Low light videos - Xperia Z2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I currently have LG G3 and everything is great but low light videos - my last smartphone, HTC One M7 actually did really good at this. How good is Xperia Z2 in this respect? Can someone post a video (especially using 3rd party software)?

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Camera

Can u give ur experience in using htc one camera
Sent from my HTC One
i think its great especially in low light. there is a comparison video on the international thread between gs4 and h1. front and rear video side by side
there is a picture thread thats a good place to start i personally thinks its great zoom could be better but over all im happy
aimner said:
Can u give ur experience in using htc one camera
Sent from my HTC One
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My favorite camera ever on a phone, and I've had GS4 and iPhone 5.
Sent from my HTC One
Someone knows why sometimes in normal light the photo is not so sharp like the previous HTC onex
Sent from my HTC One
Yes not as many pixels my friend
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Everyone must be only looking at pictures on their phones.
When you look at the pictures on a PC with good display (2560x1600, for example), it's obvious it's only 4MP. Zooming in just to 125% it looks like a 10 year old P&S. LOL
However for phone "snapshots" it's great. In lower light it's better than the S4. If you have very steady hands and use night mode on the S4 that cam does OK. But it has more lag and a hit with processing delay, etc.
Video looks better than the S4, much less shaky and the audio is devoid of all the pops and clicks that the S4 has. I've had more than one S4 (both 16 and 32GB) and they all have this problem. It's the mic because the voice recorder app also has these noises.
The audio on the HTC appears lower because it's not using any background compression. I have not tested its ability to record very loud (ie concerts) events. We did have thunderstorms this evening but (of course) by the time I stopped recording is when the lightning hit across the road!
Pictures on Phones - HTC ONE!
Pictures on Computer - S4
Mainly due to megapixels. But overall I feel like the One has the better camera experience.
Sent from the Sexiest Android Device (HTC One)
SKyRocKeting727 said:
Pictures on Phones - HTC ONE!
Pictures on Computer - S4
Mainly due to megapixels. But overall I feel like the One has the better camera experience.
Sent from the Sexiest Android Device (HTC One)
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Yes, the sounds are actually pleasant. Usually it's the first thing I turn off (shutter, focus sounds) but the ones HTC uses actually sound like a real camera, LOL.
I came to the HTC One from a Galaxy Nexus on Verizon. Overall, I'm fairly happy with the One's camera - though I (obviously) wish it were at least 6mp or 8mp.
I got a chance to play a little with it last weekend, both indoors and outdoors. As others have said, when viewing photos on the phone the results are great. I think it may be my favorite camera out of all the phones I've had in the past. There are some drawbacks to it, though, caused by the 4mp camera - namely, as others have said, blowing up photos on the computer and extracting good detail.
Here's a link to a reference shot I used for a quick review of the camera on my Google+ profile, if you're interested:
https://plus.google.com/103347227024279241834/posts/bJBrNu5a2tD
rooted_1 said:
I came to the HTC One from a Galaxy Nexus on Verizon. Overall, I'm fairly happy with the One's camera - though I (obviously) wish it were at least 6mp or 8mp.
I got a chance to play a little with it last weekend, both indoors and outdoors. As others have said, when viewing photos on the phone the results are great. I think it may be my favorite camera out of all the phones I've had in the past. There are some drawbacks to it, though, caused by the 4mp camera - namely, as others have said, blowing up photos on the computer and extracting good detail.
Here's a link to a reference shot I used for a quick review of the camera on my Google+ profile, if you're interested:
https://plus.google.com/103347227024279241834/posts/bJBrNu5a2tD
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of course htc one would be better than galaxy nexus..
has anyone noticed significant difference going from stock att 126 firmware to arhd 129 in camera quality?
It probably should be said.... If you only take photos to upload them to instagram or Facebook, you'll be more than happy with the HTC One.
By the by, if you print your photos or have an high resolution computer screen (for wallpapers you took with your phone), you might not be happy with the HTC One.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta
robstunner said:
It probably should be said.... If you only take photos to upload them to instagram or Facebook, you'll be more than happy with the HTC One.
By the by, if you print your photos or have an high resolution computer screen (for wallpapers you took with your phone), you might not be happy with the HTC One.
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I've never met a phone camera that was a complete substitute for a dedicated camera, but (to me) the One seems to be great for a phone camera. If you want great quality photos, you really need a Digital SLR. But for everyday quick snapshots the One does as good as almost any other phone out there.
