Sony Xperia Z nighttime video samples impress, quality smokes Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Nexus 4
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Folks from French Android Tube have gotten an early Xperia Z unit and placed it along two of the best smartphones on the market, the Samsung Galaxy Note II and the Nexus 4. And when lights went off in Paris, in the night, the Xperia Z smoked the competition with its video recording quality.
The Sony Xperia Z is the first to support HDR mode in video as well as in photo capture. And when turned on, the results turned out to be hugely impressive. Everything looks so much better well lit, with much less noise and with more clarity. This might be a bigger leap in smartphone photography than we thought earlier, and the only thing missing right now is such a comparison against the other big name in cameraphones, the Lumia 920.
Still, in Android land, the Xperia Z has good chances of becoming the best cameraphone, at least for night shots.
source: FrAndroidTube via Xperia Blog
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75 Comments
34. Droid_X_Doug posted on 11 Feb 2013, 11:06 2
That could be the reason the Z flops - no one can buy it. Certainly not in the U.S.
49. andro. posted on 11 Feb 2013, 14:17 5
Played around with an xperia z demo unit myself today. Camera is certainly top level. I expected the screen to be better for menus etc although when the bravia engine kicked in on videos the screen quality was great. Although its not a finished unit it was a good demo. The xperia z will be a hit,I was a little worried about all the scratches on the back of the unit though
70. pyradark posted on 12 Feb 2013, 02:22 2
its a tempered glass both front and back, so no need to worry about being scratch.
FLOP? i think that's never gonna happen to Sony this year.
Sorry Haters
3. _Bone_ posted on 11 Feb 2013, 08:59 3
Go Exmor RS. Not that I have personal interest in the camera unit, but I want that appear in more phones and end up owning one. Here's hoping Sony cuts down the heavy noise reduction seen in earlier sample images, something a rival company done well with the same module.
4. harsh_doshi posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:03 14
to be honest the xperia z is overexposing the scene and also has purple tint to the white light this is not what I quite like
8. _Bone_ posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:11 5
I don't think it overexposes. The detail it needs to capture is everything BUT the lights and it manages to capture more of Paris at night with slightly better color reproduction than it's rivals (to be honest both the iP5 and the 920 beats those Androids on that front, they should've been included).
The worrying bit is the purple haze as you point out, and the random refocusing blurring up the picture every now and then. I think the Oppo does that too during video shoot. Look how stable the Samsung remains on the move.
58. HDShatter posted on 11 Feb 2013, 19:27 0
I want to see Nokia Purview vs Xperia z Vs IP5 vs HTC One.
10. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:12 3
I also have noticed that, but but according at least to this example still looks less affected with "Purple Halo" than iPhone 5.
15. bparkerson posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:20 6
I agree...This doesn't impress me as much as I had hoped...matter of fact I'm disappointed! IMO the Nexus and Note 2 look much better. The purple ruins it!
People be honest its clearly awful!
20. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:34 2
Disagree!
Yes, ther is a bit purplish effect but not so much that it would ruin everything.
In my opinion Sony Xperia Z wins in those departments:
Sound recording quality.
Low light conditions.
Focusing.
27. bparkerson posted on 11 Feb 2013, 10:01 2
I guess I just had my hopes set too high. When I saw this headline I rushed to check it out. My jaw is still dropped open in disbelief...Not only was it not as good as I was expecting, its just really isn't good at all, compared to the Note 2.
35. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 11:07 0
Are you kidding? Look at the objects in the distance. Look at the car colours and peoples clothing colors, looking at LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, it is hard to tell what colour is object.
37. redmd posted on 11 Feb 2013, 11:12 2
yes and all but I prefer my night sky dark not purple.
40. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 11:21 0
Agree, but object colours are still more naturel on Sony Xperia Z. Look at at 1:07, it is hard to see people looking at LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, while looking at Sony Xperia Z you can even tell clothing colors.
66. AnukulVcool posted on 12 Feb 2013, 01:10 0
switch off hdr and purple is gone. use hdr in daylight
21. neutralguy posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:39 3
to be honest, also, the hdr mode didn't help. Also, the microphone of NEXUS 4 is the s**ttiest microphone like, ever.
the purple tint destroyed the quality. Hope they test this phone compared to lumia 920 and iphone 5
5. Lboogey6 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:06 1
why is the nexus 4 even part of this lol but its not all that impressive i have to say i did expect more
59. HDShatter posted on 11 Feb 2013, 19:30 0
Nexus 4 was a flop IMO, if it wasn't out of stock for 2 months straight I probably would have gotten one.
45. tusshharish posted on 11 Feb 2013, 12:02 3
as nokia lumia 920 set a benchmark of low light performance....they should compare z's sample to it...
7. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:09 4
Good video and sound quality - well done Sony!
12. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:14 6
Agree, would be nice to see such test with a Nokia Lumia 920 and Sony Xperia Z.
26. jackhammeR posted on 11 Feb 2013, 10:00 8
a guy was thumbed down because he mentioned Lumia 920 which is far better than z in low light conditions...sony fanboys attack!
13. Tarzan posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:14 2
Just look closely at 1:07. You can't see people walking on the street neither in Note 2 nor in Nexus 4. Now the trolls will say there were no people walking at that time LOL
14. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:17 3
I can see people in all three, but in Sony Xperia Z more clearly and colorful!
29. Tarzan posted on 11 Feb 2013, 10:04 0
Yep I could see them now after reading your reply, but they were hard to notice initially.
