Compare, contrast, opinions: GSIII vs EVO 4G LTE / Sprint-CDMA-S4 only

[EarlyMon]

I think that novox77's explanation makes sense.

I have trouble accepting explanations of differences based on sensors alone.

The LTEvo has a larger aperture, it will present more light to its sensor.

There needs to be two sets of comparisons - one for everything on auto for those that will shoot that way, and one tweaked individually for each shot for those of us who shoot that way.

Then there needs to be separate assessments for the Exynos and S4 versions of the SGS3 because it doesn't have an independent Image Chip with its own image signal processing (ISP). The SGS3 makes calls to the main processor for ISP, and the results of using different processors will vary. This was a key point of Image Sense - getting consistent results regardless of a Tegra 3 or an S4 being used.

Cameras are systems.

I am not satisfied by a few shots and then explanations of differences boiled down to one component in the system when the components of each vary every step of the way.

Perhaps the SGS3 is better. From the comparisons and theories so far, I don't know that yet.

 

[EarlyMon]

A simple assessment, good to give an impression, but unfortunately lacking comparison with the SGS3 -

Camera phones on test: HTC One X, iPhone 4S, Xperia S, Galaxy SII, Lumia 800 - Pocket-lint

Fwiw, there's always Anandtech's bench -
AnandTech - Gallery - Lights Off - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 30 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Lights On - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 47 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Smartphone Camera Bench - 240 Photos

I'll let others decide, I simply posted this to show the different approaches used in testing.

 

[NeoteriX]

A simple assessment, good to give an impression, but unfortunately lacking comparison with the SGS3 -

Camera phones on test: HTC One X, iPhone 4S, Xperia S, Galaxy SII, Lumia 800 - Pocket-lint

Fwiw, there's always Anandtech's bench -
AnandTech - Gallery - Lights Off - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 30 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Lights On - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 47 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Smartphone Camera Bench - 240 Photos

I'll let others decide, I simply posted this to show the different approaches used in testing.

For the "lights off" bench, it is curious that between the One S and the One X, which theoretically share the same lens/sensor/processing subsystem, we're getting quite different results. The "lights on" test fares better from a consistency standpoint.

 

[Tommydaniel]

Tommydamiel you must be waiting on SGS3!? And there's nothing wrong with that but where are talking from a objective standpoint, I understand your points, but I think your not trying to understand ours, based on the given info and inconsistency of the reviewer!

If I gave valid points, like you said, how does that mean I am gunning for the S3? I made it clear earlier on in this thread that the camera is the most important thing to me. I even said I hadn't decided on either yet.

I read through the entire post on GSMarena, looked at each photo, and the photo comparison tool at the bottom. I also read the entire post on mobile-review.com(which is where the plant photo came from) and in my opinion the GS3 was better, especially if you look at the comparison tool, and the photos at 100% zoom, not to mention the video capture.

This is the plant photo at 100% zoom, same lighting, camera on auto. Which one do you think is the S3 and which is the One X?

http://i.imgur.com/HzOTj.jpg

 

[Tommydaniel]

A simple assessment, good to give an impression, but unfortunately lacking comparison with the SGS3 -

Camera phones on test: HTC One X, iPhone 4S, Xperia S, Galaxy SII, Lumia 800 - Pocket-lint

Fwiw, there's always Anandtech's bench -
AnandTech - Gallery - Lights Off - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 30 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Lights On - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 47 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Smartphone Camera Bench - 240 Photos

I'll let others decide, I simply posted this to show the different approaches used in testing.

The LG phones take pretty bad photos with the lights off lol

 

[burgertime]

This is just a guess...but isn't that would they did in the camera comparison tools at the bottom of the post?

Sorry I was just posting about the outside Skyscraper pic. To be honest I have zero dog in this fight. I think buying a cell phone for a camera is pointless (just my useless opinion). If I'm snapping pictures and want them to look good I'll just use the DSLR. My main objective in a phone is A. does it make phone calls? B. Will my friends be impressed? C. Can I spend more than 20 minutes with it on a toilet? If yes to all three I'm good.

 

[Sauske]

If I gave valid points, like you said, how does that mean I am gunning for the S3? I made it clear earlier on in this thread that the camera is the most important thing to me. I even said I hadn't decided on either yet.

I read through the entire post on GSMarena, looked at each photo, and the photo comparison tool at the bottom. I also read the entire post on mobile-review.com(which is where the plant photo came from) and in my opinion the GS3 was better, especially if you look at the comparison tool, and the photos at 100% zoom, not to mention the video capture.

This is the plant photo at 100% zoom, same lighting, camera on auto. Which one do you think is the S3 and which is the One X?

http://i.imgur.com/HzOTj.jpg

This is a qoute from the artile EarlyMon put up already.....

