A Guide to Some of the Best Camera Phones on the Market

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE

The traditional digital camera is steadily becoming obsolete as an essential item for the party-goer. With advancements in mobile phone technology, individuals are now able to use their camera features to capture those special moments and then post them to Instagram instantaneously. Different phones offer more efficacy in different features, but the best camera phones are seen to be among the Nokia Lumia range, the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S$ and the HTC One. By comparing these different handsets you will be sure to find the best camera phone for your needs. You should also consider which would be the best contract for your requirements - a sim-only deal, pay monthly package or a pay as you go phones option.

The different contracts

When considering which camera phone to get you must consider the contract involved as this will determine both the type of deal you can obtain. When looking at sim only deals the type of sim card will affect the type of handset you are allowed to use. Furthermore, it is only particular pay monthly contracts which provide the consumer with a free mobile phone and sim card. However, these contracts are often for prolonged periods and are more costly in the long-term.

One of the more popular mobile phone contract options is the pay as you go (PAYG) contract. This deal is 'pay as you go' requiring one to purchase data and minutes as is needed. It is very popular among younger individuals and those on a strict budget as you eliminate the chance of exceeding your data allowance and incurring additional expense. A disadvantage is that pay as you go phones are to be bought beforehand or upfront at full price. Furthermore, there is no upgrading option so you must have your fitting camera phone from the beginning. Below is a detailed comparison of the different aforementioned camera pay as you go phones.

The colour quality

Potentially one of the most important aspects to be considered when reviewing camera quality and function is the picture colour balance. The majority of people falsely assume the camera with the most impressive specifications will offer the best colour balance. Instead, it is the camera that offers sharper images with vibrant colours that takes the prize. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is presents with a more natural and realistic picture despite the Nokia Lumia 1020 supporting the higher camera specifications.

This does not mean the Lumia 1020 does not offer good colours; in fact it is above the iPhone and HTC One regarding colour balance. The disadvantages of the iPhone 5 are that the pictures seem too saturated and 'stuffy'. The Nokia Lumia 925 and HTC One are also highly ineffective due to their inconsistency regarding colour balance.

Different lighting conditions

1. Taking pictures indoors

One of the greatest difficulties any photographer can face is that of differing lighting conditions. To avoid any overexposure, the camera phone's ability to take pictures indoors must be considered. The Lumia 1020 is highly recommended when reviewing this feature as it operates with a Xenon flash that allows the phone to shoot brightly lit pictures with sharp focus and detail.

Runner-up to the Lumia 2010 is the Galaxy S4 with its LED flash which also allows for high quality pictures in bright conditions. However, the LED flash cannot compete with the Lumia 2010's Xenon flash. The Nokia Lumia 925 is second runner-up also providing sharp focus and detail within an indoors setting using an LED flash. The iPhone 5 and HTC One are at the bottom of the pile in this category.

2. Taking pictures at night

Taking pictures in low lighting will often require different settings to night time photography. Low lighting implies a degree of natural lighting is still present, while night time conditions present with natural darkness. It is this natural darkness which the camera must adjust to in order to capture quality pictures. However, artificial lighting can distort the colour balance of the photo resulting in poor pictures.

Both the Lumia 1020 and the Galaxy S4 are recommended when taking pictures at night. While the Lumia 1020 does offer a more detailed and in focus shot than the Galaxy S4, they are evenly matched in all other aspects. The runner-up here is the iPhone 5, but only because of the occasional blurred pictures. The Lumia 925 and HTC One are once again bottom of the pack due to their blurred pictures and poor colour balance.

Quality effects

One of the best aspects of a mobile phone camera is the effects function. With these effects one can produce high quality, professional photography without having any knowledge of the craft. The Galaxy S4 is without a doubt the most effective when making one look like a competent photographer; this is due to the fact that you can take a normal picture then create macro images from it. The Lumia 1020 is a runner-up due to the user-friendliness and quality results obtained, however the macro images are far duller than the S4. The iPhone 5 and Lumia 925 tie for second runner-up position with the HTC One coming in last.

Video recording

Although the camera features is primarily used for photography one should also consider the video recording function. Once again, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is the most effective mobile camera phone with regards to video recording. With its PureView camera you will receive videos with focus, fluid movement and strong sound recording and feedback. Contrary to the photography functions, the iPhone 5 is the runner-up this time. It is more popular than the S4 and Lumia 925 in that it offers a smoother video feedback while being more user-friendly at the same time.

Final words on the camera pay as you go phones

When examining the comparisons provided in this article it is clear that the Lumia 1020 would be the best camera phone to purchase. However, while very agreeable it does have disadvantages including a top heavy body. It is also the heavier than the Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5 which must be considered when looking to purchase.

/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}