2023-07-23 17:56:51
Sony recently released its Sony Xperia 1 V, which is nothing but its latest flagship, looking very promising in the photo. Yes, but here it is: it is placed in front of an excellent Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on the photo part. To find out which is the best photophone, discover our shots in this comparison.
Samsung and Sony are two major manufacturers of photo sensors for smartphones, and for good reason: they are found in almost all smartphones marketed today, regardless of their price range. So when they start designing high-end smartphones, it’s obviously interesting to know what they can offer the best in terms of phone photography. This is where the Sony Xperia 1 V and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra clash.
The opposing photo strategies of Sony and Samsung
In the smartphone photo market, Sony and Samsung do not have quite the same strategies. Sony is first designer of photo sensors before being a manufacturer of smartphones. For Samsung, it’s the opposite: it is the world’s leading manufacturer in terms of units sold (in 2022). Which means that in practice, smartphones do not focus on the same thing, including the photo. It is unlikely that Sony will make a significant turnover on its Xperia: the manufacturer only sells six references for the general public on its site and does not sell a lot of units.
The Sony Xperia 1 V // Source: Chloé Pertuis for Frandroid
This is why the Sony Xperia 1 V is more of a technological showcase for selling its sensors than a consumer product. Where, at Samsung, if the Galaxy S23 Ultra is also a technological showcase, it is to sell smartphones. By interesting the general public with its flagship, Samsung makes it possible to sell its more affordable Galaxy smartphones: we are talking here regarding the Galaxy A range for example.
The photo technical sheets of the Sony Xperia 1 V and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Here are the configurations of the photo sensors of the two models compared:
La configuration photo du Sony Xperia 1 V
1/1.35-inch 52MP Exmor T main sensor with 24mm focal length, f/1.9; 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with 16mm focal length; 12MP telephoto lens with 85-125mm focal length; 12 MP selfie sensor.
La configuration photo du Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Ultra wide-angle lens, 12 Mpx sensor, autofocus, 1.4 μm pixel size, FOV 120°, F/2.2; Wide-angle lens (main sensor), 200 Mpx, 0.6 μm pixel size (i.e. 2.4 μm in 12 megapixels), FOV 85˚, F/1.7, optical stabilization; 3X telephoto lens, 10MP, 1.12μm pixel size, FOV: 11°, f/4.9, optical stabilization; 10x telephoto lens, 10MP, 1.12μm pixel size, FOV: 36˚, f/2.4, optical stabilization; Selfie, 12 Mpx, dual photodiode, autofocus, pixel size: 1.12 μm, FOV: 80˚, f/2.2.
The photo strategy being different for the two brands, the photo configuration of the two competitors is also different. Samsung has appealed to the numbers with its big 200MP main sensor. The manufacturer has also multiplied the optics, adding a second telephoto lens, which is very rare on a smartphone. Sony, for its part, seems to be refining its sensors more, so as not to multiply them precisely. This is the case for the telephoto lens and its variable focal length. To achieve this on a smartphone is quite impressive, especially since the Xperia 1 V is not very thick (8.3 mm).
Main sensor
In the first situation below, the conclusion is clear: Samsung wins hands down. The first thing you notice is the dynamic range: it is better managed on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. For the simple and good reason that the storefronts on the right appear much clearer than on the Sony image. Finally, the colors are a little prettier and we are entitled to more sharpness on the image on the right.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
We feel that the HDR is more pronounced on the Samsung smartphone: the exposure is higher, which makes the colors less natural than with Sony. According to tastes and colors, we may prefer Sony’s naturalness, perhaps closer to a “TRUE” camera.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
On the example above, same thing: if Samsung goes a little too far on the HDR, the sharpness and the management of the dynamic range is better. This can undeniably be seen in the magnificent editorial carpet, much more highlighted on the right.
Ultra-wide-angle sensor
On the ultra-wide-angle, it’s a little different: Sony announces x0.7 while Samsung offers x0.6, which means that the latter’s model offers a slightly larger field of vision. On the ultra-wide-angle side, it’s more or less the same thing: the Galaxy S23 Ultra is doing better. As on the wide-angle sensor, the model is better able to recover details and light in darker places (here, the front of the pizzeria on the right or the end of the barrier on the left). Colors appear more vivid as well, although the Sony Xperia 1 V offers slightly more detail.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
In a second situation, here too the Xperia 1 V offers more sharpness than the S23 Ultra, but above all manages exposure better. Too focused on HDR no doubt, the Samsung model overexposes certain parts of the image. This is noticeable in the other direction since the darkest corners are more illuminated in the photo on the right (Galaxy S23 Ultra) than on the left (Xperia 1 V). However, Samsung will look in shades that are too green and distort the photo more than at Sony.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Zoom
Zoom x3
Small precision for the x3 zoom: it is announced at x3 on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but for the Xperia 1 V, we have chosen to go to x3.5. In fact, it is from this zoom that the smartphone uses its telephoto lens, which seemed more interesting to us in the case of our comparison.