Things get vastly different in low light, when the bright F/2.0 optics of One X count big time. In such conditions the HTC flagship crushes its opponent, producing images with far less noise and much better contrast.

So how in the world in the building shot, that's in DAYTIME get's all that noise!? Your bias! You like sammy and trying to convince us with that inconsistent reviewer that it's better! Cool! Just say you like the SGS3 because you think it will be better! That article is null and void, there are contradictions in it, so if that's your basis on why you chose or trying to convince someone, I wouldn't switch reading that article!

 

[Sauske]

A simple assessment, good to give an impression, but unfortunately lacking comparison with the SGS3 -

Camera phones on test: HTC One X, iPhone 4S, Xperia S, Galaxy SII, Lumia 800 - Pocket-lint

Fwiw, there's always Anandtech's bench -
AnandTech - Gallery - Lights Off - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 30 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Lights On - Controlled Smartphone Camera Comparison - 47 Photos

AnandTech - Gallery - Smartphone Camera Bench - 240 Photos

I'll let others decide, I simply posted this to show the different approaches used in testing.

I like their approach!

 

[Tommydaniel]

This is a qoute from the artile EarlyMon put up already.....

Things get vastly different in low light, when the bright F/2.0 optics of One X count big time. In such conditions the HTC flagship crushes its opponent, producing images with far less noise and much better contrast.

So how in the world in the building shot, that's in DAYTIME get's all that noise!? Your bias! You like sammy and trying to convince us with that inconsistent reviewer that it's better! Cool! Just say you like the SGS3 because you think it will be better! That article is null and void, there are contradictions in it, so if that's your basis on why you chose or trying to convince someone, I wouldn't switch reading that article!

You didn't answer my question about the plant photo. Did you look at the comparison tool? I am not talking about the building picture here. Even in the comparison tool you can see there is more noise in the One X. I already pointed out that in DAYTIME the GS3 has better compression and less noise. Compression and noise is something HTC has always had problems with.

My guess is you didn't read the entire article or look at every photo or the comparison too, or read the article over at mobile review. My other guess is that you already decided on the EVO, so having someone give a differing opinion upsets you. But that's what this thread is for. And saying I am bias because I gave valid reasons, as you put it, is ridiculous.

 

[EarlyMon]

For the "lights off" bench, it is curious that between the One S and the One X, which theoretically share the same lens/sensor/processing subsystem, we're getting quite different results. The "lights on" test fares better from a consistency standpoint.

I noticed that as well.

I didn't include one of the grid tests where the test card was on a firm mount for some, but not others, and the camera obviously not parallel to it in others.

The gsmarena comparison tool came up in the One X discussions. I didn't mention it because I question the control conditions. Some of the results would have me believe that every camera sucks (and maybe that's the point).

Pretty much why I am leaving assessments to the rest of you cats.

Tommy - I'm with you, except for the camera not being number one to me. IOW - let's see the cards on the table and let the chips fall where they may.

I am interested in comparisons between the SGS3 and LTEvo. I am also as much or more interested in comparisons to the Evo, 3vo and SGS2 - iow, stuff most of us already own.

How are the SGS3 and LTEvo different from what we have? That's the comparison that interests me.

And I think that getting good comparisons is hard.

I get promised a better camera every year. I see these discussions shooting out A vs B every year. And by the next year, it starts up again.

Give us comparisons with what we already have and know. Let people who have the camera as their number one priority know what to really choose. And for those of us who may use the camera as a secondary or tertiary feature, let us know what to expect and what we're getting into this time around.

I think that would be fair enough!

 

[Tommydaniel]

I noticed that as well.

I didn't include one of the grid tests where the test card was on a firm mount for some, but not others, and the camera obviously not parallel to it in others.

The gsmarena comparison tool came up in the One X discussions. I didn't mention it because I question the control conditions. Some of the results would have me believe that every camera sucks (and maybe that's the point).

Pretty much why I am leaving assessments to the rest of you cats.

Tommy - I'm with you, except for the camera not being number one to me. IOW - let's see the cards on the table and let the chips fall where they may.

I am interested in comparisons between the SGS3 and LTEvo. I am also as much or more interested in comparisons to the Evo, 3vo and SGS2 - iow, stuff most of us already own.

How are the SGS3 and LTEvo different from what we have? That's the comparison that interests me.

And I think that getting good comparisons is hard.

I get promised a better camera every year. I see these discussions shooting out A vs B every year. And by the next year, it starts up again.

Give us comparisons with what we already have and know. Let people who have the camera as their number one priority know what to really choose. And for those of us who may use the camera as a secondary or tertiary feature, let us know what to expect and what we're getting into this time around.

