How to choose a smartphone with the best camera. Megapixels in cameras

More banal than this axiom is the only explanation “the iPhone, it turns out, does not have a memory card slot”. But beginners continue to make mistakes when they "bite" the number of megapixels in the camera, which means they have to repeat themselves.

Imagine a window - an ordinary window in a residential building or apartment. The megapixel count is roughly the amount of glass inside the window frame. If we continue to draw parallels with smartphones, in ancient times glass for windows was the same size and was considered a scarce commodity. Therefore, when the conventional "Tolyan" said that he had 5 glasses (megapixels) in the window block, everyone understood that Anatoly was a serious and wealthy person. And the characteristics of the window were also immediately clear - a good view outside the house, a large glazing area.

A few years later, windows (megapixels) ceased to be a shortage, so their number had only to be brought to the required level, and calm down on this. Just bring it in line with the area (a vent for ventilation and a loggia, for the sake of strength, require a different number of windows) so that the camera produces a slightly denser picture than 4K monitors and TVs produce. And finally, to do other characteristics - for example, to deal with clouding of glass and image distortion. Teach the cameras to correctly focus and paint the available megapixels with high quality, if you want specifics.

There are more “megapixels” on the right, but they give nothing but “obstacles” with the same area of the “sensor”

But people are already accustomed to measuring the quality of cameras with megapixels, and sellers gladly indulged this. Therefore, the circus with a huge number of glasses (megapixels) in the same frame (dimensions of the camera matrix) continued. As a result, today the pixels in smartphone cameras, although not "packed" with the density of a mosquito net, but the "glass" has become too dense, and over 15 megapixels in smartphones almost always spoil rather than improve photos. It never happened before, and again it turned out that it was not size that mattered, but skill.

At the same time, the "evil", as you know, is not the megapixels themselves - if tons of megapixels were spread out on a sufficiently large camera, they would be good for the smartphone. When the camera is able to unleash the potential of all megapixels on board, and not "smear" them in large bulk when shooting, the photo can be enlarged, cropped, and it will remain of high quality. That is, no one will understand that this is just a fragment of a larger image. But now such miracles are found only in "correct" SLR and mirrorless cameras, in which only one matrix (a microcircuit with photo sensors, on which a picture arrives through the "glass" of the camera) is much larger than a smartphone camera assembly.

"Evil" is a tradition of stuffing megapixels into tiny cameras on mobile phones. This tradition has brought nothing but blurring of the picture and excess of digital noise ("peas" in the frame).

Sony piled up 23 megapixels where competitors put 12-15 megapixels, and paid for this by reducing the clarity of the picture. (photo - manilashaker.com)

For reference: in the best cameraphones of 2017, the main rear cameras (not to be confused with b / w additional ones) all operate as one with the "pathetic" 12-13 megapixels. In photo resolution, this is about 4032x3024 pixels - enough for a Full HD (1920x1080) monitor, and for 4K (3840x2160) too, albeit end-to-end. Roughly speaking, if the smartphone camera has more than 10 megapixels, their number is no longer important. Other things are important.

How to determine that the camera is of high quality, before looking at the photos and videos from it

Aperture - how wide the smartphone opened its eyes

The squirrel feeds on nuts, the deputies - on the money of the people, and cameras - on light. The more light, the higher the quality of the photo and the more detail. Only sunny weather and studio-style bright lighting lamps for any occasion of life cannot be enough. Therefore, for good photos indoors, or outdoors in cloudy weather / at night, cameras are designed in such a way that they produce a lot of light even in adverse conditions.

The easiest way to get more light to hit the camera sensor is to make a larger hole in the lens. The indicator of how wide the "eyes" of the camera are, called aperture, aperture, or aperture - this is one and the same parameter. And the words are different so that the reviewers in the articles can show off in incomprehensible terms as long as possible. Because, if you don't show off, the aperture can simply be called, excuse me, a "hole", as is customary among photographers.

Aperture is indicated by a fraction with the letter f, a forward slash and a number (or with a capital F and no fraction: for example, F2.2). Why

so - to talk for a long time, and that's not the point, as Rotaru sings. The bottom line is this: the smaller the number after the letter F and the forward slash, the better the camera in the smartphone. For example, f / 2.2 in smartphones is good, but f / 1.9 is better! The wider the aperture, the more light enters the matrix and the better the smartphone "sees" (takes better photos and videos) at night. The bonus of the wide aperture is beautiful background blur when you photograph flowers up close, even if the smartphone does not have a dual camera.

Melania Trump explains what different apertures look like in smartphone cameras

Before buying a smartphone, do not be lazy to clarify how "sighted" the rear camera is. Looked at Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 - type in the search "Galaxy J3 2017 aperture", "Galaxy J3 2017 aperture" or "Galaxy J3 2017 aperture" to find out the exact number. If in the smartphone that you looked after for yourself nothing is known about the diaphragm, two options are possible:

The camera is so bad that the manufacturer decided to keep silent about its characteristics. Marketers are doing about the same rudeness when, in response to "what is the processor in the smartphone?" answer "quad-core" and evade in every possible way so as not to announce a specific model.
The smartphone has just appeared on sale and no characteristics, except for those in the advertising announcement, have not yet been "delivered" on it. Wait a couple of weeks - usually during this time the details will come out.

What should be the aperture in the camera of a new smartphone?

In 2017-2018 even in a budget model, the rear camera should produce at least f / 2.2. If the number in the denominator of this fraction is greater, get ready for the camera to see the picture as if wearing tinted glasses. And in the evening and at night she will be "blind" and will be able to see almost nothing even at a distance of several meters from the smartphone. And do not rely on "twists" of brightness - in a smartphone with f / 2.4 or f / 2.6, evening photography with an exposure "stretched" by the software method will turn out to be a "rough blur", while a camera with f / 2.2 or f / 2.0 will take a better photo without tricks.

The wider the aperture, the higher the quality of shooting on the smartphone camera.

The coolest smartphones today are equipped with cameras with an aperture of f / 1.8, f / 1.7 or even f / 1.6. The aperture itself does not guarantee the maximum quality of images (the quality of the sensor and the "glass" has not been canceled) - this, to quote the photographers, is just a "hole" through which the camera looks at the world. But other things being equal, it is better to choose smartphones in which the camera does not “squint”, but receives an image with wide-open “eyes”.

Diagonal of the matrix (sensor): the more - the better

The matrix in a smartphone is not a matrix where people with complex faces in black cloaks dodge bullets. In mobile phones, this word means a photocell ... in other words, a plate onto which a picture flies through the "glass" of optics. In old cameras, the picture flew onto the film and was saved there, and the matrix instead accumulates information about the photograph and sends it to the smartphone's processor. The processor formalizes all this into the final photo and stores the files in internal memory, or on microSD.

There is only one thing to know about the matrix - it should be as large as possible. If the optics is a water supply hose, and the diaphragm is the neck of the container, then the matrix is the very reservoir for water, which is never enough.

The dimensions of the matrix are usually measured in inhuman, from the bell tower of ordinary buyers, Vidicon inches. One such inch is equal to 17 mm, but cameras in smartphones have not yet grown to such a size, so the matrix diagonal is denoted by a fraction, as is the case with the aperture. The smaller the second digit in the fraction (divisor), the larger the matrix -> the steeper the camera.

Is it clear that nothing is clear? Then just remember these numbers:

A budget smartphone will take pictures well if the matrix size in it is at least 1/3 "with a camera resolution not higher than 12 megapixels. More megapixels - lower quality in practice. And if there are less than ten megapixels, good large monitors and TVs will have a photo look loose, simply because they have fewer dots than the height-width of your monitor screen.

