It’s no secret that the HTC One phones unveiled at Mobile World Congress this week were a step ahead of most the competition. We’re all suckers for dual- and quad-core processors, HD displays and Android 4.0, but one key differentiator HTC is focusing on this year is the camera on each of their phones.
To make HTC One phones stand out from the competition, HTC has equipped them all with an f/2.0 aperture and 28mm lens, dedicated HTC ImageChip, BSI sensor and a smart LED flash with five levels of brightness.
With ImageSense HTC One rivals traditional digital cameras with improvements to every part of the camera, including the lens, the sensor, the software, and even integrating a new custom HTC ImageChip.HTC
- Superfast Capture: HTC One dramatically reduces the time it takes to take pictures. In just 0.7 seconds you’re able to take a shot. A with a new superfast 0.2-seconds autofocus, you can take nearly unlimited continuous shots simply by holding the shutter button.
- Good photos in adverse conditions: improved image quality with low light, no light or bright backlighting. The f/2.0 lens on the HTC One X and HTC One S captures 40 percent more light than the f/2.4 lenses available on other high-end phones. HTC One also includes HDR, which improves pictures when in direct sun light.
- Video Pic: capture a photo and shoot video at the same time. Tap the shutter button while recording HD video to capture a high-resolution still photo while the phone continues to record video. Users can also capture a photo frame from a previously recorded video.
It’s certainly nice to have all these new features built right into the HTC One devices, but what does all this technology actually translate to in the real world? HTC was kind enough to share a handful of sample pictures shot with the HTC One.
Gallery
It would have been nice to have full resolution pictures to look at, but it looks like the focus on the HTC One’s camera was worth the time and effort. We can’t wait to get out hands on the HTC One devices and compare them to the competition.
What do you think of the sample pictures HTC has shared? Is a quality camera in your smartphone one of the main selling points for you?
You are correct, but since HTC claims “f/2.0 lens on the HTC One X and HTC One S captures 40 percent more light than the f/2.4 lenses” it’s a fair trade-off if you want to make sure your pictures are not blurry.
Keep in mind that depth of field fades away as subject are further from the lens. The example you gave with the flower was a shot that was probably taken from a few inches away. pictures of people or scenery will be a lot difference since you probably will have a lot more distance between you and the subject.
I am liking the new HTC lineup more and more every day…
So true. There’s no point in arguing with people who pay extra money just to be a clone.
Wow, these shots are great. I’m glad more companies are starting to take imaging on phones more serious. Nokia and Sony have been doing so for a while. Samsung has nice cameras on their phones too. Now HTC and Apple as well.
Yes, HTC phones have been doing panoramic shots really well since the HTC Amaze.
True, but the photographer also can’t simply handwave the limitations of the hardware. Better tools are always a plus if you know how to use them
The sensor and the lens are both hardware bits, so unfortunately no, not going to be available for existing phones.
That won’t happen mate, they’ll just insult you and change the subject to something like “we’ve got Siri and Android is shit” … Who really cares though, the thing that all Apple fanboys don’t seem to comprehend is that people have different opinions and tastes, I hate all this mines better than yours bullshit because I can do this, you choose a phone depending on what you want from it, end of.
As proof of what I said above, look at image 3 and 4. The flower is in focus but anything more than an inch or so away is all blurry and out of focus. That’s the result of an extremely low f-stop. Very poor depth of field.
It’s cool that they’re focusing on the camera, but f2.0 is much too low. The depth of field that’ll be in focus will be extremely small. Snapping photos of friends, they’re face will be in focus but anything more than a foot or so in front of or behind them will be out of focus.
Anybody who’s taken any photography courses knows that depth of field increases as the f-stop number increases. f2.0 is extremely low.