Hmm, Juan. Since the XPERIA X Performance seems to be out in the US, maybe run it through the real camera review? I'm curious on how it fares since the camera segment on the X review only touched the surface.
Oh the irony. I left Big Red specifically for the Moto X Pure a year ago as I was tired of all the VZ Bloatware and the inability to use an unlocked phone. I was so excited for the Z. Now I'm excited for August 2 so I can give Samsung my money for a Note 7. Well played Motovo.
Great reviews man, when do you think there will finally be a phone camera that can beat the s7, I'm thinking it'll either be the note 7 or the sequel to the v10, what do you think?
I just got this phone And when using the front camera is there a way to get the foggy/smoothing filter off? I see yours looks like you took that setting off!
Moto can do just about everything, except create a competitive camera. It's an improvement, but it's been improving since the Moto X pure / x force and it is still average as best. It's in the lower-mid tier (16-20) in rankings. It's not as rubbish as it was but still not the best.
Hey Juan, in a future best camera's video, do you think it would be possible to test them in a concert? Nokia used to boast about how great their mics were for recording concerts but with them no longer making phones, I'm curious if other manufacturers in 2016 compare to what Nokia were doing years ago.
I'd love to, but that's the fastest way for us to chalk up a copyright strike. I covered a music festival a couple years ago on my old channel, and the Lumias I used to shoot with recorded such high quality audio I got a take down request less than an hour after posting.
I pretty much only watch your camera reviews now to decide if a phone has a capable enough camera for my needs. Another great video. So these cameras aren't anything too special, thanks.
it's a little late to comment or ask but haven't seen a revisit a month later, +JuanBagnell in your opinion (in case you watch this) how does Moto Z stacks vs HTC 10 / S7 cameras?
We try to tackle each camera with evidence. I see too many "reviews" with a handful of photos and some personal opinions, but not a lot of consistent shots to test those opinions with evidence.
Hey man this a was really nice video. Now moto z has been released globally, can you make one more review of the unlocked version cams , and see if they have 'marinated' this time ;P . Else I hv to pinch my pocket for pixel series.
The simple Moto Z uses the IMX214, the SAME SENSOR as the Moto G 2015... I think thats a shame, that Lenovo puts the same camera sensor to a 2015 budget phone and a 2016 flagship (which costs about 4 times as much)
Photo quality depends equally as much on the optics/glass elements which are far more expensive than sensors nowadays. Just look how many models lack OIS.
juan .... 21 mp with ois should make your pictures sharp ... you realy need tripod to achive that goal and make your review more convensing and honest one
+JuanBagnell good point ..... but also some of people are useing those tripods to get maximum sharpness from their images ... anyway.... good review thanks
1.12um pixels at 13MP would mean a Type 1/3.06" sensor, although I'm unsure if this is a Sony sensor. If so, it could be the (very old) IMX214, as the 258 and 278 both have PDAF (and the 278 has a non-Bayer layout). If not, it might be the non-PDAF OV13858 sensor from OmniVision or the Samsung S5K3L8 (though that might have PDAF, I'm not sure) 1.12um pixels at 21MP would mean a Type 1/2.4" sensor, likely the IMX230 sensor from the X Pure.
pretty impressed, I was expecting it to be much worse lol as long as it's good enough I'm ok with it. I'm just an addict to moto gestures, I'm sad to find out u pointed out (but I'm glad u did) that slow motion video is only 120fps 😑really moto? Did it have sound at least because last year's moto x didn't when recording in slow motion.
awesome just what i was looking for. Work finally stop giving us phones so now we got to supply a phone. Right now it's going to be one of the new moto or the new note (when it comes out). It's good to see moto improve on the on the camera. Hope to see a update fixing the issues.
JuanBagnell yeah and it's not far off I seems. Not really worried about the camera that much since it be a work phone or I be looking at follow up for the v10 also lol
as expected. Motorola should just give up.. they should partner up with Leica or someone who really knows about photography so that they can have a proper camera
+JuanBagnell 13MP w/ 1.12μm = Definitely 1/3.06". But Latest 13MP 1/3.06" Sensors Like Sony IMX258/Samsung S5K3XX/OV1385X's All Have Built-In PDAF System, So It Has To Be The Older IMX214 Inside Z, Which Was Also Found In G3 & G4! And 21MP w/ 1.12μm = Definitely 1/2.4" But The 1/2.4" IMX230 Previously Used In Moto X Style Didn't Had DTI Technology. So It Has To Be Not Widely Implemented OV21840 Which Has Buried Color Filters & Smaller Z-Height Or A Custom Version Of IMX230 With DTI! Thanks For Replying!