I've learned to take most pictures in HDR mode which is similar to what I did on my old iPhone.

PA rates G2 as best Android Camera SmartPhone

Hey Guys,
G2 has another feather in the cap, G2 tops the charts as best Android Camera Smartphone in Phone Arena Comparison. It matches iPhone 5S, though 1020 was omitted. So it pretty much confirms G2 is the second best camera phone in the market right now
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/C...One-Motorola-Moto-X-DROID-Ultra_id3447/page/8
amankapoor4 said:
Hey Guys,
G2 has another feather in the cap, G2 tops the charts as best Android Camera Smartphone in Phone Arena Comparison. It matches iPhone 5S, though 1020 was omitted. So it pretty much confirms G2 is the second best camera phone in the market right now
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/C...One-Motorola-Moto-X-DROID-Ultra_id3447/page/8
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Click to collapse
Not only that! The LG G2 is also the highest rated smartphone in PA's (for those who might not know, PA is a popular mobile news & reviews site: PhoneArena.com) history with a score of 9.4 out of 10. The LG G2 beats the Samsung Galaxy S4 which was the previous highest rated smartphone. The only negative aspect of this phone (according to PA) is the lack of a microSD port. But if you get the 32 GB version, you're set. Many of the top smartphones don't offer external memory via microSD; HTC One, Apple iPhone, etc.
LG G2 on PA with specs and rating: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/LG-G2_id7969
Can't wait for my 32 GB version to arrive next week
Sorry, but even as I own an LG G2, I cannot agree with PhoneArena. The LG G2 nighttime video is awful (shutter speed too low, heavy noise reduction, no details at all), and in daytime video there is constant autofocus hunting, as you can see (although the image is very detailed).
iPhone 5s is clearly the winner, it has no obvious flaws. And the G2 does not even come in second.
LG G2 camera produces outstanding results in daylight photos, this is true. But there are significant bugs in the video processing that need to be corrected via a software update ASAP. Even night time still photos suffer from too much noise reduction.
PS: I read that LG is PhoneArena's biggest sponsor.
Cst79 said:
PS: I read that LG is PhoneArena's biggest sponsor.
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I hardly ever see an LG ad on their site when I go there. I see mostly Best Buy Mobile ads (mostly Best Buy ads for the S4 or iPhone)
Cst79 said:
Sorry, but even as I own an LG G2, I cannot agree with PhoneArena. The LG G2 nighttime video is awful (shutter speed too low, heavy noise reduction, no details at all), and in daytime video there is constant autofocus hunting, as you can see (although the image is very detailed).
iPhone 5s is clearly the winner, it has no obvious flaws. And the G2 does not even come in second.
LG G2 camera produces outstanding results in daylight photos, this is true. But there are significant bugs in the video processing that need to be corrected via a software update ASAP. Even night time still photos suffer from too much noise reduction.
PS: I read that LG is PhoneArena's biggest sponsor.
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Yeah i have to agree i really like the g2 but the camera has serious problems with focusing and shutter speed issues that badly affect picture clarity. I really hope that the camera issues are due to poorly optimized software and can be fixed in an update.
I just watched a few iphone 5s vids. Showing camera and video. The autofocus while recording on the iPhone is terable. So much blur when changing what your looking at. The photos are nice. It low light are about as in impressive as ever other phone. I'm well aware that my phone is a phone first, camera second. but, with a few tweaks here and there. this phone takes amazing photos and great video. Yeah it has its shortcomings so does every single phone on the market. Adjusting shutter speed and the iOS are the key features to great photos
Sent from my VS980 4G using xda app-developers app
Totally agree G2 camera blows the other phones camera out of the water. Current only the new iphone and the new lumia phones can compete with the G2 regarding camera
I also think people might need to try to tap the screen on different portions of what they are taking a picture of. I learned quickly that the camera on this phone adjusts to room lighting AND the darkness/brightness of what you're taking a picture of.
So, if I'm in a bright room and I set the focus to something dark, THEN I get the washed out effect. But, if I'm in a bright room and I put the focus on something just as bright, then the camera adjusts to near perfection.
AND put it in reverse if I'm in a dark room. Set it to focus on something bright. (basically just tap the viewer on a bright or dark item and see how the camera will change automagically (I meant that word automagically lol)
That has helped me get much better pictures easily.
