Is it worth getting a pixel 2 for the camera or is the note 8 with mods as good?

[neoraiden]

Is it worth getting a pixel 2 for the camera or is the note 8 with camera mods as good?

I ask this because I am trying to figure out which phone to get, if I am going to spend a small fortune, I don't want to regret it. For me I would consider the note 8, pixel 2 xl, the lg v30 (if the v30 is available in my region), sony xz premium. The iphone x I'd consider, but I'm doubtful unless reviews suggest there is something amazing.

The most important features for me are screen and camera. I do like the note 8 extras, but I could keep my note 5 which I use for vr occasionally, and with my gear 360.

Has anyone installed the exynos zero camera mod and hdr+ google camera port? How well do they work? Are there any video comparisons with these modifications? Also does the Samsung camera sensor have 10 bit colour?

I like taking sunset photographs and low light, dynamic range is probably more important to me than pixel peeping or other characteristics in most photos I take. For my use the note 5 camera with exposure lowered and less noise is preferred when I don't have my Sony dslr.

I'm thinking given the video and camera mods and ports to buy the note 8 exynos if possible ( best hardware) when it's on offer in the future and then just use the hdr+ app and zero camera mod. Any thoughts on this from note 8 owners?

Also is the note 8 worth the price now that you have bought it? Are there any problems?

 

[winol]

I can tell you this: when somebody buys a galaxy note, the main atractive should be the s pen and screen size, if these things are not important to you, then get a pixel or v 30 or any good camera phone, simple

 

[Inerent]

Go for The Xperia XZ Premium

 

[fkofilee]

I run 2 phones - Pixel XL and the Note 8 - I buy th note 8 because ive always had the note line until the 5 wasnt sold in UK (I imported but lack of SD at time made me sell) and the Note 7 (No reason needed to be given )
The note 8 by far is the best phone i have used from SAMSUNG if you only take into account their products. Pixel XL is for the puriest. I am debating getting the XL2 but wont do so until renewal in Feb next year.

Smartphone cameras these days have reached a point on Flagships where no matter which you go for - You will be impressed.
Id get the Note 8 solely for the extras it offers. Yes its not pure android but custom roms are coming out to help remove bloatware.
Ive had MANY phones in my time and these are the pinnacle of all my experience - For a better feel - Id get the Note 8 - ~JerryRigEverything tore the Pixel 2 apart and it wasnt pretty...

 

[Inerent]

Xz premium paired with 4k hdr TV and vr glasses.
Go XZP, you wont regret it!

 

[mrnovanova]

Xz premium paired with 4k hdr TV and vr glasses.
Go XZP, you wont regret it!

What if he wants a phone that doesn't look like 2012?

---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:17 AM ----------

Is it worth getting a pixel 2 for the camera or is the note 8 with camera mods as good?

I think @winol said it best. Imo the note 8 is the best phone for 2017 period. The reason is simple. It will beat every other phone at most things not all. The iPhone 8 has a better processor, the Pixel has a better camera etc... But in the end the s-pen puts it in a league of its own. Even if you don't always use it. It'll save your a** in a pinch. So if your only criteria is a camera. Go for the Pixel XL.

---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 AM ----------

Is it worth getting a pixel 2 for the camera or is the note 8 with camera mods as good?

I think @winol said it best. Imo the note 8 is the best phone for 2017 period. The reason is simple. It will beat every other phone at most things not all. The iPhone 8 has a better processor, the Pixel has a better camera etc... But in the end the s-pen puts it in a league of its own. Even if you don't always use it. It'll save your a** in a pinch. So if your only criteria is a camera. Go for the Pixel XL.

 

[Ryland Johnson]

I have read mixed reviews about the camera in the Pixel....Sorry, I cant even say that name without thinking the Pixel should be sold at Toys-R-Us? No offence I just cannot stand the appearance of the Pixel range as they look like toys. That is a totally subject view so ignore it.
Cameras. Not my forte so cant really add much to the debate. I understand the Note 8 has a decent camera?
As for a mobile phone the Note series is built around the S-pen. I would never even consider a Note if I had no use for that lovely S-pen experience. Its a mouse that makes ones mobile into a pocket PC. NO other mobile yet does that.

Ryland

 

[black96ss]

Pixel 2 is overpriced imo....it's basically an iPhone running Android imo

 

[Nitemare3219]

Go for The Xperia XZ Premium

Xz premium paired with 4k hdr TV and vr glasses.
Go XZP, you wont regret it!

He said he wants a good camera. The camera on the XZ Premium is a steaming pile of CRAP. Complete garbage. Returned that phone within days of getting it because the camera was so bad.

 

[krabman]

Depends on what you do with your camera. I just want to record a moment with decent color, in focus, and so on without trying. I'm at no time looking to take a picture that will be art although like most people I have from time to time taken some truly great pictures because even a monkey banging on a keyboard will eventually get some Shakespeare. So I think the first thing that comes up is what do you want out of your camera?

As to the XL having a better camera I'm not quite sure that is true. When I look at the comparisons myself and do it blind I will often pick pictures from either camera as being better. The same holds true with the cool-aid device as well, I will pick pictures from both phones as being better when compared side to side. IMO cell phone cameras have just flat become great on the higher end and are better at taking pictures than most of us.

