Nokia convinces photographers Bruce Weber and David Bailey to try the Lumia 1020

you think other phone vendors are confident enough to try the same stunt?

Sep 21, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

Confident enough not to pay for.

Sep 22, 2013permalink

you can't speak for them, you can't even recognize moire

Sep 22, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

I don't speak for anyone else but my self and of-course and i can recognize moire, Ben's printer can't !!!! read again psycho !!!

Sep 22, 2013permalink

'Nokia has created a smartphone which not only matches the capabilities of many high-end cameras, but in most cases surpasses them. It simplifies creative photography.'

“This Nokia camera helps you capture the moment, which is the most important thing.”

there you go DSLR lovers, all this talk about image quality, the pro photographer thinks that's not the most important thing.

Sep 20, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

So those photographers till now (that Nokia "Convinced" them) weren't able to "capture the moment" ?

Sep 20, 2013permalink

ageha

Sure they were, any camera/phone can do that.

Sep 22, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

Nokia convinces photographers Bruce Weber and David Bailey to try the Lumia 1020, is one way of saying : Nokia, PAID , photographers Bruce Weber and David Bailey to try the Lumia 1020.

Sep 19, 2013*permalink

CraigArnold

Had a chance to pop into the exhibition.

Obviously it's a Nokia promotion, but some fantastic shots and blown up A0 size.

Damned impressive coming from a phone and much better than anything I've seen from iPhone exhibitions, that's for sure!

I've found my next phone I think.

Of course it could be the processing, but the shots really reminded me of 35mm film blown up to that size. Certainly it doesn't have the depth of MF, but the 41Mp put some very surprising detail into these very large prints.

Certainly they break through the "good enough" barrier with ease. Maybe I can retire my X100 as my "carry everywhere" camera. I'll keep the 5D2.

Sep 19, 2013*permalink

Haider

They should cut it down the megapixels to HDTV res . Increase the size of the photosites spend time on trying to boost the ISO and still give a good photograph. If they can crank up the ISO and still get good quality for a multi-purpose.

Sep 19, 2013permalink

no, the reason why cameras shouldn't have more megapixels is if the lens cannot resolve more detail than the sensor can handle. light sensitivity is a property of the sensor technology. if you want less noise when boosting the signal then you'd have to switch back to CCD but then you'd be unable to record HD video.

Sep 19, 2013permalink

DrGerm

Over 1000 shots between the two of them, and what, 60 keepers? Most tourists do better than that... We all did, when we still shot film and had to pay for each picture :-)

Sep 18, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

Would you prefer they shared every single image they took or just the best 60?

Sep 18, 2013permalink

Tim86

More experience creates a more critical eye. These are very experienced photographers.

Sep 19, 2013permalink

KariIceland

The nokia 808 had a slightly better image quality, to bad it is hard to find today, im searching for one in new condition

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Damian Dinning, 808's imaging chief, would disagree with you though - he'd use the 1020.

Sep 18, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

Decent enough pictures for a phone, but I honestly can't understand why Bailey would splash out all that money on a phone to take photos with when he must have loads of decent cameras at home.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

kbColorado

Not bad pics from something that fits in your pocket, browses the web, functions as a phone and is at the ready any time a shot presents itself.

Relax folks :-)

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

(unknown member)

What a shame Olympus did not resurrect their original 70's or 80's vintage "Who do you think you are? David Bailey?" advert for the new OMD EM-1!

Sep 17, 2013permalink

GeffBourke

I agree. That was a great and funny advert. Todays younger generation would not understand the concept.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Jahled

What troubles me is any manufacturer of anything on this planet could market something in such a hideous, nauseating yellow. It's simply astounding

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Well, a lot of people love that color... even in the gadget freak forums like those of MyNokiaBlog or MacRumors, that is, it's not only for teenage girls.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Kumara

Sheesh, all this fuss remainds me when the first polaroid came out and all these trendy & fashonable photographers went into a ramp to show unusual images, while the rest of us Pro used the technology just to check the exposure & light.

Sure it may be a fun toy to play with and may be able to capture significant images, but remember the more sensors' cells you add in a confined area the more noise you record: and that's valid for the many commeents here trying to sell us this latest techno hype as a God sent gift that we would be lucky to use.

