Cheapest phone you can buy with a great camera?

LXastros on 09/10/2017 - 19:17

Hi guys,

It seems you can get all manner of amazing specs (equivalent to flagship phones) on cheap phones these days (including CPU/GPU/Screen/RAM/Battery etc)… except for an amazing camera.

I have tried many budget to mid range phones over the years with good 'reviews' for their cameras and none have been good. My latest is the Motorola G4 Plus and the camera is pretty bad. Have also tried a couple from the Sony Xperia range.

I have always used cheap phones and for the most part been happy with them but I now have a daughter and want to take good pictures of her. Obviously kids don't sit still for you to take photos/videos of them. That is my main motivation. I want something that takes good photos of my daughter as she moves around and sometimes in low light if she is sleeping etc.

Bottom line: Is there such a thing as a phone that has a camera on par with say an iPhone 6 or Galaxy S7 (or any of the newer models) that doesn't charge a flagship phone price? Even an iPhone 5 takes way better pictures than my Moto G4 Plus. My wife has an iPhone 7 and her phone takes amazing photos almost regardless of conditions.

If not, do you guys know why is it that everything else on a phone can be duplicated for cheap but not the camera?

I want comments from people who have actually used the phones and not point me to review articles because I find them to be highly unreliable. They all write lengthy articles with comparison photos and benchmarks etc but they never properly assess moving shots, and definitely not moving shots in low light.

Yes I do have a separate camera but I would have to carry it turned on all them time to make use of it. That is just not practical even at home.

Thanks guys.

Mobile

Comments

  • Chewie on 09/10/2017 - 19:36
    +2

    If you're only after the camera (and not the phone) and price: Nokia 1020 and 808 Pureview.

    facetiously, of course

    • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2017 - 06:08

      The best of the best.

      I'd go the 808 over the 1020 but they are as good as you are gonna get on a phone.

  • dogboy on 09/10/2017 - 19:51
    +4

    Why don't you just buy a Point and Shoot camera? Will beat any phone camera on the market. Otherwise just glue a crappy phone to a decent camera. Worked for Brett in Flight of the Conchords.

    • ChillBro on 09/10/2017 - 20:46
      +1

      You've pawned everything, everything you own. Your toothbrush jar and a camera phone.

  • wei13 on 09/10/2017 - 20:01

    I’d like to know too. Similar dilemma.

  • trishmapow on 09/10/2017 - 20:11
    +1

    I'd just like to say that software sometimes plays a big part, especially in lower-end phones. For reference, I use a Redmi Note 3, which doesn't have a 'great' camera, but with the Google Camera port (same software as the Pixel), I'd say quality has improved by 2x (better colours, low-light noise reduction etc). If low light and motion is a concern I'd look for one with a large sensor size and wider apertures, resolution says absolutely nothing about photo quality.

  • Sage on 09/10/2017 - 20:29

    Do any mobile phones have a great camera?
    My S8 has a narrow angle, and almost every picture comes up blurred from the slightest of movement. Plus of course the resolution makes impossible to capture anything at a distance.

    • Xastros on 09/10/2017 - 23:57

      Really? I tried using my mother's S8 and it is pretty good. Much better than my G4 Plus anyway or any other phone I've used.

  • mbck on 09/10/2017 - 20:32
    +1

    Moving shots AND low light…on a mobile camera….on a budget….right.

    Even if you have a 1.7f aperture, ultra pixel/isocell/bsi/Exmoor or whatever, won't be able give you a useable picture.

    You can look at LG v20, or the Lumia 950xl (best low light via manual mode).

    Oneplus range? They're not bad, and they're always updated with improvements.

    • NobalaKoba on 09/10/2017 - 20:44

      Own a Oneplus 3, great phone and I'm more than satisfied with the camera, but it doesn't take good photos of moving objects (or people).

      • Savas on 23/11/2017 - 21:56

        But he recommended a Windows phone!!

        • NobalaKoba on 23/11/2017 - 22:04
          +1

          Nobody should ever recommend a Windows phone, Savas.

    • Xastros on 09/10/2017 - 23:55

      I'm sorry I don't know much about photography so if it's not possible then that's what I need to know as well. At this point I am willing to go and buy a flagship phone but if there are alternatives for a bit cheaper I will go for it. Not really interested in manual as I would have no idea what to do. I just want to point and shoot at my daughter. Low light is usually sleeping shots so no need to be much movement (other than my unsteady hand). But in daylight would like to be able to capture a moving child. Thanks for those suggestions I will look into them.

  • JetLi on 09/10/2017 - 21:32

    just buy an rx100 and carry both, even the s7 doesnt take great photos if you need to print them out/enlarge them.

