Honor 5C Camera Review

Huawei's Honor brand launched the Honor 5C smartphone in India last month priced at Rs. 10,999. It recently went on open sale in the country. We already brought you the hands-on impressions and battery life test results of the smartphone, here we have the camera review of the phone. 

The Honor 5C has a 13-megapixel auto focus rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash.

Judging by the numbers, you would get a performance that is perhaps identical to most of the other smartphones in the price range. There is no fancy sensor size value nor pixel size in terms of microns to suggest otherwise. However, the image quality that this phone can produce is truly amazing. The Honor 5C has a class-leading camera that offers great image quality not just under good lighting conditions but also under low or poorly lit conditions. The noise in the images during such situations is barely visible and definitely can compete with several smartphones in the higher ranges as well.

The colour reproduction, white balancing etc are spot on too and the smartphone captures a lot of detail too. If there is one small thing that the camera could've been better at, it is the dynamic range. However, that is just being very picky and just in case you need more dynamic range, you can just turn on the HDR mode to improve it. The shutter speed is pretty quick too although it does slow down a bit when using the HDR mode but not by much.

Click on any of the images below for the full fledged samples. The photos on the left were taken in HDR mode while the ones on the right are taken in normal mode.

 

The front-facing 8-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture also tells a similar story. Great details, bright images with less noise. More than enough for your social media friendly images and a wide enough lens to accommodate your friends into one frame.

The Honor 5C can record 1080p videos at a maximum frame rate of 30 fps which is on par with most of the other offerings in this segment but the quality of videos aren't that great. Videos are bright and lively in terms of colour but are quite jerky and seems to lose out in terms of details. There is some moire effect going on as well and the edges of objects seem to have some weird artifacts. We hope that this is something Honor can focus and improve on in future firmware updates since this issue is most likely related to processing on the software end.

Check out the video sample below.

Sandeep Sarma is a blogger and a freelance photographer. Apart from gadgets and phones, he also has a passion for movies and cars. He currently uses the S7 Edge as his main phone. Catch him on twitter at @sandeep9sarma View all posts by Sandeep Sarma

Source: Honor 5C Camera Review

How To: Better Street Photography Using Your Phone

Street photography with mobile phones has grown in popularity over the years. They're always on you, they get a lot in focus, and they force the photographer to really be in the zone and in the moment. It's very simple to capture moments on the streets that can really captivate someone, but it's also pretty easy for photographers who use traditional cameras to think too differently about using their cameraphone.

Here's how you can go about getting better street photography photos with your phone.

Extra Add-Ons

While these aren't mandatory, for better photos I can assure you that they do help. Having a different perspective on what's going on can make you shoot in a different way and deliver photos that are much different from much of what's online.

Some of my favorite accessories:

Moment Lenses: These are available for Android and iOS devices, and they're by far my favorite lenses out there.

PhotoJoJo Iris Lenses: These lenses are very sharp, though weird to attach to your phone.

SNAP Pro! Case: A solid case though bulky, it gives you the opportunity to use a myriad of lenses on your phone.

COVR Photo case: Probably the best case for street photography because of how low profile you really can be.

Then there are loads of cool apps you can use, we'll cover those later.

Shoot From the Hip

Edited in RNI Films

Lots of street photographers choose to shoot from the hip. While there are many schools of thought that say you shouldn't do that, all that matters in the end is the photo. With that said though, you need to be very clear and well meaning with your intent. IE: don't be a creep.

Asking someone for their photo beforehand breaks the candid nature of something and turns it more into portraiture than street photography in its purest sense. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but this post is about street photography.

Sometimes shooting from the hip will yield you results that you find interesting and that you may not have gotten otherwise.

Use a Hard Button, Not Your TouchScreen to Release the Shutter

"With an iPhone, the volume button on the headphones will release the camera shutter, so you can be listening to music, and keep the camera screen open, then press the volume button to take a photo at anytime which is much quicker than than using the button on the the actual phone ." says photographer  Gretchen Robinette; an NYC based photographer who did an entire series of street photographs using her iPhone.

Beyond this, know that when you use a dedicated volume button and hold the phone firmly, you'll have less camera shake because your entire hand is around the phone. Otherwise, tapping the screen with a finger can make you lose stability.

Don't Worry About Critical Focus as Much

With a dedicated camera, you're often putting a lot of energy into absolute critical focus due to a larger sensor. While I don't preach carelessness, I am professing that it isn't as important here. The sensor on a cameraphone is generally so small that your focus shouldn't usually matter. So don't spend a whole load of time ensuring that it's perfect.

Higher Emphasis on "Fix it in Post"

When you work with dedicated cameras, many photographers try to get the image as close to what they want it to be in the camera. With a mobile phone, the emphasis is much more on fixing it later on in post. It honestly makes a lot of sense with apps like RNI Films, MuseCam, VSCO, SnapSeed and a whole lot more. So instead of fumbling around with settings, just focus on shooting.

Then create your masterpiece later on.

