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840quadra

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,481
6,377
Twin Cities Minnesota
Many of us have been viewing articles, videos, and comparison articles featuring camera comparisons, and have provided both positive and salty feedback to other's work. Why rely on others when we can do this work ourselves ;) .

One thing is for sure, Macrumors has a diverse culture of phone users on both sides of the wall around Apple's Garden. With many of us in the Alternatives section turning over phones more often (sometimes multiple times per year), we get a chance at seeing more camera technology than those who strictly stick to Apple's annual releases. This thread is intended to be a place for users to post up comparison shots using cameras you have.

Guidelines For posting
  1. Take photos with whatever Mobile devices you have, minimum of 2 different devices so we can compare / contrast images.
  2. Try to compose your shot as close as possible between your tested units so the images and conditions are similar
  3. Try to take your shots as close (in time) as possible so the comparisons are in similar lighting / weather
  4. Edited photos are discouraged, but if you do find the need to edit photos, please try to copy / paste the same settings onto both photos
  5. BE SURE to strip location data / EXIF from your photos before sharing them if you are in a sensitive location. This prevents someone from downloading the photo and using an EXIF viewer to track your location!
  6. Try to keep posts to 10 shots or less. If you have more shots feel free to share a link to a social media post or gallery so long as it falls under acceptable use on MacRumors and doesn't violate our Self Promotion rules.
  7. Have Fun, get out and get some exercise and take some great images with your devices to share!
For an awesome gallery thread for all platforms, please take time to view the thread @jamezr created titled Phots taken with your favorite phone!

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To Kick things off, I am looking forward to the arrival of my Pixel 6 and being able to compare my own shots and video work between that and my iPhone 13 Pro. Currently lacking that ability, I wanted to see how well my tried and true Pixel 3 from 2018 would hold up. Google has upgraded the photo capabilities of this device a few times, so how well does it hold up?

Pixel 3
PXL_20211025_225424664-X5.jpg


iPhone 13 Pro
IMG_5029-X5.jpg


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Pixel 3
PXL_20211025_225538492-X5.jpg


iPhone 13 Pro
IMG_5030-X5.jpg


--------

Pixel 3
PXL_20211025_225615168-X5.jpg


iPhone 13 Pro
IMG_5031-X5.jpg


--------

Pixel 3
IMG_5037-X5.jpg


iPhone 13 Pro
PXL_20211025_225857410-X5.jpg


------

Pixel 3
PXL_20211025_225905297-X5.jpg


iPhone 13 Pro
IMG_5039-X5.jpg


--------

Conclusion on this first test.
I think the Pixel 3 is doing dang good for a 3yo device. While my shooting style may be a bit dark for some, I was focusing in areas near bright spots in attempts to get an idea of the dynamic range the cameras offered in various situations.
 

5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
@840quadra Wow. I preferred the Pixel 3 images almost as often as I did the 6’s. But I’m finding the same surprising results from my very brief less attractive comparisons I did between my newly acquired iPhone XR and the iPhone 13 Pro photos.

The newer cameras’ images almost suffer a bit from over-processing. It’s not sour grapes from me trying to make lemonade out of the lemons of being forced back onto an LCD iPhone. It’s my genuine opinion, from trying to evaluate the images fairly for my fellow forum members.

Of course where the newer cameras excel is in getting low light and almost no-light shots older cameras can’t get at all. And in creating portraits with bokeh effects.
 

5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
Wow amazing, thanks. Damn I agree with gm, I prefer the Pixel 3 on a bunch of shots
Alas, there is more to the overall ownership experience than the cameras. My Pixel 3XL was a bit derpy, overall. It didn’t have enough RAM, which was a big problem for my husband, less so for me, but still. So I will take that 6 Pro anyway. Sigh. If it ever leaves California.

Oh no, what it if it ended up at The Hotel California? Then it can never leave! :eek: That would explain so much!

I am pretty confident Google will fine tune the camera software to ease up on the over processed look. MKBHD expressed his hope they would. I’m sure they’re listening to his opinion especially when it gets echoed around the internet.
 
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840quadra

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,481
6,377
Twin Cities Minnesota
Agreed on the observations. I feel like both the Pixel and iPhone are now going down the path of over processing. For video, I feel they actually get the balance of color and reality correct on both platforms, in a way that makes their photos look far too over processed.
 

840quadra

Moderator
Original poster
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,481
6,377
Twin Cities Minnesota
Golden hour with the Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 Pro.

First Image, No Little red Riding hood was found in these woods, nor did I see the big bad wolf! Hoping it is just a hoodie some poor kid lost while riding bike with family!

tempImageyY8cvK.png

iPhone 13 Pro

PXL_20211031_223826628.jpg

Pixel 6

tempImageIepZQ8.png

iPhone 13 Pro

PXL_20211031_223941623.jpg

Pixel 6

PXL_20211031_224103332.jpg

Pixel 6

tempImagekts5io.png

iPhone 13 Pro

PXL_20211031_224612108.jpg

Pixel 6

tempImageJi60e6.png

iPhone 13 Pro

tempImagemaMGJq.png

iPhone 13 Pro

PXL_20211031_225606547.jpg

Pixel 6 (While a nice shot, the intent was to capture the plant in the foreground like I achieved on the iPhone).
 

fuchsdh

macrumors 68020
Jun 19, 2014
2,028
1,831
Golden hour with the Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 Pro.

First Image, No Little red Riding hood was found in these woods, nor did I see the big bad wolf! Hoping it is just a hoodie some poor kid lost while riding bike with family!

View attachment 1899827
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899831
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899828
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899832
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899833
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899829
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899834
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899830
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899836
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899835
Pixel 6 (While a nice shot, the intent was to capture the plant in the foreground like I achieved on the iPhone).
Fun to compare. I overall much prefer the 13 shots, but it's interesting to see that the Pixel handles these and does a nicer job, while it looks like the 13 is trying to stop clipping into white but results in a less natural result.
 
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Jhon Micheal

macrumors newbie
Nov 21, 2021
2
1
Golden hour with the Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 Pro.

First Image, No Little red Riding hood was found in these woods, nor did I see the big bad wolf! Hoping it is just a hoodie some poor kid lost while riding bike with family!

View attachment 1899827
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899831
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899828
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899832
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899833
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899829
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899834
Pixel 6

View attachment 1899830
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899836
iPhone 13 Pro

View attachment 1899835
Pixel 6 (While a nice shot, the intent was to capture the plant in the foreground like I achieved on the iPhone).
Wow, Images are so beautiful.
 
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