic”, the smartphone monitors the zone indicated on the smartphone screen and switches to shooting 960 frames per second as soon as movement begins in it. In manual mode, you need to press the key next to the shutter button.

2.2. Let's go, you can shoot!

Step 3. Video Editing

3.1. Finish recording.

3.2. Go to the "Gallery", where you can proceed to editing using the advanced built-in editor.

3.3. Perform video editing. The editor provides operations for trimming, adding music, converting Slow-Motion to standard speed (30 fps), converting video to GIF (played at 30 fps).

Note. There are 3 playback options available for GIF animation: infinite, reverse or variable (back and forth).

An example of a GIF animation created with the Galaxy S9+

An example of Super Slow-Motion on the Galaxy S9+. Automatic capture mode

An example video with multiple Super-Slow Motion elements. Automatic capture mode

An example of a single Super Slow-Motion. Manual capture mode

An example of Super Slow Motion. Glowing object in total darkness. Manual capture mode

Features of slow motion on the Samsung Galaxy S9+

The compact dimensions of the optical system of a smartphone impose restrictions on shooting ultra-slow motion video. There are not many of them, but it is better to prepare in advance.

During high-speed shooting, much less light enters the camera sensor than for normal photography, so good lighting is required for Super Slow-Motion. The ideal option would be daylight and incandescent lamps.

Any LED and halogen lamps flicker in time with the impulses of their circuit (transformer or capacitor). High-speed shooting captures their flicker, which appears in the video as a strobe effect.

We must not forget that the Super Slow-Motion section of the recording is limited to 0.2 seconds. This is less than the human reaction time to trigger, so in order not to miss the right moment, it is worth combining automatic motion capture and recording several super slow motion moments in one video.

Shooting Super Slow-mo without a tripod is not the most enjoyable experience. The camera stabilizer for super slow motion recording does not work, and the shaking of the hands on the recording is more noticeable than ever.

Also because of this, automatic capture is triggered, because when the smartphone is shaken, objects in relation to it begin to move.

Why is Super Slow-Motion the new breakthrough?

Evaluating new technologies is always difficult: in comparison with the ideas worked out in the past, there are a lot of shortcomings. However, Super Slow-Motion leaves a pleasant impression of refined technology suitable for amateur and professional tasks.

A new recording mode eliminates the need for semi-professional gear for special effects, sports or life-changing moments - any action scene you want to capture frame by frame.

It is 960 frames per second that a video camera needs in order to keep a torn tape at the finish line, to capture the moment of hooking a large fish, to catch up with the movements of animals in the wild.

The usual 240 frames is only enough for ordinary human movements, which are quite slow compared to the events described.

Using Super Slow-Motion on the Galaxy S9+ becomes more difficult in low light, but a tripod and auto shooting mode make for great slow-motion videos.

Summing up, we can confidently say that the Super Slow-mo mode is not just a successful experiment, but also a working tool.

And if you combine it with other features of the Samsung Galaxy S9 +, especially when shooting video, it becomes clear that we have a real find for a professional photo artist and video blogger:

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ review. It's an Android flagship, period.

Day and night in Moscow through the Samsung Galaxy S9+ camera. Compare

The hobbyist and the beginner will also be able to use the camera of the new Galaxy to its fullest. You just need to point and choose what you want to shoot - photo or video. The rest will be done by Samsung and advanced automatic shooting modes.