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Picture quality of iPhone 4, 5 and 6...???

D

DieBeachballDie

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 29, 2015
132
6
Been looking at prices of used iPhones, and some are almost reasonable. I need a cell phone, for CALLS (i dont text or use data and i have a nice iPod)... emergencies really, but i'd also like a nice camera that'll go with me everywhere.

I see the iPhone 4's are getting cheap, but are the camera's good on them?

MY main concern is if there was a jump in picture quality from the 4 to the 5 or the 6. If the 4 is pretty close to the 5 in picture quality then i'll save my money and get the 4. If the 5 is a LOT better, then i might talk myself into finding a bit more for the better camera.
 
iPhone 5 should suffice.

iPhone 6
CAMERA Primary 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, check quality
Features 1/3'' sensor size, 1.5µm pixel size, geo-tagging, simultaneous HD video and image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama)
Video 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, check quality
Secondary 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, HDR, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular
iPhone 5
CAMERA Primary 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality
Features 1/3.2'' sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size, simultaneous HD video and image recording, touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, HDR photo
Video 1080p@30fps, check quality
Secondary 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular
iPhone 4
CAMERA Primary 5 MP, 2592 x 1936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, check quality
Features 1/3.2'' sensor size, 1.75 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, HDR photo
Video 720p@30fps, check quality
Secondary VGA, 480p@30fps, videocalling over Wi-Fi only
 
Those numbers dont mean a lot to me, but it seems that the big difference is between the 4 and the 5, photo and video. Wish i could find my old camera specs... so i could see how those stack up.
 
The 4 had a pretty good camera...for a phone. The 5 has an excellent camera, period. And I believe the 5s performs better than the 5 in low light situations (anyone feel free to correct me on that, going off memory here).

If camera is the priority, go with a 5 or 5s. I see very little difference between images from my 5 & my 6.
 
iPhone 4s might be the way to go actually, the main difference between the 4s and the 5 was the fact it was shrunk down to fit in a thinner enclosure.
 
DieBeachballDie said:
Haha... Okay then, looking into iPhone 5's now...
Click to expand...

Camera aside, make sure you're looking at phones that are compatible with your carrier of choice and/or unlocked. Sprint phones basically can't be unlocked, for example, and will only work on Sprint. With some models, AT&T phones won't work on Verizon and vice versa.

We get a lot of folks around here who buy a secondhand phone and then find they can't use it, so it's best to do your homework ahead of time.

Once you've decided on a model, you might investigate Olloclip lenses. They can definitely enhance your photography. I've had them for the both the 4 & 5, high quality and loved them both.
 
IrishVixen said:
Camera aside, make sure you're looking at phones that are compatible with your carrier of choice and/or unlocked. Sprint phones basically can't be unlocked, for example, and will only work on Sprint. With some models, AT&T phones won't work on Verizon and vice versa.

We get a lot of folks around here who buy a secondhand phone and then find they can't use it, so it's best to do your homework ahead of time.

Once you've decided on a model, you might investigate Olloclip lenses. They can definitely enhance your photography. I've had them for the both the 4 & 5, high quality and loved them both.
Click to expand...

The iPhone 5s actually looks perfect. Slightly better cam than the other 5 models, a few other neat tricks. So far i see them used around here for as little as $300 (Cdn). A larger capacity 32 or even 64g would be a boon for storing pics and videos.

I'll buy unlocked, or at least become an expert on what can be unlocked/how to get it done/how much etc.

I dont plan on getting a plan. Pay as i go, somehow. Looking into that too. NOT interested in monthly payments. Like i said (well, maybe not here, but elsewhere), i ONLY really need to take calls, and pictures/videos. No texts/data, etc.
 
DieBeachballDie said:
The iPhone 5s actually looks perfect. Slightly better cam than the other 5 models, a few other neat tricks. So far i see them used around here for as little as $300 (Cdn). A larger capacity 32 or even 64g would be a boon for storing pics and videos.

I'll buy unlocked, or at least become an expert on what can be unlocked/how to get it done/how much etc.

