Pixel 2 XL vs Pixel XL (2016): Ultimate Camera Comparison (Part 1: Photos) By Android Police

Hey Francis is Brandon with Android police and there have been some rumblings that the pixel 1 camera is actually better than the pixel 2 camerae. That's very interested in considering that the DXO mark website gave the pixel to a 98 and the pixel 1 a 90. This is definitely based upon a variety of different factors, but we'll look at a couple. Different items specifically in this video we'll check out white balance throughout the video startup time, HDR processing time, compare the low-light performance, dynamic range portrait mode, using the camera and X mod on the original pixel resolution in detail, and then the lens flare. First, some specs, the pixel one has a Sony IMF 378 with a 1.5 5 micron eff, 2.0 aperture sensor. The pixel 2 has a Sony IMF 360 ?, dual pixel 1.4 micron F one-point aperture sensor. It's interesting to note that the pixel 2 has a lower IMF number.

That doesn't necessarily mean its worse, but the micron size is smaller, but typically a larger sensor will have a better image. However, the pixel 2 does have a lower aperture number, which means that it tends to perform better in low light. So let's check it out so for the startup time, it's so dang close that it really doesn't make much of a difference. I can't really tell how much of this is the animation and how much of this is just going slower. Processing time is pretty much the same as well.

So, as mentioned we'll check out the white balance throughout this whole video. In this shot, we can tell that the pixel 1 has a warmer white balance. Then the pixel 2, now I'll check out low light. Low light can be very difficult because it can create a lot of noise in the darker areas and detail can be lost for this test. I have 4 different setups one with no light other than an ambient monitor a distant side, light at 20%, and then that side light at a hundred percent and then finally, the distant side light at a hundred and then a main and key light in this photo.

We can see that the pixel two does indeed have better low-light the pixel of one struggles, and if you look at the Google Home Mini it can't capture much detail. White balance is still warmer on the pixel 1. In this one, the pixel one is able to capture detail in the shot, there's quite a bit of noise in both to varying degrees. However, the pixel 2 seems to be exposing more in the shadows, and you can see this by looking at the shadow of the orange Android. This one is more of the same with a further emphasis on the shadow of the Android and then finally, a well-lit subject.

This excess looks at dynamic range, and it's pretty much the camera's ability to retain detail in very bright areas and then very dark areas. Typically, what will happen is the bright areas will over expose, so it'll look blown out, dark areas will tend to look a bit underexposed or noisy. Somebody described that as crushing the shadows for most of our cameras. I'll try to find a good balance of both so keep in mind in the following test. There are two methods in which I took the picture: one is with the default Auto settings and then the second one is where I have a tap to focus on the orange Android.

So in the auto settings shot the pixel one surprisingly routines detail well and exposes the numbers on the lens to the left. The pixel two seems to have a brighter image on the Android figure, but under exposes the numbers on the left overall, for both the detail on the sky is quite good and has a nice blue color in this tap to focus shot. We can already see a lot of detail being lost in the sky with some window. Co overexposing, for both the pixel one, does retain a bit more detail in the highlights which can be seen in the sunlight on the right, and it continues to expose the lens. Well, the pixel two fails expose that lens, as well as the pixel one, but does seem to have a more even Android exposure once again.

So, as many of you know, there is a mud that came out called camera and X, and it brought over a lot of stock camera features from the pixel to device to the original pixel and some Nexus devices. So we're gonna check out the portrait mode on both of these phones, and we'll see how much the dual pixels actually made a difference on the pixel two and in turn, we'll find out how much of this is taken care of in software to read more about the camera. No mod I'll have a link down below in the description to you. One of our articles, this first photo is just of some stuff in it really reveals that the pixel 1 doesn't really work on anything other than people. If you have any objects, it just won't work this next one.

It has a busy background on the left side with a contrasting background on the right. The skins sometimes create artifacts. Because of how complex the context is, the pixel 1 is sharper and less saturated. This time, it's a bit cooler. The pixels hue is a bit red with some artifacts in the top left hair ear and especially the beard areas.

