On reflection, given the age of the test DSLR (it was the only one I own!), maybe I should have done this feature six years ago. Oh well. The concept still seems topical, i.e. what do you miss from a DSLR by sticking with a camera-toting phone?
Just to add extra similarities between the classic Lumia 1020 and a DSLR, I'm using the PD-95G grip!
As usual, a recap of the specs involved:
| Lumia 1020 (2013) | Canon EOS 1200D DSLR (2014) |
|
Dedicated two-stage shutter button/launch key 41 MP, f/2.2, 1/1.5", contrast-AF, OIS Xenon flash plus LED video light Single exposure |
Dedicated two-stage shutter button/launch key 19MP, variable aperture, APS-C sensor (roughly 1/1.2") TTL-CT-SIR focussing Xenon flash Single exposure |
Although the lens formations are very, very different, the diminutive 1020 isn't that outgunned, surprisingly. The huge sensor in a phone (especially for 2013) with OIS, and the PureView oversampling should help it keep up in most situations. Quite incredible. And still my favourite Windows phone of all time.
The use of single exposures is another point of commonality - the 1020 is from the era when phone cameras just took one photo each time (remember that?) So no auto-HDR bracketing, no night mode, just press the shutter once and get one exposure. Just as with the DSLR. Take one snap and get it right first time in optics, etc.
Anyway, enough rambling and on with the tests! Some notes and caveats:
- Yes, yes, I could have picked a higher end DSLR, heck I could have sourced a few fancy zoom lenses, but that's not the point here. I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible on the DSLR end while pitching it at the 'purest' camera phone of all time. In short, don't shout at me in the comments about how such and such a DSLR or lens are better! Seriously. This is all just a set of data points for interest.
- Despite the same output resolution, framing is slightly different in many shots, as one might expect from two radically different devices - I've tried to keep the comparison crops and scales as similar as possible so that you can make up your own mind about pros and cons, etc.
As usual on this site, most 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 subject
Some gorgeous bluebells in the sun. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
A slight win for the Canon here, with higher dynamic range and more accurate colours. The Lumia 1020 always struggled with blown out highlights (typically sunlight reflections, as here), plus the bluebells are a little too purple.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 10 pts
Test 2: Sunny landscape
One of my favourite test subjects. Here is the overall scene from the 1020 and Canon, using the comparator. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
It's tempting to give the 1020 the win here for the bluer sky, but in truth both are excellent photos at web resolution here.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 10 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 10 pts
Test 3: Sunny landscape, pixel level
The same scene, but now looking at the pixel level, at absolute purity. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
A definite win for the 1020 here, with the RGB 41MP sensor and PureView oversampling producing detail that's visually indistinguishable from perfect. Just incredible. The Canon DSLR disappointed in this test shot, with detail that's a little indistinct. Perhaps the auto-focus didn't quite get it right? Regardless, this was a real world landscape and it's (slightly) messed up, so it loses a point here.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 10 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 9 pts
Test 4: Sunny landscape, zoomed
The same scene, zoomed, at about 2.5x on the Lumia 1020 via PureView smart-cropping into the RGB sensor, and using the optical zoom to about 4x on the EOS 1200D. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Although the 1020's zoom system is still one of the best in this range (among phones) even eight years later, it can't match a large glass zoom lens. You can see fuzziness, noise, and artefacts creeping into the 1020's image, now that there's no PureView oversampling. While the Canon DSLR's image is admirably crisp - and beautifully focussed this time round!
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 10 pts
Test 5: Sunny landscape, take 2
A view of (and focussed on) the distant Quantock hills. Here is the overall scene from the 1020 and Canon, using the comparator. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
Unlike with the first landscape, I am going to award the extra point for the bluer sky - and greener grass - on the 1020's shot. Though both shots are, of course, fine, in this easy scene at web resolution.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 10 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 9 pts
Test 6: Sunny landscape, zoomed, pixel level
The same scene, but we'll cut straight to the chase, zoomed, and looking at the pixel level. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Again the larger zoom optics beat out the smart cropping into the 1020's 41MP sensor - look closely and you can see the benefits down here at the pixel level.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 10 pts
Test 7: Sunny macro
An unusual but stunning flower. Here is the overall scene from the 1020 and Canon, using the comparator. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
A very definite win for the smartphone shot here, with the Lumia 1020 utterly nailing everything. Focus, depth of field, colour. Just stunning again. The Canon DSLR made something of a meal of this, for two reasons. One is that the focussing isn't quite right, I think it locked onto the leading edge of the petals and the depth of field was shallow enough that the main body of the flower isn't then quite crisp enough. Secondly, and partly my fault, I was using the optical viewfinder to frame the shot, but of course for macro shots like this, the physics of a big camera mean that the view from the lens, a couple of inches below, will be different. So the flower's not even centred properly. The way round this is to switch the DSLR into the on-screen preview mode - I tend not to use this as it uses more battery, plus the screen's not very high quality. But it would have got the framing right. Oh well - it's a real world problem in the DSLR world and one to bear in mind!
