iPhone 4S to HTC One (or SGS4)

[ChrisPdx]

So in one months time, I'll be able to upgrade my phone. Right now I'm leaning more and more towards the GS4 over the HTC One for one simple fact: the camera. Now, I've read many reviews and topics on both the GS4 and One's cams...and right now that's why I'm leaning to the GS4. Sure, the One can take excellent low light pictures, but I'm all about detail. And, from what I've seen, the One lacks the detail in brighter situations when blown up whereas the S4, maybe a little lacking in color saturation, has better details when blown up. But that can be fixed with an app or two....

Other than that, like I said I'm coming from iOS to Android, any thoughts on TouchWiz versus Sense?

 

[EarlyMon]

Both/either are generational leaps over your 4S, so you'll probably be happy with either.

Megapixels are a myth, including with respect to detail and there's a whole thread on that here along with another of pictures. But if your mind is made up on that to the contrary, fair enough.

Sense is at once a skin and an integrated app approach. It's always been that way. You approach things through a people-contact perspective and all interactions about that tie together. Google vindicated the approach with ICS, where stock Android finally adopted that same approach.

Touchwiz has a number of features, more than Sense, that go from the app perspective - match the app/widget functions to your preferences. That's been the alternative tried and true approach on other Android devices for years.

Both are winners, each is dominated by personal preference and what resonates with you as an individual.

They are different approaches.

I personally think that your best bet is to to hold and just try both devices and see if you have a strong preference for one in particular - if so, that's the right one for you.

Besides the camera, there are significant hardware feature differences, again, what's important will be up to you.

 

[ChrisPdx]

Megapixels are a myth, including with respect to detail and there's a whole thread on that here along with another of pictures. But if your mind is made up on that to the contrary, fair enough.

I personally think that your best bet is to to hold and just try both devices and see if you have a strong preference for one in particular - if so, that's the right one for you.

Besides the camera, there are significant hardware feature differences, again, what's important will be up to you.

I agree that MP's are a myth. But, from the pictures that I've seen on this forum and on the Interwebs, the GS4 retains more detail than the One does. Again, this is just from what I've seen. As far as trying out both devices, what I may end up doing is using my upgrade for the One and putting the camera through it's paces before the 14day return period expires. If I'm pleased with it, then I may keep it. If not, I'll try out the GS4. Or....while I have the One, I'll see if I can use one of my friends' GS4 and do my own cam comparison (both on auto, then viewed on my computer to see the differences).

I'm sure I'll love either device.

 

[ChrisPdx]

Here's a link I found here on the forums. I jumped straight to the camera comparison section. Again, from what I can see, the GS4 holds more detail.

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One: Army of two - GSMArena.com

 

[EarlyMon]

Yeah, I've seen it.

As you get time to go through the various threads for both phones, especially our camera thread (I recognize that you've been through the photos thread here), I'm confident that you'll have a lot of food for thought.

As you'll see, few comparisons have been done, and many recycles of those exist.

With more megapixels promising more detail comes more noise detracting from detail. No such thing as a free lunch from either approach.

The camera thread here has more facts than anywhere else on the web.

Still, they're well-matched and both are quite good.

I'm sure you'll choose what's right for you, especially given the comparison you have in mind.

Fwiw and if I may, go ahead and stray from just auto on both phones - each has capabilities to unlock beyond the default.

 

[ChrisPdx]

Yeah, I've seen it.

As you get time to go through the various threads for both phones, especially our camera thread (I recognize that you've been through the photos thread here), I'm confident that you'll have a lot of food for thought.

As you'll see, few comparisons have been done, and many recycles of those exist.

With more megapixels promising more detail comes more noise detracting from detail. No such thing as a free lunch from either approach.

The camera thread here has more facts than anywhere else on the web.

Still, they're well-matched and both are quite good.

I'm sure you'll choose what's right for you, especially given the comparison you have in mind.

Fwiw and if I may, go ahead and stray from just auto on both phones - each has capabilities to unlock beyond the default.

I'll go beyond auto for sure. And seeing pix people post here, the One isn't as detailed. All I know is that for me the camera is a big factor. And I'm making this out to be harder than it actually is. Oh well, it is what it is.

 

[EarlyMon]

I find more reward when I take time to investigate important features before buying.

 

[ChrisPdx]

I find more reward when I take time to investigate important features before buying.

Indeed. Which is why I'll have a months worth of comparisons before I make my choice. But thanks for your input so far!

Any links on some camera/picture reviews or opinions?