I think that would be fair enough!

If anyone is in Houston and getting the EVOLTE, I wouldn't mind getting together for a shootout between it and my Epic Touch. That will help me with the decision.

 

[EarlyMon]

Whoa.

Since when did we stop being pals here?

If someone expresses their criteria for choosing, discuss the outcome, don't question people's right to choose what they like. Be friendly!

There will be differences of opinion. Accept it, agree to disagree. Thank the guys who agree with you but maybe more so, thank the guys who don’t because really - they are giving you a different point of view to consider and they might just change your mind and save you a world of hurt on your phone choice.

Let's attack cameras and camera reviews, not one another.

Please be excellent to one another!

 

[EarlyMon]

Some posts edited, others deleted.

We're all done with attacks, counter-attacks and defenses, yes?

 

[EarlyMon]

How NOT to compare the SGS3 cameras -

All Four US Samsung Galaxy S III Variants: First Test Shots | Pocketnow

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

 

[Desert Cactus]

Ok having read the camera section of the GSM Arena review, I'll make this comment and not mention it again. Their whole camera comparison is laughable at best. They totally took the pictures in different weather conditions and admit that themselves. You CANNOT compare two camera under two different conditions and call one the winner. What's even more amazing is that people actually use this as evidence! Of course something is going to look better on a sunny bright day versus an overcast day. How hard is that to understand. No one ever complains about taking a bad picture in good light. Everyone complains about taking a bad picture in low light. In any comparison, be it for scientific concerns or whatever, you have to make the conditions as similar as possible. This is why even on outside shots where you don't have control of every single element you take both camera out on the same day and mount it on a tripod or something like that so that other confounding factors are not include (for example: hand shaking). Granted there's really no mount for these two cameras, they should have taken them on the same day therefore having the same light conditions. If you are going to try and give a reason why you pick one phone over the other at least use one that support your cause. The S3 benchmark better than the One X. Even if you take this comparison as is and if camera is your only criteria, you should go with the One X because it takes MUCH better low light picture. All cameras take good to great pictures on sunny bright days that is pretty much a given. However, not all cameras take good pictures in low light. Moving on......

 

[NeoteriX]

How NOT to compare the SGS3 cameras -

All Four US Samsung Galaxy S III Variants: First Test Shots | Pocketnow

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

...slow news day over at PocketNow, huh?

 

[Tommydaniel]

Screen comparison
S2, S3, NOTE, ONEX

Spoiler

http://www.mobile-review.com/review/samsung-galaxy-s3-fl-en.shtml#4

 

[Tommydaniel]

These photos aren't from GSMarena, they were taking at the same time so the lighting/conditions etc. are the same. 100% zoom. S3 first, ONEX second. Click on the bars so it resizes it so you can see the photos at full 100% zoomed size.

Spoiler

hidden for people on mobile phones.

The ONE X may be better at night time shots, but I rarely take nighttime shots that often. I can look through my gallery and see maybe 10% being nighttime, so a camera that takes better photos in daytime will win for me.

http://www.mobile-review.com/review/samsung-galaxy-s3-fl2.shtml

 

[NeoteriX]

These photos aren't from GSMarena, they were taking at the same time so the lighting/conditions etc. are the same. 100% zoom. S3 first, ONEX second. Click on the bars so it resizes it so you can see the photos at full 100% zoomed size.

Thanks for the comparisons. I do dabble in photography, but I certainly don't have as good of a critical eye as the reviews do at say, DPReview, but here are some of my thoughts:

-- The GSIII shots generally have less noise in the shots. The skies in the HOX is where the noise is most obvious and intrusive (maybe oversharpening emphasizes it more? maybe we can take sharpening down a notch to see).

I can't tell if it's from the sensor (good) or from very aggressive noise reduction (bad). It might be aggressive software noise reduction, at least in shot four (#4) -- the heavily textured brick, there is definite detail lost here (as well as all over the image), and I'm not sure if this is NR or just overexposure. The super smooth, smeary look on the SGIII may also indicate aggressive software reduction.

In shot one (#1) the blue brick building right in the front/foreground also appears to show a loss of detail, where you can make out the brickwork in the HOX, but not in the SGIII.

-- The HOX shots show more default contrast. I think the SGIII shots are tending to show the right amount of contrast, and I'm thinking it should be dialed back one notch when I get my Evo.

-- Interestingly, I tend to prefer the HOX shots in the thumbnail, but the SGIII shots when zoomed in -- it probably has a lot to do with the noise issue.

-- The exposure metering appears to be dialed back to underexpose more on the HOX resulting in less blown highlights (good), but a slightly darker less appealing photo.

