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Pro Photographer shoots with Note 2
- Thread starter SHIVA77
- Start date
mosleynormal
Newbie
magnificent photos!
thanks so much for sharing shiva77...
would love to see more!
thanks so much for sharing shiva77...
would love to see more!
racer12306
Member
These look awesome. Mobile phone cameras have come so far in a very short amount of time. It certainly helps knowing what setting to adjust. I generally take a minute or two to fiddle with some settings before taking pictures unless they are on the fly.
Any post processing or are these right off the phone?
Any post processing or are these right off the phone?
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
Thanks! Although phone cameras constantly evolve they aren't nearly good enough to produce such images out of the camera. Actually the job of the photographer is to create images, not just to show what a camera can do. Keep in mind anyone can press a bottom and some cameras are even set up to shoot automatically. So, there is a difference between photography and a snapshot. But few care to know the difference. 
These images have been heavily post processed in photoshop. I would post process any of my images, regardless what camera they come from, but the cell phone images are processed a couple of steps more due to noise, lack of contrast and low dynamic range.
to see more please check out my Pinterest, album Mobile Shots. Thanks!
These images have been heavily post processed in photoshop. I would post process any of my images, regardless what camera they come from, but the cell phone images are processed a couple of steps more due to noise, lack of contrast and low dynamic range.
to see more please check out my Pinterest, album Mobile Shots. Thanks!
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
Your best camera is the one you have with you. And SGNII is with me all the time. So I have shifted my photography basically to mobile for most shots, except project or client driven.
Below are a handful of not random, but composed images that I shot with my Note II.
Thanks! Although phone cameras constantly evolve they aren't nearly good enough to produce such images out of the camera. Actually the job of the photographer is to create images, not just to show what a camera can do. Keep in mind anyone can press a bottom and some cameras are even set up to shoot automatically. So, there is a difference between photography and a snapshot. But few care to know the difference.
These images have been heavily post processed in photoshop. I would post process any of my images, regardless what camera they come from, but the cell phone images are processed a couple of steps more due to noise, lack of contrast and low dynamic range.
to see more please check out my Pinterest, album Mobile Shots. Thanks!
That is some nice work, Shiva! Would you be willing to share the "before" shots (if you still have them)? I'm just curious, for schmoes like me that know nothing about photography...LOL. I only wish I knew how to work Photoshop well or even know how to take pictures properly, so that I could at least have decent Point and Shoot pictures. I do have to say though, with the lens that Samsung uses, I've taken the best pictures I've ever taken using my phone ever. I think I've shot more videos and pics with this phone than I did with my Photon or EVO, just because they come out that much better (even with my non-photography skills self).
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
Hi,
1) First off, I don't like the OE camera app as much as I used to, because the anti-shake doesn't work so well. And I can't use blurry images.
2) So I have been using the CameraZoom App which has a great anti-shake function. It's slow and may take 3 seconds for it to take the picture, but when the picture is taken is not blurry.
3) If you like a scene, take a few shots and then afterwards find the best one of the bunch and plan to do a bit of post processing on it.
4) The images that come out these phones are very very noisy. It's like going back to 2001, you need to have a good anti-noise software. I have been using Noise Ninja forever from when they first come out and now I only use it for cell phone pics.
Sorry, I have deleted all the original images. But try to imagine the images with a lot of noise and desaturated colors, or more muted colors with lack of spark and pop.
1) First off, I don't like the OE camera app as much as I used to, because the anti-shake doesn't work so well. And I can't use blurry images.
2) So I have been using the CameraZoom App which has a great anti-shake function. It's slow and may take 3 seconds for it to take the picture, but when the picture is taken is not blurry.
3) If you like a scene, take a few shots and then afterwards find the best one of the bunch and plan to do a bit of post processing on it.
4) The images that come out these phones are very very noisy. It's like going back to 2001, you need to have a good anti-noise software. I have been using Noise Ninja forever from when they first come out and now I only use it for cell phone pics.
Sorry, I have deleted all the original images. But try to imagine the images with a lot of noise and desaturated colors, or more muted colors with lack of spark and pop.
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CrockettGTO
Guest
Thats why my Canon S100 goes with me everywhere. Love that little pocket camera. I too find that about 80% of my pictures are blurred from the note 2. (Actually most of the mobile phone cameras I've owned)
Although I have not considered trying an alternative camera software. Thanks for sharing your pictures, nice composition.