The mid-range smartphones have a good matrix size - 1 / 2.9 "or 1 / 2.8". If you find a larger one (1 / 2.6 "or 1 / 2.5", for example) - consider yourself very lucky. The flagship smartphones have a good tone - a matrix of at least 1 / 2.8 ", and better - 1 / 2.5".

Smartphones with a large sensor shoot better than models with small photocells

Is it even cooler? It happens - look at 1 / 2.3 ”in Sony Xperia XZ Premium and XZ1. Why, then, do these smartphones not set records for photo quality? Because the "automatic" of the camera constantly makes mistakes with the selection of settings for shooting, and the stock of "clarity and vigilance" of the camera is spoiled by the number of megapixels - they were piled up in these models by 19 instead of the standard 12-13 megapixels for new flagships, and the fly in the ointment canceled out the advantages of a huge matrix.

Are there smartphones in nature with a good camera and less harsh specifications? Yes - take a look at the Apple iPhone 7 with its 1/3 "at 12 megapixels. On the Honor 8, which has 1 / 2.9" at the same number of megapixels. Magic? No - just good optics and perfectly "licked" automation, which takes into account the potential of the camera as well as tailored trousers take into account the amount of cellulite on the thighs.

But there is a problem - manufacturers almost never indicate the size of the sensor in the specifications, because these are not megapixels, and you can be disgraced if the sensor is cheap. And in reviews or descriptions of smartphones in online stores, such characteristics of cameras are even less common. Even if you have chosen a smartphone with an adequate number of megapixels and a promising aperture value, there is a chance you will never know the size of the rear photosensor.In this case, pay attention to the last characteristic of smartphone cameras, which directly affects the quality.

Few large pixels are better than many small ones

Imagine a red caviar sandwich, or take a look at it if you have a hard time remembering how such delicacies look. Just as the eggs in a sandwich are distributed over a piece of loaf, the area of the camera sensor (camera matrix) in a smartphone is occupied by light-sensitive elements - pixels. These pixels in smartphones are, to put it mildly, not a dozen, or even a dozen. One megapixel - 1 million pixels, in typical smartphone cameras of 2015-2017, such megapixels are 12-20.

As we have already figured out, keeping an excessive amount of "dummies" on the matrix of a smartphone is destructive for pictures. The efficiency of such a crowd comes out, like that of specialized teams of people for replacing a light bulb. Therefore, in the camera it is better to observe fewer sensible pixels than more stupid ones. The larger each of the pixels in the camera, the less messy the photos will be, and the video recording will be less bouncy.

Large pixels in the camera (photo below) make evening and night shots better

The ideal smartphone camera consists of a large “foundation” (matrix / sensor) with large pixels on it. Only now, no one is going to make smartphones thicker or allocate half of the body behind for the camera. Therefore, the "building" will be such that the camera does not stick out of the body and does not take up much space, megapixels are large, even if there are only 12-13, and the matrix was as large as possible to accommodate all of them.

The pixel size in the camera is measured in micrometers and is denoted as micron in Russian or µm in Latin. Before you buy a smartphone, make sure that the pixels in it are large enough - this is an indirect sign that the camera is shooting well. Type in the search, for example, "Xiaomi Mi 5S µm" or "Xiaomi Mi 5S µm" - and you rejoice at the characteristics of the smartphone camera that you have noticed. Or upset - it depends on the numbers that you see as a result.

How big should a pixel be in a good camera phone?

The pixel size in the "modern" time is especially famous ... Google Pixel is a smartphone that came out in 2016 and "showed Kuzkin's mother" to competitors due to the combination of a huge (1 / 2.3 ") matrix and very large pixels of about 1.55 microns. With such a set, he almost always gave the most detailed photographs, even in cloudy weather or in the dark.

Why don't manufacturers "crop" megapixels in the camera to a minimum and place at least pixels on the matrix? Such an experiment has already taken place - HTC in the flagship One M8 (2014) made the pixels so huge that they fit into the rear camera ... four on a 1/3 "matrix! Thus, One M8 received pixels of as much as 2 microns! As a result, the smartphone "tore" almost all competitors in terms of the quality of images in the dark. And photos in a resolution of 2688 × 1520 pixels were enough for Full HD monitors of that time. But the HTC camera did not become an all-round champion, because the Taiwanese were let down by HTC's color accuracy and "dumb" shooting algorithms, which did not know how to "properly prepare" settings for a sensor with unusual potential.

Today, all manufacturers are "outraged" by the race for the largest pixels, therefore:

In good budget camera phones, the pixel size should be from 1.22 microns and more
In flagships, pixels ranging in size from 1.25 microns to 1.4 or 1.5 microns are considered good form. Bigger is better.

There are few smartphones with a good camera and relatively small pixels, but they exist in nature. These are, of course, Apple iPhone 7 with its 1.22 micron and OnePlus 5 with 1.12 micron - they “go out” due to very high-quality sensors, very good optics and “smart” automation.

Without these terms, small pixels ruin the quality of photos in flagship smartphones. For example, in the LG G6, the algorithms are obscene when shooting at night, and the sensor, although ennobled with good "glasses", is cheap in itself. IN

As a result, 1.12 microns always spoil night shots, except for the cases when you enter into battle with the "manual mode" instead of dull automation and correct its flaws yourself. The same picture reigns in shooting with the Sony Xperia XZ Premium or XZ1. And in the masterpiece, “on paper”, the Xiaomi Mi 5S camera, the lack of optical stabilization and the same “crooked hands” of the algorithm developers hinder competing with the flagships of the iPhone and Samsung, which is why the smartphone copes well with shooting only during the day, and at night it is no longer very impressive.

In order to understand how much to weigh in grams, take a look at the characteristics of cameras in some of the best cameraphones of our time.


Smartphone	The number of megapixels of the "main" rear camera	Matrix diagonal	Pixel size
Google Pixel 2 XL	12.2 megapixels	1/2.6"	1.4 μm
Sony Xperia XZ Premium	19 megapixels	1/2.3"	1.22 μm
OnePlus 5	16 megapixels	1/2.8"	1.12 μm
Apple iPhone 7	12 megapixels	1/3"	1.22 μm
Samsung Galaxy S8	12 megapixels	1/2.5"	1.4 μm
Lg g6	13 megapixels	1/3"	1.12 μm
Samsung Galaxy Note 8	12 megapixels	1/2.55"	1.4 μm
Huawei P10 Lite / Honor 8 Lite	12 megapixels	1/2.8"	1.25 μm
Apple iPhone SE	12 megapixels	1/3"	1.22 μm
Xiaomi Mi 5S	12 megapixels	1/2.3"	1.55 μm
Honor 8	12 megapixels	1/2.9"	1.25 μm
Apple iPhone 6	8 megapixels	1/3"	1.5 μm
Huawei nova	12 megapixels	1/2.9"	1.25 μm

What is the best type of autofocus

Autofocus is when a mobile phone independently "brings focus" while taking photos and videos. It is needed in order not to twist the settings "for every sneeze", like a gunner in a tank.

In old smartphones and in modern Chinese state employees, manufacturers use contrast autofocus. This is the most primitive focusing technique that focuses on how light or dark it is “right in front of the camera” in front of the camera, like a half-blind person. That is why it takes about a couple of seconds for cheap smartphones to focus, during which it is easy to "miss" a moving object, or reluctance to shoot what they were going to, because "the train left".

