GUIDE What really matters on Mobile Photography

[techinbermudas]

 
As Smartphones evolve every year a new struggle for the tech fans emerged...how to choose the best camera phone? Does the Megapixel Marketing really matters the most? We will teach you here what do you have to check what really matters when choosing a phone for the camera experience.

1. Sensor Size
The size of a camera sensor ultimately determines how much light it uses to create an image. In very simple terms, image sensors consist of millions of light-sensitive spots called photosites which are used to record information about what is seen through the lens. Therefore, it stands to reason that a bigger sensor can gain more information than a smaller one and produce better images. Just don't forget that bigger sensors can also be better for isolating a subject in focus while having the rest of the image blurred. Cameras with smaller sensors struggle to do this because they need to be moved further away from a subject.

2. Pixel Size
Pixels come in many different sizes, each having their advantages and disadvantages. Larger pixels are able to collect more light, due to their increase in surface area which allows a increase of the sensor sensitivity. However, this is at the cost of resolution, smaller pixels are able to provide higher resolution but capture less light per pixel.

3. Resolution
One of the bigger myths is that higher resolution equals to better photos. Well it depends on the kind of photography you want to take. A higher resolution is "only" required for printing, cropping or to view the photos on larger screens. If you're the common user that takes casual photos to share on Social Media or just to keep it to yourself anything around 12MP is fine.

4. Pixel Binning
Basically turning at least four pixels get combined into one. This creates 4 (or more) in 1 bigger pixels which are better able to collect and process the light in the scene. The downside is that your effective resolution gets quartered when you take a photo – so from a 50MP Samsung GN2 Sensor you will end up with a 12.5MP resolution photo. Different OEM's might have different approaches to this, for example Xiaomi and Samsung that share basically the same sensor on their Smartphones (HMX and HM1/3) but Xiaomi binning is only by 4 and Samsung one by 9 pixels making the output resolution different.

5. Image Processing
Each OEM provides a different approach in terms of image processing, terms like sharpness, contrast or saturation will depend on the OEM you choose. Check carefully examples from the OEM you have chosen or...
One way of having a better photo processing is by using Google alghoritms included on GCam Mods. But even these mods are also limited on some OEM's like:

• Asus: Best GCam compatibility OEM even with full resolution JPG and RAW option;
  
• BBK Electronics (Vivo, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, IQOO): Currently have blocked the access into the Auxiliary Cameras on Android 12;
  
• Google: Even using Google Camera by default, Mods provide a better control and quality in Photo;
  
• Huawei/Honor: No support for Google Camera due Kirin SOC and no Google Play Services;
  
• Motorola: Limited dupport to developers and feedback/logs provided;
  
• Nokia: Limited support to developers and feedback/logs provided;
  
• Samsung: Front Camera RAW restricted on some devices and support for Exynos devices is very limited;
  
• Sony: GCam is restricted to users that joined the Xperia Open Devices program;
  
• Xiaomi: Great compatibility with mods but might depend on developers to have extra features;
  

 

Sensor Name

Sensor Size

Pixel Size

Pixel Binning

 