 

[EarlyMon]

Most of my opinions and our collective opinions about reviewers' opinions are in - http://androidforums.com/htc-one/69...deo-talk-ultrapixel-more-tips-discussion.html - and we keep that updated with review links - and I believe you've seen that. (?)

I do think a lot of what's offered will come down to the apps.

And I mention that because HTC just did a fair upgrade to theirs, possibly putting a lot of reviewed opinions out of date. And tbh, most of the reviews we had were definitely not done with the production HTC s/w and I'm suspect on that point for the SGS4 photos as well. And the reviewers are hard over on evaluating at auto/default only in most every case. Ok if that's how you use a camera - I _never_ do.

So - the comparisons and photos you've seen are probably either one or two generations out of date on the HTC s/w.

As mentioned by my pal novox77 in the above thread - the iPhone simply has a superior multi-coated lens. While all three phones now have very good cameras, the two Androids have to be better in other areas because of that weakness.

You can still mop the floor - in detail - with either Android using a digital camera at 3.2 MP. I've got one, I'm rather certain of it.

Why? That camera has a larger sensor and a better lens.

Yes, there are enlargement/cropping limitations as you sacrifice pixel count. But the apparent noise can be a problem with enlargement/cropping as you increase pixel count.

The One's advantage is not just in larger pixels to reduce noise - it's also in it's F/2.0 aperture and it's sensor being 1/3" rather than just 1/3.2" on the Samsung. That's a 15% larger area to gather light and more light flowing in. More light -> less digital noise.

From similar experiences last year comparing the SGS3 and One X, and from having owned several HTCs over the years I'm also certain that HTC's biggest mistake has always been in their jpg compression.

I'm running a modified camera app on my last-year's HTC that allows me to scale back their compression - and it makes a world of difference on image quality.

I've requested that HTC make that a standard adjustment feature, but I've not heard back on that.

This shows very well why compression is a serious issue if you're not already familiar with it -

http://androidforums.com/htc-one/69...pixel-more-tips-discussion-2.html#post5687501 - especially visit the wikipedia link for picture/compression comparisons

I'm using a root-modified app on mine, you won't have that to evaluate, so here's an app that doesn't have that issue, you can set the jpeg compression quality -

Check out "Camera JB+"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moblynx.camerajbplus

It's not free, but may well be worth it to you. Even going to the SGS4. Once the new and shiny wears off, better camera apps are the first thing people go for - the Samsung is no exception for a lot of folks.

And if detail is important to you, you do NOT want jpeg compression holding you up.

And you'd mentioned that you'd likely post-process for saturation, rgb adjustments are built-in to that app.

I've not used it, but I've heard a lot positive about it.

I use "Photo Enhance HDR Editor Pro" for quick adjustments -

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wheadon.photoenhancepro

And this one is probably next for you, I find it's very good, you can zoom in close to paint red eyes, "Red Eye Removal (Free)"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.justgoodapps.free

You may have noticed SLRdude's picture's, his are rather good and he recommends this one -

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.niksoftware.snapseed

Hope this helps.

PS - every digital camera I've seen lets you adjust jpeg compression, although they often call it quality vs file size, that's what that is.

It's simply an essential feature if you care about detail.

 

[ChrisPdx]

(mod snipped for brevity)
Check out "Camera JB+"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moblynx.camerajbplus


(more snippage)

So the JB+....will it work without rooting the phone? And that's a good app to have to deal with the compression. Thanks for letting me know about that one! And SnapSeed is my #1 go to app on my iphone.

 

[EarlyMon]

So the JB+....will it work without rooting the phone? And that's a good app to have to deal with the compression. Thanks for letting me know about that one! And SnapSeed is my #1 go to app on my iphone.

Camera JB+ does not require root.

Installed, you'll be able to use/compare either the built-in app or that one on both phones.

From the Q&A section of their store page -

* I'm not happy with the app and I want a refund.

Please, send us an email to moblynx.us@gmail.com with the order number and we will refund you the money. No problem.

Not trying to spend your money for you, but short of a root solution, that sounds pretty fair to me.

 

[ChrisPdx]

Not trying to spend your money for you, but short of a root solution, that sounds pretty fair to me.

No worries man! Trust me. I've spent too much money over the last few years on photo apps

 

[EarlyMon]

HTC has done a good job on HDR photos, so far as I know, that's the only major feature you'd miss out on.

The HTC app will take 3 images and process those for true HDR, rather than process a single image and call it that.

Not dslr HDR but not too shabby either.