Still Image Capture, iPhone 4 v. DROID X (Updated)

By Andrew Munchbach on Jun 28, 2010 at 1:59 PM

Review June 28, 2010 at 1:59 PM

Last Friday, we published a very basic comparison of the iPhone 4 and DROID X 720p video capture modes. Some of you agreed with our assessment of which video camera performed better, and some of you did not. What several commenters did ask for was a comparison between the still cameras in the DROID X and the iPhone 4…and we thought it would be kind to oblige you. The DROID X is, by default, shooting in the 16:9 aspect ratio with an 8 megapixel, mechanical-shutter camera, while the iPhone 4 is shooting in 4:3 with its 5 MP non-mechanical offering. We took stills of four different objects in three different light settings with each camera. The DROID X’s settings were left on “Automatic” (as that is the default) and the iPhone 4…well, it doesn’t have any settings to muck with. The images were all re-sized using Adobe Photoshop CS5, we simply changed the image width to 641 pixels (to fit in our blog column) and allowed the height to automatically adjust to keep the aspect ratio in-tact. The images were then saved without any JPEG compression, degradation, or optimization. Let us know which camera you think performed better in the comments.

UPDATE: As we mentioned in the post we did not change any of the default settings the DROID X was using when taking these photos. Thanks to an astute commenter, it was brought to our attention that the DROID X defaults to shooting in 6 megapixel mode and not the full 8 megapixels. As you may have noticed the tomatoes were a bit ripe when we took the images last Friday, so they are no longer with us. The glass candies, soapstone knot, and soccer ball managed to survive the weekend. We’ve added some 8 megapixel DROID X shots and re-labeled the images for re-evaluation.

UPDATE 2: We were going to save this for our official review but we figure now is a good a time as any to air this out. We’re finding it very hard to take quality shots with the DROID X on the first try. We think what the issue may be is camera-shake that inevitably has to occur while pushing down the dedicated camera button to take a picture (there is no soft-key on the screen to press). Some of these DROID X shots were taken two or three times before we got one that was not blurry, the iPhone only needed one shot to get the images you see. It is unclear whether this can be fixed with a software update or if you just need a really, really steady hand. We’ll be interested to know what you think once you have the device in your hands.

DROID X Sunlight (6 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Sunlight

DROID X Sunlight (6 megapixel)

DROID X Sunlight (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Sunlight

DROID X Sunlight (6 megapixel)

DROID X Sunlight (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Sunlight

DROID X Sunlight (6 megapixel)

DROID X Sunlight (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Sunlight

DROID X Shade (6 megapixel)

DROID X Shade (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Shade

DROID X Shade (6 megapixel)

DROID X Shade (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Shade

DROID X Shade (6 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Shade

DROID X Shade (6 megapixel)

DROID X Shade (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Shade

DROID X Indoors (6 megapixel)

DROID X Indoors (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Indoors

DROID X Indoors (6 megapixel)

DROID X Indoors (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Indoors

DROID X Indoors (6 megapixel)

DROID X Indoors (8 megapixel)

iPhone 4 Indoors

Tags:: 8 MP, Camera, Droid X, iPhone 4, Opinion, Pictures, Review

326 Comments

RoBoBear

Wow! iPhone 4 wins this! (are you sure the lens on the Droid X was clean?, looks foggy…)

Andrew Munchbach

I thought the same thing, I actually have two DROID X’s in my possession, I had Motorola send me another one to make sure it wasn’t a bad camera or something.

Ethan

Did you change the camera option for saving to 8mp on the Droid? because if you left it on default the pictures you took were 6mp not 8mp. According to the leaked owners manual you have to set it to 8mp, because the phone in default will take pictures in 6mp as a way to save space on the memory card.
Ethan

Just quoting the Manual:

“Note: Photos are stored on your microSD memory
card. Picture Resolution is 6MP, unless you change it.”

Just wondering because I’ve definately seen better pictures from the Droid X. :/
Andrew Munchbach

Hey Ethan, we left the default settings ON…so the DROID X was shooting in 6 MP mode. I’m updating the post as we speak with the 8 MP shots.
RoBoBear

Much better…but still coughing on iPhone 4′s dust. Thanks for the update Andrew!
Ethan

No problem. Glad I could point it out. I’m kinda glad I read the manual because I’m not going to lie those 6mp pictures were awful.

LAPHONEGUY

I thought the exact same thing. That camera cannot be clean.

After reading Andrew’s response below, I’m kinda shocked.

I hope Motorola sees this and does something quickly.

JT

+1. My old BB Curve takes better pictures than the 6/8mp Droid X. iPhone easily wins over those pathetic pictures. In fact, Motorola should be worried about trying to pass that camera off as “functional” by today’s standards. Would like to see more head to head (Evo, BB, Samsung, etc).