Ploxorz said:
Yeah i have to agree i really like the g2 but the camera has serious problems with focusing and shutter manually issues that badly affect picture clarity. I really hope that the camera issues are due to poorly optimized software and can be fixed in an update.
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Yea or you could manually focus like you don't need -50 DKP
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Cst79 said:
PS: I read that LG is PhoneArena's biggest sponsor.
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I am curious to see that article you read. Could you provide a link?
I've been a PA avid reader (i go through every single article or at least have a peek at the main ideas if i'm in a hurry) since a few years. The one thing that really put me off was permanent display of Samsung Galaxy flagship phones at the top of the page, right above the Featured Stories section. The Samsung Galaxy S3 got a permanent spot there for the whole year and eventually S4 joined its older sibling for a very lengthy stay in that bar, which qualifies as nothing short of advertisement for Samsung. It really got me riled up every time i saw the main page and when i pointed that out on YouTube to one of their reviews about the Galaxy S4 besting every other smartphone, my comment got topped up to over a hundred likes. People were finally noticing and PA eventually made some slight changes, but still today, you can pretty much guarantee that you'll see the top Samsung products displayed as a "versus another product" or "review" at the top of the page. As for LG, i never noticed any of its products being advertised on PA. Actually, the G2 just released and despite a great rating, it has only managed to secure a spot at the far right of the page, ready to drop out of the headlines at the next mobile device release.
Cst79 said:
PS: I read that LG is PhoneArena's biggest sponsor.
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actually samsung is their sponsor, their review of the g2 wasn't that great
The camera on this phone is very nice indeed!
tomthedancingbug said:
actually samsung is their sponsor, their review of the g2 wasn't that great
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They rated G2 a 9.4 mate, which is pretty high. That said i am not sure how LG is a sponsor as some rightly pointed, all i see is Apple and Samsung on the main page, be it featured stories or main page.
As a matter of fact it seems like a story of some butt hurt fan of maybe HTC one, whose strongest selling point Camera is the worst.
Anyone noticed the audio quality of the videos taken with all the phones and the camera?The quality of the Lg audio is eons ahead of them all including the supposedly great audio quality of ONE.The audio chip and the mics of G2 are amazing.
woof123 said:
Anyone noticed the audio quality of the videos taken with all the phones and the camera?The quality of the Lg audio is eons ahead of them all including the supposedly great audio quality of ONE.The audio chip and the mics of G2 are amazing.
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And how does it perform with loud music/audio? This video doesn't bode well...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzmJLCNZJdU
dagrim1 said:
And how does it perform with loud music/audio? This video doesn't bode well...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzmJLCNZJdU
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Are we supposed to put the phone near a speaker in full blast,in our everyday use?That kind of comparissons are idiotic at best...When i record a video with crystal clear audio with G2 and the I5s will record a muted low sound,will you be proud that it can do better when you put it near a speaker in full blast? lol Also the G2 is extremely sensitive and pic up noises that other phones cant..thats good and bad,depends on the situation.
woof123 said:
Are we supposed to put the phone near a speaker in full blast,in our everyday use?That kind of comparissons are idiotic at best...When i record a video with crystal clear audio with G2 and the I5s will record a muted low sound,will you be proud that it can do better when you put it near a speaker in full blast? lol
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Some people enjoy going to concerts and all you know... Sometimes they want to record a video of (a piece of) it. And pretty often the sound goes to crap in those situations, so wouldn't call this kind of stuff "idiotic at best". It all depends on what you use it for.
dagrim1 said:
Some people enjoy going to concerts and all you know... Sometimes they want to record a video of (a piece of) it. And pretty often the sound goes to crap in those situations, so wouldn't call this kind of stuff "idiotic at best". It all depends on what you use it for.
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Putting the phone near a speaker it doesnt emulate a concert at all.The G2 pic up noises that i5s cant this is why its more fuzzy at times.If the sound is crap G2 will pic up a crappy sound,cause it records what is there...Sure it can be good and bad,but its prefferable at least for me,when at 90% of the situations i will use it,the sound will be great,instead of having a sub par sound,that will only be usefull at the 10% of my use (concerts and all)
PA's reviews are continuely garbage. Their ranking system has no repeatability, their test methodology always has flaws. Might as well look at Gizmodo's or Engadget's 'seat of the pants' reviews.

