Product Listing

Samsung INNOV8 - A Pictorial Review

By Seow Tein Hee - 8 Oct 2008

Camera

8-megapixel Glory


*Updated on 14th October 2008*

The INNOV8's camera is jam-packed with features that's akin to what one gets on a standard compact digital camera. Practical features such as its Blink Detection was definitely useful for the singular purpose of preventing any closed eyes in portrait shots. Switching on the Blink Detection feature, we took a few shots and out of 10 images, the INNOV8 did manage to return at least 9 good images with the subject image's eyes fully opened. The single shot that didn't pass the test showed the subject image squinting, but a 90% accuracy is definitely commendable.

Furthermore, the INNOV8 also comes with a Panaroma shot that allows you to take up to 8 images linked together. Interestingly, you can link all 8 images in either the horizontal or vertical axis, with the only downside that you'll only be taking shots at either 640 x 320 or 320 x 240 resolutions. Another novelty featured on the INNOV8 is its Smile Detection, but this is a feature that might pose some difficulty for users who can't get the hang of it.

Now that you know all its major features, we'll move on to the camera performance. Auto-focus took a little less than 2 seconds and once we hit the camera button, the INNOV8 took approximately 4 seconds to capture and process the image. Though we did mention that the INNOV8 is trying to bridge the divide between dedicated compact digital cameras and camera phones, there's still quite a bit of work left based on the image processing time. Nonetheless, let's focus more on its imaging quality, with a few stand alone test shots from its 8-megapixel CMOS sensor.

The INNOV8's color reproduction is just as good as what we've seen back when we had a go at a unit earlier on during its official launch in Vietnam.

Line resolution didn't receive the brilliant results as the color chart did, as the INNOV8 delivered results of 1300 lpph on the horizontal axis, whilst its vertical axis returned around 1100 lpph.

For the INNOV8, we took a few test shots ranging from ISO50, 100, 200 and 400, and noise levels were very minimal, to say the least. For your information though, we did tweak the settings up to ISO800 and 1600, and similar to compact digital cameras, high ISO settings are never recommended due to the amount of noise returned.

Taken at ISO50. Click for full image. Taken at ISO100. Click for full image.
Taken at ISO200. Click for full image. Taken at ISO400. Click for full image.

 Editor's Note: The images as presented below were taken with pre-production units of both the Samsung INNOV8 and Sony Ericsson C905, and as such only serves as an estimate to its imaging capability. Do check out our website very soon when we get a retail-ready unit of the Sony Ericsson C905 for further testing purposes and present the full review of Sony Ericsson's first 8-megapixel Cyber-shot phone.

During our earlier coverage of the INNOV8's official unveiling in Vietnam , we had a pre-production unit of the Sony Ericsson C905, another 8-megapixel camera phone. We pitted both devices against each other in a series of image capture, and the final results gave the INNOV8 the slight edge. Color reproduction on the INNOV8 was more vivid and brighter, and had a better white balance to it too. However, outdoor shots were slightly of an oddity, as the C905 fared better with its lighting as compared to the INNOV8's outdoor shots. To put things into perspective, here's a few side by side comparison shots from both the INNOV8 and the C905.

Sony Ericsson C905: White balancing didn't turn out as well as we had expected. Samsung INNOV8: Better white balance with little to no yellowish hue to it.

 

Sony Ericsson C905: Color reproduction fell short and was not as vivid as the INNOV8's and images weren't as sharp either.

 

Sony Ericsson C905: Outdoor shots had an edge over the INNOV8's with its brighter image, though sharpness still wasn't there. Samsung INNOV8: Surprisingly, outdoor shots lacked the brightness it should, though it had the sharpness and vivid colors.
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