One day in Bangkok with the Moto Z2 Play

In the past few weeks, Lenovo have been drumming up hype for their second generation Moto Z devices, which oddly enough, is starting from the mainstream Z2 Play. You can read our device hands-on here, plus a range of new Moto Mods here. What we did notice however, is that the Z2 Play's rear camera carries almost identical specs to what Samsung has been using for their flagship Galaxy S7 and again in the new Galaxy S8.

We're talking about a 12MP sensor, with large 1.4 µm pixels, phase-detect AF, laser AF and dual pixel technology. The only thing lacking in the Moto Z2 Play is OIS. 

So, here's what we've been thinking. The original Z Play was a surprisingly versatile device with great battery life. Can the Z2 Play add another notch to its belt by having a true flagship-quality camera in a mainstream phone?

I managed to snag a Moto Z2 Play for a few hours during the recent ASEAN launch event, so I took it out onto the streets of Bangkok for some fun along with a Samsung Galaxy S8. This feature is not meant to be an in-depth review of the Z2 Play's capabilities, but a quick photo diary to compare two phones with -- on-paper at least -- identical rear camera specs. All photos were shot with both phones set to Auto, with HDR disabled and at full 12MP (4:3) image size, unless otherwise stated. The photos are also untouched; the only processing coming from the phone itself. You can click for full res images and draw your own conclusions. Be warned, this is a very image heavy article.

5 July, 10:17AM - Breakfast at the Okura Prestige

5 July, 1:36PM - Event Interlude and a quick snack

5 July, 3:20PM - No food, no problem. Music heals an empty stomach

5 July, 3:25PM - The time I realized a few rambutans won't sustain me till dinner

5 July, 4:09PM - The (HDR) view from the Okura Prestige. Uh oh, downcast skies

5 July, 4:12PM - I guess I should stop messing around and actually get out of the hotel

5 July, 5:02PM - The one where shrimp fishes swam by and spoiled my coral shot

5 July, 5:29PM - Duuun dun...duuun dun...dun dun...dun dun dun dun dun dun

5 July, 5:30PM - What if Ariel met a Siam prince?

5 July, 5:58PM - They see me rollin', in my tuk tuk

5 July, 6:09PM - Your guess is as good as mine

5 July, 6:14PM - I guess a prayer is in order after what we last saw

5 July, 6:20PM - Busy AF, what are you focusing on?

5 July, 6:36PM - Getting my tom yum on!

5 July, 6:42PM - Those peppercorns were divine I tell you

5 July, 7:43PM - There would have been light trails if not for crawling city traffic

5 July,  8:22PM - Closing time, when the crowds are leaving and a quiet bookstore's so sublime

5 July, 8:30PM - The lonely, winding road back to civilization. And that's a wrap

<img alt="" src="http://cue1.cue-prd.sphnet.com.sg:8080/webservice/escenic/content/6739803" style="width: 400px; height: 533px;" title="Moto Z2 Play, 1/30 sec. f/1.7 4.28mm, ISO 200 ">

Closing thoughts and observations.

• The Samsung Galaxy S8 seems to be more conservative with light sensitivity, preferring lower ISO and higher shutter speeds than the Moto Z2 Play in Auto mode.
• The Moto Z2 Play on the other hand, prefers to shoot at higher ISO and lower shutter speeds. You'd think that without an OIS, this would be the opposite, but it turned out well and I didn't really notice any reduced capabilities from this.
• The Moto Z2 Play's colors seem to be more neutral when compared to the S8's punched up colors. And both have their advantages at different places. In the aquarium, I found the S8's photos to be overly processed at both spectrums, either too red or too blue. There, the Moto Z2 Play shots looked more natural. Outside however, the vibrancy of the S8 can't be denied, and some of the Moto Z2 Play's shots looked bland in direct comparison.
• The is barely any perceptible difference in shooting with both the Z2 Play and S8, both phonecameras are fast and responsive. The only thing in the way would be the UI of the devices itself and how it handles clicks and swipes.
• However, I did note that when left to its own devices, the autofocusing of the Moto Z2 Play can roam around quite a bit, especially in busy shots, so it's best to lock focus on your subject. Otherwise, you may end up with a sharp leaf on a tree branch, when you intended to shoot the perched bird.
• Both phones have Manual modes (Pro modes), but being a mainstream device, I suspect that Lenovo purposely limit the range of options available to the Z2 Play, but we'll only know when the retail devices are out, and compare them to the flagship Z2 device. 
• Although this isn't a structured or exhaustive review, I left the hotel with both phones fully charged. At the end of a 4 hour walk, both devices still had more than 60% battery in them.