The IQ of my MF films is stll unreachable for the digital world, not to speak of the 5x7 & 7x10 "

Sep 17, 2013permalink

WellyFTW

8x10

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Kumara

Ouch, after all these many years my memory fades... Nowadays I only use digital stuff for my works and it's stll a miracle I can reacall what is a circle of confusion! ;^)

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

Paul Storm

Not very convincing looking at the output of 2 experienced photographers. I'm sure we would have seen same shots had they used an iPhone. They should have given the phones to two homeless bums experienced in the art of homlessness and then seen what they produced.

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

Right now the Lumia 1020 is the most important camera on the market.

People should throw away their dSLRs because they are useless junk compared to this.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Jasko014

VFunct, why make such a conclusions ? It is good to have good camera on phone if the DSLR or Rangefinder is at home. I made some photos I really like on iPhone, as it was with me in the downtown... I think for this mature pros was interesting experience to shoot with digital camera on phone as they never before tried digital))) relax man))

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

Only amateurs shoot with dSLRs. Professionals know how to take a good picture with a camera-phone!

That is because a professional photographer gets hired/fired by their artistic skills, not technical ones.

You can tell who's a n00b at photography if they claim you need a dSLR to take a good photos. Anyone that claims they need a dSLR to take a good photograph should never be allowed to shoot a camera, because you know they suck at photography!

Sep 17, 2013permalink

88SAL

Actually im just over fixed wide angle lenses on most phones. How many iPhone pictures are there out there with the same 33mm lens. Im loving the 90/100mm area at the moment.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Ferling

vFunct. Where is your body of work and professional bio, that proves that you had the kinds of work experience to know what you're talking about?

Sep 17, 2013permalink

What a load of BS!
These guys claim they never picked up a digital camera and the first thing they are Impressed about is a phone?
Who believes that?
Pick up a Canon or Nikon DSLR and be really
Impressed or even a medium format digital...
Money talks and BS walks...
These guys have clearly sold out and it will shatter their reputation.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

ryanshoots

Nokia could convince me in the same manner they "convinced" Bruce and David to give their camera a whirl" $$$

Hey, I'm convinced!

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

toomanycanons

First time digital user review. And he discovered...yes, you can take a pic with a phone! "Look, Martha, you hold it out like this and see your subject on the screen! Remarkable! And you push this little button and it takes a picture! Just remarkable. I never knew!"

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

Vladik

Exactly! Are these shots suppose to impress us?! :)))

Sep 16, 2013permalink

klopus

I just see interesting street photos, with story, emotion, individuality and unique and keen eye. That's why I view (and take) photos. To listen to some tech obsessed folks commenting here they would critique Cartier-Bresson into oblivion because of blown highlights that are totally irrelevant to the story image tells.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

The whole idea is to demonstrate that the phone camera is good enough for commercial work. And they are showing weaknesses even at the tiny web sizes.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Francis Carver

Wow, enough of these danged cell phones already, Dear D.P. Review. Or shall I say, Digital Cell Phone Review?

Sep 16, 2013permalink

klopus

Francis, you're commenting not on DPReview main site but on Connect - DPR's offshoot specifically dedicated to mobile photography. And in any case, don't like it don't read it, nobody is forcing you. There are plenty of people who are interested in the topic and don't share your Luddite attitudes. Duh!

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Troll

Sep 17, 2013permalink

AbrasiveReducer

There seem to be three takes on this. (1) It's a phone, so it can't be good. (2) It's technology, which automatically means it's fabulous and you are a loser if you don't agree. (3) These phones aren't perfect but they are good enough for most people, most of the time. If I was selling these, I'd bank on #3.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

dpmaxwell

The problem, if #3 is what you are banking on, is that they are using an operating system nobody wants. An OS that nobody is developing apps for, and phones there are such a limited number of third party accessories.

They can market the camera till the cows come home, but in the end, this device lives or dies as a Windows phone. So, the people to whom your #3 applies, are in fact going to iPhones and Android. Why? Because for photography, those iPhone and Android cameras are "good enough for most people, most of the time" - without the downside of the limited OS.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Frenetic Pony

Meh, Windows Phone is fine (I have one and am an obsessed techie). Most people, beyond a small amount of fandom to make themselves feel superior when they think about it at all, aren't really going to care. 98% of the population isn't an obsessed techie that's also nerdy enough to really care what smartphone OS they use beyond "good enough".

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Jake2046

since when is 170,000+ apps is no app?

There are so many misleading info being leak around regarding Window Phone. I was reading last week Window Phone can't post to instagram & vine. Yes you can...there are 3rd party apps 6gram & 6sec.

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

WellyFTW

I'd buy this phone in an instant if it was an Android phone. As it's a Windows phone, I wouldn't touch it with a stick covered in poo.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

JadedGamer

Amazing, you people are...

