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Baldilocks

macrumors 6502a
Jan 2, 2012
506
435
Delaware, USA
However it looks, I am sure that Google will keep doing notifications better than iOS. Their implementation of group notifications is convoluted.

Anyway, I'm interested in seeing what the 3XL "actually" looks like.
 
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Macalicious2011

macrumors 68000
May 15, 2011
1,862
1,981
London
There really is something about the Pixel 2's image processing that makes the results a little more special -- the dynamic range is just unmatched.
I agree

Many photos taken by smartphone flagships still need a bit of post processing work to sparkle. Photos taken by the Pixel rarely need enhancements or white balance correction. Because photos look so good out of the box it encourages me to want to shoot more often.

This is even true when comparing my Pixel against my FujiFilm X10 and Lumix LX3.

I have always enjoyed camera improvements when upgrading phones but the Pixel 2 is something special.


The rest of the package is awesome too: Rapid charging, unbeatable price, fast UI, great all day battery life, squeeze feature for voice assist.
 
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Macalicious2011

macrumors 68000
May 15, 2011
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Oh but don't head into the iPhone forum, because The Verge, and Nilay specifically, are getting roasted for saying the Pixel 2 has a better camera than the XS.
The Verge/Engadget used to be biased towards Apple and give every product a rating of 9 and never surface blatant short comings.

It's good to see that their reviews are less biased. It will be appreciated by readers and advertisers.
 

Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
The Verge/Engadget used to be biased towards Apple and give every product a rating of 9 and never surface blatant short comings.

It's good to see that their reviews are less biased. It will be appreciated by readers and advertisers.
Certain people can't handle it when a brand they love gets (fair) criticism for obvious shortcomings. It is what it is. I have to say, I think I need a tech break. At least from online forums and such. Ive got a device I'm finally fully happy with so not much need to care about anything new, other than just general interest. The constant banter back and forth from both sides over the pettiest things is making me age faster than ever. Folks just can't let other folks be happy.
 

Macalicious2011

macrumors 68000
May 15, 2011
1,862
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Google has nailed the post processing algorithm better than anyone else. I hope they improve on that on the Pixel 3!

It's a massive time saver. In the past if I had been to holiday I would need to move 50-200 images to my laptop and then post process them to look optimal. It would be time consuming and duplicate files take up space on the computer and add clutter.

That work has now entirely been taken out of my life. Similarly when I give the phone to someone else to take a photo of me I don't have to worry about focus, white balance, blur or anything.

Photos look perfect regardless of who press the trigger.

The addition of a 2-3x telephoto lens is on my wish list for the Pixel 4.
 
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epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
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I get the same response in real life. When I say the Pixel 2 is widely considered to be the best smartphone camera, even better than the X, people are incredulous. It's an iPhone world we live in.

BTW, diving further into the Verge review, the Pixel 2 XL photos handedly beat the XS'. I didn't think the difference would be that great.
 
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Macalicious2011

macrumors 68000
May 15, 2011
1,862
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I get the same response in real life. When I say the Pixel 2 is widely considered to be the best smartphone camera, even better than the X, people are incredulous. It's an iPhone world we live in.

BTW, diving further into the Verge review, the Pixel 2 XL photos handedly beat the XS'. I didn't think the difference would be that great.

I was hoping the Max would be better as its a great looking photo with two lenses.

In all honesty though, the camera hardware in iPhones haven't changed much since the iPhone 7. Hopefully next year they will increase the sensor, increase zoom to 3x, up the sensor to Megapixels to 16, and improve the post processing algorithm.

I want a quasi DSRL killer.
 
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tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
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I get the same response in real life. When I say the Pixel 2 is widely considered to be the best smartphone camera, even better than the X, people are incredulous. It's an iPhone world we live in.

BTW, diving further into the Verge review, the Pixel 2 XL photos handedly beat the XS'. I didn't think the difference would be that great.

First, let me say I'm not apologizing for Apple or the iPhone. As one of the members here who uses an iPhone more than an Android device, I’m sure that criticism would rain down on me in an instance. I think anyone familiar with me over the years also knows I’m not afraid of leveling harsh criticism against Apple.

Purely going off the photos included in the Verge’s iPhone review, I’m not seeing the photo deficiencies. I honestly picked the photo or side of the slider I liked better before noticing the caption so I had no preformed bias and found the two Pixel 2 photos subpar by comparison. The photo of the guy in the bar has an orange skin tone and blown out highlights all over the place. I also found the photo of the girl to be better on the iPhone (looks washed out and dull on the Pixel 2 version). The Galaxy S9 photo of the dog was much better than the iPhone and of course, the DSLR won the battle of bokeh and shallow depth of field.

I’m admittedly very far from being a photo expert but just using the eyeball test of the samples provided, I don’t see what the Verge sees. Someone help enlighten me.
 

Macalicious2011

macrumors 68000
May 15, 2011
1,862
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First, let me say I'm not apologizing for Apple or the iPhone. As one of the members here who uses an iPhone more than an Android device, I’m sure that criticism would rain down on me in an instance. I think anyone familiar with me over the years also knows I’m not afraid of leveling harsh criticism against Apple.

