Google’s new Pixel is an attempt by the Android maker to showcase the very best of Google, and that includes its imaging chops. Both on the hardware and software side, the Pixel has some neat photographic tricks up its sleeve. But is it enough to satisfy your inner shutterbug?
The short answer is yes – Google has delivered a terrific photo and video experience on the Pixel (I tested the XL, but both contain the same camera hardware and software). Pixel snaps photos quickly and easily, and its automatically-enabled HDR+ smarts ensure even exposure throughout the frame in most conditions.
Video stabilization works astonishingly well, with the caveat that it’s a tool you have to learn to use in order to get the maximum benefit (just like a gimbal for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, in fact). Basically, the average Pixel owner will be more than satisfied with camera performance (and if you’re curious about the rest of the phone, check out Brian’s full review) and won’t have to think about settings or what’s happening on the software side.
For those who are looking for more detail about Pixel’s picture-taking ability, there’s no better proof than pics, so let’s see what the camera is capable of in real-world shooting scenarios.
Still shooting
I really enjoy shooting street photography, and smartphones are actually ideally suited for that since they don’t attract that much attention and they’re extremely portable. Street shooting is also relatively forgiving when it comes to cameras that have difficulty with low light, which all smartphone cameras do, owing to their small sensor size relative to other types of photographic equipment including mirrorless and DSLR hobbyist and pro cameras.
You can see from the gallery below that the Pixel camera has no problems at all with street shooting, in either bright sunlight or overcast conditions. These are all taken with the stock settings, which includes the HDR+ feature enabled by default. Colors are rich and balanced, without being oversaturated (to my eye, at least) and even in direct sunlight it manages fairly, avoiding anything drastic when it comes to halo or other effects resulting from glare on the lens.
In today’s smartphone market, if your camera can’t cut it, you’re basically dead in the water. The Google Pixel runs no risk of falling into that category, luckily, and in fact makes good on Google’s promise to deliver one of the best cameras available on any smartphone. The video stabilization and other software smarts that Google has shown itself capable of delivering mean the camera will likely only improve over time, too.
The front-facing camera is also a solid shooter, and will not disappoint those looking for more selfie exposure. Google’s quick-access camera gestures are also well-conceived, including the ability to double-tap the power button from anywhere to jump straight to the camera app. And the wrist flick to reverse the camera is also nice, especially on a large device like the Pixel XL where it’s more difficult to hit the on-screen software button while using one hand. All of these little touches amount to a well-thought out and executed camera experience.
It’s great news for Android lovers who’ve felt let down by past Nexus cameras, but it also means there’s no longer any excuse for bad pictures from people who want the best expression of Google’s vision for mobile devices.
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