topic XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality in XZ Series

XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

KenBKK — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 14:08:59 GMT

XZ1 and XZ1 Compact do NOT produce the same quality images. Same as with Z5 and Z5 Compact. It's a known issue that Sony is ignoring. All reviews seem to review the camera on the fullsized XZ1, which was actually really nice. But the XZ1 Compact is terrible.

With the Z3 Compact (my favorite phone) the image quality was great. But back then I remember reading that rooting the Z3 Compact would ruing the DRM which was actually involved in image processing and would consequently produce crappy images. Maybe it's an DRM problem, because XZ1 and XZ1 Compact are supposed to have identical camera.

Here is an comparison between XZ1 Compact (left) and XZ1 (right). Settings are identical. Made in Sony shop in Bangkok today:

XZ1 Compact (left) vs XZ1 (right). Object 20 meters away. Photo zoomed in on the phone.XZ1 Compact (left) vs XZ1 (right). Object 10 meters away. Photo zoomed in on the phone.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Keyakizaka46 — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 22:58:28 GMT

Really interested to know, can you upload your photos again as they can't be viewed?

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Uliwooly — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 23:33:41 GMT

@KenBKK

Could you upload the actual pictures full-res?

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Sevdar — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 07:18:02 GMT

Its not a real comparison

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Qatrium — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 07:21:49 GMT

@KenBKK

You can't compare on-screen previews, simply because the XZ1 and it's compact version have different screens with different resolutions. Only full-sized images side by side comparison will show the difference.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Xz1c — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 10:30:17 GMT

And i would add that hand held indoors shots can be easily blown out with either of these 2 phones.. so its not a very scientific test..

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

KenBKK — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 03:57:39 GMT

I did not have the option to send images to anywhere since the phones where demos. I clearly understand that it's difficult to evaluate the quality in a photo of a phone showing the photo. Also, the demos has some setting that would delete the non-standard images as soon as the photo app was shut down.

The phone screen resolution will have little to do with anything at that zoom level.

I suggest that you guys go to a Sony shop and simply test by yourself.

But my whole point with this is that the issue seems to be same as with the Z5 vs Z5 compact.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

gregoryopera — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 06:17:09 GMT

@Keyakizaka46 wrote:
Really interested to know, can you upload your photos again as they can't be viewed?

They can be viewed, it's just that we need to wait for the moderators to approve them before they can be viewed in these forums... Until then, they'll just show up as an icon.

Anyway, as @uliwooly, @Quester and others have pointed out, you will need to upload a full-resolution image in order to get a true understanding of the quality... Photos like the ones you have uploaded can (unintentionally) be misleading for a dozen different reasons.

If you upload a full-resolution photo from your smartphone, I'm happy to get my partner to do the same with her Xperia XZ1 and we can compare them... Unless of course, one of the other Community Team members has beat me to the punch.

@Keyakizaka46 wrote:
Really interested to know, can you upload your photos again as they can't be viewed?

Wait, what?

Are you talking about a smartphone you don't even own? What is the point of this post then?

As myself and others have pointed out, there's a dozen different reasons why they might look different on-screen between two different smartphone models... According to Sony, the cameras are the same and I am not aware of any information which would suggest that one is inferior to the other.

I'm sorry, but if you don't even own either of these smartphones, then I really don't see the point of your post, particularly when your technical analysis is based entirely off what you can see on-screen...

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

KenBKK — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 07:33:49 GMT

Here is another comparison, it shows the exact same weird blurriness and fuzziness:
/t5/Xperia-XZ1-Compact/Main-camera-quality-terrible/td-p/1267075

All these attempts to disprove me could be easily solved by all of you going to a Sony shop and make tests with demos. Take identical photos with the same settings. Then zoom in the pics so that the screen resolution far exceeds the resolution of the image. At that zoom level you CAN make a rough evaluation of the image resoltion.

I am very well aware that Sony says it's the same cameras. They said the same about Z5 / Z5 compact. Yet, you will find lots of complaints online about the Z5 compact being so bad that people think it's something wrong with them. Others will claim it's nothing wrong with them.

You will see similar complaints about the XZ1 Compact. Just google and you will see.
I've (still) have Z5 compact. The images are still bad. People still tell me "it's the same camera" etc. People that have this problem get the tech specs thrown in their face, because yes, on paper it's the same camera but the results, for whatever reason, are not the same.

I have also found image comprisons between XZ1 Compact and other phones. Remember, that the XZ1-generation is supposed to have among the very best cameras. Comparing it to any smartphone camera, the XZ1 generattion should not be substancially worse.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Qatrium — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 07:37:03 GMT

@KenBKK

No one tries to "disprove" you, all that was asked is real photos taken under the same conditions to compare properly.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Xz1c — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:11:43 GMT

Gsm arena already did this far better than what we will be able to do in a shop with demo phones... Open up their photo comparison tool and you can compare in both good light and low light.. You can choose 3 phones at a time, just perfect to add the amazing iphones you are talkin about or a older xperia phone..

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

KenBKK — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:19:10 GMT

No, I am not talking an older Xperia model. These were demo phones in an official Sony shop in Central Rama 9 Mall, Bangkok, Thailand.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

KenBKK — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:20:25 GMT

@Quester

If I am around there soon again I will to get the copy of the image files sent to me.

... screw it! I will just go now. Hopefully Iwill have original images to post here wihtin a few hours. That is, if it's possible and staff allow me.

Wish me luck 😃

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

Xz1c — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 11:11:03 GMT

What do you mean you are not talking about older models? I am telling you, you can compare the xz1, xz1 c, and a older model which shoots "great" all at once... or the xz1 ,xz1c and a iphone... or just the xz1 and xz1 c.

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

gregoryopera — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 06:15:01 GMT

@Xz1c wrote:
Gsm arena already did this far better than what we will be able to do in a shop with demo phones... Open up their photo comparison tool and you can compare in both good light and low light.. You can choose 3 phones at a time, just perfect to add the amazing iphones you are talkin about or a older xperia phone..

GSMArena also have a highly specific process that has been refined over many, many years... A process which not only goes right into the most absolute details - if you're that way inclined - but a process which also ensures consistency between reviews.

Anyway @KenBKK, I'll make it easy for you - here is the direct links to the "camera" section of the reivews for the Apple iPhone 8, Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact and Sony Xperia XZ1... Review these until your heart's content, because these results are far more accurate than those you posted above:

Who wins? I don't know, and I don't really care to be honest... I'm quite happy with my Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra.

But if I was arguing one camera was better than the other, I'd be using the reviews above as a starting point, considering they're taken in "controlled conditions" to guarantee a test without bias using a consistent formula...

Re: XZ1 and XZ1 Compact - Different image quality

romanempire — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 06:17:21 GMT

I've spent 1 month with XZ1 and switched to XZ1 Compact, and I was not able to see any difference in pictures taken with XZ1 vs XZ1 Compact, i.e. oversharpening, overprocessing, and poor low light performance was present on both devices.

The frontal camera is different on XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, but that does not seem to be what is discussed here.

(shrugs)