Can't make up my mind about buying the Z2

Hello,
I'm currently an owner of an S3 . I've been wanting to upgrade for some time now and I just can't decide what to buy.
I love the M8, but the camera is so awful that I am just not ready to pay a flagship-phone price for a phone like that. (my old s3 beats m8's camera (!!) )
I loved the G3 too , but reading in the GSMaren's review how bad its battery is (aside from 3G talk time , it really isn't that different than my ancient S3 in terms of its battery life which is just ridiculous! )
The Z2 has a boring and an outdated UI which is just a shame for a 2014 phone.
But , its battery ,camera, overall performance are superb. At least compared to its rivals. (Though it seems that the screen is rather dim and dark compared to the S5 and M8).
But my main concern , is that Video shooting and overheating issue.
I don't need to record videos in 4K. But as far as I understand the the overheating issue occurs even when shooting an 1080p video, and that's a problem.
Does 1080p shooting cause the overheating and camera app shut down for everyone?
If you really think the UI is "boring and outdated" (really?!) it is easily remedied with any launcher of your choice..
Regarding the overheating issue, I have been recording 12 minute 4K videos (it shut down by itself) and 30 minute 1080p videos (I stopped recording, I could have gone longer the phone was warm but not hot at that point) without any issues.
That being said, based on what everyone on here has been saying my experience is not the same as most.
At the end of the day mate, it's a mobile phone. You don't have much to lose picking this over one of the other flagships.
Have you seen the phone in person and used it? I read a lot of reviews complaining about the brightness but when I got it I was quite surprised I could use it in daylight with no issues. As for the UI you can alway use a launcher or themer to change the look of the phone, as for the 4K video recording it seems to be an issue across all companies I think it's probably being an issue of the hardware not being at that level yet. I am hoping that there will be a software fix for the overheating issues. I'm not sure if you are in the US but there are sellers who are Amazon verified once in a while that will let you do no hassle returns if you dont like it. I was really impressed with the phone but ended up returning it because it was a bit too big for my tastes but I am planning on buying it again when the prices go down. Good Luck!
jawang26 said:
Have you seen the phone in person and used it? I read a lot of reviews complaining about the brightness but when I got it I was quite surprised I could use it in daylight with no issues. As for the UI you can alway use a launcher or themer to change the look of the phone, as for the 4K video recording it seems to be an issue across all companies I think it's probably being an issue of the hardware not being at that level yet. I am hoping that there will be a software fix for the overheating issues. I'm not sure if you are in the US but there are sellers who are Amazon verified once in a while that will let you do no hassle returns if you dont like it. I was really impressed with the phone but ended up returning it because it was a bit too big for my tastes but I am planning on buying it again when the prices go down. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing for sure when the price reduces the phone will NOT reduce in size
Ryland
Somnium1 said:
The Z2 has a boring and an outdated UI which is just a shame for a 2014 phone.
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I would have to disagree with you here. The Z2 has a beautiful elegant UI IMO, one of the best Android "skins" aside from stock Android on the flagship devices. I've owned the One M8, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 3, and this is my favorite device by far.
I had...well,still have a z2 (its in for repair, after three days of light use the back panel cracked).
I did want to like it, but a few things missing from it that I missed from previously having Samsungs. Yes the ui is cleaner,closer to stock android but the the features of Touchwiz for me, make android better.
Like the swipe left to call/right to text.... Vibrate when there is an unread text, scheduled text messages, block numbers etc.
Ok, apps can be installed to mimic most of these but arnt as fluid as the built in features of Touchwiz.
Also had issues with the volume of notifications and screen brightness in the sun.
Great looking phone tbh, but have a play properly with a demo unit before committing.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk (how ironic is that eh)
Somnium1 said:
Does 1080p shooting cause the overheating and camera app shut down for everyone?
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What is the ambient temperature where you will be shooting ?
---------- Post added at 05:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 AM ----------
ProdigalFather said:
Regarding the overheating issue, I have been recording 12 minute 4K videos (it shut down by itself) and 30 minute 1080p videos (I stopped recording, I could have gone longer the phone was warm but not hot at that point) without any issues.
That being said, based on what everyone on here has been saying my experience is not the same as most.
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It isn't from what i can see and i'm trying to figure it out.
Go on then. Tell us what was the ambient temperature when you recorded those vids ? particularly that half hour long 1080p one.
Ryland Johnson said:
One thing for sure when the price reduces the phone will NOT reduce in size
Ryland
Click to expand...
