Camera - Photo details: 2MP vs 8MP vs 20MP comparison.

[SebastianD]

I was comparing some photos between some 8MP photos took with my previous phone and some 8MP photos with the Z5C. And the quality of the picture (texts, details, etc) is better in my previous phone.

So I decided to try 2MP instead of 8MP and I’ve notice better details. So I think the camera driver/firmware in the Z5 line is ruining the quality at higher megapixels’ photos. 

I've made a comparison with the Sony "Manual" camera between 2MP / 8MP / 20MP (all of them 16:9) and I took 2 samples just in case, to be sure.

Sample 1:

2MP

http://i.imgur.com/E2bB1U8.jpg

8MP

http://i.imgur.com/dldofub.jpg

20MP

http://i.imgur.com/DxEr1aJ.jpg

Sample 2 (look at the "barcode", the difference between 2MP and 20MP is HUGE):

2MP

http://i.imgur.com/snoXpgf.jpg

8MP

http://i.imgur.com/ct0639z.jpg

20MP

http://i.imgur.com/HJg096u.jpg

Download originals

As you can see, the camera is capturing better details at 2MP. Now at 8MP it’s has obviously more resolution, but the picture is less sharp. The same happens if we compare 8MP with 20MP.

I don’t care if the photo takes ages, but I’d like to achieve better picture quality when using 8MP or 20Mp. According to me, the Z5 camera’s 8MP photos are like “4MP~ photos upscaled to 8MP”.

So…is there going to be a firmware update to improve photo sharpness in higher resolutions? (especially in 20MP, where the quality is much worse than 8MP, but I could say the same for 8MP vs 2MP).  

And this is not just about comparing Z5 2MP photo with Z5 20MP photo (my samples). It’s most about comparing a Z5 8MP/20MP photo with other 2015 flagships 8MP photos, unfortunately I don’t have a tripod, and other flagships devices to capture 2 photos with different phones, but I’m not getting the details I’d like to get with 8MP or 20MP photos in my Z5 Compact, especially when you see the photo in a PC Monitor at 100%(real) size.

I think this should be reported to the firmware upgrade team. 

Regards

Sebastian

[frankm87]

Excellent test IMHO... the results are striking.

I do not own a Z5, but would love to buy a Z5 Compact which is small and fits in my pocket. I have been looking at HUNDREDS of web sites and reviews, user opinions etc. I spent days at that. I really need a new smartphone, mine is really outdated.

Nearly ALL reviews led me to understand 2 things about the Z5/Z5C/Z5P:

1) corners are blurry, especially on the left part of the pictures. This is FINE for me, as Sony proposes a wide-angle lens.

2) overall, all pictures are a bit blurry, everywhere, even in the center part.This is not acceptable.

I won't buy a €600 phone that does not produce pictures with good sharpness.

Now, either this is a hardware issue (eg. lens, as the sensor is supposed to be good), or a software issue.

I am leaning towards a lens issue, unfortunately.

Just my $0.02.

[azzido]

Yeah, they really need to focus on camera and quality control of the products, unfortunately it looks like entire QA division in company is gone, and we - users are the testers... I will patiently wait for future updates and see what they will bring to the camera, but this is putting me off buying next Sony phones at all. 

Considering the price I paid for it, I feel I did not get what I should / what was marketed especially in camera and battery sections. 

[ivanch92]

well said. obviously the picture quality is sacrificed for the 23MP camera.

[spwaw]

i am really chocked on this. I read camera tests and all testers tell how good pictures sony takes and change my old Nokia N8 to Z5 compact 600euros and 50e sony flip case and camera is faar worst than my Nokia !!!!!

I am very disapointed. I buy Sony for macro camera and it takes like cartoon pictures. I hope Marshmallow fix this or i must returned my phone back, it is not working now with my macro pictures works.

[TheEndHK]

It looks like 8MP and 20MP got focus problem in all your samples but it won't be surprised lower resolution count got better quality. Try shoot a 8MP/20MP photo with proper focus and resize it down to 2MP you'll found the quality improved. But I agreed the general photo quality isn't good and not in my expectation too, I've got both Z1c and Z5c and in some cases my Z1c performed even better.