Phase detection autofocus "catches light" over the entire area of the camera sensor, calculates the angle at which the rays enter the camera and draws conclusions about what is on the smartphone "in front of the nose" or a little further. Due to its "intelligence" and calculations, it works very quickly during the day and does not annoy at all. It is common in all modern smartphones, except for the very budget ones. The only drawback is work at night, when light arrives in a narrow hole in the diaphragm of a mobile phone in such small portions that the smartphone "breaks the roof" and it constantly fidgets with focusing due to a sharp change in information.

Laser autofocus is the most chic! Laser rangefinders have always been used to "throw" a beam at a long distance and calculate the distance for an object. LG in the smartphone G3 (2014) taught this "scan" to help the camera quickly focus.

Laser autofocus is surprisingly fast, even in indoor or semi-dark environments

Take a look at your wristwatch ... though, what am I talking about ... okay, turn on the stopwatch in your smartphone and see how quickly one second passes. And now mentally divide it by 3.5 - in 0.276 seconds, the smartphone receives information about the distance to the subject and reports this to the camera. Moreover, it does not lose speed either in the dark or in bad weather. If you plan to take photos and videos close or at a short distance with a lack of light, a smartphone with laser autofocus will help you out a lot.

But keep in mind that cell phones are not Star Wars weapons, so the range of the laser in the camera is barely a couple of meters. Everything that is further, the mobile phone examines with the help of the same phase autofocus. In other words, to shoot objects from afar, it is not necessary to look for a smartphone with "laser guidance" in the camera - you will not get any benefit from such a function in general plans of photos and videos.

Optical stabilization. Why is it needed and how it works

Have you ever driven a vehicle with leaf spring suspension? On army "UAZ" cars, for example, or an ambulance with the same design? In addition to the fact that in such cars you can "beat off the fifth point", they are incredibly shaking - the suspension is as stiff as possible so as not to fall apart on the road, and therefore it tells passengers everything that it thinks about the road surface, frankly and not "springy" (therefore that there is nothing to spring).

Now you know how the camera feels in a smartphone without optical stabilization when you are trying to take a photo.

The problem with shooting on a smartphone is this:

The camera needs a lot of light to take good pictures. Not direct rays of the sun in the "physiognomy", but diffused, ubiquitous light around.
The longer the camera "examines" the image during the photo, the more light it picks up = the higher the picture quality.
At the time of shooting and these "peepers" of the camera, the smartphone must be stationary so that the picture does not "blur". Leaves at least a fraction of a millimeter - the frame will be spoiled.

And human hands are shaking. This is clearly noticeable if you raise on outstretched arms and try to hold the barbell, and less noticeable when you hold a mobile phone in front of you to take a photo or video. The difference is that the bar can "float" in your hands within wide boundaries - just not to put it on a wall, a neighbor, or drop it on your feet. And the smartphone needs to have time to "grab" the light in order for the photo to be successful, and to do it before it deviates by a fraction of a millimeter in your hands.

Therefore, the algorithms are trying to please the camera, and not to put forward increased demands on your hands. That is, they tell the camera, for example, "so this means that 1/250 of a second you can take pictures, this is enough for the photo to be more or less successful, and to take a shot before the camera moves to the side is also enough." This thing is called an excerpt.

How optical stabilization works

What does the optostab have to do with it? So after all, he is that "amortization" with which the camera does not shake, like the body of army trucks, but "floats" within small boundaries. In the case of smartphones, it does not float in water, but is held by magnets and "fidgets" at a short distance from them.

That is, if the smartphone “leaves” a little or shakes during shooting, the camera will shake much weaker. With such insurance, a smartphone will be able to:

To overestimate the shutter speed (guaranteed time "to see the picture before the photo is ready") for the camera. The camera receives more light, sees more image details = the quality of the photo during the day is even higher.
Capture sharp shots in motion. Not during an off-road sprint, but while walking or out of the window of a shaking bus, for example.
Compensate for shaking in video. Even if you stomp your feet very sharply or sway slightly under the weight of the bag in your other hand, this will not be as noticeable on video recording as in smartphones without an optical stabilizer.

Therefore, an optostab (OIS, as it is called in English) is an extremely useful gizmo in a smartphone camera. Without it, it is also possible, but sadly - the camera must be of high quality "with a margin", and the automation will have to shorten (worsen) the exposure, because there is no insurance against shaking in the smartphone. When shooting a video, you have to "move" the picture on the fly so that the jitter is not visible. This is akin to how old movies imitated the speed of a driving car when it was actually stationary. With the difference that in films, these scenes were filmed from one take, and smartphones have to calculate the shaking and fight it on the fly.

Smartphones with a good camera, which shoot no worse than competitors with stabilization without stabilization, are vanishingly few - for example, Apple iPhone 6s, the first generation of Google Pixel, OnePlus 5, Xiaomi Mi 5s and, with some stretch, Honor 8 / Honor 9.

What you should not pay attention to

Flash... Useful only when shooting in pitch darkness, when you need to take a photo at any cost. As a result, you see the pale faces of people in the frame (for all that, because the flash is low-power), eyes screwed up from the bright light, or a very strange color of buildings / trees - photographs with a smartphone flash are definitely not of artistic value. As a flashlight, the LED near the camera is much more useful.
Number of lenses in the camera... "Before, when I had 5 Mbps internet, I wrote an essay in a day, but now, when I have 100 Mbps, I write it in 4 seconds." No, guys - it doesn't work that way. It doesn't matter how many lenses there are in a smartphone, it doesn't matter who released them (Carl Zeiss, judging by the quality of the new Nokia cameras, too). Lenses are either of high quality or not, and this can only be verified with real photographs.

The quality of the glass (lens) affects the quality of the camera. And the quantity is not

Shooting in RAW... If you don't know what RAW is, I explain:

JPEG is the standard format in which a smartphone records photos; it is a “ready-to-use” image. Like an Olivier salad on a festive table - it is possible to disassemble it "into components" in order to transform it into another salad, but it will not work out very well.

RAW is a hefty volume on a "flash drive" file, in which in its pure form, separate "lines" sewn in all the options for brightness, clarity and color for photography. That is, the photo will not be “covered with small dots” (digital noise) if you decide to make it not as dark as it turned out in JPEG, but a little brighter, as if you had correctly set the brightness at the time of shooting.

In short, RAW allows you to “Photoshop” a frame much more conveniently than JPEG. But the catch is that flagship smartphones almost always select the settings correctly, therefore, apart from the smartphone memory that is dirty with "heavy" photos in RAW, there will be little use of "photoshop" files. And in cheap smartphones, the camera quality is so bad that you will see poor quality in JPEG, and just as bad in RAW. Don't bother.

Camera sensor name... They were once super important because they were the “quality mark” of a camera. The sensor (module) model of the camera determines the size of the matrix, the number of megapixels and the pixel size, minor "family features" of the shooting algorithms.

Of the “big three” manufacturers of camera modules for smartphones, the highest quality modules are produced by Sony (we do not take into account some examples, we are talking about the average temperature in a hospital), followed by Samsung (Samsung sensors in Samsung Galaxy smartphones are even better than the coolest Sony sensors, but Koreans sell something absurd "to the side"), and, finally, closes the list of OmniVision, which produces "consumer goods, but tolerable." Intolerant consumer goods are produced by all the other basement Chinese offices, the name of which even the manufacturers themselves are ashamed to mention in the characteristics of smartphones.

8 - a variant of execution. Do you know how it happens in cars? The minimum configuration is with a "rag" on the seats and a "wooden" interior, the maximum - with artificial suede seats and a leather dashboard. For buyers, the difference in this figure says little.

Why, after all this, you should not pay attention to the sensor model? Because with them things are the same as with megapixels - Chinese "alternatively gifted" manufacturers are actively buying expensive Sony sensors, trumpeting "super-quality camera in our smartphone!" ... and the camera is disgusting.