Source: How To: Better Street Photography Using Your Phone

Sharp made another Japan-only phone with razor-thin bezels

Sharp one-upped just about every other smartphone two years ago when it debuted the Aquos Crystal, a device with almost nonexistent bezels on three sides. Now the Japanese phone maker is back with a smaller version: the Aquos Mini SH-M03. With dimensions measuring 126 x 66 x 9mm, it manages to fit a 4.7-inch display, the same size as the iPhone 6s' screen.

If the super thin bezels aren't exciting enough for you, then know that the Aquos Mini uses Sharp's own IGZO display technology, offering a 1080p resolution and a max refresh rate of 120Hz, meaning a smooth 60fps. It's hard to imagine Android Marshmallow looking much better than it will on this phone.

As for the insides, the Aquos Mini is powered by a Snapdragon 808 processor paired with 3GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage — expandable, thankfully. There's a 2,810mAh battery, and a 13MP camera on the rear with optical image stabilization and a f/1.9 aperture, capable of shooting video in 720p at 120fps.

There's two more unique things about Sharp's latest. Since the top bezel isn't nearly thick enough to support a front-facing camera, it's been relocated to the bottom. It has 5MP and a 83-degree lens to make up for that odd angle, however.

The other is that the Aquos Mini features pressure-sensitive sides, allowing users to squeeze the device to confirm basic actions. It may not be that useful, but it's a different way to offer one-handed operation.

There's no word at this point if the Aquos Mini will make its way stateside, but seeing as how most quirky feature phones remain in Japan, it seem unlikely. Then again, the original Aquos Crystal did come to Sprint, so maybe there's still hope.

SOURCE Sharp

Source: Sharp made another Japan-only phone with razor-thin bezels

Modular (and modular-like) phones you should know about

Modularity -- or the ability to switch out individual parts and pieces -- isn't a far-off reality for phones anymore. Thanks to big tech names like Google and Motorola throwing their hats in (acquiring small companies and patents around 2011-2012 in mobile modular technology), what started out as distant pipe dream has steadily expanded its presence into mainstream products.

Being able to swap your phone's hardware has many benefits. First, you can customize your handset to your preferences and needs. For instance, if you're going on vacation and you know you'll snap tons of photos, you can upgrade your phone's camera module with a better camera lens. If you're more of a gamer, changing out your handset's graphics processor will beef up your gaming experience.

It'll also let you hang onto your phone longer. Instead of having to chuck the whole thing out whenever Company X releases a new flagship, you can replace and upgrade the parts you want at a cheaper price.

At this point, there's a mixture of modular phones and modular accessories -- the latter being accessories that attach onto your handset, which increase its functionality in some way (but the device's core hardware remains the same). Though the industry has a ways to go, here are the four key players you should know about that are making moves in this field.

The current prototype of the upcoming Project Ara Developer Edition.

Google Google Project Ara

It seems like Google's highly anticipated modular phone initiative, known as Project Ara, has been stuck in developer limbo since forever. But the company will ship out an early-edition version of the handset to developers this year, and is expected to be consumer-ready by 2017. Though no official specs are known, Ara is considered to be truly modular. Its individual hardware parts snap onto an "endoskeleton" (similar to a PC's motherboard) that users can mix and match different components.

Add on the video projector module to the Moto Z and you can view your photos and movies against a larger surface for an impromptu movie night.

James Martin/CNET Motorola Moto Z and Z Force

Motorola's latest pair of flagship phones, the Moto Z and Z Force, are thin for a reason: their backs have magnetic pins that attach onto extra accessories. One is a battery pack for more juice, but there are others that add to the handsets' functionality altogether, like an audio speaker and an image projector.

With the G5's camera grip, you can snap photos in a more easy and comfortable manner.

James Martin/CNET LG G5

Featuring a 5.3-inch display, a Snapdragon 820 processor and two rear cameras (a standard 16-megapixel shooter and a wide-angle 8-megapixel one), the G5 also has a battery that you can remove in an unorthodox way. The phone's bottom bezel slides out, along with the battery, which you can then attach other accessories like a camera grip and a digital-to-audio converter.

The Fairphone 2 is meant to be easy to upgrade and repair. Fairphone Fairphone 2

Though Fairphone isn't as well known as the other companies, it debuted in 2013 and is now on its second flagship handset. The company emphasizes social consciousness and ethical manufacturing, but what makes it truly unique is that the phone opens up so the users can easily repair and upgrade individual parts. Its core specs include a Snapdragon 801 processor, an 8-megapixel camera and it runs Google Android Lollipop.

Source: Modular (and modular-like) phones you should know about

LeEco Le 2: A camera centric Android smartphone for photography lovers!

Over the years, smartphones have become a gadget users do not step out of home without. Be it on a day-out or for a party with friends or your vacation time, smartphones have become people's companion, more so to capture memories with their loved ones.

Therefore, when new smartphones are announced these days, details around its camera quality and related specs are usually described upfront. The ever-growing trend of clicking pictures on smartphones is true for markets across the globe and can also be validated by industry data.