If Samsung’s colors are preferable, Sony has better control of its telephoto lens and this is reflected in the details and the management of light: there is less digital noise in the situation below.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Zoom x5
Let’s go to a higher focal length to reach a 5x zoom. On this round, it’s a bit difficult to decide. The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers more sharpness and above all does not overexpose its image (at the level of the fountain), unlike its competitor. Nevertheless, its colors seem less good, less natural and more forced: the software processing manages to feel.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Zoom x10
As for the x10 zoom, it is clear that on the Xperia 1 V, the colors “droolespecially on the white lettering of the hotel. The photo is done at the cost of fewer details, where the Galaxy S23 Ultra proves to be very satisfactory.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Zoom maximal
On the proposed maximum zoom, there is no match. Sony is satisfied with x 15.6 when Samsung manages to go up to x100. Indeed, going up to such a level does not have much interest, but Samsung offers it all the same. While the example below is easy to manage at the detail level, let’s face it, the Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t fare too badly.
The Sony Xperia 1 V in x15.6
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in x100
night shots
First situation: outdoors, at night. On this specific comparison, there is no doubt: the Galaxy S23 Ultra clearly stands out once morest the Xperia 1 V. The latter recovers much less information, its shutter speed is too high which causes motion blur and the colors are not bright enough. Which means that on arrival, we completely lose the details of the trees.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Second situation, this time indoors. If on the colors, both the Xperia 1 V and the Galaxy S23 Ultra are doing well, the management of the dynamic range is not substantially the same. The second is more successful in recovering details in dark places: we see it very well on the right of the image. It’s a shame for the Sony, since that’s precisely what we ask of a good night mode.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
portrait mode
In portrait mode, here too Sony does significantly less well than Samsung. Sony’s least forgivable mistake was exposure management. In the Xperia 1 V photo, my college shoulders are overexposed, as is part of her hair. The clipping is not perfect, but it is better than on the Galaxy S23 Ultra in the sense that it is less sharp and more natural. We feel Sony’s desire to imitate camera optics as much as possible. But this S23 Ultra is better, since there is no veil on the photo, the colors are quite vivid and the sharpness is better. One can simply reproach the colors of the skin, a little too red.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Same colleague, another example: indoors this time. If the two images are naturally more noisy, this is noticeable too much on the Xperia 1 V. However, it must be recognized that the blur looks less like a clipping than a blur produced by an optic of a “TRUE” camera. Too bad the colors don’t follow that.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The selfie sensor
On the selfie sensor, we first tried without background blur. On this point, Sony is really late: there is a veil in front of the photo and rather bland colors, it’s really a shame. Where Samsung is much better with nice colors and more detail.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
As for portrait mode, at Sony, it’s like with the sensors on the back: you have to adjust it yourself. Below it is pushed to its maximum, when on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra we left it as default.
Le Sony Xperia 1 V
Le Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Which of the Sony Xperia 1 V and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best smartphone in the photo?
With all these examples, the conclusion is quite clear: the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra does better in photos than the Sony Xperia 1 V. First of all because it manages low light levels better: the Xperia 1 V often fails to recover details in its photos. Another point: the level of detail, more important on the Galaxy than on the Xperia. On the colors, Samsung manages very well to balance the light of its shots thanks to a controlled HDR. However, we can understand photo lovers attached to the Sony leg, who prefer the warmer and more natural colors of the Xperia 1 V.
Even without motion blur, the Sony model offers less sharpness. All this is particularly noticeable in night shots, where sometimes the Sony Xperia 1 V is much worse. To talk regarding portrait mode, clipping and blurring are more natural on Sony’s side, but the rest (colors, details) leaves too much to be desired to consider it better.
The Sony Xperia 1 V // Source: Chloé Pertuis for Frandroid
Source : Frandroid
However, the ultra-wide-angle is better managed by Sony than by Samsung. Colors are better governed and look more natural on this sensor. Another point on which Sony beats Samsung: exposure. There were times when the Galaxy S23 Ultra exposed certain areas of its images too much, where the Xperia 1 V was always fair.
Finally, we have to hand over the victory to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in the photo. If in full light the Sony Xperia 1 V offers very nice shots, it lacks too much to claim to exceed it. Beyond that, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers more than the Xperia 1 V on other points: screen, interface, update time, performance, autonomy, etc.
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