Because the "glasses" (lenses) in such mobile phones are of terrible quality and transmit light a little better than a plastic soda bottle. The aperture of the camera is far from ideal (f / 2.2 or even higher) because of the same bastard "glasses", and no one is engaged in adjusting the sensor so that the camera selects the colors correctly, works well with the processor and does not disfigure the pictures. Here's a good example of the fact that the sensor model has little effect:

As you can see, smartphones with the same camera sensor can shoot in completely different ways. So don't think that the cheap Moto G5 Plus with the IMX362 module will shoot as well as the HTC U11 does with its amazingly cool camera.

Even more annoying is the “noodles” that Xiaomi hangs on the ears of customers when it says that “the camera in Mi Max 2 is very similar to the camera in the flagship Mi 6 - they have the same IMX386 sensors! They are the same, only smartphones shoot in very different ways, the aperture (and therefore the ability to shoot in low light) is different in them, and Mi Max 2 cannot withstand any competition with the flagship Mi6.

The additional camera "helps" to take photos at night, the main one and is able to shoot b / w photos. The most famous smartphones with such camera implementations are Huawei P9, Honor 8, Honor 9, Huawei P10.
The secondary camera allows you to "shove in the unproductive", that is, it takes pictures with an almost panoramic angle of view. The only supporter of this type of camera was and remains LG - starting with the LG G5, continuing with the V20, G6, X Cam and now the V30.
Two cameras are needed for optical zoom (approximation without loss of quality). Most often, this effect is achieved by the simultaneous operation of two cameras at once (Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8), although there are models that, when enlarged, simply switch to a separate "long-range" camera - ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, for example.

How to choose a quality selfie camera in your smartphone?

Best of all - based on examples of real photos. Moreover, both during the day and at night. During the day, almost all selfie cameras give good photos, but only high-quality front cameras are capable of shooting something legible in the dark.

It is not necessary to study the vocabulary of photographers and delve deeper into what this or that characteristic is responsible for - you can simply memorize the numbers "so much is good, but if the number is larger, it is bad" and pick up a smartphone much faster. For an explanation of the terms, welcome to the beginning of the article, and here we will try to derive the formula for a high-quality camera in smartphones.


Megapixels	Not less than 10, not more than 15. Optimally - 12-13 megapixels
Diaphragm(she's aperture, aperture)	for budget smartphones- f / 2.2 or f / 2.0 for flagships: minimum f / 2.0 (in the rarest exceptions - f / 2.2) optimal - f / 1.9, f / 1.8 ideal - f / 1.7, f / 1.6
Pixel size (μm, µm)	the larger the number, the better for budget smartphones- 1.2 microns and above for flagships: minimum - 1.22 microns (with rare exceptions - 1.1 microns) optimal - 1.4 microns ideal - 1.5 microns and above
Sensor (matrix) size	the smaller the number in the fraction divider, the better for budget smartphones - 1/3” for flagships: minimum - 1/3 "optimal - 1 / 2.8" ideal - 1 / 2.5 ", 1 / 2.3"
Autofocus	contrast - so-so phase - good phase and laser - excellent
Optical stabilization	very useful for on-the-go and night photography
Dual camera	one good camera is better than two bad cameras two average quality cameras are better than one average (brilliant wording!)
Sensor (module) manufacturer	not specified = most likely, there is some OmniVision junk inside - so-so Samsung in non-Samsung smartphones - normal Samsung in Samsung smartphones - excellent Sony - good or excellent (depends on the conscientiousness of the manufacturer)
Sensor model	a cool module does not guarantee high quality shooting, but in the case of Sony, pay attention to sensors IMX250 and higher, or IMX362 and higher

I do not want to understand the characteristics! Which smartphone to buy with good cameras?

There are countless smartphones made by manufacturers, but there are very few models that are good at photography and video.

A 16-megapixel camera in a smartphone sounds great, but an 8-megapixel camera often takes better pictures. Technology allowed companies last year to equip all their flagships with stronger cameras, but for some reason this did not happen. Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC Droid DNA, BlackBerry Z10 and iPhone 5, all gadgets settled on a cozy eight megapixel bar.

The picture quality of the listed smartphones is very high, and much better than that of some devices with a large number of pixels. What's the matter? Let's figure it out.
Megapixels are not a guarantee of the quality of your photos, this is the first thing to understand. The formula for getting fantastic shots is much more complicated. This includes the weight of the camera module, lens material, light sensor, image processing hardware, software that ties all the components together, and much more. If you can add something else to this list, then most likely the article is not for you. Well, beginners are welcome.

Sensor

Most aspiring and professional photographers will tell you that the most important element in an optical system is the reflective sensor. No light - no photo.

Light enters through the camera lens, the sensor receives information and converts it into an electronic signal. An image processor takes the signal and creates an image that is by no means final. All photographic imperfections such as noise are visible here. Therefore, the size of the image pickup sensor is extremely important. In simple terms, the larger the sensor, the greater the number of pixels, and the more pixels, the more light you can receive.

Many experts like to draw a rather colorful analogy of the relationship of pixels and sensors with “buckets of water”.
Imagine you have buckets (pixels) placed on the asphalt (sensor). You want to collect as much water as possible in these buckets, as much as possible. It turns out that the more buckets (pixels) you can put on the asphalt (sensor), the more water (light) will get into them.

As you may have noticed, increasing the number of pixels set to a limited sensor size does not improve the quality of photos. It is necessary to increase the sensor itself, which will adversely affect the ergonomics of mobile phones and, of course, increase the cost.

The relationship between pixel count and physical sensor size explains why some 8MP cameras can outperform 12, 13, or even 16MP counterparts.

Unfortunately, most camera manufacturers do not disclose a full list of the characteristics of their devices, and even more so do not indicate such "little things" as the width of the sensor. And think, even if they did it, how many users understood these incomprehensible terms?

Image processing

An image processor is equally important for producing high quality photography. Most modern smartphones have a GPU that handles all the multimedia tasks of the device. Be it photos, videos or even games, processing is done without the load of the central processor, which noticeably affects the operation of the smartphone.

The image processor helps to achieve (or at least come close to it) zero lag between the release of the shutter and the capture of the resulting picture. Last year Mobile world, company Htc advertised the latest discrete image processor for a family of phones Htc one, entitled ImageChip... The processor could process photos at the highest speed, the delay between shots was only 0.7 seconds!

Also, do not forget about the graphic functions of the device. The algorithms embedded in the processor create the final appearance of the image on the phone screen. Definition of color, clarity of photography, noise reduction - all this happens at this stage.

Increasingly, some handset manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung are incorporating additional features into their high-value phones, such as detecting smiles and people's faces. All this is also the work of the electronics placed in our smartphones.

What's the bottom line?

But back to our pixels. Nowadays, users are paying more attention to the convenience and speed of shooting. Quickly getting a smartphone armed with a really high-quality camera out of your pocket and taking a picture worthy of a home collection becomes a more pleasant procedure than waiting for a fancy "DSLR" to turn on. And it is much easier and more convenient to carry your phone with you.

Don't chase megapixels on smartphones. Having studied all the ins and outs and figured out all the subtleties, you can choose a really good option.

Whereas before most digital photography enthusiasts could be content with only compact models, the fall in prices for "DSLRs" divided the market in two. Demanding amateurs, for the most part, began to choose mirror models, and digital "soap boxes" have turned into a kind of digital diary that allows you to get good pictures with a minimum of technical difficulties. This product is definitely aimed at the general consumer. And the reduction in size, as well as the disappearance of manual or semi-automatic modes, clearly speaks of this.

