https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsbYnRP6BtY

Want a phone with a great camera? Here’s what to look for


Smartphones have become indispensable tools in our lives, giving us a world of apps, keeping us connected, and helping organize our lives. However, many people buy phones because they want a great camera. After all, the best camera is often the one you have with you.

But how do you know whether you’ll get a phone with a great camera or a device with a disappointing shooter? We’ve got you covered with our guide to buying a phone with a great camera.

1. Standard/main camera
sample of main camera

This used to be the only camera available on smartphones, capturing images without zooming in or out. This camera usually gets used most often, as it’s a jack of all trades. You’ll never have a phone without this camera aboard.

2. Ultra-wide camera
sample of ultra wide camera

LG was the first to implement this type of rear camera back in 2016. It takes a picture with a wider field of view/perspective compared to the main camera, making it ideal for group shots, pictures of buildings/architecture, or photos of a landscape. The introduction of an ultra-wide camera also means you don’t need to use your phone’s panorama mode as often, which can be a tedious process.

Telephoto or periscope camera



These cameras deliver zoomed-in shots, with telephoto cameras generally delivering 2x to 3x optical zoom. Periscope cameras are more recent inventions, using a prism to zoom in even further (between 4x and 6x optical zoom). Either way, these lenses are handy if you want to take a photo of something far away.

We’ve seen some companies harness software to deliver better zoomed-in results without using a telephoto or periscope camera. Some brands combine software and a telephoto/periscope camera to zoom in even further, in a concept known as hybrid zoom. For example, the Huawei P30 has a 3x telephoto camera, but it’s able to deliver 5x hybrid zoom shots. Hybrid zoom isn’t as good as having a camera with that particular zoom factor, but it’s better than software-only zoom.

You can find out more about the different methods of zoom via this article over here.

Macro camera
Macro photography flower sample shot 3

This sensor is a relatively new addition to the smartphone world. It allows you to take macro shots (i.e. extreme close-up pictures) of tiny subjects, such as insects, flowers, and coins. Some phones (like the OnePlus 7T) use the ultra-wide camera to take macro shots, foregoing a dedicated macro camera.

Monochrome camera
huawei p20 camera samples

We don’t really see this type of camera on many phones anymore, with Huawei being first to offer a phone with a secondary monochrome sensor. In any event, this camera is used to take true black and white photos, as opposed to a color photo turned into black and white via a filter. Monochrome cameras can also be used to improve low-light performance, as the lack of a color filter enhances light gathering capabilities.

Depth sensor and 3D ToF sensor


You can’t actually take dedicated photos with these types of camera, as they’re generally used to capture additional “depth” information when taking photos via the main camera.


Depth sensors are often used for portrait mode photos, with the sensor capturing information to ensure that the subject is in focus and the background is pleasantly out of focus. 3D ToF sensors are essentially new takes on the depth sensor, capturing more accurate depth information.

Smartphone tripods: Everything you need to know

You’ll generally find depth sensors on cheaper phones, while high-end phones offer 3D ToF sensors instead. In saying so, some phones lack both, using either a telephoto camera or software to capture depth information. In fact, many phones use a software-driven portrait mode for selfie cameras, as seen in the example above.
mode, but the brand has since delivered in a big way with its S20 series. So you should be able to get some great snaps once the sun goes down.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsbYnRP6BtY

Nice one sir

Nice read. I'm wondering which one our phones uses

All these cameras just to capture an image....

Nice