One last thing, Samsung has had one strength in their cameras for the last couple years that in a review a while back was called the fast moving child factor. This is where you pull the phone and immediately snap a pick of a fast moving object like your kids hoping to catch a moment that will soon be gone forever. You're not going to frame that photo, manipulate the objects in it, adjust your setting, you pull your phone and push the button and pray you got it. Samsung gets that one right. The 8 is better than the Pixel by a good margin, cant compare to the Pixel 2 because I don't have one. I did see a review that called out the iphone as being better at that sort of shot than the XL and in turn I know the Note 8 to be as good or better than the iphone in this area. Something to think about.

To go back to the beginning I think for most people the cameras on flagships are becoming a non factor. They're damn good and better at taking photos than their users. If this applies to you then forget about the camera and look at the other features. If the camera is paramount then you may want to widen your scope and consider the Sony.

 

[Inerent]

Nowadays all smarthlones are using sony imx sensor, the diffrence is in software artifacts.
Why XZ Premium? Imx 400!
Iphone8 imx 398, s8 imx333 4k, pixel 2 imx 3xx
Imx400 is a sleeping monster! ?
P. S. XZP when you come home tired and wanna play some 4k hdr 60fps on your brand New 4k hdr smartTV ????

 

[Ryland Johnson]

If photography is very important why not do the obvious thing and buy a dedicated prosumer camera?

Music is important to me so I am buying an external DAC-Amp that will enhance the sound from any mobile beyond imagination. Such DAC-Amp's when connected to the USB negate the internal DAC Amp of the mobile allowing a dedicated external device to produce the sound and the mobile is used as the source only.

If one is only mildly interested in music and cameras then any top notch present day flagship mobile should suffice. Its always going to be a question of compromise.

Most high end mobiles use Minolta cameras that are now owned by and called Sony. To that end I would imagine going to the font of the camera, ie Sony, one could not go wrong as they supply most of the trades cameras for mobiles at this level.

Ryland

 

[kbhasi]

I can tell you this: when somebody buys a galaxy note, the main atractive should be the s pen and screen size, if these things are not important to you, then get a pixel or v 30 or any good camera phone, simple

I agree! I have a Note8 myself because I actually do use the pen features.

If a user wants to get a Galaxy Note device but not use the pen features, they should have instead got a plus-sized Galaxy S series (like the S8+), another Android phone, or even wait for the release of the next Galaxy S series.

What was saddening for me, was when I went to a friend's house last week to fix their PC, and found his wife uses a Note5 with the S Pen intentionally jammed inside the phone (like the top of the pen appeared to have been hammered in), to the point where it can never come out without taking apart the phone. This to me feels like when (insert metaphor here relating to my favourite TV show)

At least, from what I've seen, the Pixel 2 is a better phone for someone who doesn't need pen features on their phone, and would prefer taking photos, plus staying within Google's ecosystem.

 

[m.w.lawless]

Just sideload the pixel camera. It makes the note take much better photos.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[GermanGuy]

Just sideload the pixel camera. It makes the note take much better photos.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Would you mind providing a link for this app?


Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[ggrant3876]

The Pixel 2 XL has been having multiple issues with the camera, I'd go with the Note 8. I've had friends that returned it for a new one only to have the same camera issues.

 

[vibealite]

note 8 for me all the way for camera + big screen + spen i sold my s8+ to get note 8 for me it was well worth it i love it and wouldnt have anythin els

 

[douger1957]

For what it's worth, both the Pixel and the iPhones are having quality and reliability issues that the Note 8 isn't.

I'm not a photographer, so I can't expound on the virtues of the Pixel over the Note 8, nor have I even held a Pixel of either generation in my hand. I can say that I am more impressed with the picture quality of my Note 8 than I was with the LG V20, and not just a little bit. I use my phone's camera to capture a moment. If I want to get artsy, I'll grab the Nikon.

A phone is a compromise. Some do better at one thing than another. The LG V series does music better than almost any other phone, for example. I have over 300GB of high resolution music. I don't even consider a phone that doesn't support an SD card.

To get a true reading on what the OP is asking will require true photographers that have experience with the various cameras to check in. There aren't many people that will fit that bill.

---------- Post added at 09:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 AM ----------

Would you mind providing a link for this app?


Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Start here.

 

[xcha0tic]

Personally I went with the note 8, I had previously the s8 that j was happy with but put it down to try the pixel. While the pixel was great I didn't go with a pixel 2 because of hown Google customer support is. November 1st I was told 3-5 business days to get my replacement cause my pixel was having issues. It is now November 23rd and every 2 days I get told theres no updates wait another 48 hours because they cannot in their words allocate a replacement device for me. I was waiting to get the pixel 2 but after this experience I went and got a note 8 and I love it couldn't be happier best Sammy device I've used and best Android I've used.

I've used the s5, HTC one m8, nexus 5, s7 edge note edge, pixel and one plus 5

 

[Ippolito1971]

For what it's worth I own the note 8 and recently purchased the original pixel XL 128gb and I am absolutely in love with the pixel XL. That said the note 8 is an amazing device and the camera is great. However the pixel 2 XL is just better. I'll be getting the 2xl soon to go with my note 8.