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National Geographic uses a Nokia Lumia 1020 to get some truly amazing images

posted by Michael H. / Aug 29, 2013, 4:48 PM

National Geographic uses a Nokia Lumia 1020 to get some truly amazing images

The Nokia Lumia 1020 has a fantastic camera. It's very hard for anyone to really dispute that point. It is one of, if not the best camera that you can find on a smartphone. However, as much as Nokia would like us all to focus on the camera, many users still can't get past the idea of using Windows Phone (though it is a solid mobile OS) in order to get at said camera. Still, that isn't stopping Nokia from advertising nothing put the camera.

The latest ad for the Lumia 1020 camera comes in the form of a partnership with National Geographic, during which Nat Geo photographer Stephen Alvarez took the 1020 for a tour of the southwestern U.S. and used it as his primary camera. Alvarez undeniably got some amazing photos with the 1020, and the promo video about the trip was also completely shot on a 1020. The original story, not surprisingly, has some pretty glowing quotes from Alvarez about the device, like this one:

Since the Nokia Lumia 1020 is so small and light I can actually compose shots from some pretty crazy positions. I find myself being much more creative with this little phone than I might be with my DSLR.

Of course, Alvarez is clear that he wouldn't replace his DSLR with the Lumia 1020, but the device does seem to get closer to professional grade than you might expect. Alvarez said that he was even able to make 22-inch prints from Lumia 1020 photos that look as good as a DSLR shot. Check out the source, because what a professional photographer can do with this device is quite amazing.

source: Nokia Conversations & National Geographic via WPCentral

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Display 4.5" 768 x 1280 pixels

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38 Comments

1. Penny

Posts: 1869; Member since: Feb 04, 2011

Wow, those are great shots!

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 4:51 PM 8

8. james004

Posts: 486; Member since: May 15, 2013

microsoft isnt buying nokia anytime soon so they better start using android.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 6:26 PM 2

10. Penny

Posts: 1869; Member since: Feb 04, 2011

Clearly, you're lost.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 7:04 PM 13

20. ihatesmartphone unregistered

You're lost!! XD

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 2:53 AM 0

38. gazmatic

Posts: 822; Member since: Sep 06, 2012

How does it feel being wrong? if you want Nokia with Android then go look for newkia it's going to flop so hard because people like you won't buy it

posted on Sep 10, 2013, 6:53 AM 0

9. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

Great shots indeed!! I saw it on wpcentral and was awe-inspired! A 'brick' in a fools hand is a great tool to a professional.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 6:48 PM 6

15. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

Stunning shots....Mazinggggg photos.....Nokia u doing well with national geographic. Perfect phone to take great photos and it's tough too for rough journey, Perfect phone for national geographic.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 8:51 PM 5

19. ihatesmartphone unregistered

I really want this phone :(

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 2:52 AM 1

28. Pedro0x

Posts: 271; Member since: Oct 19, 2012

Have you tried to zoom in to those photos? They are full of noise.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 7:19 AM 1

29. DontHateOnS60

Posts: 872; Member since: Apr 20, 2009

They're full resolution shots. 34MP. Those shots are never going to be noise free. The only other phone that has a chance in hell of doing better is the 808 PureView.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 7:43 AM 1

30. Pedro0x

Posts: 271; Member since: Oct 19, 2012

Yeah, ofcourse, I know but I thought that it would be much better but it looks hidious in full res. And that guy in video must be stupid because how can he ditch a pro DLSR camera for this?! I would understand if he had a little camera for 100 dollars.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 8:33 AM 1

37. clevername

Posts: 1436; Member since: Jul 11, 2008

the noise free super high res photos are zoomed post snap. zoom while taking the pic and you see noise. snap a pic then zoom, and you'll be able to zoom more than any other cam phone, and its clear as can be.

posted on Sep 02, 2013, 2:15 AM 0

2. Gadgety

Posts: 173; Member since: Sep 03, 2012

"It is one of, if not the best camera that you can find on a smartphone." One of...and the competitors are?

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 4:56 PM 9

16. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

1020's predecessor, Nokia 808 Pureview.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 9:18 PM 7

17. cam-whore

Posts: 164; Member since: Feb 21, 2013

that is right, there is just no competition....

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 10:16 PM 7

3. gazmatic

Posts: 822; Member since: Sep 06, 2012

Why didn't you link the video? the video is the real treat

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 4:57 PM 1

4. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

Great advertisement. :)

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 5:23 PM 3

22. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

I agree that it is nice advertisement and that Nokia Lumia 1020 has the best camera compared to the other smartphones, but again, it is ADVERTISEMENT and in my oiinion all those talks which compares Nokia Lumia 1020 with DSLR is just a bulls**t!

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 5:13 AM 0

23. papss unregistered

If you are going to call bull on this then you need to call all comments by any third party bull. No need to troll and I expected more from you.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 5:28 AM 0

5. XperiaFanZone

Posts: 2280; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

Beautiful.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 5:36 PM 8

6. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

Holy s---. I was never crazed about Nokia, but this just changed all of that. I kind of want a L1020 on T-Mobile now....

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 5:54 PM 8

7. carlos2121

Posts: 1; Member since: Aug 29, 2013

Video and Photos Lumia 1020 Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful :) youtube.com/watch?v=IBNWzX_J05o

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 6:14 PM 7

12. papss unregistered

Wow I've never seen that video.. I can't believe some of the zoomed views.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 7:36 PM 0

11. papss unregistered

Wow that's crazy good. I've taken amazing photos with mine but this guy clearly knows what he is doing.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 7:19 PM 2

13. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

Now those are beautiful shots NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC/NOKIA.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 7:50 PM 5

14. pwnarena

Posts: 1129; Member since: Feb 15, 2013

aren't the photos too grainy or is that what the nokia representative called "beautiful noise"? the noise becomes very pronounced up close. still, they look great.

posted on Aug 29, 2013, 7:51 PM 1

18. Antonyjoseph

Posts: 217; Member since: Apr 06, 2013

I be been going crazy ever since I saw this on WP. The problem is one should know to use the features like that NG professional. I wish Nokia would also include a some kind of booklet for photograph dummies (like me) on how to use the features.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 2:36 AM 1

24. papss unregistered

They do. They have a tutorial built into the phone that goes over it extensively.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 5:31 AM 0

21. Nokfan1603

Posts: 67; Member since: Mar 13, 2013

To the author of this article: It is simply amazing that even a professional photographer of the National Geographic is really impressed with the Lumia 1020; a one of a kind phone. The pictures are stunning. You cannot achieve this kind of result with any other smartphone (maybe the 808). Why is it, that you have to put so many negatives in this article? E.g.: marketing strategy, OS, questioning the truthfulness of the photographer's opinion about the device... The contrary happens in Phone Arena's articles about iphone or Moto X, where everything is positive and weaknesses are turned into strengths. Probably, you do not like Nokia Lumia and even less Windows Phone, nevertheless from a professional, I would appreciate more objectivity. This comes from a Nokia Lumia fan who also likes Windows Phone.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 3:02 AM 4

25. papss unregistered

Don't hold your breath sir.. This is a blogging site which means they give their personal opinion versus any professional editorial. If you want less personal opinion you will have to go elsewhere.

posted on Aug 30, 2013, 5:34 AM 0

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