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Yeah I know, I got a Z1 Compact as primary would like a Z2 eventually for those times I want a bigger screen
jawang26 said:
Yeah I know, I got a Z1 Compact as primary would like a Z2 eventually for those times I want a bigger screen
Click to expand...
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Get the Z2 tablet.
irishrally said:
Get the Z2 tablet.
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Haha I have an iPad already (don't judge!) like having a different eco system...We'll see hopefully I can hold out of the Z3 or Sony releases something similar in the 4.7 - 5 range.
As of now the Z2 is the best phone I've used compared to the S5 and the HTC One M8 but everyone has different preferences and tastes
I wrote a FULL REVIEW of the Xperia Z2 here - http://bit.ly/1kPjBJP
Read it and i'm pretty sure you will make up your mind easier.
One Twelve said:
What is the ambient temperature where you will be shooting ?
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Click to collapse
Ambient temp is around 30-40C (Sometimes more). Summers are hot here.
And I still can't understand.. the overheating issue occurs in 1080p videos too?? Or just for some..?
If it's only with 4K I can live with that, but 1080p... sucks.
It's weird that no serious mobile reviews mention that.(Engadget,GSMarena,etc.)
One Twelve said:
It isn't from what i can see and i'm trying to figure it out.
Go on then. Tell us what was the ambient temperature when you recorded those vids ? particularly that half hour long 1080p one.
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Around 11-13C for both.
Any Middle east user out there? How is the heat problem with z2 as ambient is around 45+ C
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
I'm reading answers here and it's very annoying to see some of them...
Most of us choose one brand and stick to it, why?
Just because we found something on that brand that cannot be found on others.
To compare touchwiz and Sony UI is... Hmm...let's say odd..
Why to compare?
I like Sony UI and I'm using Xperia devices, for years.
I don't like touchwiz so I don't use it.
Sony UI isn't outdated, dev brought UI on XS and older devices back in 2012/2013 but it wasn't meant to be for those devices.
Sony UI (new UI) was built for Honami, for Z1 and that's not old guys...
I thought I won't buy Z2, I own Z1 and Z2 now and I can't tell which one is Z2 from distance...so, yeah, there's not much new when you look device while it's off.
But...
When you take Z2 in your hands, when you feel it, when you see that fantastic IPS screen - you'll see the difference.
While I'm talking about screen I'll say just a few things about heating, not overheating.
If you watch 4K video or shoot one, play heavy games - it'll be hot, quite hot but there'll be no apps crashing or device freezing - that's the difference between heating and overheating.
That's perfectly normal and I'm sure next update will reduce that a bit...
Also, screen is a bit dark and you'll have trouble to watch video outside on bright sun.
You won't see problems in menus and other apps but video is hard to watch...
That's minus, at least for me...
But that's something next firmware releases could fix without any problems.
Even custom kernels could fix something like that...
If you can wait, wait for next Xperia device, it'll be better, that's for sure.
But comparing this device with Z/ZL/ZR/Z1 I can say this is not just a better device, Z2 is something new from Sony...
Believe me, I'm using Z1 at the same time and comparing them all the time - Z2 is really, really something else...
Is it better then competitions flagships?
For me it is but if you like Sony and their ideas it'll be best for you as well...
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 AM ----------
Somnium1 said:
Ambient temp is around 30-40C (Sometimes more). Summers are hot here.
And I still can't understand.. the overheating issue occurs in 1080p videos too?? Or just for some..?
If it's only with 4K I can live with that, but 1080p... sucks.
It's weird that no serious mobile reviews mention that.(Engadget,GSMarena,etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait for a new update and we'll confirm if that heating is fixed.
55 has that problem and I think next one has it to (I think it's 402 or 420, I'm not sure) so next firmware update could fix that problem.
Wait for that and you'll know...
BTW, I just tried to shoot 1080 / 60fps video.
I recorded 3.20mins and played it, so it's almost 7 mins of 1080p videos and no heating at all.
Device is just a bit warmer (top back) but that's nothing.
It's not hot at all....
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
I have the M8 and Z2. The screen on the Z2 is brighter than my M8.
