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Nokia Lumia 1020 takes the Sony Xperia Z1 to the woodshed in camera comparison

posted on Oct 2nd 2013 by

Ever since the Lumia 1020 was released into the world it has become the benchmark for any good cameraphone. To this day none have come even close, but many have tried. The latest to go head-to-head with the 1020 is Sony’s new Xperia Z1. Does the Z1 have what it takes to dethrone the Lumia 1020? Let’s take a look.

The Xperia Z1 has a 20.7MP camera with Sony G Lens, Exmor RS sensor, and Bionz for image processing. All of these fancy words are supposed to create photos “unlike any other in its class.” A 20MP camera puts the Z1 in the 1020’s class, so let’s see how it does.

Note: The photos used in this comparison are 8MP output from the Z1 vs 5MP output from the 1020.

Daylight

Sony Xperia Z1 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 1

Overcast/Shade

Sony Xperia Z1 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 shade

Lossless zoom (2.5x Lumia 1020, 1.8x Xperia Z1)

Sony Xperia Z1 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 2

Twilight/dusk

Sony Xperia Z1 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 dusk

Indoor/low light

Sony Xperia Z1 vs Nokia Lumia 1020 indoor light

The Lumia 1020 is the obvious winner here. Honestly, it wasn’t even close. Sony may have talked a big game, but the end result just can’t compete with the Lumia 1020. The Xperia Z1 definitely is better than most cameraphones, but Windows Phone devices still reign supreme in this category. Bring on the next victim.

[via Phandroid]


  • Ophurio

    I know this is a Windows forum, but from eyes of photographer the 1020 camera is horrid. It may have sharp photos, but it can’t get coloring right. Look at first photo, the 1020 had a yellow overlay very noticeable. Even the second shot the grass was way too bright in the background. And the last photo, I’m pretty sure the man is Caucasian and not red. The 1020 just can’t get color right and that is big enough to destroy the photo.

  • Justin Marx

    i totally agree, its just looks like the photo finish the nokia has better image look but its not realistic its like more an edited picture due to coloring nokia’s lens made. i notice that too the leaves and grass looks very green when in reality is like a dry leaves its not a painting nokias lens try to edit colors not realistic shots its more like in android version your using camera 360 pro as an editor. the one with the beer yes how come the face and walls have the same color with nokia and the one with z1 it looks like a shitty shot its like the hands are shaking and makes it blur, my cheap digital camera could look much better than z1 photo so i thought theres something fishy. did the z1 camera user here adjusted the proper settings for photo maybe not. also must include the add on lens of z1 for review it looks like this is a biased review for photos

  • John Andrew Stuart

    Lumia 1020 photos are oversaturated.

  • alex

    Nokia Lumia 1020 shots has good dynamic range, but the 1020 very annoying me, it`s very bright and not accurate colors. Sony is closer to reality, the colors better and more natural, softer shadows, but the quality unfortunately disappointed …