Granted, we are still waiting on the first real-life camera samples from the Sony Xperia Z1 that was just announced, yet the cameraphone lines were already drawn with its announcement, and Sony's concept is different than the approach of Nokia or Samsung, the other two juggernauts with camera-centric handsets this season.
Sony's idea is to provide a sleek waterproof device not that much different than your current modern flagships on the outside, and stuff a souped up regular sensor inside, alongside photocentric features and apps, keeping things elegant. If you want extra camera abilities, you can attach the QX10 or QX100 lens-style cameras, and become a formidable wedding photographer even.
Samsung's approach seems to be the laziest one - it took a camera body, complete with optical zoom lens, and slapped a phone in it for a rather bulky and pocket-unfriendly S4 Zoom, albeit for a pretty decent price.
Nokia put the most thought in the cameraphone puzzle by choosing a hybrid approach with lens and sensor that are much larger and better than your average smartphone units, yet developed from the ground-up for mobile to keep size and weight comparatively in check for a still portable Lumia 1020. Which one of these approaches do you prefer on paper for now, before the true camera comparisons start to trickle down?
Sony Xperia Z1 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: which cameraphone would you get?
Sony Xperia Z1
35.66%
Nokia Lumia 1020
53.6%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
1.93%
I'll wait for the camera comparisons before pulling the trigger
8.81%
DESIGN
Device
Sony Xperia Z1
Nokia Lumia 1020
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
OS
Android (4.2.2)
Windows Phone 8
Android (4.2) TouchWiz Nature UX UI
Form factor
Candybar
Candybar
Candybar
Dimensions
5.69 x 2.91 x 0.33 inches (144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5 mm)
5.13 x 2.81 x 0.41 inches (130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm)
4.94 x 2.50 x 0.61 inches (125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4 mm)
Weight
5.96 oz (169 g) the average is 4.4 oz (127 g)
5.57 oz (158 g) the average is 4.4 oz (127 g)
7.34 oz (208 g) the average is 4.4 oz (127 g)
Body material
Glass/Metal
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
Side Keys
Right: Volume control, Camera shutter, Lock/Unlock key
Right: Volume control, Camera shutter, Lock/Unlock key
Left: Volume control, Camera shutter, Lock/Unlock key
Rugged
Water (Water), Dust proof
IP certified
IP 58
Colors
Black, Purple, White
Black, Yellow, White
Black, White
DISPLAY
Physical size
5.0 inches
4.5 inches
4.3 inches
Resolution
1080 x 1920 pixels
768 x 1280 pixels
540 x 960 pixels
Pixel density
441 ppi
334 ppi
256 ppi
Technology
TFT
AMOLED
Super AMOLED
Colors
16 777 216
16 777 216
16 777 216
Peak brightness
600 cd/m2 (nit)
CAMERA
Camera
20.7 megapixels
41 megapixels
16 megapixels
Flash
LED
LED, Xenon
LED, Xenon
Aperture size
F2.0
F2.2
F3.1-F17.8
Focal length (35mm equivalent)
27mm
26mm
Optical zoom
10.0 x
Features
Back-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Touch to focus, Digital image stabilization, Face detection, Smile detection, White balance presets, Burst mode, Digital zoom, Geo tagging, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR), Panorama, Scenes, Self-timer
Back-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, AF Assist Beam, Touch to focus, Manual focus, Optical image stabilization, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Digital zoom, Geo tagging, Panorama, Scenes, Effects, Self-timer
Back-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Optical image stabilization, Face detection, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Burst mode, Geo tagging, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR), Panorama, Macro mode, Night mode, Scenes, Effects, Self-timer
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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