IMX989	1"	?	50MP/4
IMX506	1"	2.4um	No - 20MP
IMX163	1"	2.4um	No - 20.2MP
IMX800	1/1.1"	?	50MP/4
GN2	1/1.12"	2.8um	50MP/4
HP1	1/1.22"	2.56um	200MP/16
IMX707	1/1.28"	2.44um	50MP/4
IMX700	1/1.28"	2.44um	50MP/4
OVB0BH0	1/1.28"	2.44um	200MP/16
IMX787	1/1.3"	?	50MP/4
GNV	1/1.3"	2.4um	50MP/4
GN1	1/1.31"	2.4um	50MP/4
OV48C	1/1.32"	2.4um	48MP/4
S5KHMX	1/1.33"	1.6um	108MP/4
S5KHM3	1/1.33"	1.6um	108MP/9
S5KHM1	1/1.33"	1.6um	108MP/9
OV64A	1/1.34"	2.0um	64MP/4
IMX789	1/1.35"	2.25um	48MP/4
IMX689	1/1.45"	2.25um	48MP/4
IMX866	1/1.5"	2.0um	50MP/4
S5KHM2	1/1.52"	1.4um	108MP/9
OV50A	1/1.55"	2.0um	50MP/4
IMX766	1/1.56"	2.0um	50MP/4
GN5	1/1.57"	2.0um	50MP/4
IMX703	1/1.66"	1.9um	No - 12MP
IMX600/y	1/1.72"	2.02um	50MP/4
IMX686	1/1.72"	1.6um	64MP/4
S5KGW2	1/1.72"	0.8um	64MP/4
S5KGW1	1/1.72"	1.6um	64MP/4
IMX682	1/1.73"	1.6um	64MP/4
S5K2LD	1/1.76"	1.8um	No - 12MP
S5KGW3	1/1.97"	1.4um	64MP/4
IMX598	1/2"	1.6um	50MP/4
IMX586	1/2"	1.6um	48MP/4
IMX582	1/2"	1.6um	48MP/4
OV48B	1/2"	1.6um	48MP/4
S5KGM2	1/2"	1.6um	48MP/4
S5KGM1	1/2"	1.6um	48MP/4
IMX400	1/2.3"	1.22um	No - 19MP
IMX708	1/2.55"	1.4um	50MP/4
IMX363	1/2.55"	1.4um	No - 12MP
IMX563	1/2.55"	1.4um	No - 12MP
IMX503	1/2.55"	1.4um	No - 12MP
S5K2LA	1/2.55"	1.4um	No - 12MP
S5KGM5	1/2.55"	1.4um	48MP/4
IMX362	1/2.55"	1.4um	No - 12MP
S5K2L7	1/2.6"	1.4um	No - 12MP
IMX519	1/2.6"	1.22um	No - 16MP
S5KGH1	1/2.65"	1.4um	44MP/4
S5K3J1	1/2.65"	1.22um	No - 10MP
S5KJN1	1/2.76"	1.28um	50MP/4
IMX476	1/2.76"	1.0um	20MP/4
IMX376	1/2.76"	1.0um	No - 20MP
IMX350	1/2.78"	1.0um	No - 20MP
IMX576	1/2.78"	1.80um	25MP/4
IMX398	1/2.8"	1.12um	No - 16MP
IMX616	1/2.8"	1.6um	32MP/4
S5KGD1	1/2.8"	1.6um	32MP/4
IMX386	1/2.9"	1.25um	No - 12MP
IMX663	1/2.9"	1.22um	No - 12MP
IMX471	1/3"	1.0um	16MP/4
IMX371	1/3"	1.0um	18MP/4
OV16A10	1/3.06"	1.0um	16MP/4
OV13B10	1/3.06"	1.12um	No - 13MP
IMX481	1/3.09"	1.0um	No - 16MP
IMX351	1/3.09"	1.0um	No - 16MP
S5K3P9	1/3.1"	1.0um	16MP/4
S5K3T1	1/3.1"	1.0um	20MP/4
OV32B	1/3.14"	0.702um	32MP/4
OV32C4C	1/3.14"	0.702um	32MP/4
IMX374/5	1/3.2"	1.22um	No - 10MP
IMX356	1/3.4"	1.0um	No - 12MP
S5K3T2	1/3.4"	0.8um	20MP/4
S5K3M5	1/3.4"	1.0um	No - 13MP
S5K3M3	1/3.42"	1.0um	No - 13MP
IMX520	1/3.6"	1.22um	No - 8MP
S5K4H7	1/4"	1.12um	No - 8MP
OV8856	1/4"	1.12um	No - 8MP
OV08A10	1/4.4"	1.0um	No - 8MP

 
You can check the Smartphone camera sensor on websites like Kimovil or GSMArena.
Colors rate the Camera sensors by their size and their GCam Mods Compatibility.