But let's be realistic: monitors with a resolution higher than 2 megapixels are very rare, and most digital photographs are still printed in postcard format (10 x 15 cm or so), so existing resolutions are sufficient. Even if we take larger prints into account, resolutions of five to six megapixels are suitable for almost any need. Well, for the most demanding, let it be eight megapixels, for example, to cut out the desired area, but the higher resolution is unlikely to be used in practice (unless, of course, it is purely theoretical). Except, perhaps, for specific cases that always exist. On the other hand, going beyond reasonable limits leads to disadvantages that hit the quality more than hypothetical advantages. Moreover, compact models are often used for shooting on the fly, without observing the rules that would make high resolution effective ...

The choice of a very high resolution of 12 megapixels, quite comparable to high-end DSLRs, imposes serious limitations on compact cameras. You can immediately forget about tiny sensors, but even with a slightly larger sensor (usually 1 / 1.5 "or 1 / 1.8"), working at this resolution becomes very problematic due to the inevitable physical phenomenon associated with light diffraction. Without going into details, the narrower the optical aperture of the lens, the smaller the resolution. In practice, high resolution is only achieved with large aperture lenses, so any reduction in aperture (narrowing of the aperture) will result in a loss of sharpness. This is a well-known fact in the world of professional photography, but we are talking about it for the first time in relation to mass "soap boxes". As a result, we cannot use the narrow aperture on the 12 megapixel models. In addition, to control light output and capture images in bright light, some manufacturers integrate a neutral gray filter that turns on or off depending on the brightness of the light output.

The user gets the impression of having two apertures (fully open or relatively closed, usually f / 8), but the benefits of a real aperture are missing. The depth of field does not change depending on the selected aperture! If the camera manufacturer has chosen a traditional aperture, you should take care not to close it too much, risking loss of quality ... Unfortunately, all this is usually not indicated in the user manual, which does not provide sufficient information about the operating modes, and sometimes even lying! Some manufacturers attribute this to the fact that a compact camera should, above all, be easy to use. Finally, note the presence of "noise" at high sensitivity. The more pixels there are on the physical surface of the sensor, the higher the "noise" level will be. Of course, electronic processing allows you to reduce the level of "noise", but with the same electronics 8 megapixels at high sensitivity usually "noise" less than 12 megapixels.

In our opinion, the resolution of digital point-and-shoot cameras has surpassed all reasonable limits. Improving the quality of photos is not achieved by increasing the number of pixels! As for ordinary users, it seems to us that manufacturers should work towards improving the functionality of automation (already very effective in current models), and for demanding users - improve the sensitivity and other characteristics of sensors. From a practical point of view, 12 megapixels give a meager advantage in quality, but the photos are significantly larger, which still have to be reduced both for storage and for transmission via electronic media and mail. And what's the point then?

Canon Ixus 960IS: a very powerful model

Before us is the new high-end model of the Ixus range, Canon's luxury compact cameras, and 960IS has a resolution of twelve megapixels, like most of the most ambitious new products. How did Canon manage to cope with such a massive increase in resolution?

Titanium case 960IS it has a rather complex profile, with cunning bends and shapes. The result is, of course, beautiful, but the camera turned out to be more bulky and heavy than some competitors and even other models in the Ixus line. However, this disadvantage cannot be considered serious (the 960IS will fit most pockets), but if you want a compact model, first estimate the size. What pleased us less, the 960IS is equipped with only a 2.5 "screen, not a 3". The reason lies in the circular shape of the camera and the presence of an optical viewfinder, which has survived despite the progress that screens have made in recent years. It has wide viewing angles, allowing for storyboarding even in exotic positions.


A type
Sensor	1 / 1.7 "CCD 12 MP
Maximum resolution	4,000 x 3,000
Video	1,024 x 768, 15 fps, AVI, audio
Lens (24x36 equivalent)	2.8-5.8 / 36-133 mm, with stabilization
Viewfinder	Screen + optical
Focusing	AF 9 zones, center, face detection
Exposure metering	M, P, S
Shooting modes	Auto, P, scene programs
Excerpt	15 s - 1/1 600 s
Sensitivity	Auto, 80 - 1600 ISO
White balance	Auto, 6 modes
Flash	Built-in
File format	Jpeg
Memory	SD / SDHC Cards (32MB included)
Screen	2.5 ", 230K pixels
Interface	USB 2.0
Video output	Composite PAL / NTSC
Food	Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions (edit)	95.9 x 59.9 x 27.6mm
Weight	165 grams (without batteries)
Software	Zoom Browser EX, PhotoStitch

Canon Ixus 960IS Official Page
Price at the time of publication	RUB 13,500

Compared to the "younger" 860IS we were in for a not very pleasant surprise: the lens returned to the standard parameters for a "soap dish", having lost its wide angle. And, unfortunately, at large focal lengths, there was no progress either, the relative aperture is narrow, it is more than two times different from the aperture in the wide-angle position. Otherwise, the changes are more cosmetic, we found familiar features for the Ixus, including full auto mode, manual mode and scene programs. But nevertheless, we have a high-end automatic digital camera. However, it is hardly appropriate to complain about this, since the camera is suitable for potential use cases. The sensitivity can be adjusted up to ISO 1,600. There is a scene program ISO 3,200 at 2 MP, which is implemented more successfully than competitors, although it does not cause ecstasy either. If the "noise" remains within reasonable limits, then the detail is lost.

Let's say right off the bat that the 12MP Ixus is not an ugly duckling in the lineup. Photo quality is excellent, and 12 megapixels allows for really high resolution, which not all competitors can handle, as we will see later. But, of course, a number of questions arise. Who needs this permission? Unless you're making large prints to see the details, the difference is hard to tell. As for the standard on-screen viewing, the resolution is simply too high. And the size of photos is from 5 to 7 megabytes. The increase in light sensitivity is carried out with a good system of suppression of "noise" without rapid and tangible loss of detail. Canon was able to reach a reasonable compromise. Combined with a stabilizer, this allows you to take good pictures in poor lighting conditions.

Wonderful colors, good exposure and abundance of detail ... The Ixus 960IS is a really powerful camera. Click on the picture to enlarge.

At the telephoto position, we do not see any defects compared to other focal lengths. Click on the picture to enlarge.

At ISO 400 there is practically no "noise", the detail of the photo is quite decent, sufficient for a decent size prints. Click on the picture to enlarge.

The results can, without a doubt, be considered positive. And if you want a pocket camera for high resolution landscape photography, then you will surely be satisfied. But, speaking about the most frequent use cases, it is still a shame that the camera lacks a normal wide angle, and the effect of 12 megapixels is practically not felt. Therefore, we recommend taking a closer look at a more balanced model. 860IS which we recently tested.

Benefits.

High real resolution;
stabilization system;
high quality images.

disadvantages

There is no real wide angle;
weak aperture at telephoto position;
price...

Fujifilm Finepix F50FD: resolution and sensitivity

Fuji's F-Line has long been appreciated by high-sensitivity enthusiasts, and so far has been very smart about increasing the pixel count. But with the advent of a new camera F50 we were in for a surprise: 12 million pixels! Is it worse than previous models? We approached the tests in some confusion.

Like other models in the F range, layout and dimensions F50 very classic. The shape is rounded, which is also convenient. Overall, the F50 is well thought out and very compact, albeit different from the competition. Of course, the camera is not the most pocketable, but it will not become a burden either. As we expected, the camera is compatible with two standards of xD and SD memory cards in one slot. So there is no longer any barrier to using only xD cards. The rear panel contains the usual controls, with a mode switch, keys for direct access to basic settings and a familiar crosspiece. The high-resolution display measures 2.7 "diagonal and offers wide viewing angles.


