Smartphone instead of a camera: 5 camera phones

Nokia Lumia 1020 32 GB / 2 GB

The Nokia Lumia 1020 has been on the market since last summer. It cannot be called a novelty, but during this time the prices for the model have dropped significantly. The phone has balanced characteristics, and the quality of filming is at the level of more expensive models. It is noteworthy that the Lumia 1020 received the Runet Best Gadget 2013 award in the Best Camera Phone category.

The buyer may be interested in the very high resolution of the 41 MP camera (of which 38 MP are involved). Admittedly, this is an impressive figure, but we should not overestimate its value — increasing the resolution does not give a proportional improvement in quality. Although the details are captured better in pictures with a resolution of 7152x5368 pixels, which can be seen when shooting portraits and macro. More importantly, the sensor has a large (for a phone) size of 1/1.5". More than, for example, Apple iPhone 5 16 GB . One more thing: the camera has wide shooting settings and it can shoot in RAW format.

The camera is also notable for its xenon flash, which is more powerful than conventional diode ones. The lens is protected by a shutter when the smartphone is turned off. And since Lumia has Carl Zeiss optics, the shutter will not hurt. In terms of image quality, this model can compete with more expensive ones, but the front camera, on the contrary, is unremarkable and has a small resolution of 1.2 MP . So for selfie lovers, this is not the best option.

The relative “minuses” of the model include a mediocre processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960 chip with a frequency of 1.5 GHz and two cores). Do not think that this will have a bad effect on the operation of the device. It's just that compared to other, more expensive smartphones, it doesn't show impressive results in benchmark programs like AnTuTu Benchmark. Also note that all Lumia 1020 modifications have a black plastic front and a black, white or yellow back cover.

Nokia Lumia 930 32 GB / 2 GB

There are two Nokia smartphones in our selection. If the Lumia 1020 can be considered a middle-class model, then the Lumia 930 occupies the position of one of the most prestigious and expensive models in the family. As befits a premium solution, it has a solid design and good build quality, excellent equipment and display. In addition, the Lumia 930 has everything you need to get high-quality pictures and videos.

The model has two key advantages over the Lumia 1020. First, it is equipped with a display with large diagonal (5", not 4) and resolution (1080x1920 pixels, not 768x1280). Such an advantage will be very noticeable when viewing photos and videos, playing games, reading and surfing. Secondly, it has a more powerful processor. What is the use of it? The speed of Windows Phone and applications will be higher, and there will be less interface slowdowns. Reviewers note that according to the results of software tests, the smartphone is faster than all Nokia and one and a half to two times ahead of the Lumia 1020.

The camera of the smartphone is of high quality — the same as Nokia Lumia 1520 32 GB / 2 GB . But is it better than the previous hero of our review? There is no definite answer to this question. The resulting images are generally pleasing with good quality, but in the reviews and reviews you can find complaints about determining the white balance. The camera has a 1/2.5 inch sensor, dual LED flash and autofocus. The disadvantages include the front camera with a low resolution of 1.2 megapixels and the lack of video recording in 4K format, like the flagships from Sony and Lenovo (more on them below). The maximum resolution for video shooting is Full HD.

The manufacturer positions the model as an perfect smartphone for business. We believe that it will suit mobile photographers as well. Unless, of course, Windows Phone suits you.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom 8 GB / 2 GB

Samsung's first hybrid of a compact camera and an Android smartphone was Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom 8 GB / 1.5 GB which received rather cool reviews in the press. But this did not leave the company's experimental fervor, and this year the Koreans brought to our attention the Galaxy K Zoom, which is the ideological and technological development of the Galaxy S4 Zoom.

"Now your smartphone is also a high-quality camera" — such a slogan Samsung stimulates interest in the new product. According to user reviews and reviews of specialized publications, the quality of pictures and videos of this model is at the level of conventional compact cameras and other participants in the selection, not higher. But there is one "but" here. The key difference between the Galaxy K Zoom and camera phones is the 10x optical zoom lens. This greatly expands the possibilities, allowing you to shoot small objects at a long distance (for example, animals in a zoo or elements of buildings). The lens has a focal length of 4.4-44 and an aperture range of F/3.1-F/6.3. And paired with it is a 20.7 MP sensor with a size of 1/2.3". Putting all these figures into more accessible language, this smartphone is a classic point-and-shoot compact.