Wow. That's informative. Many Chinese flagships this year use the IMX298 sensor, numbering wise, much advanced? The G4 is 16mp isn't it? So that won't an IMX214 according to your listing.
Damn it. Guess I'll have to wait. I have an LG G5 so camera performance and "modularity" are important to me. If Juan wouldn't recommend it on par or even over the G5. That means I unfortunately have to stick with the G5 for now. The camera was my only hold out....
JuanBagnell yea maybe we will. Who knows. Im a huge Moto fan and I was disappointed with all the phones made after the 2013 Moto X. So I was hoping to go back. I take too many photos to go to the Moto Z's meh camera. This is why true modularity is important. They come out with a sub-par camera. We all still buy the phone and just upgrade the parts we want
I don't understand why Lenovo made the z force exclusive they should have just released this model instead of also the z and the z play as that's crap and going into the g series territory I was wanting to buy the force but now I'll just wait and see what comes from 2017
Well, DxO is like a benchmark to me. A solid piece of data to see how a camera's sensor performs in set conditions, but a camera is much more than a sensor, like Juan mentioned. You have to consider speed, processing, stabilization, lens quality and more. To be clear, DxO is actually known by many in the photography world to be a fairly reliable source for roughly seeing how camera sensors stack up against others. BUT, you can't base an entire camera based on benchmark scores. You have to use it in the real-world in order to see how it's really like. And like a lot of things, real-world performance can be quite different from what the scores would lead you to believe.
While this is a major improvement for Motorola, it still surprised me how poor the camera is. It's not horrible, but I'm pretty sure a better camera isn't much more expensive to source.
It's clear they are not going to sell this phone on its camera performance. Not terrible but with the s7 raising the game I expected more TBH. Saying that it is probably not a deal breaker (assuming software updates) as I and many others are just point and shooters so most camera phones will do the job in good light. However this phone very much depends on whether you buy into the mods gimmick, as otherwise it's just another average 2016 Android phone in a sea awash with the same spec. As for third party camera mods or other mods we will have to see, however I cannot imagine that the return will justify the investment and as we see with the G5 very little interest in supplying "friends" and there lies the problem and the reason why modular phones will have limited appeal, with prices on a downward spiral who will pay over $1000 for a phone with a few mods?
I wouldn't say it sucks, but it doesn't hit that top tier. There's an excitement here for moto as the Z force is WAY better in relation to the competition than the motos we used even two years ago. It's progress. The HTC 10, the BB Priv, the Moto Z Force. None of them beat Samsung, LG, Apple, but they demonstrate significant improvements for those manufacturers.
I don't know why people says that the s7 camera is the best... I mean yeah its great but theres no detail!!! It just oversharpensa the imagen alot!! And its look ugly I don't like the pictures of the s7 especially whrm there is alot of things in the image. The moto z force has real sharpness and the imagen are just insanely crisp!
But the phone is fugly and the battery is unapologetically small.Now before you talk efficiency shits,i have been using a 4000Mah midrange phone with 8 hours SoT ,so this puny shit wont cut it for me
All depends on usage per individual. Lenovo did do some optimization to the Moto Z and it is not so bad in the battery department when comparing with certain flagships.
To all the reviewers in UA-cam please carry a microfiber towel with you guys, Jesus can you see how disgusting those fingerprints and dirt all around is, or you just don't care!
D13H4RD2L1V3 I hope so. THere's no reason an update couldn't improve it. It's just whether Moto is working to actively improve features, or is only looking to squash the more visible bugs...
JuanBagnell They should be focusing mainly on the bug fixes right now, IMO. Nail the basic experience, then work on improving the additional features. I think this is how software should go. Nail the basics, then go for the extras.
Always get excited for Pocketnow's camera reviews :)
Wanna REALLY know how a smartphone camera performs? Easy answer - check what Juan has cooked up!
Great job, Juan, keep them coming! :)
:-D
you're the only reviewer that mentioned the similarity of the manual control with that of the Lumia. Noticed this from the day one
LOL HOW CAN REAL REVIEWERS MISS IT?!?!?
I noticed it too ^.^
you forgot to say "creepy"gate
NOOOOOOOOO!!!
What is creepy gate?
And megapickels :(
Sergy Ortiz Puerto mega picklez 😁
'a little more time to marinate', wow that's delicious megapickels
Dah! I didn't work in a Megapickle!
Your camera reviews are the truth man.
Glad you enjoyed!
most reliable phone camera reviews on YT well done..
Hmm, Juan. Since the XPERIA X Performance seems to be out in the US, maybe run it through the real camera review?
