Current/2016 camera phones.

[SketchMaster]

I'm getting back into filming as a hobby, so having decent 4k in my pocket would be pretty fun. I just switched my personal number to Google Fi and got a Nexus 6P. The 6P is a big upgrade over my Nokia 920, but still leaves something to be desired.

I also have a work line on AT&T that is due for an upgrade, so I want to use that towards a phone with a great camera for stills and 4k. I've been eying the LG V10, it has great hardware with a powerful app.

Before I pull the trigger, I want to make sure nothing is coming down the pipe for early 2016 that would be worth comparing to the LG V10.

Any suggestions?

 

[Strk]

The 6P has one of the highest rated cameras out there. You would have a hard time finding something better.

 

[dawheat]

Assuming the V10 has similar video performance to the G4, it's going to be a step down from the iPhone 6S Plus. The Nexus 6P also suffers from lack of OIS unless you can ensure very steady recording situations and not great sound recording (which is also the iPhone's weak point).

So for video only, I'd say the 6S Plus > Note 5/6P/V10.

For photos I'd say it'd be 6P/V10 > Note 5/6S Plus, though frankly the delta here is much smaller than video.

 

[lopri]

I agree with dawheat. iPhone 6s/Plus have upper hand when it comes to video, especially image stabilization. It has a lackluster mic recording though (teeny weeny mono), so if sound quality matters that may be a consideration. But it's not like other smartphones do fantastic jobs recording sound - they are just a tad batter.

LG V10 is not my cup of tea, but from what I have seen it has one of the best smartphone cameras. Its SOC might limit some fancy stuff, however. (e.g. slow-mo)

 

[Griffinhart]

I'm getting back into filming as a hobby, so having decent 4k in my pocket would be pretty fun. I just switched my personal number to Google Fi and got a Nexus 6P. The 6P is a big upgrade over my Nokia 920, but still leaves something to be desired.

I also have a work line on AT&T that is due for an upgrade, so I want to use that towards a phone with a great camera for stills and 4k. I've been eying the LG V10, it has great hardware with a powerful app.

Before I pull the trigger, I want to make sure nothing is coming down the pipe for early 2016 that would be worth comparing to the LG V10.

Any suggestions?

The Lumia 950 and 950XL have terrific cameras. Supposedly one of the best for low light capabilities.

 

[Shlong]

According to MKBHD (who loves cameras and crispy images, recording with equipment from RED) he thinks the best cameras this year belong to the Samsung Galaxy S6 / Note 5 series. For best "overall smartphone including price factor" he chose the Nexus 6P.

 

[Artdeco]

Check out MB's video, he says several times the differences are minor between the top choices.

http://youtu.be/UBuVR8_Mybw

 

[JeffMD]

There is no one winner that stands above the rest in the cell phone camera market. Both the i6, S6, Note 5, G4(V10), and one or two others (There is a sony in there too) were compared directly in a series of test, each phone won some and lost others.

I think g4 and the note 5 had the more useful shots in day to day camera work. I may have even been partial to the note 5, were I ever interested in going back to a phablet.

 

[Artdeco]

Some still photo work

https://medium.com/@WhiteHouse/behind-the-lens-my-year-on-instagram-2015-b4d5a0eb6c44#.aqt7ybg0j

 

[SketchMaster]

I think for me the V10 wins just for the software built-in for full control of your final image. Even with a slightly weaker sensor the software lets you tweak a shot to get more out of it than a better camera on auto. I've been trying to find a 3rd party app for the 6P that matches the V10's features for video (shutter speed, bitrate, WB, ISO, ect...), and while I've tried paid/free apps that come close I've never been able to find a real winner. Either the software just doesn't have the options, or the app isn't compatible with the 6P.

I may just wait and see what happens in 2016. I'm sure with LG getting so much hype over their awesome software that other manufacturers will be giving their phones app upgrades and/or releasing new flagships with better software.

I really just can't wrap my head around why google would cram such a great camera in a phone, then limit it with such a basic app.

 

[Artdeco]

With already having a 6P, you should wait a bit...

 

[Snappysneaky]

there should be a lot of exciting and interesting phone come next year which is just around the corner, so hold on a bit.. I'm pretty sure there should be one for you

 

[paperwastage]

Panasonic CM1..

technically nothing should come close to beating the specification(1" f/2.8 sensor vs 1/2.3" f/2.0 nexus 6p)... but software and implementation sucks (eg: only 15fps 4K)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2486347,00.asp

unknown if there is a successor... CM1 was released in may this year

 

[notposting]

Panasonic CM1..

technically nothing should come close to beating the specification(1" f/2.8 sensor vs 1/2.3" f/2.0 nexus 6p)... but software and implementation sucks (eg: only 15fps 4K)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2486347,00.asp

unknown if there is a successor... CM1 was released in may this year

And that also doesn't have OIS, which for video is pretty dang useful. (Or extreme low light.)

OP, what about a separate small camera that is standout at video?

I think MS just managed to get *stereo* audio working on WM10 for the Lumia's, so counting on them to get the 4 mics working well together anytime soon might be optimistic.

 

[StrangerGuy]

iPhone is automatically out if you need to shoot in truly dark places because from lack of flash preview.

 

[sonitravel09]

Awesome. I have the Note 4 and the Nexus 6. Returning the Note 4, poor camera quality 90% of the time. Nexus 6 does a decent job. I might have to change it up for a LG G4 xD... Awesome picture quality, without a doubt!