Which smartphone took the best photos at the time? According to tech experts and reviewers, it was the Samsung Galaxy S8. This article explains what made the camera in this then-new phone so good.
Samsung’s latest phone at the time immediately stood out for its attractive design. It was presented as the first phone without bezels. Beyond its appearance, the Samsung S8 also had plenty to offer. Experts were particularly impressed by its 12-megapixel camera, while several new camera features contributed to its success.
Large Camera Sensor
The Galaxy S8 has a 12-megapixel camera. That might not sound like much on paper, but its main advantage was the large camera sensor. At 1/2.55 inch, the sensor was described at the time as larger than those in other phones. This produced sharper, more detailed photographs and also improved brightness and colour reproduction.
Wide Aperture
The Samsung S8 could still take very good photographs in rooms with poor lighting, thanks to its wide f/1.7 aperture. The aperture determines how much light reaches the sensor: a wider aperture lets in more light, making it ideal for photography in the dark. At the time, this put Samsung’s camera ahead of its competitors.
Optical Image Stabilisation
Smartphone photographs are often taken handheld, which does not always produce sharp results. The Samsung Galaxy S8 camera addressed this with optical image stabilisation. The system compensates for small movements, resulting in sharper photographs and videos.
Good Camera Software
A good camera alone is not enough; good software is also important for getting the best performance from it. One example was the Galaxy S8’s new ‘Enhanced Image Processing’. The phone automatically took three photographs, assessed them with its software and selected the sharpest result. This helped the Samsung Galaxy phone produce better photographs than many competitors at the time.
Water-Resistant
The Galaxy S8’s water-resistant design made its camera more versatile than many other smartphone cameras of the period. Whether used above or below water, the Galaxy S8 produced attractive photographs and videos. Its dust-resistant design was another advantage, making photography on the beach less of a concern.
At the time of publication, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ were due to go on sale in the Netherlands on 29 April. Readers who wanted the new Galaxy S8 as soon as it became available could order one of the phones from KPN, with delivery advertised from 29 April.