When you get a good meal at a restaurant, do you ask what kind of stove the cook used? Sheesh!

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Unlike stove, the camera is directly related to the quality of the outcome. I won't go to restaurant that sells low-quality meat at high price.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

javidog

Are you sure that camera is directly related to the quality of the outcome?? Are you certain of this fact?

Sep 17, 2013permalink

They are. Try shoot some indoor sports with P&S cams.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

A camera is not related to the quality of the outcome.

Use a Nikon 1 to shoot sports. It's better than a dSLR.

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

JadedGamer

My Ricoh GR is without an anti-aliasing filter, so it can take sharper pictures than my Canon 50D (both use a APS-C sensor). But you would scoff at my "P&S camera"... :/

Sep 17, 2013permalink

SeeRoy

Bailey may be non-technical where digital cameras are concerned but he's extremely open minded. I ran into him last autumn when he was out and about in London using a Panasonic M2/3 camera with the 20/1.7 mounted. He was very enthusiastic about it. That said at some point in the last half-century just about every camera manufacturer has hired him to use and enthuse about their products.
75 he may be but he's a sharp guy and absolutely bullsh!t-free.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

areichow

Heh, funny that you'd get someone who has no experience with digital cameras to review it...

Sep 16, 2013permalink

klopus

@ariechow, You mean "someone" who's a famous well established pro photographer with a half a century experience is not qualified to review a device that captures photos? And whom you would like to do it - technical junkie hooked on forums? :)

Sep 16, 2013permalink

tabloid

Well said.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

areichow

@klopus You misunderstand - I thought it said something more about Nokia than it did the photographer. I'm not sure what it said, but it did seem odd.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

@klopus
Sorry, but I do not agree. They are not qualified to review the digital camera phone when they claim they have never picked up a digital camera in their life.
The obvious comparison is between 35mm or medium format film or a high end DSLR or digital back.
These professionals should be endorsing camera companies with heritage like Canon or Nokia or even Olympus or Pentax . Nokia is just a phone maker who is so desperate to sell a phone with a crappy operating system that they put a 40mp camera on a phone which nobody would want otherwise.
My second cell phone was Nokia, back in 1994. It was a great phone. It was still analog/digital and it was plain and simple. No Internet, no camera, no games, no text messages... just a great working phone that made Nokia number one in the world.
A smart phone should be balanced. This phone is just a gimmick And very few people will actually buy it.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

I meant to say Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax...

Sep 17, 2013permalink

dgeugene1

I am glad to know exactly how old they are...very helpful.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Jake2046

Sure they might got paid...but they also have a reputation to protect. I doubt they would put their reputations on a line if the phone isn't spectacular.

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

The saddest part is that they choose to ruin their reputation at the late stage of their life and career. They will be remembered for selling out in the end and not from their good work in the past...
A disgrace, IMHO

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Their reputation remains intact, since professionals already know a cell phone camera can take good photos.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

They DO look like they're from cell phone camera. All highlights are severely blown out, quite a bit of flare. Or maybe it is because the photographer has never used digital equipment before.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

tabloid

Its not a Hasselblad, with a studio full of flash lights....ita a mobile phone with a camera stuck on it.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

FotografMagnus

Good to finally see an article here which does not always say how fantastic the iPhone is as a camera.

Thanks!

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Let me defend DPReview: they haven't ever stated the iPhone has the best camera. No sane, tech-savvy person would do the same. I kinda like my iPhone 5's camera but in no way (except for it being faster) consider it better than that of my 808 or my RX100.

It's another question they very often report on new apps / accessories for the iPhone. But that's in no way the same as stating the iPhone rocks, camera-wise.

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

The iPhone is fantastic as a camera.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Just wait until Friday. The iPhone 5S is going to kick some serious "S" ;)

Sep 17, 2013permalink

"Just wait until Friday. The iPhone 5S is going to kick some serious "S" ;)"

Come on - you can't seriously believe that... while it's going to surely have better IQ than the 5, it still lacks a lot of essential features already present in the best alternatives; most importantly, OIS.

And if anyone asks why OIS is that important: feel free to disable OIS in, say, your 40mm equiv lens and/or dump them all and never ask for / use OIS lens / cameras again. (Because the iPhone shoots video at 40mm equiv. It's only stills that are taken at the nominal FoV.) Ready to do it?

Sep 17, 2013permalink

"The iPhone is fantastic as a camera."