Although I have not considered trying an alternative camera software. Thanks for sharing your pictures, nice composition.
Yeah, I carry my Sony RX100 around everywhere with me...the main reason why I chose it over DSLR or other fixed lens compacts. Because of it, I rely much less on phone cameras. This really does open up phone possibilities for me because I don't need to buy a phone with relatively great camera (like iPhones or Nokia PureView)...I can concentrate on other features of the phone that are more important.
Without post processing, Samsung Note 2 camera is OK at best...below iPhone 5 IMHO. And with Apple App Store Cortex Camera app, this puts iPhone 5 way ahead of everyone else in low-light situations.
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CrockettGTO
Guest
Do you have any recommendations for an android third party camera app for the N2?
If you're asking Shiva, then he/she already recommended Camera Zoom app.
If you're asking me, then I have not found an Android app that is better than stock app. If Cortex Camera ever made an Android app, then I would recommend that one.
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
the idea of carrying a second camera at all times (besides a cell phone one) is not an option and is also not dependable. I have the phone with me at all times. Who can say that about a second camera, no matter how small. I am a guy, but I can see if a woman who carries a large purse with her, would have the option of keeping a camera in there, but even then the purse is not with her at all times or for all her outings.
Learning to use the phone cameras properly is important. Again, it's one camera that is with us at ALL times.
As stated above the stock camera, although it has an anti-shake option, takes blurry images, so with the CameraZoom App the blurriness goes away.
In the future, about 5 years from now, will be only cell phone cameras and Full Frame DSLRs. The inbetweeners, such as digicams/compacts, will all go away.
Learning to use the phone cameras properly is important. Again, it's one camera that is with us at ALL times.
As stated above the stock camera, although it has an anti-shake option, takes blurry images, so with the CameraZoom App the blurriness goes away.
In the future, about 5 years from now, will be only cell phone cameras and Full Frame DSLRs. The inbetweeners, such as digicams/compacts, will all go away.
Maybe 5 years from now, I can respond to this thread...but the compacts with big sensor are making a big splash! Think Ricoh GR, Nikon Coolpix A, RX100, RX1, etc.. Think mirrorless and how big of an impact they are on photography. And you think that ALL OF THESE will disappear in 5 years?! Think about it...Sony, Nikon, Ricoh, etc. are investing HUGE R&D $$$$$$ into these compacts with big sensors...you think that they all are investing into junk research since all of these will go into trash can 5 years from now?
Physics limits the quality of phone cameras! You should know that of all people!! That is why my RX100 can't take the same quality pics as a full-frame DSLR! That is why Ricoh GR or Nikon A with APS-C sensor can't have complicated zoom lenses. Physics limits practicality and quality.
5 years from now, i am pretty sure that NO phone camera will touch the quality of my RX100. Now, if the new trend is to have brick phones like 1980s, then maybe, but these big but thin as paper phones will NEVER have the optics nor the sensor of a good P&S camera. Physics won't allow it...no matter how much you dream!
Full-frame DSLRs are great...my brother has one Canon 5D MIII. Great freaking pics...blows my RX100 out of the water! But, it is also heavy, cumbersome, and requires a separate fullsize backpack to carry. No thanks. It is kinda like buying a fullsize diesel pickup truck for that once a year trip to Home Depot!
(Now, if you're a pro photographer, then that is a different story...but for the masses, full frame DSLR is not all that desired.) My brother loves his 5D, but it ain't for me and i am sure that i am not alone in this world.My RX100 is on my belt whenever I need it...it is smaller and less bothersome than my conceal carry weapon.
You're right, some of the time (like when going to work or local market), I don't have my RX100. But then again, I don't expect to see any great sunrises or my kids doing something so darn cute while going to work. The rest of the time, my RX travels with me on my belt.My phone camera is there for emergencies or unexpected events (accidents). Sure, my phone camera can catch my kids doing something cute...but a lot of the times, i can anticipate these cute events and take my RX100, which again is very easy to carry on the belt! You can't say the same with DSLR! With DSLR, you have to take it out, put the lens on (the right one of course!), put on flash if needed, boot up, focus, and then shoot. My RX100 is much quicker in setup. Why do you think camera manufacturers are focusing their energy on this?