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 10 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 8 pts
Test 8: Low light, dusk
The church a few minutes after sunset. Here is the overall scene:
Yes, the scene's sky looks slightly strange - both the 1020 and DSLR over-exposed the sky in an attempt to bring out detail in the main subject, of which more in a moment. We've become so used to auto-HDR in all phone cameras - anyone else remember when you had to make a creative choice at capture time whether to expose for the sky and get a silhouette, or to go for the main subject and lose the sky completely?(!)
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Both photos show great detail in the church, in deep shadow, but the 1020's has more detail and better colour, so it gets the nod from me here.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 8 pts
Test 9: Night time
The same subject, but at dead of night. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Despite the colouring differences, which are down to different exposures and could be replicated on either device with judicious focussing/exposure centres, I'm calling this one a draw, in terms of detail and noise. Both pretty good, without beating modern phones with four second 'night modes'.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 9 pts
Test 10: Low light still life
A well laid out and moodily lit night time yard. Here is the overall scene from the 1020 and Canon, using the comparator. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
No complaints here from either shot. Both blow out the main light source, but even my iPhone 12 Pro Max with night-mode on couldn't capture that either without over-exposure. The 1020 tends to over-yellow the shot and I'm docking it a point as a result.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 10 pts
Test 11: Low light still life, pixel level
The same scene, but now looking at the pixel level, at absolute purity. You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Slight colour cast issues aside, the purity in the 1020's output is astonishing. I'm giving it the win here over the DSLR. Partly this is the PureView oversampling at work, partly it's the OIS, meaning that a 1/7s exposure here was no problem. The DSLR has no OIS (though the body is heavy enough that actual handshake isn't an issue) and ends up using 1/20s exposure - I think it could have worked better with longer!
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 8 pts
Test 12: Indoor gloom
In a shady and obliquely lit hallway, a barometer, with loads of scale detail. Here is the overall scene:
You can grab the original photos from the Lumia 1020 and Canon DSLR, for your own analysis.
To look at the images in more detail here, here are fairly central 1:1 crops, from the Lumia 1020 and then the Canon DSLR, just wait to make sure the page has fully loaded and then use your mouse or trackpad pointer to compare the images:
Oh my word. The Lumia 1020 yet again showing what it can do. The wood is the right colour and the scale detail is so clear. The DSLR arguably is closer to what my eyes saw, but I have to give the win to the Lumia here. Very impressive.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 10 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 8 pts
Test 13: Party time!
With Xenon flash on both, it's a welcome return to my beer/party test shot! With me deliberately not holding still or posing - trying to mimic a real life (ex-Covid19) party situation.
I thought the Canon would ace this test, with the bigger and brighter Xenon flash, but the sheer power also whites out the image slightly and loses atmosphere (the Nokia 808 used to have this issue too - all you saw was Xenon-lit and no real ambience). I'm calling a draw here, with both devices capturing indoor low light movement better than most camera phones of today.
Microsoft Lumia 1020: 9 pts; Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 9 pts
Verdict
For the record, the scores add up as:
- Lumia 1020 (2013): 122 pts (/130)
- Canon EOS 1200D DSLR: 118 pts
Which is a fun win for a forgotten Windows-powered smartphone with a now-obsolete OS against a very well thought of (if not exactly new) DSLR. Mirroring the win the iPhone 12 Pro Max achieved last week. My stance on taking photos with phones has been for the last decade that you don't need to carry around a DSLR for most occasions - and, admittedly with one of the very best camera phones in a decade, even if from 2013, the Lumia proves the point yet again.
However, and it's a big caveat, the shots here (apart from the last) are all carefully chosen test scenes and static. Whether or not you choose to let the flash fire, once you start moving indoors and there are moving subjects (kids, pets) then the bigger the lens the better - and even the 1020 struggled to focus and get the shot when I used it in daily family life. So, as ever, a lot depends on the sort of things you want to photograph.
My conclusion with the previous test remains valid here - the best camera phones can indeed compete with DSLRs, and often win, for certain situations, while being massively convenient to carry. But it's more snapping rather than being artistic and creative, which the DSLR actively encourages, plus the latter will win out, as I said, when things start moving!