I'm curious on how it fares since the camera segment on the X review only touched the surface.
Oh the irony. I left Big Red specifically for the Moto X Pure a year ago as I was tired of all the VZ Bloatware and the inability to use an unlocked phone. I was so excited for the Z. Now I'm excited for August 2 so I can give Samsung my money for a Note 7. Well played Motovo.
Great reviews man, when do you think there will finally be a phone camera that can beat the s7, I'm thinking it'll either be the note 7 or the sequel to the v10, what do you think?
This was a great review. The Z GSM version just came out and this review helped big time!!! Great comparison.
@Pocketnow were can i buy that "Pen" for the touch screen ? ? ?
FINALLY been waiting for this!! Especially the Moto Z Force camera!!
I hope they update the camera
Which sensor?
Mr. Bagnell is my go to for phone cam reviews.
:-)
I just got this phone And when using the front camera is there a way to get the foggy/smoothing filter off? I see yours looks like you took that setting off!
Moto can do just about everything, except create a competitive camera. It's an improvement, but it's been improving since the Moto X pure / x force and it is still average as best. It's in the lower-mid tier (16-20) in rankings. It's not as rubbish as it was but still not the best.
Hey Juan, in a future best camera's video, do you think it would be possible to test them in a concert? Nokia used to boast about how great their mics were for recording concerts but with them no longer making phones, I'm curious if other manufacturers in 2016 compare to what Nokia were doing years ago.
I'd love to, but that's the fastest way for us to chalk up a copyright strike. I covered a music festival a couple years ago on my old channel, and the Lumias I used to shoot with recorded such high quality audio I got a take down request less than an hour after posting.
JuanBagnell You could go to local band shows, we will let you use the material just for exposure.
I pretty much only watch your camera reviews now to decide if a phone has a capable enough camera for my needs. Another great video. So these cameras aren't anything too special, thanks.
Glad you're enjoying the series!
Juan you rule dude
💕💕👌👌
Keep up the great work i love watching your reviews
Glad you enjoyed :-)
it's a little late to comment or ask but haven't seen a revisit a month later, +JuanBagnell in your opinion (in case you watch this) how does Moto Z stacks vs HTC 10 / S7 cameras?
Solid work Juan, as usual. 👌
Good job pointing out the Moto Z/ZF's flaws. Was actually planning to get one or two
We try to tackle each camera with evidence. I see too many "reviews" with a handful of photos and some personal opinions, but not a lot of consistent shots to test those opinions with evidence.
Hey man this a was really nice video. Now moto z has been released globally, can you make one more review of the unlocked version cams , and see if they have 'marinated' this time ;P . Else I hv to pinch my pocket for pixel series.
The simple Moto Z uses the IMX214, the SAME SENSOR as the Moto G 2015... I think thats a shame, that Lenovo puts the same camera sensor to a 2015 budget phone and a 2016 flagship (which costs about 4 times as much)
The Xperia X / Performance and the XZ uses this sensor as a front facing camera
Photo quality depends equally as much on the optics/glass elements which are far more expensive than sensors nowadays. Just look how many models lack OIS.
Htc 10 or Moto Z Force ?
juan .... 21 mp with ois should make your pictures sharp ... you realy need tripod to achive that goal and make your review more convensing and honest one
All reviews are done handheld to match the shooting conditions most people will use. Not a lot of people walk around with tripods for their phones.
+JuanBagnell good point ..... but also some of people are useing those tripods to get maximum sharpness from their images ... anyway.... good review thanks
1.12um pixels at 13MP would mean a Type 1/3.06" sensor, although I'm unsure if this is a Sony sensor. If so, it could be the (very old) IMX214, as the 258 and 278 both have PDAF (and the 278 has a non-Bayer layout). If not, it might be the non-PDAF OV13858 sensor from OmniVision or the Samsung S5K3L8 (though that might have PDAF, I'm not sure)
1.12um pixels at 21MP would mean a Type 1/2.4" sensor, likely the IMX230 sensor from the X Pure.
1/3'' is a meh sensor but most people will take the bait of f1.8 aperture
Nicely detailed! Thanks for that!
+JuanBagnell No problem!
Have confirmed that the sensor is indeed the IMX214: the same one as in the Moto G4 standard. But with OIS.
juan is taking over the world. juancalypse.
