Nokia Lumia 800 photo test

The Nokia Lumia 800 has a fancy, name-brand 8-megapixel camera, but sadly, it didn't perform as well as expected.

Jessica Dolcourt

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Nov. 7, 2011 6:02 p.m. PT

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Camera tests

Equipped with an 8-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens and dual-LED flash, the Nokia Lumia 800 should be a terrific mobile camera specimen. Should. This photo, shot outdoors in bright sunlight, reproduces color faithfully, but didn't produce sharp edges on the bamboo leaves. All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched.

2 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Dead flowers

The autumn chill has killed these flowers, taken outdoors in shade. The shot looks slightly out of focus and colors could be more vibrant.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)

3 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Comparison

I took the top photo with the Lumia 800, the middle with the iPhone 4S, and the bottom photo with the Samsung Epic 4G Touch (aka Galaxy S II). All cameras shoot 8-megapixel photos with flash, and all were taken of the same flower planter outdoors in the shade.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)

4 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Motorcycle row

This photo came out clear and colorful, though the "600" on the back of the Suzuki looks out of focus.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)

5 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Sculpture

This indoor sculpture was bathed in natural light. The photo came out muddy.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)

6 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

iPhone 4S has a turn

Here's the same sculpture, taken with the iPhone 4S. It's darker, but also much sharper and with higher contrast.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched.

7 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Toys

A battle rages on this CNET copy editor's desk. Unfortunately, it's not clear with the Nokia 800 what's going on beneath these indoor, artificial lights away from a window.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)

8 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Take two

The iPhone 4S took brighter, sharper, more vibrant photos than the Lumia 800, though the image still isn't crystal clear.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched.

9 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Octopus

The Lumia 800 once again wasn't able to snap into clear focus on this stuffed cephalopod, photographed indoors in artificial light away from a window. But it did better than with the toys.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)

10 of 11 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Galaxy S II's turn

The Samsung Epic 4G Touch (aka the Galaxy S II) created a more saturated, in-focus reproduction on its 8-megapixel camera.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched.

11 of 11 Josh Miller/CNET

In-studio shot

The Lumia 800 threw a pinkish glow over the center of this standard studio shot. The edges, in the mean time, came out darker grey.

All pictures taken with the 8-megapixel camera phone were cropped and/or slightly resized, but otherwise untouched. (Read the full Nokia Lumia 800 review.)