SEE ALSO: Lenovo, Xiaomi Slash Smartphone Prices in India to compete with LeEco Le 2

As per a research by Pew Research Center survey, 92% of smartphone users use their phones to take pictures and 80% people send their pictures elsewhere after they're snapped, all on-the-go! Therefore, camera specs have become a top feature that smartphones buyers nowadays look out for.

LeEco's second generation Superphone Le 2, with its compelling features and superlative camera specs stands out in the otherwise cluttered smartphones market and has won the hearts of users, evident from the over-whelming response it got on its first flash sale.

SEE ALSO: LeEco Le Max2 Claims to be the Best Snapdragon 820 Smartphone

Le 2 comes equipped have PDAF (phase detection auto focus) feature that enables fast focusing on the image and flaunts a 16M PDAF primary camera that lets users click visibly better images with vibrant and true-to-life colours.

Also, since the, "Selfie culture" which still continues to grow, the power of the rear camera has shifted to the front camera, thus making it one of the most important USPs that users consider while buying a smartphone. LeEco's Le 2 comes equipped with a front camera of 8MP making the superphone an amazing option to consider while buying a phone!

Le 2 has an In-Cell display screen which is usually featured with overpriced phones. The screen's blue light filter helps reduce eye fatigue, while at the same time, the in-cell screen allows devices to be thinner and lighter.

Here's a quick look at what Le 2 offers in terms of camera specs -- Flash: Dual LED- Enhanced beauty mode for natural looking selfies- Takes 0.09s to focus because of the Phase detection, auto focus because of PDAF, which allows accurate and super-fast calculation of lens position to enable crisp and fast focusing- 4K recording, Slow motion recording- Two tone flash for the perfect color temperature

Adding to this is Le 2's full metal unibody which feels solid and gives it the look and feel of a premium flagship smartphone. It weighs 153g which is less than what an average 5.5-inch smartphone weighs.

The design and build of the device are one of its highlights and can easily rival any high-end smartphone. The phone offers a 5.5-inch Full HD display, making it a delight for users!

With these supreme features, LeEco's Le 2, priced at Rs 11,999, is surely a game changer in the industry!

For people who missed June 28th flash sale, LeEco is coming up with yet another opportunity for them. The flash sale for both of its second generation Superphones Le 2 and Le Max2 will be on July 5th, and the registrations for them are already underway! The Flash Sale for Le 2 and Le Max2 are at 12 noon and 2PM respectively on both LeMall, LeEco's own ecommerce marketplace, and Flipkart.

Source: LeEco Le 2: A camera centric Android smartphone for photography lovers!

Apple Just Patented a Technology That Will Disable iPhone’s Camera at Live Events

Just a few days ago, on Tuesday to be more precise, Apple was granted a patent that will definitely make future iPhone users very unhappy. This technology will disable cameras on iPhones/iPads on live concerts and other "sensitive" events (like museums, art shows, stand-up comedy, the possibilities are endless), in order to prevent you from taking pictures or shooting videos. Because, you know, copyright laws must be obeyed to the letter, that's where the money comes from , right?. The eggheads from Cupertino seem to think that if you shoot a video or take a picture while you're having fun with your friends at a Metallica concert, you're  somehow stealing something from your favorite band, or you'll never buy the album, who knows.

Really, I don't understand what Apple is thinking, but as I already told you, they were awarded the respective patent and now they'll most probably implement it in their future devices. The patent describes how the iPad/iPhone camera will receive a coded infrared signal which is emitted in the aforementioned "sensitive" public places, disabling the video-camera thus preventing you from snapping pics or taking "unauthorized" videos. Big Brother is not happy with you taking unauthorized videos, you know that citizen.

The same infrared coded signal can be used for other purposes, more benign stuff, like beaming info to a group of people visiting an art museum, offering them a tour guide or things of that nature. In the dark side of the realm of possibilities, this technology can be used easily for nefarious purposes. For example, the police can deactivate your smartphone's camera when you're filming a protest/acts of police brutality or whatever, you know where this is going, right? It's not so hard to imagine what a government like the one in China or Turkey may be able to do if presented with this possibility. However, to keep an optimistic tone, let's hope that Apple just filled for the patent and they'll never implement it commercially. Actually, lots of companies fill for various patents, from which just a few see the light of day, i.e. are actually implemented in real-life products.

Source

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Source: Apple Just Patented a Technology That Will Disable iPhone's Camera at Live Events

Apple granted patent that could disable your iPhone's camera

Shanika Gunaratna, CBS News , KREM 6:49 AM. PDT July 01, 2016

Apple was granted a patent on Tuesday that reveals the company is exploring ways to block its own iPhone cameras from taking photos and videos in certain contexts.

So why would Apple want to do this?

The technology could prove useful in specific settings. For example, it could be used at a concert where taking photos and/or videos are prohibited.

Apple's patent would allow infrared technology to be used to temporarily deactivate iPhone cameras in these locations, according to a report from CBS News. 

Follow the link above to read the rest of the story and then join the conversation on our Facebook page.

CBS News

Source: Apple granted patent that could disable your iPhone's camera