One step at a time :-D
Now this is a smartphone camera review worth the watch 👍👌
pretty impressed, I was expecting it to be much worse lol as long as it's good enough I'm ok with it. I'm just an addict to moto gestures, I'm sad to find out u pointed out (but I'm glad u did) that slow motion video is only 120fps 😑really moto? Did it have sound at least because last year's moto x didn't when recording in slow motion.
awesome just what i was looking for. Work finally stop giving us phones so now we got to supply a phone. Right now it's going to be one of the new moto or the new note (when it comes out). It's good to see moto improve on the on the camera. Hope to see a update fixing the issues.
Always a smart play to see what drops around the Note launch. I'm still holding out hope for a bold LG V10 follow up. FIngers crossed.
JuanBagnell yeah and it's not far off I seems. Not really worried about the camera that much since it be a work phone or I be looking at follow up for the v10 also lol
hell yes some sanity restored, good morning ppl!!!
Audiofilo j
If you after an Android with the best video stability look at the Sony Xperia phones.
as expected. Motorola should just give up.. they should partner up with Leica or someone who really knows about photography so that they can have a proper camera
Juan.. please do a camera comparison between the oneplus 3 and the Moto z!
Please ignore this comment.. the OP3 is miles better than the Z. I should've watched the video first! :D
Wasn't the OP3's camera updated before being reviewed though?
+Top 5 actually the Z force camera is better, look at his comments
Giacomo It SUCKS! Watch the review dammit!
Top 5
One obvious win over OP3 is video stabilization. Yay..
please do a review for the huawei honor 8 please
Moto Z - 1/3.06" Sony IMX214 (Newer IMX258's Comes With PDAF) & Z Force - 1/2.4" Sony IMX230
wow! where did you find that? have a link I can check out?
+JuanBagnell Classified 😋
+Prasanth Padma Kumar LoL
+JuanBagnell 13MP w/ 1.12μm = Definitely 1/3.06". But Latest 13MP 1/3.06" Sensors Like Sony IMX258/Samsung S5K3XX/OV1385X's All Have Built-In PDAF System, So It Has To Be The Older IMX214 Inside Z, Which Was Also Found In G3 & G4! And 21MP w/ 1.12μm = Definitely 1/2.4" But The 1/2.4" IMX230 Previously Used In Moto X Style Didn't Had DTI Technology. So It Has To Be Not Widely Implemented OV21840 Which Has Buried Color Filters & Smaller Z-Height Or A Custom Version Of IMX230 With DTI! Thanks For Replying!
Wow. That's informative. Many Chinese flagships this year use the IMX298 sensor, numbering wise, much advanced? The G4 is 16mp isn't it? So that won't an IMX214 according to your listing.
Damn it. Guess I'll have to wait. I have an LG G5 so camera performance and "modularity" are important to me. If Juan wouldn't recommend it on par or even over the G5. That means I unfortunately have to stick with the G5 for now. The camera was my only hold out....
Maybe we'll get a killer V10 follow up? I'm hoping we do...
JuanBagnell yea maybe we will. Who knows. Im a huge Moto fan and I was disappointed with all the phones made after the 2013 Moto X. So I was hoping to go back. I take too many photos to go to the Moto Z's meh camera.
This is why true modularity is important. They come out with a sub-par camera. We all still buy the phone and just upgrade the parts we want
op3 vs moto z in camera????
They can just create a MotoMod that will make it the best android camera phone in the market. I don't see why not
I REALLY want olympus or Panasonic to drop a 1" sensor mod for the Moto Z. Dang that would be epic...
That will be so cool.
do the pictures really look that bad?
Compare the Z force with S7 and Oneplus 3
I don't understand why Lenovo made the z force exclusive they should have just released this model instead of also the z and the z play as that's crap and going into the g series territory I was wanting to buy the force but now I'll just wait and see what comes from 2017
Moto z force vs nexus 6p please!
This review shows how dxomark ratings are just unreliable
true
Now to be fair I think DXO does a great job in testing sensor performance, but a camera is WAY more than just a sensor.
Well, DxO is like a benchmark to me. A solid piece of data to see how a camera's sensor performs in set conditions, but a camera is much more than a sensor, like Juan mentioned. You have to consider speed, processing, stabilization, lens quality and more.
To be clear, DxO is actually known by many in the photography world to be a fairly reliable source for roughly seeing how camera sensors stack up against others. BUT, you can't base an entire camera based on benchmark scores. You have to use it in the real-world in order to see how it's really like. And like a lot of things, real-world performance can be quite different from what the scores would lead you to believe.
JuanBagnell D13H4RD2L1V3 I agree with both
What rating did it get?
can someone tell me why moto front facing camera is terrible?
moto z câmera or LG G4 câmera?
While this is a major improvement for Motorola, it still surprised me how poor the camera is.