A type	Compact with one-piece body
Sensor	1 / 1.6 "CCD 12 MP
Maximum resolution	4,000 x 3,000
Video	640 x 480, 30 fps
Lens (24x36 equivalent)	2.8-5.1 / 35-105 mm, with stabilization
Viewfinder	Screen
Focusing
Exposure metering	M
Shooting modes	Auto, P, A, S, scene programs
Excerpt	8 s - 1/2000 s
Sensitivity	Auto, ISO 100 - 1600
White balance	Auto, 6 modes, manual
Flash	Built-in
File format	Jpeg
Memory	SD / SDHC and xD cards, 25 MB internal
Screen	2.7 ", 230K pixels
Interface	USB 2.0
Video output	Composite PAL / NTSC
Food	Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions (edit)	92.5 x 59.2 x 22.9mm
Weight	155 grams (without batteries)
Software	Finepix Viewer

Fujifilm Finepix F50FD Official Page
Price at the time of publication	RUB 9 800

The zoom is traditional 3x, starting at 35mm (equivalent), which is somewhat disappointing as some competitors offer a wider angle from 28mm, or more powerful zoom, or both. However, the camera has a stabilization system based on sensor displacement. As for the work itself, Fuji was able to create a model that provides both popular features among the general public, such as face detection, and some options for experienced amateurs, such as aperture or shutter priority modes, as well as automatic sensitivity modes with exposure maximum value. In this regard, we were somewhat confused. Typically, the sensitivity goes up to ISO 1600, and we were able to get an impressive ISO 6400 with reduced resolution. There is also a burst shooting mode with a reduced resolution. Making life easier for ordinary users, F50 supports the "blog" function for saving photos at a reduced size on the site, automatic red-eye correction and an optimized portrait mode that corrects skin imperfections.

For base sensitivity modes (ISO 100 and 200), 12 megapixels gives slightly higher resolution than the lower megapixel models, to avoid potential problems. From aperture 4 onwards, defects are already evident! In any case, watch out for aberration and diffraction artifacts. But if you really want the highest resolution possible, then it's worth a try. Most of the pictures show a slight deterioration, possibly due to automation.

As for the high sensitivity, the camera performs well only up to ISO 800. At higher sensitivity, the quality deteriorates, although everything is relative. The evaluation should be based on the size of the prints. For ordinary photos F50 shows itself well. When switching to ISO 3 200 Fuji, quite logically, limits the resolution to 6 MP, and in the ISO 6 400 mode - to 3 MP. Such modes allow obtaining quite acceptable results at record sensitivities. Of course, especially at ISO 6 400, you shouldn't be asking too much in terms of detail or color quality, but remember that not so long ago ISO 1600 was an unattainable frontier for amateur cameras! The results are impressive, and Fuji has managed to avoid the serious blurring of details like some of its competitors who have gone the same way at lowering the resolution. On the other hand, the stabilization did not convince us. At least in the wide-angle position, we got blurry photos with shutter speeds where the best models give excellent sharpness. So it's better to rely on a higher ISO sensitivity ...

Very good detail, allowing you to see all objects well. Click on the picture to enlarge.

In telephoto position, the result is also good. Click on the picture to enlarge.

And even at ISO 400 you get good detail, the "noise" is relatively low, the resolution remains high.

Overall, the model F50 can be called very interesting, but it is hardly worth buying for those who cannot fully use all the available resolution. But if you want to shoot landscapes in high resolution and are not afraid of the limitations in other modes, then the camera is a worthy choice.

Benefits.

High resolution under certain conditions;
extended capabilities;
attractive price.

disadvantages

Banal zoom;
unconvincing stabilization.

Samsung NV20: the queen of pixels?

Continuing to expand its NV (New Vision) lineup, Samsung offers compact models in three versions, including a 12MP camera. NV20... Should we buy into the promised expansion?

Aesthetics and appearance NV20 familiar as they are identical to the camera NV10 released almost two years ago. The result is no less successful: the design and finish of the metal case are very neat, and the case itself leaves a feeling of solidity. Of course, the camera is not the most compact, but NV20 is still small and thin, so users can always carry it with them without being burdened with dimensions. On the other hand, the camera has quite a lot of protruding parts, which is not very convenient if you carry it in your pocket. The main advantage of the camera is the Smart Touch navigation interface, built on two rows of keys on the sides of the screen: any option can be reached very quickly, all parameters are entered with your fingertips. A very successful system!


A type	Compact with one-piece body
Sensor	1 / 1.7 "CCD 12 MP
Maximum resolution	4,000 x 3,000
Video	640 x 480, 30fps, MPEG4
Lens (24x36 equivalent)	2.8-5.2 / 34-102 mm
Viewfinder	Screen
Focusing	AF multiple zones, center, face detection
Exposure metering	M, P, S, face detection
Shooting modes	Auto, P, M, scene programs
Excerpt	15 s - 1/1 500 s
Sensitivity	Auto, 80 - 3,200 ISO
White balance	Auto, 5 modes, manual
Flash	Built-in
File format	Jpeg
Memory	SD / SDHC card + 20 MB built-in
Screen	2.5 ", 230K pixels
Interface	USB 2.0
Video output	Composite PAL / NTSC
Food	Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions (edit)	96.5 x 60 x 18.6 mm
Weight	151 grams (without batteries)
Software	Samsung Master

Samsung NV20 Official Page
Price at the time of publication	8 600 rub.

We found the usual functions for the compact model: scene programs, automatic shooting, but Samsung decided to integrate a completely manual mode, where the user selects aperture and shutter speed. A special indicator will inform you about the deviation of the shutter speed from the value recommended by the automation. Very convenient for those users who prefer to shoot manually. However, this mode still has very limited usefulness, since the aperture can be selected from only two modes, because there is no real aperture here, a neutral gray filter is used, which is either on or off, which is not consistent with what the camera reports. In general, when photographing, you can only choose the shutter speed. The reason for the lack of a normal aperture with a wide range of values lies precisely in the choice of a 12 megapixel sensor. A too closed aperture would result in a loss of sharpness.

Samsung has decided to add, in addition to the already classic face detection function, the ASR option, which allows you to take photos without flash in low light conditions, reducing motion blur. The function works really well and will be very useful for shooting in dark conditions: indoors, in museums, etc. Of course, you will have to pay for this with some deterioration in the quality of the picture. In addition, there is a set of features such as creating animated GIFs, bordering photos, etc.

Photos taken at standard sensitivities (ISO 80 or 100) give very good detail. However, it seemed to us that the image processing system still removes some of the details, creating a somewhat artificial impression from the photograph. However, this can only be seen on large prints. If you increase the sensitivity, then at ISO 400 a similar effect will become clearly visible, it “eats up” a lot of details, although, admittedly, “noise” is effectively suppressed. But if you do not go beyond the standard size of the print or display, then the result is very good. But why do we need 12 megapixels? In ISO 3,200 mode Samsung lowers the resolution to 3MP, but the result is too bad: only for extreme cases. Otherwise, exposure is very good, and sharpness is very satisfactory across the entire photo, with the exception of some chromatic aberrations in the corners, but this problem can be solved if required.

Good exposure and high resolution, but in our opinion the image has gone through too much digital processing. Click on the picture to enlarge.

The 3x zoom is pretty mundane, but the detail is very good. Click on the picture to enlarge.

At ISO 400, the image processing system shows its aggressiveness. However, "noise" is effectively removed, and the result is acceptable for standard-sized prints. Click on the picture to enlarge.