I would bet you $50 that 5 years from now, compacts will be around...and going strong too.
For me, if the Motorola X phone has good chip (S800) and a nice screen, then i would go for it, even if it has a shitty camera (like most Motorola phones). My RX100 makes camera quality on a phone much less important.
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CrockettGTO
Guest
Couldn't have said it better tigmd99
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
this is not a photography site. so I am not going to get into this in detail.
your points are from a point of view of an enthusiast, but market trends and long term camera company plans speak otherwise.
Your personal preference notwithstanding but these are the facts:
1- compacts are going away. (there will always be a tiny segment of expensive compacts.)
2- cell phone cams are now the mainstay of photography and they will only become more dominant in the future.
3- the cell phone cam quality in 3 years (let alone 5 years) will be on par with general compacts of today.
4- The Micro43 is a transitional platform, it will also go away.
5- The price of FF sensors are dropping, Canon and Nikon will put them in their mid level DSLRs in about 2 years and in about 5 years in entry level DSLRs.
6- There is a leak that Oly and Pana are already working on the post M43, on a project called CFF, compact full frame. Basically a mirrorless FF platform. Oly which is owned in part by Sony, will get the sensor from Sony and Pana will develop their own.
7- Sony RX1 (compact mirrorless FF) already ushered in the future of FF's.
I will not discuss this further, as this is not a photography site and it would be a waste to continue as such. Feel free to search on DPReview.com forums for supportive comments.
your points are from a point of view of an enthusiast, but market trends and long term camera company plans speak otherwise.
Your personal preference notwithstanding but these are the facts:
1- compacts are going away. (there will always be a tiny segment of expensive compacts.)
2- cell phone cams are now the mainstay of photography and they will only become more dominant in the future.
3- the cell phone cam quality in 3 years (let alone 5 years) will be on par with general compacts of today.
4- The Micro43 is a transitional platform, it will also go away.
5- The price of FF sensors are dropping, Canon and Nikon will put them in their mid level DSLRs in about 2 years and in about 5 years in entry level DSLRs.
6- There is a leak that Oly and Pana are already working on the post M43, on a project called CFF, compact full frame. Basically a mirrorless FF platform. Oly which is owned in part by Sony, will get the sensor from Sony and Pana will develop their own.
7- Sony RX1 (compact mirrorless FF) already ushered in the future of FF's.
I will not discuss this further, as this is not a photography site and it would be a waste to continue as such. Feel free to search on DPReview.com forums for supportive comments.
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CrockettGTO
Guest
The pics you originally posted are awesome looking from your phone, clearly you are talented. Unfortunately the reality is that most consumers won't notice the difference in most photo situations or care to as the general population simply wants to have convenience over anything else, most just want to share on some social site which compresses the images introducing noise artifacts anyway. I guess to your point originally.
Technology will eventually catch up to the convenience. Heck, looking at the image quality of these images after software enhancements, we are closer to that reality than we may think.
To your most recent post. You have some good points there.
For example the Chicago Sun Times paper recently laid off their entire staff of 28 professional photographers and are training their reporters how to shoot videos and photos with the iPhone. I guess that's a good indicator that image quality isn't a driving factor to even sell print media any longer. Sad...
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/31...ll-train-reporters-to-use-iphones-for-photos/
Technology will eventually catch up to the convenience. Heck, looking at the image quality of these images after software enhancements, we are closer to that reality than we may think.
To your most recent post. You have some good points there.
For example the Chicago Sun Times paper recently laid off their entire staff of 28 professional photographers and are training their reporters how to shoot videos and photos with the iPhone. I guess that's a good indicator that image quality isn't a driving factor to even sell print media any longer. Sad...
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/31...ll-train-reporters-to-use-iphones-for-photos/
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
all good points CrockettGTO. you are right, enthusiasts tend to look at things from a narrow perspective, but the reality is usually different.
yep, the consumer wants convenience and the cell phone cam is the most convenient right now, specially when you can instantly upload to various photo sites and social media. and IT'S ALWAYS WITH YOU and you don't have haul a separate cam.
imagine in the next 3 to 5 years, how this will impact the photo industry.
major corporations plan 5 years in advance. meaning when you see a new BMW 7 series or Mercedes S class, the impedes started 5 years back. Although in the photo industry they probably work 2 to 3 to 5 years as they need faster turn around. Meaning they plan model I for year X, model II for year X and model III for X all at the time of conception of the new designs.
