Read the full Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review here.
Sony performed a big song and dance at IFA 2015 when it launched its Sony Xperia Z5 family. One of the biggest improvements across all phones, from the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact to the Z5 Premium, was the camera.
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It’s Sony‘s own home-brewed camera sensor, with 23MP to play around with (instead of 20.3MP used on the old camera), a multi-element lens construction a bright f/2.0 aperture. But those are all numbers and words that consumers don’t really care about.
The question on everyone’s lips is this: “Is the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact’s camera any good?”
To find out, we recently took a walk through Cape Town’s famed V&A Waterfront snapping up the sights and sounds of South Africa’s busiest tourist destination. All in all, it made for a perfect place to test the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact’s snapper.
Have a look at the results below, and let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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The giant chess board at the Pierhead.
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One of the mile markers at the V&A. In terms of distance, the Z5 Compact's camera is miles ahead of other Android phones its size.
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Once again, note the colour balance between the foreground and background. All colours are clear without any washout.
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The Clocktower at the V&A Waterfront used to be the harbour's primary admin tower.
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Looking across out at the harbour. Note the rich blues captured by the Z5 Compact.
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It's definitely one of the best cameras we've used this year.
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Another view of the Clock Tower which did seem to lose some of its lustre in this shot.
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Zooming in with the Z5 Compact doesn't show much detail loss, largely thanks to the large 23MP sensor.
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Another zoomed image. It's still fairly clear even after digital zoom's applied.
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Fooling around with the phone's depth of field perception. It's not as good as the LG G4 in this regard, but it's solid.
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This beaded elephant was begging for a macro shot. Note the minute detail this camera records.
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Another shot of the chess board this time, snapping slightly into the sun.
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One of the many photo-friendly frames in Cape Town pointing to Table Mountain.
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Fake or not? Nevertheless, the colours are vibrant without showing signs of oversaturation.
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Marimba players at the V&A Waterfront entertaining crowds. It's a great pic showing the Z5 Compact's intelligent light balance between the dark background and sunny foreground.
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Looking towards the Victoria and Alfred Wharf shopping mall.
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Another snap demonstrating the colour balance.
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The V&A's prime destination if you happen to be a yacht, or a yacht owner.
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Looking towards the V&A Wharf once again.
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The Cape Wheel visible in the background. Note the light flares on the lens.
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The usually dirty harbour water wasn't all that dirty.
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The grains of wood in a fair bit of detail, but marred by the camera's relatively short depth of field.
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Snapped this light to dark imagine for funsies, but again depicts the light balance well.
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A marimba band entertaining crowds.
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One of the sculptures you'll find at the V&A.
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Table Mountain in her glory.
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Yachts lined up against the marina's shore.
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One of the Nobel laureates at Nobel Square, with a seagull on his head.
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Inside the V&A Market on the Wharf. There's a nice warm glow captured by the camera.
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In other shots where the lights used feature more blue light, the camera responds well too.
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An ice cream cone from The Creamery. Note the detail of the background recorded by the camera.
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The Cape Wheel in the best snap taken by the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact.
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The busier portion of the Waterfront.
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Table Mountain in its table cloth-adorned beauty.
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The Cape Wheel again looking towards Devil's Peak.
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The Waterfront at night makes for some interesting snaps, note the poor performance of the camera when the shutter speed is lengthened.
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When kept perfectly still though, these snaps are possible.
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact Gallery Lead
