My thoughts on the All New Google Pixel & Pixel XL

After watching practically every camera review on YouTube (not really, but hours of them, Lol), I have some thoughts on the Pixel Camera:

1. I really, really don't like how the picture you actually get out of the camera can differ so much from what you see on the screen. It's basically black magic. You just don't know what it's going to look like because it processes the living **** out of the camera in the background (HDR+). They mind as well just show you a wireframe preview of the screen, FFS.

2. The EIS works well against other Android flagships with OIS, but not as well against the iPhone's EIS + OIS implementation, particularly in indoor/lower lighting. The GS7 is very jumpy, and worse than the Pixel; but you notice jitters in the Pixel's video - compared to the iPhone - when walking and panning the cameras while recording video.

3. Daylight shots, and those in great lighting look amazing. The LG V20 seems to be superior, however (way sharper... less noise... just better image output, IMO). However, see #1.

4. The Pixel is awful in low light. The lack of OIS is noticeable here ,and it crushes the shadows. It's just not good, but it doesn't tend to overexpose images like the iPhone and Galaxy S7 (HDR+). However, the LG V20 completely outclasses it there. The V20 looks like a DSLR compared the the Pixel in low light. It Pixel isn't even in the same class, IMO. Again, See #1.

I have some real issues with the way this phone processes images in the background, and how it doesn't let you see what your picture is going to look like (in some cases, it's so different from the viewfinder that it is practically not even the same image). You never know if the image will be what you want, and if you have to "reshoot" it until you go into the gallery and view it, and with those HDR+ processing times, that can be a time consuming exercise.

I don't like it. I also wish Google gave the Option to shoot RAW + JPEG in their camera software. Really, why not put this there. Android 3rd party camera software has, IMO, tended towards overstuffed, badly designed software developed for geeky users. One can use Adobe Lightroom if they subscribe to CC to get a well designed camera option for shooting RAW, but... ... (Feel free to recommend options for me to research, if you know of any good, user friendly camera apps with a nice user-focused user experience).

In any case, I find the camera polarizing; since I use my phone mostly for recording training (sports) video for analysis in indoor/mixed lighting. If you can "trust" the HDR+ wholeheartedly, then it's amazing in daylight and Macro. Among the best. The Lens Blur feature still isn't all that convenient in implementation, but it works well enough. However, the low light performance leaves a LOT to be desired, and is easily surpassed by a number of smartphones. The video recording is probably close to best in class on Android, barring low light, but it's still not as good as the iPhone's more stable video.

I don't think they should have left OIS out. I think the phone would have been much better in low light with it, particularly since they're using a narrower aperture than iPhone/Galaxy S7.

I don't really care about unlimited storage since I use multiple devices and I'd be forced to purchase more storage than I'd never need, anyways (I use two smartphones and record elements from multiple angles, often). That is a non-factor.

The HDR+ is amazing, but it causes the entire photography experience to be guesswork, since the processing all happens after the fact; and you never know what you're ACTUALLY going to get out of the camera. Except in low light. This camera is kinda poopy in low light compared to Samsung. The LG V20 is going to blow it away all-around, though, given the comparisons I've seen. I'm extremely impressed with what the pre-production unites were putting out, and if the Pixel is an 89 the LG can be a 95+ just comparing the output I've seen.

I don't understand how the camera scored so high with such mediocre low light performance. #ScratchingMyHead