LOL @ 2 thumbs down. I was just being honest thats all. I have a Titanium Grey Note 2 but juggling between Sony Z and HTC One. I'll find out in a couple of weeks.
17. R-vjn posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:26 9
smokes out??? seriously??
It had that awful pinkish tint almost all the time, and not to forget the glare at times which the other two lacked. I'm a photographer myself so I feel like these two things in a video is kinda s**t.
Xperia Z may capture more light, but damn its not the way to capture like that..! Unrealistic and a lot of artifacting...
Note 2 performs better on my eyes..!
46. serge327 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 12:17 1
As u seem, the detail in Xperia Z is more than Note 2 and Nexus 4. Tryto notice the 1:03. Xperia Z part can seem the peoples and N2 and Nexus 4 totally lost the details....
*Sorry for my bad English*
52. MrJerry posted on 11 Feb 2013, 16:37 1
Good one mate
I am not a photographer but that puplish effect ruins everuthing
It seems a major issue to me..unlike iphone5 one
56. pyradark posted on 11 Feb 2013, 18:44 0
For a year YES!!
This is the only phone that has water & dust resistant
No matter how many core sammy,LG & HTC put,
even ultra pixel gimick
Sony is here to stay
sorry haters and bitter
57. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 18:48 1
I like Sony Xperia Z, but to be sure I also want to see what other will bring for us. :)
60. HDShatter posted on 11 Feb 2013, 19:34 0
I don't know whats wrong with the Samsung fanboys, do they really belive the s IV will have an exynos 5? It will be a snapdragon s4 pro, 2gb ram, 1080p amoled, with a cheap plastic feeling.
74. bparkerson posted on 12 Feb 2013, 07:28 0
Speaking for myself, I'm definitely no hater of Sony devices. However, in this video demonstration that is headlined to "smoke" the competition, Sony has failed. I'm hoping this is just a bad example and the true performance will be displayed in a better video later. Me, I give credit where it's due and this video gets absolutely no praise from me!
75. PhoneArenaUser posted on 12 Feb 2013, 07:58 0
According to you, what is exactly wrong with this video?
In my opinion apart a bit "Purplish", everything looks better than on Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or LG Nexus 4.
22. bparkerson posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:46 2
I have watched this over and over and to me the Note 2 has the clearest picture. The Sony picks up better in low light but looks extremely hazey and the color is distorted. I rather it not be seen at all if it looks like this. I was hoping for much more...truly disappointed! "Sony Xperia Z nighttime video samples impress, quality smokes Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Nexus 4" headline is totally misleading and shows exactly how bias Phone Arena is. How can anyone not see what I'm seeing. I truly want Sony to do well as they once were my electronics manufacturer of choice, however articles like this only hurts Sony...Shame on you Phone Arena!!!
23. Yaldo_27 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:47 2
My old nokia 6320i still has the best camcorder ever :D
25. jackhammeR posted on 11 Feb 2013, 09:58 2
WOWO!~Z beated note 2 and nexus 4...which is a terrbile when it comes to camera capabilities....
Sony didn't include 920 because they knew it would smoke their mighty Z in a zippy fashion.
They didn't even compare the results with iphone 5.
28. jackhammeR posted on 11 Feb 2013, 10:03 2
sony...one thing I got FYI.
software tricks won't help you if you don't invest in better optics and software-hardware integrity.
But you obviously don't know about that...if you did you would present a completely different approach
53. TMach posted on 11 Feb 2013, 16:38 1
Presumably, you are aware that Sony produces the sensor for most topline camera phones such as the iP5, right? Jeez, I hate people who can't create a constructive argument but simply comment from a biased stand point. If you don't like it, do not buy it! Not even sure why you are interested or wasting your time on here, given that those who want it will buy it regardless of your opinion.
61. HDShatter posted on 11 Feb 2013, 19:49 0
The sensor is better than the one in the iPhone 5, the purple tint is most likely from software. People just jump to conclusions, it might be a setting in the camera app that you can change.
68. jackhammeR posted on 12 Feb 2013, 01:25 0
so what if sony produces camera modules? does it change the fact that iphone 4 and 4s had better camneras than sony's products? how would you explain these facts
73. jackhammeR posted on 12 Feb 2013, 05:49 0
it prooves only one thing..sony can't execute the final product properly if the same hardware works better in competitors' products.
31. fanboy1974 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 10:35 3
Call me crazy but night time is not suppose to be purplish in color. The Note 2 looks better to me and I'm not saying that because I own a Note 2. I actually like the night video on my wife's iPhone 5 over any of these.
I'd rather see a pitch dark sky than a grey noisy one with purple lighting affects.
33. InspectorGadget80 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 11:03 1
In my view I say GALAXY S III have better picture in low light. So before putting up the title like that LOOK AT your OWN VIDEOS first
39. PhoneArenaUser posted on 11 Feb 2013, 11:16 0
"In my view I say GALAXY S III have better picture in low light."
In this test, there is no Samsung Galaxy S III.
"So before putting up the title like that LOOK AT your OWN VIDEOS first"
Look at the objects in the distance. Look at the car colours and peoples clothing colors, looking at LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, it is hard to tell what colour is object.
Look at at 1:07, it is hard to see people looking at LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, while looking at Sony Xperia Z you even can tell clothing colors. I even don't talk about sound recording quality.
Maybe it is hard to admit that for some LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners, but Sony Xperia Z is clear winner in this test.
65. InspectorGadget80 posted on 11 Feb 2013, 21:34 0
sorry guys read the title wrong thought it says GS III didn't read that it says NOTE II. my fault.