If you go back to the end of film days, before digital, the most common camera for the public was the disposable, because as you said the consumer couldn't careless about how things look, as long as they get their family shot. The same is now true with digital, the disposable of the film days is the phone cam of today. And considering that we can't imagine a world without our smartphones anymore the phone camera will beat all other consumer compacts and will leave only room in the large volume for the DSLRs, which will have to get better and better, in order to force people to upgrade, hence the FF platform.
yep, the consumer wants convenience and the cell phone cam is the most convenient right now, specially when you can instantly upload to various photo sites and social media. and IT'S ALWAYS WITH YOU and you don't have haul a separate cam.
imagine in the next 3 to 5 years, how this will impact the photo industry.
major corporations plan 5 years in advance. meaning when you see a new BMW 7 series or Mercedes S class, the impedes started 5 years back. Although in the photo industry they probably work 2 to 3 to 5 years as they need faster turn around. Meaning they plan model I for year X, model II for year X and model III for X all at the time of conception of the new designs.
If you go back to the end of film days, before digital, the most common camera for the public was the disposable, because as you said the consumer couldn't careless about how things look, as long as they get their family shot. The same is now true with digital, the disposable of the film days is the phone cam of today. And considering that we can't imagine a world without our smartphones anymore the phone camera will beat all other consumer compacts and will leave only room in the large volume for the DSLRs, which will have to get better and better, in order to force people to upgrade, hence the FF platform.
The problem is that no one knows the future...even the industry itself is at a loss at times. For example, has mirrorless become more popular within the past 5 years? Yes. Is mirrorless smaller and thus allows folks to carry it without having a fullsize backpack? Yes. Has mirrorless approach FF pic quality the past 5 years? Nope. Physics of optics have prevented it from matching FF's quality. The same physics will prevent a phone camera from encroaching on a big sensor compact's quality pics.
Don't get me wrong, i understand where you're coming from...and you may be right. But, phone camera is approaching the development ceiling very fast. Look at the phone cameras over the past year...look at its development. Phone cameras are 8 and 13 MPs nowadays...and they all look about the same in quality. In other words, Samsung Galaxy S4 13MP camera isn't that much better than iPhone 5 8MP camera...and iPhone 5 8MP camera isn't much better than iPhone 4S 8MP camera. What is the recent trend? Ultra-pixel by HTC. Does that really do anything for quality of pics? Not at all. Quality went down in fact...but UP allows for slightly better pics in the dark. This allows for Facebook and other social service uploads. That is the trend for phone cameras...OK quality, but above all else, it only has to be good enough for facebook uploads and Youtube videos. Look at PureView from Nokia...has that taken off? Nope. Why? Because it requires too many compromises that affects the phone's other features. (Nokia 920 does not really have PureView technology in it, despite the branding.)
I do agree that mirrorless will become irrelevant because full-frame cameras are getting smaller (like RX1). BUT, full-frame will never reach compact camera size (aka jean pocket size) within the next 5-10 years. Look at APS-C sensor compact cameras that just came out (Nikon A and Ricoh GR). Great lens. But, fairly limited usage because the lens are fixed. Same for Sony RX1...full-frame, but lens are fixed. All of these big sensor, small body cameras are niche cameras at best. This is what the camera manufacturers are facing...a ceiling itself in getting a big sensor into a smaller body. You're right...i am sure that we will be seeing full-frames on lower-end DSLR soon...but the body is still gonna be big and heavy...and the lens will still come in kits. Mirrorless will be pushed out because entry-level DSLR will be full frame. I agree with all that. (Personally, i never understood mirrorless because for the money, i rather have DSLR. And if i was gonna carry a separate bag, then i rather carry DSLR over mirrorless.)
My prediction is that the future will have three classes of cameras: phone cameras, big-sensor compacts, and DSLR (full frame). You can't replace one class with another...physics won't allow it. Compacts will be for folks who want better pics (for party, kids, etc.) but hesitant to carry a big bag for it. It will provide very high quality pics that phone cameras can't match without the weight/bulk.