Michael Perry

Guys do note that the megapixels won’t affect the lighting, color accuracy, the rich darks, or the white balance… The only thing setting the megapixels to 8 instead of 6 will do is introduce a bit more noise into the shot which is only a good trade off if the lens/sensor itself were different or if these pictures were going to be blown up. At these sizes and with the physical same lens and CMOS sensor the pics will look the same as the 6 Megapixel shot… case in point the iPhone 4 images look better at 5 megapixels than the Droid at 6…

Eric S

Wow, those Droid X photos are far too warm. I’m surprised.
iName

yeah there’s no question, the iphone’s camera takes the cake. it only took apple 2 years to make a decent camera but better late than never right?

ChocoTaco

Actually, just about 4 years over 4 models. Hence iPhone 4

KennyB123

I must say that I’m very impressed by the Iphone 4. I’m not sure why all the newfanged devices out there can’t take equally nice pictures.
kerrhome

No contest and I own and love my Droid. To bad Mot.
David

Droid looks great as far as camera phone quality goes, but the clear winner is iPhone. The detail and clarity is really close point-and-shoot camera quality.
Doc

ya. i’ve seen some droidX pics, and they were quite a bit more clear that some you had gotten. either way, iphone took some really nice pics … /impressed
Efraim L

Not a shock to me! iPhone4 wins big…
http://ijstech.blogspot.com Isaiah Copon

I love Android but the iPhone 4′s camera is clearly better.
Adam

Wow, no ifs ands or buts….iPhone = Winner
Nobody

Try wiping the oil from your hands off the Droid X camera first. It’s painfully obvious that there is something on the camera.

the iphone 4 is just gorgeous though. woooie.
Skyler L.

I think something must have not been final with the software or the lens was unclear on the DroidX because this comparison is a pretty clear victory for the Iphone 4
Kloc

I must admit as of right now I will never get an iPhone or a DROID but the iphone definitely won this battle. More megapixels doesn’t mean better images for sure.
Ernie

Wait Andrew you definately touched up the iPhone pics to make them look better than the Droid X. You biased bitches!!!!

Just kiddin’, but I know that’s what the Android lovers will say. Megapixels don’t seem to be that critical.
iName

also more megapixels =/= better camera. when will people grasp this idea?
iamajim

Something’s not right here; I’ve seen comparisons before and the Droid’s pics didn’t look this bad. Kudos to crApple though, a picture is worth a thousand words eh?

Ernie

If that’s crApple then what does that make the Droid man???? No one, at this juncture, builds better hardware than your CrApple. Yeah, they don’t give you the keys to the kingdom, but you can’t argue with the quality of what they build. Otherwise you wouldn’t have their amazing satisfaction rating.

And yeah, you will probably say that the 90%+ satisfaction rating, the highest of ANY hardware manufacturer, is manufactured by JD POWERS because they are terrified of Apple, but I will keep my believe that their process is very adequate and ethical.

JP

a 90%+ satisfaction rating is amazing… i just refuse to pay extra for having a logo and name attached to my computer. i have a 10 year old computer that i built myself that runs better than my brothers brand new mac pro.
Ernie

Oh sure and I have a trs80 that works better than any pc or Mac in the world today.
Eddie4

Don’t cite JD Powers. When I read in the WSJ that their reviews change when money moves their way, I lost any respect for that rating. And Apple has deep pockets.

The fruit pics look good…
ChocoTaco

Yea, bad antenna, yellow screen, upside-down volume rockers, easily scratched glass back cover…quality hardware alright.

It took Apple 4 different phones over a greater than 3 year period to integrate a decent camera into their phone. They were able to edge out a test model of another phone without final software on it. I’ll pass judgment when the Droid X is finalized with its finished software.

If you want a phone with a good camera, get an iPhone 4. If you want a phone that has a pretty good camera and is also usable to type on, has ah HDMI output, has great call quality and actually holds calls when you hold the phone, get the Droid X. Ask yourself – are you buy a phone or a camera? Then choose.

gayu

I all the comparisons i have seen iPhone 4 looks much better. this website posted comparisons from three different websites and all had the same result
http://techztalk.com/techwebsite/06-28-10-iphone-4-offers-the-best-camera-in-smartphones

RidleyGriff

Wow. Wasn’t expecting this result at all.

Droid X is a very nice camera unto itself, but next to the iPhone 4, it ain’t even close.
http://www.twitter.com/solomuzick solo

definitely a nice comparison. iPhone murdered droid on this one.
jaxstate

Can’t deny it. Those iPhone pics are great. The clarity is amazing for a cell phone.
Mickey Jones

Wow, no contest on this one.

Makes me sad as a potential X owner.
AT

Disappointing to see droid x’s camera so inferior to iphone 4′s.
xxx

Those are some nasty tomatoes.
Gav (aka MaxdMerc)

iPhone 4′s looking Goooooood!
mpowerd

iPhone easily wins vast majority. I saw virtually no blacks from the droid. Megapixels schmegapixels!!!
LaToya (AKA Digital Nightmare)

The iPhone 4 wins hands down…even the original DROID’s camera was a nightmare so the results do not surprise me.

1 2 3 … 10 Next »

Still Image Capture, iPhone 4 v. DROID X (Updated)

Hubs

Apple

Android

Mobile

Business

Related Articles

Hubs

Apple

Android

Mobile

Business