The 12 megapixel camera is a very successful camera that you can buy at an attractive price. However, for many users, 8 and 10 megapixel versions of this model (NV8 and NV15) are better suited, since the increase in resolution in practice gives little or nothing.

Benefits.

Ergonomics;
good picture quality at low sensitivity;
a large number of settings.

disadvantages

Overly aggressive image processing system;
no real diaphragm.

Panasonic DMC-FX100: pixels and more

New model FX100 retained most of the features characteristic of the Panasonic line, but received a 12 megapixel sensor at its disposal. Will increasing the resolution have any practical advantage?

Small and very compact FX100 resembles the size, shape and finish of previous models in the FX range, but the colors have changed slightly. The result will satisfy most buyers. Of course, this is not an ultra-compact model, but the FX100 fits easily into your pocket. Like many modern models, the camera is equipped with a 2.5 "screen with high brightness, but not very large viewing angles. In general, the screen is quite satisfactory, but nothing special stands out.

Panasonic DMC-FX100
A type	Compact with one-piece body
Sensor	1 / 1.7 "CCD 12 MP
Maximum resolution	4,000 x 3,000
Video	848 x 480, 30 fps
Lens (24x36 equivalent)	2.8-5.6 / 28-100 mm, with stabilization
Viewfinder	Screen
Focusing	AF 9 zones, 3 zones, center
Exposure metering	M, P, S
Shooting modes	Auto, P, scene programs
Excerpt	8 s - 1/2000 s
Sensitivity	Auto, 80 - 1600 ISO
White balance	Auto, 4 modes, manual
Flash	Built-in
File format	Jpeg
Memory	SD / SDHC card + 27 MB built-in
Screen	2.5 ", 207K pixels
Interface	USB 2.0
Video output	Composite PAL / NTSC
Food	Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions (edit)	96.7 x 54.0 x 24.5 mm
Weight	148 grams (without batteries)
Software	Simple Viewer, Photofun Studio, Panorama Maker

Panasonic DMC-FX100 Official Page
Price at the time of publication	RUB 11,500

Of course, the main novelty of this model is the 12 megapixel sensor, a new benchmark for manufacturers involved in the megapixel race. For the FX100, Panasonic, like other manufacturers, has increased the sensor size from 1 / 2.5 "to 1 / 1.7". Yes, the pixels will be more spacious in such an area, but miracles should not be expected. In all other respects, we have a Panasonic camera with characteristics typical for this manufacturer (or rather, for a line of FX cameras). Like other cameras in the lineup, FX100 maintains stabilization that works effectively, although not flawlessly. In terms of zoom performance, unlike many of the other 12MP models we tested, here we get a really wide 28mm equivalent, making it easier to capture landscapes and groups of people. The camera is fully automatic, so you only get scene programs and an "intelligent" ISO mode, where the camera detects the movement of the subject and selects a higher sensitivity so that the subject is not smeared in the picture.

How does 12 megapixel compare to other Panasonic cameras? Based on our tests, almost nothing. The detail in the photos did not seem to us much better than on the models with fewer pixels! In practice, the difference is generally difficult to determine. However, Panasonic was able to achieve a small level of "noise" up to ISO 800, but at a maximum sensitivity of ISO 1600 the result is much worse, and in high sensitivity modes with reduced resolution, like other models from this manufacturer, the quality is very low. Finally, the strengths of this model lie not in the resolution, but in the special functions. For example, in low-resolution batch shooting, which allows you to catch facial expressions or other moments.

Detail is good, but is it better than the lower megapixel cameras? Click on the picture to enlarge.

In telephoto position, the quality is very good! Click on the picture to enlarge.

At ISO 400, Panasonic was able to strike a good balance between "noise" and image detail. The result is quite satisfactory. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Overall, the camera is somewhat disappointing if you want any kind of quality leap from the 12 megapixel move! As is the case with the cameras of most competitors, you involuntarily wonder if the game was worth the candle?

Benefits.

Stabilizer;
"intelligent" ISO mode;
wide angle.

disadvantages

Automatic only;
the detail obtained in practice is lower than expected.

Olympus FE-300: Too Many Pixels?

Really small and very light, nevertheless FE-300 equipped with a 12 megapixel sensor! How attractive is that amount in a compact camera?

Camera FE-300 Fits easily even in a small pocket, and thanks to its shape and design, it is unlikely to quickly wear out. The exterior is classic, the finish is pleasant, the camera leaves a good impression. The only thing we don't really like is Olympus' commitment to the xD card format. The interface follows the traditional canons of this manufacturer, the camera is equipped with a 2.5 "display, which makes it easy to set up functions and control.


A type	Compact with one-piece body
Sensor	1 / 1.7 "CCD 12 MP
Maximum resolution	4,000 x 3,000
Video	640 x 480, 30 fps
Lens (24x36 equivalent)	2.8-4.7 / 35-105 mm
Viewfinder	Screen
Focusing	AF multiple zones, center
Exposure metering	M
Shooting modes	Auto, P, scene programs
Excerpt	1/2 s - 1/1000 s
Sensitivity	Auto, 64 - 1600 ISO
White balance	Auto, 6 modes
Flash	Built-in
File format	Jpeg
Memory	XD card + 48 MB built-in
Screen	2.5 ", 230K pixels
Interface	USB 2.0
Video output	Composite PAL / NTSC
Food	Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions (edit)	94 x 56.5 x 22.1 mm
Weight	115 grams (without batteries)
Software	Olympus master

Olympus FE-300 Official Page
Price at the time of publication	RUB 8,000

Like many similar "soap boxes", the user is provided with fully automatic mode, "P" mode, face detection and scene programs. Olympus has added an interactive guide to help users who have little experience with technology to find the best settings. The optics are classic, with 3x zoom, although the relative aperture is slightly brighter than average. Of course, the lens can be criticized for being ordinary, but it copes with most tasks. As for the sensitivity, it can be raised to ISO 1600 at full resolution and to ISO 6400 at reduced.

In practice, the camera FE-300 it is pleasant to use, it is responsive, the display is easy to read even at large tilt angles, which allows you to carry out storyboarding in extreme conditions. The question remains as to how justified are 12 megapixels? And we cannot give an unambiguous answer. When shooting landscapes in bright light, the camera closes the aperture as much as possible (f / 8), so diffraction effects limit the actual resolution, which is no better in images than models with lower megapixels. Of course, if a filter is not used in the camera, but it is not specified in the specifications, and it is difficult to determine the presence of a filter. The photos are good, but shouldn't you expect more from this camera? At high sensitivities, Olympus seriously blurs the picture, so if "noise" is eliminated, detail also suffers. Better not to go beyond ISO 400. Of course, ISO 1600 isn't all that "noisy", but you shouldn't expect 12MP detail. ISO 3,200 (3MP) is fine for reasonably sized prints, but ISO 6,400 is best avoided at all.

The picture has good detail, but it's not very clear whether 12 megapixels are needed for this? Click on the picture to enlarge.

At ISO 400 the "noise" is still at a reasonable level, but the detail starts to "lame" a little. Click on the picture to enlarge.

It gives pictures of decent quality, but still does not have decisive arguments in its favor in terms of the quality of photographs. Therefore, we still did not understand why there are so many megapixels for this camera. However, even though the FE-300 is inexpensive.

Benefits.

Good image quality in general;
very compact;
attractive price.

disadvantages

The detail obtained in practice is lower than expected;
only support xD cards.

