Yesterday we published a selection of test photos and asked if you could spot the odd one out. Be honest now—how many of you guessed that the rogue camera was none other than the Nokia 808 PureView, a smartphone that we just couldn't help but compare with expert-level SLRs.
We've been curious about the Nokia 808 PureView even since it was announced. And as a smartphone with a 41-Megapixel sensor (up to 38 effective Megapixels) that's a larger format than the those typically used in compact cameras, you can see why!
For us, this cameraphone has two things to prove. First of all in terms of lens quality—can the lens deliver a sharp, detailed image while still fitting into a device just 12 mm thick? Second—how will sensitivity shape up? With so many pixels, will it still prove on par with other cameras?
The comments we saw from yesterday's guessing game seem to give a clear enough answer to the first question, at least ...
The most common guesses our readers sent in identified the mystery camera as the Nokia 808 PureView, the Nikon D3200 (a new 24-Megapixel entry-level SLR) or the Sony RX100 (a new expert compact with large-format sensor). The phone logically got the most votes, and rightly so—we wouldn't have been nearly half as surprised if the mystery camera had been an SLR or an expert compact!
In any case, there was a general consensus that the test shot in the middle of the top row stood out from the rest, looking less contrasted and generally a bit duller. However, a couple of people picked out the top left image as the odd one out for its more accentuated, consumer-pleasing processing. Some eagle-eyed readers even correctly identified the test shot from the D800, in the middle of the bottom row!
Anyway, the odd one out was indeed the top middle shot, as it was taken with the Nokia 808 PureView smartphone.
However, we also included a trick shot (crafty old us!) in the bottom left corner that no one picked up on! This picture was also taken with the Nokia 808 but we cunningly adjusted the levels in GIMP to align contrast levels in mid tones with those of other shades, while also sharpening things up a bit.
One of the features of Nokia's "PureView" system is a pixel oversampling function that promises ultra-sharp images at high sensitivity settings by downscaling an image taken at full resolution to a lower resolution. Switching from 38 Megapixels to 8 Megapixels should therefore reduce digital noise while maintaining the same level of detail as a genuine 8-Megapixel snap.
So how did this function shape up? Well, compared with two of the best compacts on the market right now—the Sony HX20V and the Canon SX260—noise is more heavily present at 400 ISO but finer detail is much more visible, even at 1600 ISO. That's right—the 8-Megapixel shot from the Nokia 808 is more precise than an 18-Megapixel shot from Sony's HX20V!
However, as soon as you start to zoom, the image is effectively cropped and the oversampling effect is gradually lost. You therefore return to standard levels of sensitivity and sharpness, in line with other 8-Megapixel images. That said, here the crop is equivalent to a 55 mm zoom, a situation in which 8-Megapixel smartphones use a digital zoom which destroys picture quality (a standard digital zoom enlarges rather than crops the image).
In theory, the large sensor size should allow you to play around with the depth of field more easily. In reality, because of the wide-angle, you have to get pretty close to your subject before the background really starts to become blurred, which can make for some rather strange perspectives. On this front, a genuine optical zoom lens in a compact camera is still a better option, as from a reasonable distance you can frame shots tightly to create more visible bokeh effects.
All in all, the Nokia 808 PureView is an interesting and original camera, which, in some circumstances, can rival cameras as advanced as certain full-frame (24 x 36 mm) SLRs, while also offering users several extra possibilities. For example, at a time when connectivity is king, it's much easier to publish photos online with this Nokia cameraphone than with the average camera—even most Wi-Fi-enabled models.
This cameraphone does have its limits, though. First of all, as the Nokia 808 runs on Symbian, the number of available apps is relatively limited compared with iOS, Android or Windows Mobile. Then there's the screen definition, which is no match for current market heavyweights.
That said, one major downside of the Nokia 808 PureView is its as yet restricted availability. Hardly any mobile networks seem to list it, and we've only found it selling SIM-free for about £500. But, thankfully, Nokia has confirmed that PureView will be rolling out to Windows Mobile handsets in the near future, which should help it get onto a few more store shelves.