I dont plan on getting a plan. Pay as i go, somehow. Looking into that too. NOT interested in monthly payments. Like i said (well, maybe not here, but elsewhere), i ONLY really need to take calls, and pictures/videos. No texts/data, etc.
Click to expand...
You can get a voice/text service with Cricket using ATT towers for a mere $25/mo. No contract.
Adding the luxury of data, bumps that to a mere $35/mo.

4 is a good camera for a compact phone,

4S/5 are substantially better. Have very similar cameras, and are very good.

5S and 6 is less substantial improvement, mostly low light performance.
 
Menel said:
You can get a voice/text service with Cricket using ATT towers for a mere $25/mo. No contract.
Adding the luxury of data, bumps that to a mere $35/mo.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind, i'm in Canada. Probably doesn't apply.


An interesting, if uncanny turn of events today... a good friend who just got an iPhone 6 told me he did so because his 5s had charging issues. The port where it physically interfaces needs fixin'. He said the camera lens has some grit or dust behind it too. Otherwise, still works fine. Its a black (right color even) 16g 5s. Said i can HAVE it.

PERFECT.

Now just got to look into how much to get that fixed.

Also talked to two other friends tonight, both have new 5s phones. Got to see some pics and videos and features. Definitely sold.
 
DieBeachballDie said:
Keep in mind, i'm in Canada. Probably doesn't apply.


An interesting, if uncanny turn of events today... a good friend who just got an iPhone 6 told me he did so because his 5s had charging issues. The port where it physically interfaces needs fixin'. He said the camera lens has some grit or dust behind it too. Otherwise, still works fine. Its a black (right color even) 16g 5s. Said i can HAVE it.

PERFECT.

Now just got to look into how much to get that fixed.

Also talked to two other friends tonight, both have new 5s phones. Got to see some pics and videos and features. Definitely sold.
Click to expand...
The Out-of-Warranty repair fee at a retail Apple Store would be your best bet.

Probably $199-230. Not the cheapest option. But you'll get a brand new battery out of the deal. They'll give you a refurbished one. With new glass, new body, new battery, and a short warranty. It'd be practically a new phone.
 
Menel said:
The Out-of-Warranty repair fee at a retail Apple Store would be your best bet.

Probably $199-230. Not the cheapest option. But you'll get a brand new battery out of the deal. They'll give you a refurbished one. With new glass, new body, new battery, and a short warranty. It'd be practically a new phone.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, i'm nowhere near an Apple store.

I looked into it last night and found two very local iPhone repair businesses that do just this. Prices seem to be around $70-80 to fix the charger port, and maybe the same to fix the camera... if in fact it needs it. Might just need some compressed air to clean it. He said its not actually broken/scratched.
 
DieBeachballDie said:
Unfortunately, i'm nowhere near an Apple store.

I looked into it last night and found two very local iPhone repair businesses that do just this. Prices seem to be around $70-80 to fix the charger port, and maybe the same to fix the camera... if in fact it needs it. Might just need some compressed air to clean it. He said its not actually broken/scratched.
Click to expand...

Not saying all are bad but the people I know that have taken their iPhones to 3rd party repair people and were very displeased with the quality of the parts and workmanship. Their parts are typically aftermarket and not of the greatest quality. When messing with something as serious as the charging circuit, I'd be cautious of sub-quality repop parts.

You can call Apple and do a mail-in repair. They charge your card, you send the old phone back then they send you a refurbished one.
 
iamMacPerson said:
Not saying all are bad but the people I know that have taken their iPhones to 3rd party repair people and were very displeased with the quality of the parts and workmanship. Their parts are typically aftermarket and not of the greatest quality. When messing with something as serious as the charging circuit, I'd be cautious of sub-quality repop parts.

You can call Apple and do a mail-in repair. They charge your card, you send the old phone back then they send you a refurbished one.
Click to expand...

The one local guy here claims to use only legit Apple parts, and will apparently do the repairs right in front of you. I'll look into this further.
 
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