(TUTORIAL) HTC UltraPixel Explained

When HTC released their One M7 and later the One M8, many of you might have heard the 'UltraPixel' explanation for the mere 4 MP pixels, and are to this day left in the dark as to what that actually means. Fret no more, this tutorial is just for you.

Let's begin by saying that the way HTC publicized the UltraPixel's features aren't exactly accurate. When it said it features large pixels, of course it doesn't mean the pixels themselves are larger, since a pixel is not a unit of measurement. A pixel doesn't have a size, so what did HTC mean?

This was actually directed at the pixel sensors of the camera. The big deal about camera sensors, is that the bigger it is, the more pixel sensors you can insert in it (each pixel sensor increases the amount of pixels). That's why most phone cameras lack a good quality, because there is a limit to the sensor size that can be fit comfortably on a phone.

You might be asking, 'But phones have the same 13 MP as a DSLR camera, so why is the quality so different'? Excellent question. The answer, is because DSLR cameras have a much larger sensor. And that relates straight to the 'UltraPixel' issue.

While a pixel isn't a specific size, the larger the pixel's sensor, the better the quality. What that means, is that while DSLR and phone camera have the same MP, since DSLR has a much larger sensor, it allows for larger pixel sensors, while maintaining the same MP count. 

That's the same thing happening at the UltraPixel cam- While the sensor size stays the same, since there are less pixel sensors, HTC can allow for bigger sensors to fit in the same area. For example, in the same area that the S5 has 16 pixels, the M8 has only 4. While it makes for less pixels, it allows for things such as better low-light pictures. That's thanks to each pixel capturing more light, and in turn making for a brighter photo.

Is it all clear? If you have any questions, feel free to ask below!

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Galaxy S5 camera shown off in new video

Pre-release, much has been said about Samsung's 16 MP ISOCELL sensor, most positive, but after the phone was released and some pictures were taken, some people were disappointed by the camera's performance, mainly in tricky situations such as low-light. 

In this video, Samsung is trying to show how the S5's camera performs great in every lighting/movement situation. Moving has been another issue once Samsung's omission of an OIS was revealed, and it is getting a 'thorough test' in this video. While I think the consensus is that in fair light the S5 performs nicely, the interesting part is when the sun starts setting. Before we get on with the commentary, watch the video below:




Purely based on what we see in this video, it seems Samsung breaks most of the bad reports concerning the camera's performance, as it seems to perform particularly well in all situations, including a video seemingly shot from a helicopter, in which the lack of IOS isn't showing at all.

However, worrying is Samsung's line, "certain images and videos may be enhanced". While that was expected, it is worrying we might see the Lumia case all over again (I'm talking about the camera-performance video by Nokia about the Lumia 1020, when they pass by a mirror and the alleged Lumia 1020 doing the shooting is actually revealed to be a complex set of high-end cameras. Hmm...). 

Nonetheless, these videos were probably shot by the S5, and while it might not be fair as well in reality, it is by no means a bad camera and is overall on par with the rest of the market.

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