The Evo 3D is such a camera-centric phone that IMO it deserve a very robust analysis of its cameras. This post will focus on image quality for 2D photos.
Let's start off with some photo comparisons with the predecessor, the Evo 4G. In the following images, the top picture is from the E3D, and the bottom picture is from the E4G. The inset picture is a direct crop from the original photo, so you can see the quality at native resolution.
Methodology:
Both cameras were set to their max resolutions (5mp for the E3D and 8mp for the E4G). All settings within the camera app were set to the same values. Photos were taken from a fixed position with E3D first, followed by E4G. I tried my best to frame the shot as similarly as possible to minimize metering variations. The first two comparisons were shot under direct sunlight on a 'mostly cloudy' day. The last set was shot under the shade of a tree.
Test set 1:
In this first set, you can see that the E3D got the colors right. E4G went crazy in the auto-white-balance mode and made things way too yellow. I was unable to force the white balance to give me something more natural. Looking at the insets, there is a lot more noise in the E4G pictures (note all the reddish spots in the shadows), and the leaves do not look as sharp. This is directly due to the 8mp being overkill for the resolving power of the lens.
Test set 2:
One again, E3D wins this one. The maple leaves are in sharp focus, and the color tones of the soil and rocks in the background are much more representative of the actual scene. I made 3 attempts to take a sharp photo with the E4G, and what you're seeing was the best of the three. The Evo had a very hard time focusing on the thin maple leaves. So while this comparison might not seem fair since the E4G shot isn't in focus, there's something to be said for the camera's inability to focus correctly. Who cares how good the sensor is if the camera can't focus light on it?
And looking at the insets, it's once again clear that the 8mp is doing nothing but magnifying the imperfection.
Test set 3:
For the final shot, I chose something in the shade and less colorful for some contrast comparison. The E3D appears to have higher contrast, though I tend to prefer the color temperature of the E4G shot. However, if you look at the insets, the E3D image is clearly more sharp. It seems that again, the E4G has problems getting the focus right. For web viewing where you get to resize the photos way down (like I did for these images), that slight blur is not so noticeable. But clearly the E3D wins in clarity and contrast.
So in broad daylight and daytime shade, the Evo 3D cameras win hands-down in my book. Coming up: more comparisons under low light with and without flash, and we'll see which camera takes the cake.
Let's start off with some photo comparisons with the predecessor, the Evo 4G. In the following images, the top picture is from the E3D, and the bottom picture is from the E4G. The inset picture is a direct crop from the original photo, so you can see the quality at native resolution.
Methodology:
Both cameras were set to their max resolutions (5mp for the E3D and 8mp for the E4G). All settings within the camera app were set to the same values. Photos were taken from a fixed position with E3D first, followed by E4G. I tried my best to frame the shot as similarly as possible to minimize metering variations. The first two comparisons were shot under direct sunlight on a 'mostly cloudy' day. The last set was shot under the shade of a tree.
Test set 1:
In this first set, you can see that the E3D got the colors right. E4G went crazy in the auto-white-balance mode and made things way too yellow. I was unable to force the white balance to give me something more natural. Looking at the insets, there is a lot more noise in the E4G pictures (note all the reddish spots in the shadows), and the leaves do not look as sharp. This is directly due to the 8mp being overkill for the resolving power of the lens.
Test set 2:
One again, E3D wins this one. The maple leaves are in sharp focus, and the color tones of the soil and rocks in the background are much more representative of the actual scene. I made 3 attempts to take a sharp photo with the E4G, and what you're seeing was the best of the three. The Evo had a very hard time focusing on the thin maple leaves. So while this comparison might not seem fair since the E4G shot isn't in focus, there's something to be said for the camera's inability to focus correctly. Who cares how good the sensor is if the camera can't focus light on it?
And looking at the insets, it's once again clear that the 8mp is doing nothing but magnifying the imperfection.Test set 3:
For the final shot, I chose something in the shade and less colorful for some contrast comparison. The E3D appears to have higher contrast, though I tend to prefer the color temperature of the E4G shot. However, if you look at the insets, the E3D image is clearly more sharp. It seems that again, the E4G has problems getting the focus right. For web viewing where you get to resize the photos way down (like I did for these images), that slight blur is not so noticeable. But clearly the E3D wins in clarity and contrast.
So in broad daylight and daytime shade, the Evo 3D cameras win hands-down in my book. Coming up: more comparisons under low light with and without flash, and we'll see which camera takes the cake.
