Putting the Lumia 1020's 41-megapixel camera to the test
Most smartphone cameras these days claim 8- or 13-megapixel cameras, which is why Nokia's 41-megapixel claim for the Lumia 1020 sounds so grand, and so impossible.
These shots were all taken with the Nokia Pro Cam app. Unless specified, they were shot in automatic mode and have been resized. Check out our camera shootout for comparison photos with other smartphones.
Om nom nom
This kid loves his snacks.
Good enough to eat
This taco platter looks sharp, focused, and delicious.
Close crop
I cropped into the original image very closely to reveal the detail captured in the leaves and separate blades of grass.
Low light
You see rice grains and the table's texture in this low-light shot, which isn't washed out or overly lit with flash.
Not as good
Another low-light shot, but this time the saffron sauce surrounding the squash isn't as sharp as it should be.
Into the fire pit
Playing with the ISO and exposure mode got me this flame; taking the same photo with automatic modes in the native camera app just gave me a big, hazy, bright fireball with no depth or definition.
En fuego
The same goes for this majestic fountain of flame.
Sharper than it looks
I shot this photo of a storefront because I liked the juxtaposition of the mural and the dress. Only afterward did I notice the bag reading "Good grammar is sexy."
Crop in a little
To test the lossless zooming, I cropped in from a picture similar to the previous one (I used a slightly different angle to take in the T-shirts to the left of the bag).
Even closer
Then, I cropped even more. The original photo captured so much detail, you can see the jagged edges of the bag's stitched lettering.
Between shoots
This quickly snapped candid shot takes in the scene perfectly, but I expected faces to come out a little sharper.
In full bloom
Fine detail and bright, saturated color make this photo a winner. The camera autoenhanced this picture to boost color richness and contrast, which is a good thing in this case. An overcast day like today eliminates shadows that can help tease out how good a camera is at dealing with more difficult (but common) conditions.
More flowers
It's nice to see the variegated petal colors come through.
Fun with focus
We tested out the 1020's agility in hopping between two focus points. Here, I'm in focus.
Fun with focus, Part 2
Now, my ice cream takes center stage.
Landscape
The Lumia 1020 captured the moment when I shot this landscape scene, but it's so far away, the features all blend together.
Front-facing shots
I was happy with the color and evenness in this front-facing photo, taken outdoors in front of a local San Francisco food truck.
And now inside
Working and snacking while assessing the front-facing shooter.
Putt-putt
The hot summer sun threw sharp shadows. You can almost feel the heat through this pic.
Zoom, zoom, baby
Ready for another demonstration of the Lumia 1020's cropping skills? Here's the original photo.
Closer...
Now we get closer.
Not done yet
And closer still...
Portrait
The closest crop is a little grainy, but it's still easy to make out sharp edges and detail.
Group shot
The 1020 overemphasized amber tones in this indoor photo of CNET's crew, and some faces weren't as distinct as others.
Not bad
This photo was shot using full Auto settings. You can clearly see both the sky and the house, as well as the texture of the clouds.
Exposed
This photo was shot with a 1.7 exposure compensation. It's brighter, but at the expense of cloud detail.
Warm flash
Camera flash often blues out an image. The light here is warm, even if skin looks a little jaundiced in spots.
Texture king
Gorgeous texture in the sculpture makes this photo feel very true-to-life.
Light versus dark
This stress test shows how the 1020 balances the bright outside light and the room's dark interior. Instead of exposing for the light and making the interior really dark, it kept the inside of the room the right tones while keeping the outside lit. The camera gets points for avoiding extremes.
Studio shot
Here, the Lumia 1020 goes through the same camera test as a typical standalone CNET camera. There's excellent detail and noise control.
Near and far
CNET camera editor Joshua Goldman photographed this New York skyscraper to test two things: the 1020's proficiency with landscapes, and how much noise it creates when you zoom close in on the focal point.