Gallery: Smartphones as Cameras
01htc-one-x-3
For some of us, the phone in our pocket is just a glorified camera -- a take-everywhere, internet-connected shooter loaded with apps for instant sharing. Sure, we all use our smartphones for a lot more than taking pictures, but the camera remains one of its most-used features. So, we decided to look at five popular smartphones -- all of them renowned for their advanced optics and capture software -- and rate them against each other purely as picture-taking machines. Here's how your smartphone ranks as a third eye. HTC One X --------- Never miss another shot: The [One X](http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one-x/)'s rapid-fire burst mode -- it's the only camera so equipped in our whole smartphone test -- will keep shooting at an iPhone-crushing four frames per second for as long as you're touching the onscreen shutter. Despite the 28-mm f2.0 lens, though, the resulting images aren't quite as nice as we'd like. Still, it's plenty of camera for Android users looking to chuck their point-and-shoots. __WIRED__ Crazy-fast burst mode. Auto-selects the most in-focus pics from the sequence of shots. Massive 4.7-inch screen. __TIRED__ Too big for comfortable one-handed operation. $200 with a two-year AT&T contract | [Read Our Full Review](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/05/htc-one-x/) __Rating: 7 out of 10__*Photo: Brian Finke*
02apple-iphone-4s-2
Apple iPhone 4S --------------- If megapixels were all that mattered, the 8-megapixel [iPhone 4S](http://www.apple.com/iphone/) would be merely an average camera. But when convenience and ease of use are factored in, it ranks as possibly the best ever. The camera function is accessible directly from the lock screen -- no code or even a second hand needed. All settings can be adjusted with one thumb, and the 35-millimeter (equivalent) f/2.4 lens, coupled with the back-illuminated image sensor, tops the low-light performance of a lot of point and shoots. __WIRED__ Set exposure and focus with just one tap. Automatic face recognition. Astonishingly great auto-white balance. __TIRED__ No manual exposure control. Superbright LED flash does more harm than good. $200 with two-year contract | [Read Our Full Review](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/10/iphone4s/) __Rating: 9 out of 10__*Photo: Brent Humphreys*
03nokia-lumia-900
Nokia Lumia 900 --------------- The [Lumia 900](http://www.nokia.com/us-en/products/phone/lumia900/) is the best-designed smartphone camera we've ever tested. The 4.3-inch screen, solid 5.6-ounce heft, and thoughtful control layout make you forget it's a phone. An 8-megapixel sensor and a 28-millimeter f/2.2 Zeiss lens handle image capture, but low-light shots are a notch below the iPhone's. Like all Windows phones, the 900 has a physical two-step button: Depress halfway to set focus and exposure, and press all the way to trigger the shutter. __WIRED__ Clearly designed with photography in mind. Three on-board metering modes. __TIRED__ Images noisy in low light and foggy in high-contrast settings. $100 with a two-year AT&T contract | [Read Our Full Review](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/04/nokia-lumia-900/) __Rating: 8 out of 10__*Photo: Joe Pugliese*
04samsung-focus-s
Samsung Focus S --------------- Like the Nokia (and all Windows Phones), the [Focus S](http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I937OKAATT) from Samsung has a physical shutter button. But it skips the Zeiss lens -- plus a whole lot more, judging by the anorexic profile. (Zeisses aren't everything; the iPhone doesn't use one.) For whatever reason, though, photo quality suffers: Images were cloudy or overexposed, especially in mixed-light and high-contrast settings. And at just 3.9 ounces, this waif makes you very aware you're taking pictures with a phone. __WIRED__ Deep, rich colors on AMOLED screen. Shutter button auto-launches camera mode. __TIRED__ Wafer-thin design feels like a toy. Poor shots in bad light. $200 with a two-year AT&T contract | [Samsung Focus S](http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I937OKAATT) __Rating: 7 out of 10__*Photo: Jeff Mermelstein*
05lg-spectrum
LG Spectrum ----------- Image quality problems and interface hiccups cripple the [LG Spectrum](http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-VS920-spectrum) in all but ideal settings. Even in bright light, the slightest motion from you or your subject results in a blurry image. High-contrast scenes are unmanageable due to the sensor's limited range. The 8-megapixel camera does offer solid options for tweaking exposure and zoom, plus a nice built-in panorama function. But these features weren't nearly enough to compensate for its flaws. __WIRED__ Stunning 4.5-inch HD display. __TIRED__ Shutter lag is at the low end of acceptable. Awful color-management tools had us shooting black and white. $200 with a two-year Verizon contract | [LG Spectrum](http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/device/smartphone/spectrum) __Rating: 4 out of 10__*Photo: Christoph Morlinghaus*