As for our recommendations, we advise you to take Ixus, but definitely model 860 IS or a camera with fewer megapixels, since even the best camera in our testing, the Ixus 960 IS, loses more than wins. If you, neither live nor be, need a 12-megapixel camera, two of the tested models stand out: Canon Ixus 960 IS and Fujifilm F50fd. The arguments in their favor are different, but both cameras are very decent. Finally, should you start buying 12MP cameras? In our opinion, no: for most areas of using compact models, a smaller number of megapixels will be more efficient, and space in memory and other resources will not run out so quickly. The high resolution promised by the 12 megapixel sensor, even if physically present, means little for everyday photography.

The term "megapixel" can be interpreted as one million pixels. That is, a 12-megapixel camera takes pictures that consist of 12 million tiny dots. The more of these dots (pixels) in the image, the sharper it looks, the higher its resolution.

From this we can conclude that a camera with a large number of megapixels shoots better than the one with fewer. But it is not so.

The problem is that these days there are more megapixels than needed. Think of screens: a FullHD TV has a resolution of 2.1 megapixels, and the latest 4K TV has a resolution of 8.3 megapixels. Considering that the camera of almost every modern smartphone can count more than 10 megapixels, displays simply cannot display such a high resolution in full.

It is unlikely that you will notice the difference between photos of modern cameras with different numbers of megapixels, since even the latest screens do not support such resolutions.

In fact, breaking the 8.3 megapixel mark can be useful if you intend to crop your shots. In other words, by taking a photo with a 12MP camera, you can cut out a significant portion of it. At the same time, the resolution of the picture can still remain higher than that of a 4K TV.

Advice... Don't chase cameras that are over 12 megapixels. This amount will be enough with a margin, unless you are going to cut pictures into fragments or edit them for professional purposes.

Pixel size is more important

The metric that more accurately characterizes a smartphone camera is the pixel size. In the general list of characteristics, its numerical value is indicated in micrometers before the abbreviation µm. A smartphone camera with a pixel size of 1.4µm almost always shoots better than another one with a size of 1.0µm.

If you zoom in on the photo enough, you can see individual pixels in it. The colors of these small dots are determined by microscopic light sensors inside the smartphone's camera.

These sensors are also referred to as pixels, since each of them captures light for a corresponding pixel in the image. So if your camera has 12 megapixels, it has 12 million light-sensitive pixels.

Each sensor captures particles of light known as photons and uses them to determine the color and brightness of a pixel in an image. But photons are very active and not easy to capture. For example, instead of a blue particle, the sensor can catch a red one. As a result, instead of a pixel of one color, a point of another will appear on the image.

To avoid such inaccuracies, a light-sensitive pixel catches several photons at once, and special software calculates the correct shade and brightness of a point in the final photo based on them. The larger the pixel area, the more photons it can capture, the more accurate the colors in the final image will be.

Advice... Stop at cameras that are no more than 12 megapixels. A larger number forces the manufacturer to sacrifice pixel size to fit everything in a limited space. When comparing cameras with an equal number of megapixels, choose the one with the larger pixel size.

Aperture

Another important camera characteristic that shouldn't be neglected is its aperture. It is indicated by the symbol f divided by a numeric value. For example: f / 2.0. Since f is divided by a number, the smaller it is, the better the aperture.

To understand the meaning of aperture, think about pixel size. The larger it is, the more light particles the camera captures, the more accurate the color rendition. Now imagine that the pixel is a bucket and the photons are raindrops. It turns out that the wider the bucket (pixel), the more drops (photons) fall into it.

The aperture resembles the funnel for this bucket. Its lower part is the same diameter as the bucket, but the upper part is much wider, which helps to collect even more drops. As the analogy suggests, a wide aperture allows the sensor to capture more light particles.

Of course, in reality, there is no funnel. This effect is achieved through a lens, with which the camera captures more light than its pixels can capture.

The main advantage of a wide aperture is that it allows the camera to shoot better in low light conditions.

When there is too little light, light-sensitive pixels may not capture enough photons. But a wide aperture solves this problem by opening up access to more particles.

Advice... Remember, a lower number means a wider aperture. So opt for cameras with f / 2.2 and lower, especially if you often photograph at night or indoors.

Image stabilization: EIS and OIS

Among other characteristics of the camera, you can find two types of image stabilization: optical - OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and electronic - EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization).

When the camera sensor moves due to hand shake, OIS physically stabilizes the image. If, for example, you are walking while shooting a video, each step usually changes the position of the camera. But OIS maintains the relative stability of the sensor, even if you shake your smartphone. As a result, the technology minimizes jitter in videos and blur in pictures.

The presence of optical stabilization greatly increases the cost of the device and requires a lot of space for additional parts. Therefore, instead of it, electronic stabilization is often introduced into smartphones, which creates a similar effect.

EIS crops, stretches and changes the perspective of the individual frames that make up the video. This happens programmatically and already with the footage, so electronic stabilization can be applied even to clips recorded on cameras with OIS to make them even smoother.

By and large, having an OIS camera is better. After all, electronic processing of frames can reduce the quality and create a jelly effect on the video. In addition, EIS almost does not reduce blur in pictures. But it is worth noting that electronic stabilization does not stop developing, which confirms the quality of the videos shot with the devices.

Advice... If you can, choose devices with optical stabilization, if not, stop at electronic. Ignore machines that do not support either OIS or EIS.

By the number of megapixels, you can accurately determine the resolution. To do this, look at the table below. And then we will figure out what's what.

One megapixel contains one million pixels. In this case, the resolution of the image is determined solely by the number of points of which it consists.
As a rule, along with the increase in resolution, the detail of the picture also increases. However, additional factors such as noise reduction, ISO settings and focus also have an impact here. A large number of megapixels alone does not guarantee high image detail.
Plus, amateur photographers in most cases cannot reap the extra dividends from ultra-high resolutions. Modern Full-HD monitors, for example, offer a resolution of only 1920 × 1080 (that is, a little over 2 megapixels). Individual details will become visible here only when the image is zoomed in.
For those who want to print their photos, on the contrary, more megapixels can be very useful. In this case, you have room to crop photos and print certain parts of them without serious loss in quality.

For the hobby photographer: 7 megapixels is enough

Canon PowerShot A710 IS with 7 megapixels

Amateur photographers should also be able to edit their work without too much trouble. This is why you should think about a small "buffer". For printing, 5 megapixels will be enough. Therefore, you can't go wrong with 7 megapixels.

This will allow you to shoot photos with a resolution of approximately 3072x2304 pixels. Thus, you will have enough "wiggle room" to cut off unwanted objects at the edges of the frame or enlarge certain parts of the image. A noticeable deterioration in the quality of the picture should not be obtained in this case.
With this resolution, you can even print your photos without any problems: prints in the format of a postcard (10x15 cm) or even the size of an A4 sheet will look quite clear. Only when printing posters (eg A3 size) can a slight blur appear.
With an "average" resolution of 7 Mpix, the files with each individual image will be medium in size: uncompressed, the picture will occupy about 20 Mbytes on the memory card. In JPEG format, one picture only requires 4 MB of disk space. For comparison: at a resolution of 12 megapixels, an uncompressed photo already "weighs" 35 megabytes.
The cost of the corresponding cameras starts from 4 thousand rubles.

For lovers of details: 12 megapixels or more

Canon Ixus 255 HS with 12 megapixels

Anyone who really wants to capture every detail of the world around him may well resort to using a camera with a large number of megapixels:

Starting from 12 megapixels, you can scale the resulting images in a fairly wide range without loss of quality. Nice fun, but ultimately it remains unclaimed for most images.
Also, here you will have to pay more attention to other factors such as noise reduction or focusing speed. You can find out which cameras combine these qualities well from our rating.
Due to the high cost of the respective cameras, you should first think carefully - do you really need a large number of megapixels? Cameras with a resolution of 20 megapixels or more, even among professional photographers, do not have a special priority.