> Face-Off: Nokia 808 PureView vs Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S3 et Sony RX100
> Phone Reviews: Mobiles and Smartphones
Nokia 808 PureView
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We've been curious about the Nokia 808 PureView even since it was announced. And as a smartphone with a 41-Megapixel sensor (up to 38 effective Megapixels) that's a larger format than the those typically used in compact cameras, you can see why!
For us, this cameraphone has two things to prove. First of all in terms of lens quality—can the lens deliver a sharp, detailed image while still fitting into a device just 12 mm thick? Second—how will sensitivity shape up? With so many pixels, will it still prove on par with other cameras?
The comments we saw from yesterday's guessing game seem to give a clear enough answer to the first question, at least ...
The most common guesses our readers sent in identified the mystery camera as the Nokia 808 PureView, the Nikon D3200 (a new 24-Megapixel entry-level SLR) or the Sony RX100 (a new expert compact with large-format sensor). The phone logically got the most votes, and rightly so—we wouldn't have been nearly half as surprised if the mystery camera had been an SLR or an expert compact!
In any case, there was a general consensus that the test shot in the middle of the top row stood out from the rest, looking less contrasted and generally a bit duller. However, a couple of people picked out the top left image as the odd one out for its more accentuated, consumer-pleasing processing. Some eagle-eyed readers even correctly identified the test shot from the D800, in the middle of the bottom row!
Anyway, the odd one out was indeed the top middle shot, as it was taken with the Nokia 808 PureView smartphone.
However, we also included a trick shot (crafty old us!) in the bottom left corner that no one picked up on! This picture was also taken with the Nokia 808 but we cunningly adjusted the levels in GIMP to align contrast levels in mid tones with those of other shades, while also sharpening things up a bit.
One of the features of Nokia's "PureView" system is a pixel oversampling function that promises ultra-sharp images at high sensitivity settings by downscaling an image taken at full resolution to a lower resolution. Switching from 38 Megapixels to 8 Megapixels should therefore reduce digital noise while maintaining the same level of detail as a genuine 8-Megapixel snap.
So how did this function shape up? Well, compared with two of the best compacts on the market right now—the Sony HX20V and the Canon SX260—noise is more heavily present at 400 ISO but finer detail is much more visible, even at 1600 ISO. That's right—the 8-Megapixel shot from the Nokia 808 is more precise than an 18-Megapixel shot from Sony's HX20V!
However, as soon as you start to zoom, the image is effectively cropped and the oversampling effect is gradually lost. You therefore return to standard levels of sensitivity and sharpness, in line with other 8-Megapixel images. That said, here the crop is equivalent to a 55 mm zoom, a situation in which 8-Megapixel smartphones use a digital zoom which destroys picture quality (a standard digital zoom enlarges rather than crops the image).
In theory, the large sensor size should allow you to play around with the depth of field more easily. In reality, because of the wide-angle, you have to get pretty close to your subject before the background really starts to become blurred, which can make for some rather strange perspectives. On this front, a genuine optical zoom lens in a compact camera is still a better option, as from a reasonable distance you can frame shots tightly to create more visible bokeh effects.
All in all, the Nokia 808 PureView is an interesting and original camera, which, in some circumstances, can rival cameras as advanced as certain full-frame (24 x 36 mm) SLRs, while also offering users several extra possibilities. For example, at a time when connectivity is king, it's much easier to publish photos online with this Nokia cameraphone than with the average camera—even most Wi-Fi-enabled models.
This cameraphone does have its limits, though. First of all, as the Nokia 808 runs on Symbian, the number of available apps is relatively limited compared with iOS, Android or Windows Mobile. Then there's the screen definition, which is no match for current market heavyweights.
That said, one major downside of the Nokia 808 PureView is its as yet restricted availability. Hardly any mobile networks seem to list it, and we've only found it selling SIM-free for about £500. But, thankfully, Nokia has confirmed that PureView will be rolling out to Windows Mobile handsets in the near future, which should help it get onto a few more store shelves.
> Face-Off: Nokia 808 PureView vs Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S3 et Sony RX100
> Phone Reviews: Mobiles and Smartphones
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