It's not horrible, but I'm pretty sure a better camera isn't much more expensive to source.
We got a transformers fan in the house !
Peter Cullen was my inspiration to work in voice direction :-)
DAHELL?! I was waiting for this phone! ;_; Maybe this is not the final software.. :(
It needs some polishing to be sure, but I am happy to see this is progress over previous moto cameras.
It's clear they are not going to sell this phone on its camera performance. Not terrible but with the s7 raising the game I expected more TBH. Saying that it is probably not a deal breaker (assuming software updates) as I and many others are just point and shooters so most camera phones will do the job in good light. However this phone very much depends on whether you buy into the mods gimmick, as otherwise it's just another average 2016 Android phone in a sea awash with the same spec. As for third party camera mods or other mods we will have to see, however I cannot imagine that the return will justify the investment and as we see with the G5 very little interest in supplying "friends" and there lies the problem and the reason why modular phones will have limited appeal, with prices on a downward spiral who will pay over $1000 for a phone with a few mods?
OnePlus 3 Camera or Moto Z Force Camera....?!?
It's close, but I'd likely side with the Z Force. No huge surprise there tho as it's almost twice as expensive...
+JuanBagnell Then can I say that Oneplus 3 camera is better than Moto Z.... And thanks a lot to reply..... This is the reason u are the Best
Vs S7 ASAP
Wow.. a tech review that is actually informative? Shocking.
great review
this was good. thanks.
You're welcome.
Moto z force or one plus 3??
Z force
Oneplus 3 ✌
z force
Yargh, love the software, love the modularity but i also love the camera quality of my samsung /sigh
Moto Z Force vs Galaxy S7 camera comparison, please!
no comparison the stabilization on the s7 alone blows the moto z away.
between 1st and 6th
For a 2016 flagship, this phone's camera sucks biggggggggggggg time!!!
I wouldn't say it sucks, but it doesn't hit that top tier. There's an excitement here for moto as the Z force is WAY better in relation to the competition than the motos we used even two years ago. It's progress. The HTC 10, the BB Priv, the Moto Z Force. None of them beat Samsung, LG, Apple, but they demonstrate significant improvements for those manufacturers.
Shoot pictures at new locations... all your camera reviews seem to be the same due to the same locations and same shots.
Which makes comparisons with EVERY camera we review easier... It's a feature not a bug.
Well it is a boring feature then.
It would be the best if the camera outperforms s7//
Nubia Z9 and Z11 is best and cheap also compare with MZ Camera
Please cleanup phones before shooting =P
The camera is better than the iPod Touch 4th
LOL It is!
I'm gonna Z Force Stop it. Get it. 😂😂😂
I don't know why people says that the s7 camera is the best... I mean yeah its great but theres no detail!!! It just oversharpensa the imagen alot!! And its look ugly I don't like the pictures of the s7 especially whrm there is alot of things in the image. The moto z force has real sharpness and the imagen are just insanely crisp!
I was looking forward to buy one of these but now .... nahhhhh
But the phone is fugly and the battery is unapologetically small.Now before you talk efficiency shits,i have been using a 4000Mah midrange phone with 8 hours SoT ,so this puny shit wont cut it for me
All depends on usage per individual. Lenovo did do some optimization to the Moto Z and it is not so bad in the battery department when comparing with certain flagships.
Overall, a disappointment (for both cameras not the review). Hope Lenovo try harder next time.
Compared to Samsung s series, the camera on the z force is a joke... absolutely horrible.
To all the reviewers in UA-cam please carry a microfiber towel with you guys, Jesus can you see how disgusting those fingerprints and dirt all around is, or you just don't care!
i am not a michael fisher fan....but these are just not the same without him. unsub'ed.
Juan Bagnell > Jaime Rivera
GS7 still wins...
vegeta
That panorama performance is awful.....
That really was disappointing.
Maybe a patch would improve it? Because even some cheaper phones do better.
D13H4RD2L1V3
I hope so. THere's no reason an update couldn't improve it. It's just whether Moto is working to actively improve features, or is only looking to squash the more visible bugs...
JuanBagnell They should be focusing mainly on the bug fixes right now, IMO. Nail the basic experience, then work on improving the additional features.
I think this is how software should go. Nail the basics, then go for the extras.
I'm the 100th liker!
One billion three hundred million two hundred fifty one thousand four hundre forty one-th
7th
not first :(
but you are
Why not ? 😯
9th
Third
third!
4th hehe
I didnt like these cameras
anybody watching this just to hear juan saying "megapickles"?
but he didn't say it at all 😩
Nubia Z9 and Z11 is best and cheap also compare with MZ Camera