  • PVA on 09/10/2017 - 21:44

    how much do you want to pay for a mid range phone, LG V20s and G6s are pretty cheap.
    V20 takes great shots (son has one).
    My wife has a cheap old Sony C4 and it seems to take really good photos, where-as my Sony Z5 (was high end) is pretty poor. I am constantly amazed by some photos she has, not that you'd be able to buy this model.

    Look for a V20 or G6, deal here seem to be well under $500 (we paid $100 for the V20 end of last year when it was first released). A few weeks back, v20 was $352 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/330908 G6 was $455 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/332268

    • Xastros on 09/10/2017 - 23:53

      Basically I am trying to keep the cost down but willing to go up to a flagship phone price if those are the only options. If there is something cheaper that will do the same thing that's what I'm trying to find out and will go for it.

      *EDIT thanks for those suggestions I'll check them out.

  • drprox on 09/10/2017 - 22:14

    Xiaomi mi a1

  • bobkin on 09/10/2017 - 22:28

    I would suggest the iphone se. Same camera as the iPhone 6s. I bought this for my mother for the same reason. The Telstra version is easily unlocked and available for between $360 and $400

    • yummypinacolada on 09/10/2017 - 22:38

      Agreed, this would probably the best camera you can get for the price. However, you have to sacrifice the screensize, (For me 4" phone is too small)

      • Xastros on 10/10/2017 - 00:16

        Yea I don't think I can go back to 4" and also unfortunately not willing to switch to iOS

    • Xastros on 09/10/2017 - 23:48

      Ah damn I forgot to mention. I want to stick to Android. But yes if open to iOS that is a great suggestion thank you.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2017 - 06:13

    Just one the fact they you will be taking pics of little one.
    You will be taking a lot of closer shots then from distance and you would need quick shooting as well as your subject will be moving.

    I have and s5 and and get a few quick snaps and can pick the best one from the ones I took and dump the rest.
    With my first kid I had an note 2 and again had a quick to respond snapper.

    Also with these I had 1080p recording and able to take pics at the same time.

    • Xastros on 10/10/2017 - 12:51

      Thanks for that. Those are both flagship phones though.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2017 - 14:59

        Yes back in their respective time they where flagships, my s5 met an untimely death from a sudden stop when it hit the ground at ID say approx 5m/sec and as such am using my note 2 again.

        Both mobiles have been used after their flagship status and still do a pretty good job.

        The A series in the Samsung range are good and prices are cheaper then the flagship S series.
        Maybe look for a flagship of a year or 2 which will be significantly cheaper now and should have a good camera.

        • Xastros on 10/10/2017 - 18:44

          Thanks good suggestion.

  • jacross on 10/10/2017 - 10:48
    +1

    The problem is your expectations are too high.

    Low light is a very challenging shooting environment and no camera can compete with the marvel that is the human eye.

    Keep in mind that indoors (sufficient light for us) is a low light environment.

    I really think you should consider a point and shoot. It will give you some flexibility that a camera phone just won't have. Even so, know that it won't be a miracle maker.

    • Xastros on 10/10/2017 - 13:01

      Yes high expectations could be a problem. What I'm saying though is that an iPhone or S8 can do what I want. Are there cheaper (and Android) phones that can do the same thing? Nothing more.

      If not then is there a fundamental reason why quality phone cameras can't be duplicated cheaply but every other high quality feature on phones can? It is the only large difference between many 'budget' phones and flagship phones.

      I do have an interchangeable lens camera I use for events but like I said in the OP, it is not practical to carry around a camera all the time and even then for it to be any use, it would have to be turned on the whole time.

  • kiitos on 10/10/2017 - 13:22

    The Motorola G5+ is meant to have the same camera that the galaxy S7 has.

    I have it, and it seems pretty good, and the phone is fairly cheap, around $3xx?

    • Xastros on 10/10/2017 - 13:44

      I looked into the G5+ as a lot of deals have popped up on OzBargain for it lately. Some reviews have said the camera is average and not up to the performance of flagship phones. Not sure if software is the issue.

      From your personal experience have you taken many pictures of people who were moderately moving around? Is there motion blur?

      Not talking about doing a sprint but just turning their head or their arm is moving to pass the salt for example. That sort of pace.

      • kiitos on 10/10/2017 - 21:26

        I just had a look at the photos I've taken with it. In daylight it's fine for freezing motion, but my indoors shots are routinely 1/33s with a fairly high ISO, so they aren't fantastic.

        • Xastros on 10/10/2017 - 22:52

          Thanks for that.

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