Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G cameras
Let's start with a few specs:
| Lumia 950 XL (2015) | Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020) |
|
Dedicated two-stage shutter button/launch key 20 MP (oversampled to 8MP here), f/1.9, 1/2.4", PDAF, OIS |
12 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76" main camera, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
It's clear that the Lumia is outgunned, but as usual the PureView oversampling and (relatively) natural image processing should keep it competitive.
Notes:
- I've shot at 8MP on the Lumia 950 XL (leaving headroom for some lossless 'PureView' zoom into the sensor and also getting the advantages of oversampling and noise reduction).
- All photos were taken on full auto and handheld, as a regular user would do. No tripods or RAW editing sessions needed!
Let's pit the results against each other, using our Famed Interactive Comparator (FIC). All 1:1 crops are at 900x500 for comparison, though I've put up the originals on my own server, for you to download if you want to do your own analysis.
| Note that the interactive comparator below uses javascript and does need to load each pair of images. Please be patient while this page loads, if you see a pair of images above each other than you've either not waited long enough or your browser isn't capable enough! You ideally need a powerful, large-screened tablet or a proper laptop or desktop. This comparator may not work in some browsers. Sorry about that. On Windows 10 Mobile, use the 'AAWP Universal' UWP app, which handles the comparator very competently (see the tips in the app's help screens) |
Test 1: Sunny suburbs
My standard suburban scene, shot in a brief winter moment when the sun was actually out, though late in the day, so we're looking at the central house. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Looks like Samsung hasn't mended its image processing ways. Everything about the S20 FE image screams 'enhanced', 'hyper real', 'edge enhanced'. Yet again perhaps I'm in the minority, but to my eyes the 950 XL shot looks real and the Samsung one like a colour photocopy of the 950 XL's image. Ugh. And yes, I really am going to knock off two whole points because there's simply no excuse.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 8 pts
Test 2: Sunny suburbs, x3
The same scene but playing into the Samsung's hands by looking at zoom, here 3x from its telephoto lens. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Although the Samsung's shot retains the noise-reduced, enhanced artificial air down at the pixel level, it's still worlds better than the lossy zoom from the Lumia (which is only lossless up to 1.5x). Zoom optics win out here, as you'd expect.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 6 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 9 pts
Test 3: Sunny macro
Some rich berries, ripe for, well, shooting with phone cameras! Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
There's more detail in the Samsung shot because of the resolution difference, but the clincher is the better colour. The S20 FE nails the red, while the Lumia manages to make all the berries pink! An easy win for the Samsung S20 FE and its more modern sensor and with far more horsepower to analyse and process the image. Even the trademark edge enhancement isn't that obvious here.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 6 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 9 pts
Test 4: Textures
Taking advantage of the same rare hour of sun, a shot of a gate hinge at about a metre, looking at colours and texture. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
I'm shocked. I really am. The overall shot from the S20 FE looks OK - see the snap/scene for proof. But up close, at the pixel level it's complete garbage. And it's not clear what went wrong. It's as if the focussing didn't work properly. Or maybe the edge enhancement just threw a fit over the textures in the metal and wood here. Regardless, the Lumia 950 XL's shot looks real and it's detailed right down to this level. Whereas the Samsung's shot is pale, indistinct, and generally terrible.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 6 pts
Test 5: Portrait time
With no one around to take my portrait under lockdown(!), I opted for the postbox, a common subject for me! Here is the overall scene, shot in 'Live Focus' mode on the Galaxy S20 FE:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
I'm going to give the win to the Samsung here, but not by as huge a margin as you'd expect. Yes, the 'Live Focus' mode has created an arty background blur, but note the edges of the postbox, which are mis-recognised in several places. Then see the signs on the box and even the peeling paint, all of which are enhanced to the point of not looking real. On the other hand, the Lumia has no software blur effect, so it's just natural optical depth of field. Clearly failing the 'Portrait mode' test, but also looking very real, i.e. what your eyes would see. It depends what you want in such a shot, though, and as this was an explicit portrait shot then a narrow win on balance for the S20 FE.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 8 pts
Test 6: More colour pop
After the colour issues with the red berries earlier, I switched to this, a bright and rich orange. In theory! Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
The S20 FE again wins on dynamic range, not blowing out the reflected highlights, but at least the colours are more consistent, it not perfect. The larger aperture and sensor on the Samsung does mean shallower natural depth of field, evidenced here by the phone not being able to get as many of the berries in focus at the same time.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 8 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 9 pts
Test 7: Low light landscape
Lockdown suburbia (with nice distant detail) at dusk, light levels were low and this should be a real challenge to the cameras in terms of pixel-level detail. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
At first glance, the Samsung's shot looks better at the pixel level, with slightly more detail and certainly more defined edges and general contrast. But, as with other example photos here, I think it goes slightly too far, edge enhancing the brickwork on the houses to ugly effect, plus the trees have had their smaller branches enhanced away. The Lumia shot may look 'duller', but it's more accurate and more natural. In my opinion - low light shots are always subjective!
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 10 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 9 pts
Test 8: Night scene
A challenging night shot, with bright lights in an overall dark corner. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Although the Samsung's night image isn't perfect, with evidence of heavy noise removal and the usual edge enhancement, it does handle dynamic range slightly better, with the NatWest sig less blown out and with the 'FREE CASH WITHDRAWALS' clearer. Yes, it's all a little artificial, but then low light shots often are on modern smartphone cameras. The Lumia 950 XL's shot isn't bad and I do wish I'd had time to tap to expose for the highlights - I think it could do better.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 8 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 9 pts
Test 9: Night scene, zoomed
The same scene but zoomed - using x3 telephoto on the Samsung and x2 (roughly) hybrid zoom on the Lumia. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 950 XL and Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020), for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 950 XL and then the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
By sticking to 2x zoom (1.5x lossless and 0.5x lossy) the Lumia's zoomed shot isn't too bad - there's no PureView oversampling, so you do see noise, but the photo isn't terrible. And the smaller aperture in the telephoto lens on the S20 FE does mean that there's quite a bit of noise for the Samsung software to average out, but equally there's no interpolation needed, since the optics do most of the work. You can see the extra detail at the pixel level above. Zoom has always been something that Samsung does well at, so I'm not surprised.
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: 7 pts; Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 9 pts
Verdict
For the record, the scores add up as:
- Galaxy S20 FE 5G (2020): 76 pts (/90)
- Lumia 950 XL (late 2015): 72 pts
Of course, the S20 FE camera is many times faster than the Lumias, plus there's also the wide angle lens, not tested above. So in reality the S20 FE should score slightly higher. It's to the Lumias credit that, with two zoom tests above, it's still in the fight overall and not too far behind. I'd still love Samsung to dial back its image processing, mind you - it would do even better if edges were allowed to be natural and not super-defined hyper-real edges!
With the other overwhelming benefits and, now, a decent (if not perfect) camera, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G is looking like the smartphone to go for in late 2020 if you want both ongoing support and great value for money.