I wish it was true. Too bad there still are better-IQ smartphone alternatives. The just-published Engadget review states the following ( http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/17/iphone-5s-review/ ):

"Even so, our sample shots still showed more noise and less detail than the same images taken with the Nokia Lumia 1020. The 5s also does a good job of reproducing color, but it’s not the best performer in this category, either. Make no mistake, though: the iPhone has been – and continues to be – great as a simple grab-and-go camera. It may not be a best-in-class performer, but the vast majority of iPhone users will still be happy."

Sep 18, 2013permalink

Who said there weren't better phone cameras out there?

The point is - I don't care. DON'T CARE. Enjoy what you have.

Sep 25, 2013permalink

llamacide

Cell phone cameras are like adjustable wrenches: not necessarily the right tool for the job but it can get things done in a pinch.

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

SWSF14

Given the bright outdoor lighting conditions of the shoot, you'd think that most upper class smartphones could produce comparable pictures to those. This is just product endorsement, plain and simple.

IMO they should spend more money on endorsing the Windows mobile OS. Wouldn't touch it with a stick at this point, having tried it on limited occasions.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

3DSimmon

I am enjoying the effort Nokia is putting into this phone, I think those old fellows did a Nice job. It's also very amusing Reading how irate some People are over a little sponsorship, like no other Company has ever done it.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

samhain

The pics look like they were taken with a cell phone.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

CameraLabTester

The second word of the title should be like this:

¢onvin¢e$

Sep 16, 2013permalink

babalu

That is a NOK-IA-OUT punch .

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Jogger

lol.. lots of angry folks on here. thank god its not another iphone advertorial, because there just arent enough of those.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

jcmarfilph

I'd rather snap with this phone than the mediocre iPhone. At least this camera has the muscles and IQ for a decent photography.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

sdribetahi

ok then.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

G1Houston

According to Consumer Reports: "The iPhone 5 already has one of the best cameras in our Ratings, and it still takes the best video of any phone we've tested, even beating the 42-megapixel Nokia Lumia 1020."

Sep 16, 2013permalink

I'd certainly be interested in their testing methology... I bet it's not as comprehensive as that of, say, PhoneArena (or, for that matter, mine).

I find it pretty hard to see how the iPhone, which

- doesn't have lossless zooming in iOS6 (iOS7's lossless zoom will only "hit the shelves" later this week - see my full report on it at http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/87/imaging-video-guru-reporting-lossless-video-zooming-ios7 )

- no stereo microphones, no high-dynamics audii recording

- for causual / social video, has too narrow 40mm equiv FoV when shooting video, while the FoV of the 1020 is 26mm in 16:9 (incl. video) mode

- and, the most important: no OIS. The EIS the iPhone 5 has is pretty bad and inefficient compared to Nokia's OIS.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

jcmarfilph

'According to Consumer Reports: "The iPhone 5 already has one of the best cameras in our Ratings, and it still takes the best video of any phone we've tested, even beating the 42-megapixel Nokia Lumia 1020."

Or according to a paid apple fanboy? A camera with a sensor tinier than a pinhead will never gonna have a chance against Nokia pureview phones.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

bigley Ling

wow jcmarfilph, maybe I need to use my iPhone 5 more often for capturing images lol. In daylight, sure the iphone can deliver a very colorful punchy image, but when it comes to low light, the iPhone has not a chance against the 1020.

Also begs the question as Menneisyys has pointed out, where is the lossless zoom, and stereo recording microphones. Last I use my iPhone 5, it did not have either.

Consumer reports must only look at the simplicirty of using a mobile phone camera. If thats the case the iPhone wins hands down for the simpest icamera interface.

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

Enjoy your muscle phone.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

Man, the iPhone is a great phone with a good camera camera. Nokia is a great camera with a bad phone.
Why would anyone buy this phone anyway? If you want a real camera, spend 300 bucks and get any of the new pocket digital cameras with 10 or 20 X optical zooms, full manual controls and real flashes and even built-in Wi-Fi.
You can have the pictures transferred to your iphone or android smart phone in seconds.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

"Man, the iPhone is a great phone with a good camera camera. Nokia is a great camera with a bad phone."

In another post of yours you stated the iPhone 5S' camera is going to be great so I'm not sure if you are impartial / unbiased. To put it mildly.

"Why would anyone buy this phone anyway? If you want a real camera, spend 300 bucks and get any of the new pocket digital cameras with 10 or 20 X optical zooms, full manual controls and real flashes and even built-in Wi-Fi."