The shot has a lot of sunlight to the left in an increasing depth background to measure how the blur increases, if at all, it can really prove to be a bit difficult for dynamic range. The pixel enough is a really solid photo, but has huge artifacts on the chin. However, there's more detail, in contrast on the right side, where the stay our behind the subject, the pixel to the blurs done really well, and you can see the HDR exposure working incredibly well. The face has exposed well and super clear. This next shot is insight into extremely difficult environment.

The only light is coming from a small Christmas tree about four five feet away once again. Low light typically has a lot of noise. The pixel one is surprisingly well exposed for the environment, it's warmer in temperature, and it actually successfully blurred the background, even if there is a lot of artifacts on the right side. If you look to the left, it's very noisy, though, and the subject is a bit soft. The pixel two didn't seem to process the portrait mode at all, but it does have the most natural look with more detail.

This next photo is with the front-facing camera in a fairly common environment. It's with soar lighting in a parking lot light. The pixel one is sharp. It has a good facial exposure, there's a good cut out, but a few artifacts on the left cheek and right shoulder. Pixel two is softer than pix one, but does have a good exposure on the face.

There's a great cut out overall, but a slight artifact by the ear it is the most natural-looking. This one is once again with a front-facing camera. However, it's only using a streetlight, and it's not utilizing the flash feature that lights up the screen, but someone has a good exposure in the face. It's sharp with a decent cut out, but with a lot of noise, it's the most natural looking color, but since we have the best cut out and noise in the background, this blur can hide a lot of the noise that's there and that can either be good or bad as it does hide the noise. But it can also create too much of a contrast between the background and the subject, and if the subject is a bit noisy and the background is spotless, that can be a bit distracting.

So this next shot is with the front-facing flash feature. So if you're not familiar with it, it looks like this. The pixel one is really cool and its color temperature I really don't like it, because it makes it look like a surgery table. However, it does have the most detail, but it's not flattering. The pixel tree has a warm color temperature and overall is well exposed in the face.

It's more smooth and flattering looking, however, the dark sat the top look really crushed and weird overall, it's the most flattering in the least noisy. So, let's check out the resolution in detail. In the last test, you may have noticed that the pixel one seemed to have a sharper image more often than not, but let's see how consistent is in this test fix. One has a resolution of 40 48 by 30 36, while the pixel 2 has a resolution of 40 32 by 30 24, now keep in mind that resolution alone does not mean the camera can for detail better. This first test is with some text in a normal setting, the pixel one seems to capture the detail the text way better than in pixel two.

However, it is the pixel two disk captured the detail of the Google home cloth better now, this grid test can be helpful for looking at any distortions in image, either seem to work the grid much, so there isn't really any distortion. However, we can't notice the worm white balance again on the pixel one. In this last test image, we can look at the fine details. The pixel one seems to be slightly better, but it's really hard to tell in this test. What do you notice? So this last test is looking at lens flares and a lens flare is pretty much where a bright source like a Sun or a bright light hits the lens of your camera.

This can create distracting flares at times, and they can also desaturate your image now. This isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes again we use artistically JJ. Abrams is known for this, which can look cool but can also get out of hand. Use tastefully for this test.

I set up both phones with a pair of ear buds, with media controls and took pictures at specific intervals. As many of you know, the pics one has a gnarly lens flare because of the back area, just being filled with glass, the pixel to remedy this problem by putting a ring around the camera lens, so there's actually some ways to remedy the lens flare in everyday use. In this shot, you can see the lens flare for both, ideally, the best way to fix. This is just to have your subject turn around, so the Sun is facing them rather than behind them. This doesn't always work, though, because maybe the Sunni isn't so great.

If you do that, the other option is to flag your lens. This is essentially mimicking what a lens hood does on a big DSLR lens, and it can help your image regain some of its saturation. You can block the Sun just enough to get rid of the lens layer by putting your hand in the way of it. Depending on the angle, though, you may have to plan for cropping the image a bit, if your hand does end up in the shot. So what are your thoughts? Witty observations? Do you think some rumblings about the pixel 1 camera are correct? Are you surprised at how good the camera and mod performed on the pixel 1 device? I was really surprised by that, whatever it is, go ahead and leave some comments down below I'll be down there, so feel free to say hi.

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Source : Android Police