Purely going off the photos included in the Verge’s iPhone review, I’m not seeing the photo deficiencies. I honestly picked the photo or side of the slider I liked better before noticing the caption so I had no preformed bias and found the two Pixel 2 photos subpar by comparison. The photo of the guy in the bar has an orange skin tone and blown out highlights all over the place. I also found the photo of the girl to be better on the iPhone (looks washed out and dull on the Pixel 2 version). The Galaxy S9 photo of the dog was much better than the iPhone and of course, the DSLR won the battle of bokeh and shallow depth of field.

I’m admittedly very far from being a photo expert but just using the eyeball test of the samples provided, I don’t see what the Verge sees. Someone help enlighten me.
There are a few other reviews out there with comparison. The Pixel is just ahead overall but noticeably superior with portrait photos.

Don't forget that the Pixel 2 is half the price and a year old.
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
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The XS is still a great camera, especially when you compare it to the X's, whose photos now actually look quite bad.
 

michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
[QUOTE="tbayrgs, post: 26500317, member: 336619”] The photo of the guy in the bar has an orange skin tone and blown out highlights all over the place.[/QUOTE]

I completely agree. But it’s the iPhone that has orange skin tones and blown out highlights, with the slider to the left.
[doublepost=1537297902][/doublepost]I screwed up that quoted post. lol
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
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I completely agree. But it’s the iPhone that has orange skin tones and blown out highlights, with the slider to the left.
[doublepost=1537297902][/doublepost]I screwed up that quoted post. lol

I don’t think that’s correct—the caption is referring to the photo, not the slider direction, doesn’t it? When you start on the page, the photo is split in half so I assumed, the caption was referring to the direction relative to the slider. If not, then I stand corrected.

Edit: I’m fairly confident I’m correct as the stand alone photos of the girl against the brick background match up with the respective sides in the slider image. Same goes for the Portrait Mode photo—the example used to show the adjustable blur is the same as the photo on the left of the comparison slider with the Canon.
 
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epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
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@tbayrgs There are more comparison photos in the video review. With the exception of one or two, the 2 XL photos win out easily. Look at the last batch the video goes through starting around the 8:08 mark.

Once again, the dynamic range is what really sets it apart.

The fact that the 2 XL is still winning in any of them means the Pixel 3 could be on track to be the top camera again. There will be plenty more to compare come October.
 
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michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
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@tbayrgs Having looked again, maybe you're right. If so, that would explain why I thought the iPhone looked better than the 5D portrait. Whichever has the orange skin tones looks far worse.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
@tbayrgs There are more comparison photos in the video review. With the exception of one or two, the 2 XL photos win out easily. Once again, the dynamic range is what really sets it apart.

Ok, ill have to watch the review again with greater attention..just watched/listened casually earlier. But wouldn’t it make sense to back up the claims with better examples in the text article?

Regardless, good news for me is I own a Pixel 2 as well. ;)
 
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epicrayban

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Nov 7, 2014
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Ok, ill have to watch the review again with greater attention..just watched/listened casually earlier. But wouldn’t it make sense to back up the claims with better examples in the text article?

Agree. Though I'm sure more comparisons are inbound. We'll have a better picture (heh) in the coming days/weeks. And we'll really know who takes the crown in October when the comparisons begin anew with the Pixel 3.
[doublepost=1537300180][/doublepost]To help, here are the few in particular where the 2 XL beats the XS:


M0vHWq7.png


ty2ea9y.png


wQQK18p.png


FnueTlZ.png




The last two really show off the dynamic range.


It's also funny that The Verge review says the Pixel 2 camera is more "true to life" whereas the XS' is now closer to Samsung's over processing. Wasn't "true to life" the thing iPhone lovers kept saying was most important to them?
 
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Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
As much as I hate the "notch", I'd take the Pixel 3 XL all day over the iPhone Xs Max, no brainer
 

Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
Oh but don't head into the iPhone forum, because The Verge, and Nilay specifically, are getting roasted for saying the Pixel 2 has a better camera than the XS.

I popped in before and read some. It was HILARIOUS.
Also, I love those colour leaks if they're true.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
Agree. Though I'm sure more comparisons are inbound. We'll have a better picture (heh) in the coming days/weeks. And we'll really know who takes the crown in October when the comparisons begin anew with the Pixel 3.
[doublepost=1537300180][/doublepost]To help, here are the few in particular where the 2 XL beats the XS:


M0vHWq7.png


ty2ea9y.png


wQQK18p.png


FnueTlZ.png




The last two really show off the dynamic range.


It's also funny that The Verge review says the Pixel 2 camera is more "true to life" whereas the XS' is now closer to Samsung's over processing. Wasn't "true to life" the thing iPhone lovers kept saying was most important to them?

Thanks.

I'll try to remember to grab my Pixel 2 when I head out this weekend and get a few comparison shots with the XS Max. I'm clueless in regards to proper framing and technique but will just grab snaps typical of what I'd shoot.
 

Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
I'm clueless in regards to proper framing and technique but will just grab snaps typical of what I'd shoot.
The mark of a truly great camera is the one that you don't need any technical knowledge of photography to get a great shot. The best photo I've ever taken in my life was of a co-worker randomly outside on a break with my Pixel 2 XL in just a point and shoot portrait mode test right after I got it. It's actually on his website to this day. The photo was accidentally terrific. Three examples below of just point and shoot with portrait mode. I had no clue what I was actually doing lol

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WnSs4ajG5qFmjkwcMq4ESXNbtqsHdcwBwvONozidiXMdp7Yr1SDobKgjX5qHV1OAy-D_WuHNkmoZZEcPb16sfl_uzNgQWJE--0ya9RA2xxLSv5N3TgGdHxSyShpQuv5GbyKsNW-XunghYA5PjLw23xJkfE-BhjlosUUqlId7F66rqnW3hx9vFU7v6ekprDsP36rNTwmp66MsLlqKv1wYGKbpq33D-8QIlgMlu-lRIB99y7Vu9joQsmDeODT_3y8nyarN-HyQodFodfVAglBM2CXkJlIaWZHAvOsdvILSQ_YTJC9K2yKO7scvgnZcGXRQwDq0qvNBfw7S_aYwnitSuqRqsKAl-7yjfUgB4oZI6IL758qCNDGEtltWd_gghqg8PmyXbeC9rohTf90BYRuJ9ZQTG3IegOD_ZU5OgUn7yo0Ngzo_ZMfp_YPaeFj0EiXjt-pS2VVD2jSekFoj4ISdxaBOEr4sfXV1wj3mHIML8qp-TqrzMI7oRhD85gH3fVy3VFMM1CTha0SHzmkAfyhy98jpM2xBKOgltDVay7HQ6ROevx2KNhWY8GehwFN7_cYZtW5uuMJaa_jcG-oai7lYkUok5BNllmPy6IUieRg5eGm4ra0F2Z_wvbyIQRjfPaM=w667-h889-no
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
The mark of a truly great camera is the one that you don't need any technical knowledge of photography to get a great shot. The best photo I've ever taken in my life was of a co-worker randomly outside on a break with my Pixel 2 XL in just a point and shoot portrait mode test right after I got it. It's actually on his website to this day. The photo was accidentally terrific. Three examples below of just point and shoot with portrait mode. I had no clue what I was actually doing lol

BmPlmsdVOJ1jHoH04kJc_9wQJYEs0K4AHQ10Izy3QcWB5h2a-AbguI2_6f18rmVxcG2xBQ58dVQNP35ZtGwmWD6TfQL9gvtTgCd_jlb3DFUzTU0ozpBXY3M7vQXOMdpq9UUVlXGY9mKcVVQidngjcnJEqvmytBWgYqzQMEnGUYJXZcz9Jam7LdpbiC4Y9DqMAlmR3Kb6M08Vv9RTXkENuUpLI-gH2Mjz-xyU2Kgp-1UvD2pl3K0mvpp273RAU3PuyRjvAMd1pUfxEAqLSw82EVeSHs5xMMBPCknvt4QbtZmNRJJ4LBILEd0zXgMArj0wfLW0cDLNLKFmZwxWBVK-PIprRL7uOheGzu0LZ70cUxxxgJDkSx6irSvXQwCXGVhGRIru9JvlYXv_d8IB8fMi7xC_5tdF0gvm2TP1cERHvN1Q6JI8D9Dh1zLXzLL0RghoeQ1Ng_XFeYsfcfHakxzBgiABKPX7tzpHP79FZTHKVOc_W5Q9M-5sdA3uhAKUr1HPJt8DijArrQwY9CP8zFKJN9oX_uZp9fonrcT27xtDoLivPj50SZNaopIQx3AOEo-_aipgw4-Lsa0H4yUzc3pJdIdCnzG5Psn3fT74SN4cUWvJtQacXwywQ7xKdVFRDqM=w667-h889-no


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Great photos. When the Pixel 2 gets portrait mode right, it gets it really right.

I know people who have used the Pixel 2 camera to do their professional head shots.

As I said earlier, the Pixel 2 camera really is a cut above all else. Everyone else's photos look like "smartphone photos." The Pixel 2 photos look like something more... like it could have conceivably come from a DSLR or have been touched up in post somehow.


Just wish the rest of the Pixel 2 phone was as high quality a package and design... =T
 

Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
I'm even more torn following that Verge review and camera samples now.
Whilst the XS looks like it does take better photos than the X, the fact it is still behind the Pixel 2 even with a secondary lens is frankly not good.

I think the sensible thing for me is to definitely wait it out for the Pixel event and then see how that fares. If it doesn't impress me and there doesn't seem to be much of an upgrade over the Pixels before it then I may seriously consider the XR just to keep the costs down.

I'm ready to dip back into iOS and had high hopes for the XS cameras.
 
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