A year or two ago, many in the industry predicted the death of compacts due to phone cameras. The lower-end compacts have seen a big drop in sales because the pics are not that much better than high-end phone cameras. BUT, despite this, you now see the explosion of high end compacts to bridge phone cameras and DSLR. Mirrorless was supposed to be that happy medium...but my guess is that the high end compacts will kill it from below...while low-end DSLR with FF will kill it from the top. BUT, DSLR will never have the compactness of a compact...and phone camera will never have the quality pics of a big-sensor compact. Three distinct classes of camera over the next 5 years.
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
not true. camera makers work several years in advance, the future is not only known, it's already planned. the writing is on the wall.
sorry, that's gibberish, we are just getting started. there are amazing new technologies on the horizon. we haven't even started yet with the cell phone cameras. we are just in phase 1.
I have to agree with SHIVA77 about the compact cameras. Even though I really would love to have a RX100 and have been looking at it for a while, I just cannot justify the price. I don't take pictures for fun. I take them to record moments and share them. About 10 years ago, every family I know has a compact camera. When I went to a wedding back then, I see a sea of compact cameras in audience. I just went to a wedding last weekend, and I saw a sea of smartphones and ipads. I saw 2 older ladies using compact cameras but that's all about it.
And I have to say the only reason I thought about buying the RX100 is because I have to carry a murse to hold my medical supplies so I might as well carry a small camera with me. I know most guys don't really want to carry a camera in their jeans' pocket with them everywhere they go. To be honest, my Note II is taking much much better pictures than the compact camera I owned 10 years ago, and I can share them immediately on facebook or MMS with my friends.
And I have to say the only reason I thought about buying the RX100 is because I have to carry a murse to hold my medical supplies so I might as well carry a small camera with me. I know most guys don't really want to carry a camera in their jeans' pocket with them everywhere they go. To be honest, my Note II is taking much much better pictures than the compact camera I owned 10 years ago, and I can share them immediately on facebook or MMS with my friends.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
I'll have to look for the article I read, but it's funny you mention the compact cameras vs. smartphones being used as a camera within a 10 year span, because they showed a picture within an even shorter timeframe, where people at a concert were holding up their small digital cameras vs. nowadays where there was a sea of smartphones instead.
I was never a big one for taking pictures/video, so the camera quality was never a "huge" issue for me (especially because there are a ton of people in my family that are obsessed with taking pictures). That said, after having the Note 2, it's been a completely different experience for me. I don't worry about excessive battery drain (due to the 3100mah battery) and the Note 2 camera is by far the best experience I've had using the camera on my smartphone. I'm still not excessively picky about the camera, as long as it takes clear shots (day or night). Even the night pics come out decent for my needs, but seeing the HTC One camera makes me hope that the OEM's step up their game (which they likely will). Unlike many others, I find that many of my picture taking opportunities happen at night, with low light scenarios. The Note 2 has performed just fine, but I'm always happy to see improvements (if possible, without scaling back on other more pertinent features of the phone).
What writing? RX100, RX1, Ricoh GR, Nikon Coolpix A? All of these cameras came out this year (2013) or just about to...well, RX100 came out late last year. And yeah, there are more coming out...Canon have yet to release the next version of S series. What wall are you talking about?
If you say that this is already planned, then why are manufacturers racing to introduce these high-end compacts??
Do you see it? You're contradicting yourself.
Phase 1. Ok, is Ultrapixel phase 2? Is Galaxy S4 13MP camera phase 2? Because if it is, then i am far from being impress. I hear that new lens will come out (like Zeiss on Nokia)...which is all great and dandy, but you're still dealing with limited real estate, the thinness factor, and tiny little sensors. Physics don't lie...you can't get around it. There is only so much that you can do with a corner of a phone.
SHIVA77
Android Enthusiast
tigmd99 you are not reading my post and just replying for reply sake.
I am sorry, but you aren't making too much sense. you are trying to twist my words without understanding them to make yourself sound smart.
I am not going to reply to your post, it's nonsensical. sorry.
http://androidforums.com/members/tigmd99.html
I am sorry, but you aren't making too much sense. you are trying to twist my words without understanding them to make yourself sound smart.
I am not going to reply to your post, it's nonsensical. sorry.
http://androidforums.com/members/tigmd99.html