One word: convergence. This is why we need as good cameras in our phones as possible.

Sep 17, 2013permalink

@menneisyss I am extremely happy with my iPhone 5 and the quality photos i get out of it. I meant to say the bigger sensor and the faster aperture should improve it a lot and for one, I can't wait! Friday, I will be in line at 4am at the Apple Store in Miami Beach. I do it every year since 2007. It's a fun tradition and awesome to be one of the first to get the iPhone.
Yes, I am biased. ;)

Sep 17, 2013permalink

" I do it every year since 2007. It's a fun tradition and awesome to be one of the first to get the iPhone. "

Lol, I did the same up until (and including) the iPhone 5 and the iPad 3 :)

I think the 5s will be the first iPhone I won't line up for. Some Android handsets (LG G2 and prolly even the supercheap Nexus 5) are so much more suitable for me because of their vastly superior hardware (including many camera features - but not necessarily the IQ) and openness. Android has indeed become extremely nice, unlike up to, say, mid-late 2012 (the GS3, Nexus 10 and other hardware already on par with iPhones), when Apple still have maintained their lead with even us hardcore geeks.

Sep 17, 2013*permalink

babalu

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

siberstorm27

You can get anyone to use your device and say anything about it if you throw enough money at it. From pop stars like Katy Perry to photographers for Vogue. The more desperate you are, the more money you throw. HTC has already sunk billions on Robert Downey Jr., even though their company and device portfolio is imploding. I've seen stunning photoshoots with the iPhone 3GS. It's all about lighting and preparation and professionalism. I am not impressed that Nokia and Microsoft continue to use misleading and/or distasteful marketing ploys when the actual Lumia 1020 phone isn't so hot and the camera quality is overblown compared to other phone cameras.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

javidog

The desperate ones are clearly all who think like you. Skeptics have been around forever and they always, always, lose. Photography is forever evolving. Embrace technology people! Or get out of the way.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

AndyHWC

Hmm... how can you compare Robert Downey to David Bailey in photography field? If you think they are equal, I don't have anything more to say. I don't see anything wrong to ask real photographers to try the 1020. That's better than Samsung asking Usain Bolt to show off how nice is their cameras. Funny thing is people may listen to Bolt's advice more than David Bailey.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

HiRez

Nonetheless, when you're paying someone, professional or not, chances are they aren't going to say your product is crap. I'm not saying the Lumia phones are crap, but you're only going to hear the good things out of these scenarios, and usually in a hyperbolic manner at that.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

Flat

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Neal Hood

Excellent compositions and subject matter. l would like to see them do this in other cities....regardless of the camera used. Off-the-cuff about daily life, there pictures seemingly paint a more realistic picture of daily life in Harlem than that which I often garnered from reading stories in newspapers and magazines.

My compliments to the two photographers.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

carlos roncatti

Nothing different, IMO. And jeh, tilting horizons is a resource for those who doesnt have one. Unless you are shooting HAITI, after the earthquake (a magnum photographer did that), then it makes sense. Or if you are a female teenager shooting at the mirror. :)

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Murmillo

Translation for those who missed it in the article:
"Its most recent marketing ploy……"
--->which basically means Nokia PAID these old-timers.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

Markol

pecunia non olet.

Sep 16, 2013permalink

CameraLabTester

Photographers being hired by NOKIA: Take The Money And RUN! ...(It ain't smellin' of urine!)

Sep 16, 2013permalink

CameraLabTester

NOKIA:

Stop using photography to sell your phones.

Go back and concentrate on the things that made you #1....

Great phones with great OS's and User Interfa... fa...

Oh, wait... "Windows ate you up?"

Sorry... Never Mind.

Fuggetabouttit.

Comment edited 100 years after Ansell Adams was born

Sep 16, 2013*permalink

"Stop using photography to sell your phones."

Why should they? They have something REALLY unique and unmatched. Why should they stop making CAMERAphones?

For example, Apple still has a, compared to the 1020 / 808, pretty pathetic camera in their iPhones. The only advantage of the iPhone 5, photo-shooting wise, is the much shorter shoot-to-shoot times.

Samsung, while their camera in the S4 is considerably better than that of the iPhone 5, is still weaker than that of the 1020 (no OIS, for example).

Even LG, the only manufacturer with an OIS with a decent camera (the latter - and the outdated hardware - ruling out the HTC One), seems to include somewhat worse cameras in their LG G2 than that of the 1020, apart from the 1080p60 video mode.

Sep 16, 2013*permalink