N900 and iPhone 3GS camera comparison shots

Posted on 18 January 2010, Last updated on 18 January 2010 by

photo (2) One of the coolest features on the Nokia N900 is the pretty awesome camera. The N900 has an auto-focus 5.0MP camera with a dual-LED flash (with a sliding cover). The optics are by Carl Zeiss which are regarded as being high quality in the world of cameras. I’ve got several shots taken by the iPhone 3GS’s 3.0MP auto-focus camera and put them up against images taken with the N900. You’ll see the iPhone’s photos on the left and the N900 shots on the right. Be sure to click on the images to get the full-sized photos.

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After looking through these images, it is pretty clear to see that the N900’s 5.0MP camera takes sharper images than the iPhone’s 3.0MP camera, which makes sense of course. Looking very closely though, it would appear as though the N900 also has a better dynamic range than the iPhone. What this means is that the N900 can capture a wider range of dark and light in the same scene than the iPhone can. You may have also heard of this term referred to as contrast ratio. This is apparent in most of these images if you look closely, but it’s particularly visible in the photo of the underside of the tree. Much more detail can be seen in the dark regions of the N900’s shot than can be seen in the iPhone’s. Colors appear to be more accurately represented as well. In the second to last shot of the flowers, the iPhone image seems to have oversaturated colors, whereas the N900 more accurately shows the range of pinks.

The macro mode on the N900 is probably the thing that most impresses me. The N900 has the benefit of having a dedicated hardware camera button which, when pressed down half-way, focuses the camera (with the iPhone you tap on the screen to focus). Turning on the macro-mode on let’s you get up-close and personal to objects and let’s you capture an impressive level of detail and texture.

A full N900 review is in the works, stay tuned!

12 Comments For This Post

  1. Red Raider says:

    My first post here. I recognize Diamond Head, so clearly you’re in Hawaii. It’s been years for me, so things look a whole lot different now. Is that Iolani School in the second set of pictures?

  2. benz145 says:

    Just a parking garage and some tennis courts! Good spot on Diamond Head though.

  3. Red Raider says:

    Cool! Wish I was there right now. It’s 40 degrees where I am…but at least the snow is melting!

  4. admin says:

    Can we stop talking about Hawaii please? ;-) [Chippy in snowy Germany]

  5. Unlocked Iphone says:

    Very interesting, I like your site, keep up the good work!

  6. Tena McGee says:

    Great write up. The iPhone is truly amazing and I don’t like being without it. This time last year I had jumped in a pool with my iPhone and it was dead. I had to wait 9 days before I was able to buya new one. The phone I had was a cheap go phone. I really love all the apps that can be downloaded to the iPhone. The best part about the iPhone to me is the ability to check emails on the go. Thanks for the information.

  7. wedding photography myrtle beach says:

    This Nokia camera looks like a great option for using as an informal second camera on a wedding photoshoot.

  8. Danna says:

    Carl Zeiss-Tessar lens and the extra 2MP of Nokia N900 really make a huge difference. It gives you the feeling of using a real digital camera.

  9. Yinka says:

    The picture quality of the N900 is much richer and sharper compared to the iPhone

  10. Chino says:

    Both of these phones are good but based on there built-in camera I would go for the N900. It has more details compared to iPhone.

  11. wedding photographer detroit says:

    The comparative photos of the tree is what drove it home for me. The N900 is definitely leagues better in taking photos.

  12. freebiejeebies says:

    I agree the N900 is a lot better with photos.

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