Sent from my C6806_GPe using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
jawang26 said:
Yeah I know, I got a Z1 Compact as primary would like a Z2 eventually for those times I want a bigger screen
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Click to collapse
A suggestion. If you have the Z1 compact as your mobile phone and desire on times a larger viewing area I would skip the Z2 and go for the Xperia Z Ultra. Prices are incredibly low now and its one hell of a viewing experience. I own the Ultra and Z2 and think the Ultra is certainly better quality in terms of materials used and construction methods. Nothing wrong with the Z2 but I was some what surprised when I received it last week. I used to own the Xperia Z and that was, despite many negative comments, a very good phone. I am unsure if the jump in size from the compact to the Z2 would be worth the financial outlay. Now the Ultra has a far greater viewing area and its less than half the price of the new Z2.
Again, just some food for thought. Your choice will be right for you I am sure of that. Good luck with what ever you purchase.
Ryland
Why I like the Xperia Z2 over other competitors (Galaxy S5, One M8, G3). Below are just my personal opinion and observations. I have used my Z2 for 3 weeks now. This is my first noob review so please bear with me.
Camera
I was disappointed when I first heard that Sony limited its Superior Auto mode to 8MP only, I admit Im one of the people who believes more megapixel the better, but I was wrong. Even at 8MP, Z2 captures amazing shots, HDR is not as great as Galaxy S5s HDR shots, but as a whole camera, its better. Color accuracy is near perfect as I have compared through reviews. 4K video, although it heats up the phone quickly, I dont often use them. 1080p video recording is great, with a choice of 30fps or 60fps, sound is loud. Shots are fast and focus is 90% hit. Dont mind about HTC One M8's "Ultrapixel", they shoot awful shots.
Battery
3200mah Z2 vs 3200mah G3? G3 with QHD screen undoubtly will eat up more battery that Z2's FHD screen. Galaxy S5's 2800mAh and HTC One 2600 will normally never last longer than Z2. Rocking the phone for 24 hrs is a piece of cake. Dont forget Sony's Stamina mode that saves up a significant amount of juice.
Screen display
Although many people have been complaining about Z2's screen a bit dim. In my opinion its not too dim or too bright that I have to squint to see what im looking at. In my observation, Z2's brightness bursts from 75% and above. Previous flagships use TFT LCD and that was a big deal breaker for me. I could have got the Z1 if the screen was IPS. Texts and icons are sharper and brighter. Images are more vivid and accurate. Coming from Galaxy S4, I am used to those AMOLED displays, downside is that its not as sharp as IPS LCD, plus X-Reality does the job well done to movies and pictures (sharper and more vivid). As for HTC One M8, screen is comparable to IPS, but gives a bluish tint as I have read. Imagine yellows with blueish/colder colors.
Stereo Speakers/Sound
HTC is undoubtly the champ. But we are pinning Z2's dual front facing stereo speakers at 2nd, ahead of Galaxy S5 or G3 with one speaker. Sound is a bit soft/low even at 50%. You wont even notice a significant change from 1%-50% volume. Volume bursts from 50% and above. Thats just my opinion. Theres a little bit of trick with Z2's speakers to sound great or at least better. Watching movies or listening to music in landscape greatly improves the audio experience. Its probably because sound is distributed well to your left and right ear.
Noise-cancelling headphones
Its my first ever high-end earphones ever had. I was amazed how it cancels out 98% of background noise. And its 0 outside noise when im playing music. I couldnt even hear my friend shout at me. Bass is good, im not a boomboom person but I think its better than my GS4 generic headphones, or my Sony MDR ZX100. Definitely a steal.
Design/Build Quality
Coming from GS4, im loving my premium Z2. The glass and metal finish it has over Samsung's plastic, and horrible GS5 design, GS3 was good though. M8s design is good too, but that camera and battery . G3 is a bit big for me, and the back buttons are something that needs to get used to. Although heavy (Z2), Im getting used to it. Im using Spigen Ultra Fit case for increased grip and protection. I believe its a must for cases because the sides of the Z2 is kinda slippery. And I dont wanna scratch the back glass, lol.
User Interface and features
I find Z2 a wee bit lacking of features, like Touchwiz S-Beam. Palm tap to mute, especially calls and alarm and Smart Stay. Nevermind smart scroll and Air view stuff, they are hardly useful. The Sony UI feels light, not much bloated than Samsung. And it doesnt lag!! Unlike Samsung. Generally speaking. The UI is simple and snappy, though personally I feel its getting old/outdated. Needs to freshen up the icons and apps. With the new Quick Settings tab under notification, its a big improvement from older android versions with only limited and un-editable quick settings
Conclusion:
Coming from Galaxy S4, I am not disappointed that I ditched GS4 for Xperia Z2. With the screen improved from TFT LCD to IPS LCD, with 2 front facing stereo speakers, with the much improved camera than the previous Z1, the premium noise cancelling earphones, a premium phone made with glass and aluminum, water-proof, and ofcourse the massive 3200mAh battery. You cant go wrong buying the Xperia Z2.