The camera-phone hybrid is inferior in performance and features to premium Android smartphones. According to the test results, he loses to the current flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 16 GB / без LTE , but ahead of last year's Samsung Galaxy S4 16 GB / без LTE . A good result, but given the cost of the gadget, users would simply not settle for less. The model has everything that a smartphone is supposed to have, but there are no Galaxy S5 "chips" like unlocking with a fingerprint scanner and a waterproof case. In addition, some parameters are inferior to other participants in this review, in particular, a small volume memory (8 GB) and a low screen resolution (720x1280 pixels).

Galaxy K Zoom causes mixed feelings. The gadget is interesting and original, but subjectively the price is too high, and not everyone will like the large size and weight. Therefore, it is suitable for those people who want to have a camera phone with an optical zoom despite these shortcomings.

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro 32 GB / 3 GB

Many people associate Lenovo primarily with laptops and tablets, but the Chinese company has also made headway in the smartphone market. If the first models evoked associations in the spirit of "cheap and cheerful", then the models of the latest generation are not much inferior to their counterparts from the giants of the mobile market. This is confirmed by the Lenovo K920, the company's top-end smartphone and part-time camera phone (also known as the Vibe Z2 Pro). The smartphone is good from any point of view, but at the same time it has a price that is not typical for Chinese phones.

The body is made of aluminium with a matte finish. In our selection of camera phones, it looks the most solid. Moreover, the build quality corresponds to the most optimistic expectations — the case in the hand seems to be monolithic, but it had to be paid for with a non-removable battery and a memory card slot.

In terms of equipment, there are no questions about the device . It works on the basis of a 2.5 GHz quad-core processor, which, together with 3 GB of RAM, provides stable and fast performance. By the way, the interface of this model is decorated with a branded Lenovo UI shell. How much better it is than software add-ons from other manufacturers is a moot point, but the manufacturer's concern for its customers is obvious. The chic IPS display of the smartphone also justifies the high price. With a diagonal of 6", it has a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. This is the best result in this collection.

The phone has a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and LED flash. The SNAPit Camera branded application allows you to take a creative approach to photography and manually adjust the main parameters (shutter speed, ISO, etc.). The ability to shoot 4K video is not useful to everyone, but this moment emphasizes the technical level of the device. Although the corresponding monitors and TVs have not yet become widespread, they are the future. In the meantime, you can shoot videos in good old Full HD.

Sony Xperia Z3 16 GB / 3 GB

Sony is looking for a middle ground when it comes to smartphones: the company has fewer models than Samsung, but more models than Apple. But thanks to this, Sony smartphones are presented in every segment and have a clear positioning. Of course, the Japanese company has its own flagship. For changing Sony Xperia Z2 16 GB / 3 GB Xperia Z3 arrived in autumn 2014. It has a stylish design, powerful hardware, excellent battery life and a protected body.

Sony has applied its proprietary technologies that have proven themselves well in Cyber-shot compact cameras. This device uses a 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS matrix with a resolution of 20.7 MP. SteadyShot technology combats blur in handheld shots. The result is crisp, detailed shots. But ISO 12800 should not be taken seriously — only professional SLR cameras work effectively in this range. Also note that the Z3 can shoot video in 4K (Ultra HD).

The advantage of the Sony Xperia Z3 over its competitors is the protected case. The smartphone is protected from dust and water inside the case by IP65 and IP68 standards. Simply put, with Xperia Z3 you can cross the Sahara on a camel and dive in fresh water to a depth of 1.5 metres. The quality is relevant for a camera phone — you can take interesting shots in any weather and not be afraid for the "health" of the phone.

The second significant advantage of the Sony Xperia Z3 is the excellent battery life of this model. The PhoneArena.com test in September 2014 showed that Xperia Z3 is the leader in terms of endurance among similar models (Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Huawei Ascend Mate7, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, etc.). With everyday use of a smartphone, the battery lasts for two days.

The cost of Sony's flagship corresponds to its positioning. This model is available in four body colours. The black version can have a black, brown or green back cover. And the White version is all white.