-- As far as color balance goes, it looks like the SGIII has a touch more saturation, but still looks natural and reasonable. The HOX is a little more drab in the color pallet, but this should be tweak-able with the saturation setting.

Anyway, I wish someone better could critically evaluate these, but right now, it looks like the battle comes down to noise vs. detail (with the SGIII taking the crown on lack of noise, and the HOX taking the crown on detail) --which are frequently opposite partners, as software noise reduction frequently comes with a loss of detail.

 

[EarlyMon]

FWIW, I modded the release of the Galaxy Nexus. The touchstone there were comparisons to the iP4. In those cases, the Nexus showed a huge lack of detail comparatively speaking, and I was none too impressed with the colors.

The Nexus faithful declared victory, bought the phone, and adjusted their cameras so that they weren't using default settings.

I've followed their progress since and you can bin the responses as follows -- 1) pretty good shots posted from happy owners, 2) some improvements where needed using 3rd party camera apps, 3) those waiting for a software upgrade to get their personal issues fixed.

I suspect, for better or worse, that that's how it's going to go down for both SGS3 and LTEvo owners.

Maybe not a terribly satisfying thing to hear, but it is what it is.

The best shots I've gotten from my Evo and 3vo were in bright sunlight, and I had good color, detail, and a decent enough lack of noise (considering it's a cell phone). In each case, I had to adjust things quite a bit.

I'm just having trouble thinking that with either the SGS3 or LTEvo, things can't be greatly improved in each case for bright daytime shots with just a little tweaking.


PS to Tommy - I'm confused, in your hidden shots above you say they're 100% zoomed - what does that mean? Did you mean that there was a digital zoom used or that you're posting the full picture, no reduction??? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tommydaniel]

FWIW, I modded the release of the Galaxy Nexus. The touchstone there were comparisons to the iP4. In those cases, the Nexus showed a huge lack of detail comparatively speaking, and I was none too impressed with the colors.

The Nexus faithful declared victory, bought the phone, and adjusted their cameras so that they weren't using default settings.

I've followed their progress since and you can bin the responses as follows -- 1) pretty good shots posted from happy owners, 2) some improvements where needed using 3rd party camera apps, 3) those waiting for a software upgrade to get their personal issues fixed.

I suspect, for better or worse, that that's how it's going to go down for both SGS3 and LTEvo owners.

Maybe not a terribly satisfying thing to hear, but it is what it is.

The best shots I've gotten from my Evo and 3vo were in bright sunlight, and I had good color, detail, and a decent enough lack of noise (considering it's a cell phone). In each case, I had to adjust things quite a bit.

I'm just having trouble thinking that with either the SGS3 or LTEvo, things can't be greatly improved in each case for bright daytime shots with just a little tweaking.


PS to Tommy - I'm confused, in your hidden shots above you say they're 100% zoomed - what does that mean? Did you mean that there was a digital zoom used or that you're posting the full picture, no reduction??? Thanks in advance.

I zoomed in so the picture was at 100% on the screen. No digital zoom, full picture.

 

[RichboyJhae]

I'm honestly preferring the shooter on the One X on those shots. The S3 has less noise in the sky, but I feel the detail will outweigh that for me. It's nice to see HTC has beefed out some nice cameras for us this time around though .

 

[Desert Cactus]

Too bad the LTEvo got delayed. No doubt Samsung is quite happy about this turn of event. On the other hand, Someone on here has convince me (and maybe everyone else as well) to forget about the LTEvo and wait a few more months for the brand spanking new Samsung Galaxy 3 with his helpful Samsung Galaxy 3 posts!!

 

[Tommydaniel]

Too bad the LTEvo got delayed. No doubt Samsung is quite happy about this turn of event. On the other hand, Someone on here has convince me (and maybe everyone else as well) to forget about the LTEvo and wait a few more months for the brand spanking new Samsung Galaxy 3 with his helpful Samsung Galaxy 3 posts!!

I'm not trying to convince anyone, I haven't even made the choice yet. This thread is for those who haven't decided, correct? It's suppose to be a contrast/comparison, correct?

Posting photos and screen comparisons isn't to try and convince anyone, it's for those you haven't made the decision(like myself) to help them choose. Which is exactly what this thread is about. If you don't like that someone is posting post about the S3, in a thread about COMPARING the two, or if you have already made your decision, that's fine, but this thread is for those who haven't.

 

[NeoteriX]

I think TommyDaniel's posts are useful and helpful, we're just all trying to get to the bottom line together as to what each phone's comparative strengths are.

It seems the delays have gotten under everyone's skin here Everyone wants to be taking out their anger on everyone Apple... Sprint... other forum members.

...at most, maybe only one deserves all this frustration targeted at them. ...and it rhymes with "Crapple."