Upon writing this lousy review back from a fresh shower, I just dropped my Z2 (with case ofcourse, 2nd time) from shoulder height to the floor tiles, and survived. Not a single scratch or crack.
I came from the SIII and certainly don't regret it. My main concern was the size. Whilst I have got used to it, it definitely is not pocket sized. In fact, ignoring weight and thickness it is the same size as my first ever mobile, the Ericsson Hotline EH97! Ok, the screen is a bit larger
On the plus side, the biggest improvement is the battery. I always struggled to get one day out of the SIII but get a day and a half comfortably now.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
Somnium1 said:
Ambient temp is around 30-40C (Sometimes more). Summers are hot here.
And I still can't understand.. the overheating issue occurs in 1080p videos too?? Or just for some..?
If it's only with 4K I can live with that, but 1080p... sucks.
It's weird that no serious mobile reviews mention that.(Engadget,GSMarena,etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long do you want to shoot 1080p ? Also if you don't use stabilisation then it will last longer. But this may not always be an option you want.
Not a problem for those that shoot at half the temperature.
The thread on undervolting looks promising. There apparently is a difference with .420, maybe they will lower it further in future updates.
---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 AM ----------
funky0308 said:
While I'm talking about screen I'll say just a few things about heating, not overheating.
If you watch 4K video or shoot one, play heavy games - it'll be hot, quite hot but there'll be no apps crashing or device freezing - that's the difference between heating and overheating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a fair way to draw a distinction
People tend to use it in a relative way though, this other device does not get so hot so Z2 gets hotter than them therefore it overheats.

moved from a g4 to a g5 - photos looks worst than g4, how is it possible ?

Hey there,
I had my LG G4 for about a year and I loved it. although i replaced it once because of the famous boot-loop problem but still, it was a good phone in my opinion. one of the things that i liked about him the most it's his camera. every time i took a picture i felt it was really mind-blowing and quality wise it was really amazing comparable to other phones on the market. so i thought to myself - why not upgrade to g5 ? had a nice trade-in deal and i did it.
well? the phone is good - battery life amazing compared to g4, screen is clean and nice, fingerprint sensor is amazing, speed and usability is amazing.. but the camera ? meh. didn't really liked it. yes, the 135 degrees camera is a really nice gimmick but the standard 16mp camera doesn't the same pictures as my g4 used to take. i'm really frustrated about this thing since camera quality is one of the most important feature to me.
i'm really considering a downgrade to G4 or maybe buying a v10 (which camera features is really off the hook with the manual video mode).
any thoughts ? someone upgraded from a v10 ? someone feels the way i do ?
I compared a G4 and G5 side by side and the G5 was taking better photos. Maybe your lense is dirty or you have some wrong settings?
My girlfriend's G4 defninitely is worse when it comes to color accuracy and lighting.
I have to agree with lolmensch's post just above . I recently went to visit a lab and forgot the SLR (good camera) that I normally take. I used the G5 and the photos came out very well. Not sure I will bother taking the other camera in the future. For these photos I need to get good detail and be able to zoom in to see small features. The color reproduction also seems to be good.
well, to me it seems that sharpness was better at G4, also low light auto mode was better. post processing colors- liked it better also. btw - i always check that the lens are clean and settings are regular (i have also a DSLR camera and i know how to take pro shots )
I have had to get my G5 replaced, but the replacement seems like the camera is not close to being as good as my original G5.
Ive had apps installed and checked the components side by side ans apparently they are identical? But it seems like there is something different?
In response to the G4 statement, my G4 was amazing and side by side could keep up with the G5 or even excel.
But remember the G4 has had the luxury of a few updates to iron out creases. Lets see what the G5 is like after the same?
Make sure you're not saving images to an external device. For some reason, the camera app degrades photo quality when this is the case.
raynan said:
Make sure you're not saving images to an external device. For some reason, the camera app degrades photo quality when this is the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
saving to my SD card..
voodoodror said:
Hey there,
I had my LG G4 for about a year and I loved it. although i replaced it once because of the famous boot-loop problem but still, it was a good phone in my opinion. one of the things that i liked about him the most it's his camera. every time i took a picture i felt it was really mind-blowing and quality wise it was really amazing comparable to other phones on the market. so i thought to myself - why not upgrade to g5 ? had a nice trade-in deal and i did it.
well? the phone is good - battery life amazing compared to g4, screen is clean and nice, fingerprint sensor is amazing, speed and usability is amazing.. but the camera ? meh. didn't really liked it. yes, the 135 degrees camera is a really nice gimmick but the standard 16mp camera doesn't the same pictures as my g4 used to take. i'm really frustrated about this thing since camera quality is one of the most important feature to me.
i'm really considering a downgrade to G4 or maybe buying a v10 (which camera features is really off the hook with the manual video mode).
any thoughts ? someone upgraded from a v10 ? someone feels the way i do ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
something is wrong with your camera, plain and simple. I have a iphone 6, samsung s6 & 7 and g4. The g5 is as good or better than all of them. If i crop a picture it does not lose sharpness or get pixelated if you zoom in on a pic it looks amazing and has great detail and the colors are the truest your going to find on any smartphone. The only thing the camera is not top tier is low light shots they are not as good as s7 .
LG G4 vs. G5 pictures
I have both, LG G4 and G5. The G4 produces sharper pictures that the G5, side by side; however the G4 is a little over enhanced. I extracted both pictures to compare them on my PC.
Manufacturers adapt their screens to make their photos look good. The true test is not on the phone screen but on a computer one.
Of course picture quality is not only its sharpness...
If I had to forgo my DSLR, I'd chose the G4 over the G5
My G5 makes better and sharper pictures then my old G4.

Z2 Play VS Z Play Camera Comparison | In Daylight and Lowlight!

Which camera is best?
Z Play still best or Z2 play is the winner?
Watch the video and find out:
https://youtu.be/8rLncMS0VQg
Drop comments below and tell which camera you liked!
Thanks TechLeaks for uploading the video!!
Yash24 said:
Which camera is best?
Z Play still best or Z2 play is the winner?
Watch the video and find out:
https://youtu.be/8rLncMS0VQg
Drop comments below and tell which camera you liked!
Thanks TechLeaks for uploading the video!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Low light images should be better on Z2 play due to aperture also it supports 60fps
From what I can discern those photos look pretty much the same and based on published phone reviews really no improvement to camera despite marketing as such.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
I posted in another thread, it is an improvement but not worth it for the retail price of the phone currently.
"Spec wise the Z2 Play camera is better, no argument about it. "f2.0 and 1.3um pixel size" -vs- the new "f1.7 and 1.4um w/ phase detection and laser focus". By definition the Z2 Play camera lets in more light which mean it will take better low light photos.
Problem with with Z Play camera is over exposure in light area. It's easy to be fooled that the Z Play take better low light photos because of this over exposure effect, but this cause lost of dynamic and details. Z2 photos have more dynamic and sharper. There are some color temperature issue with the Z2 Play sample photos that make all of them purplish, it could be a software/post processing issue that hopefully get fixed, or something wrong with their device. I would say aside from the purple issue, every Z2 Play photos are sharper with better contrast."
I'm going to be brave and say this is the first Moto camera that doesn't suck. The mzp was just another bad one in a long line of ones I've had. Here is a fairly low light shot with motion. Yes there is motion blur in most of it but the left side with less motion is clear. Still not as good as a Sony sensor equipped LG phone but at least everything doesn't fall apart.
A normal light shot in a shaded botanical garden.
A night indoor shot. Basically other Moto cameras would be grainy and or blurred.
A typical outdoor scene
Lowlight in z play.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4j9V686UmfbSlNrd1pvMGFhRUk/view?usp=drivesdk
larsdennert said:
I'm going to be brave and say this is the first Moto camera that doesn't suck. The mzp was just another bad one in a long line of ones I've had. Here is a fairly low light shot with motion. Yes there is motion blur in most of it but the left side with less motion is clear. Still not as good as a Sony sensor equipped LG phone but at least everything doesn't fall apart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Moto Z Force 2016 while not quite at the top definitely does not suck and with the NX camera app can do some good things in low light also.
I wonder if they put the force camera in the Z2 play. Even in low light it is pretty good.

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