Best camera phones for travel photography in 2023
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When it comes to travel photography, having the right camera phone can make all the difference. Whether you're capturing stunning landscapes or intimate street scenes, the right phone can help you take professional-quality photos that you'll be proud to share.
One question I often receive in my DMs is “what are the best camera phones for travel photography in your opinion?”.
Even though I believe most phones do the work nowadays, here is a short list of my top recommendations. I based them on a few criteria:
Lenses available. Nowadays, I’d pick camera phones with at least 3 lenses that will allow me to shoot wide, telephoto and macro.
Battery life. When you use your phone camera to shoot photos and videos, this can drain your battery life quite fast. So a phone with a long battery life that can be recharged fast is a must if you do not want to miss any moments.
Photo quality. Most phones will promote the highest image resolutions to entice you to buy them. Some phones can shoot up to 108 Megapixels which is incredible. However, it does not mean that the rendering of your photo will be the best. Some phone cameras with less resolution can offer a more natural look than the ones with higher resolution. It is a matter of preference, but bare that in mind when making your decision.
So keeping those in mind, here is a list of my top 5 phone camera recommendations for travel photography in 2023.
1.Apple iPhone 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 Pro boasts a triple-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses, as well as a LiDAR scanner for improved augmented reality and low-light performance. It also has ProRAW, a new image format that combines the benefits of a raw image with the convenience of a JPEG, allowing you to edit your photos with more flexibility and detail.
Here are the main features of this phone camera.
Night Mode for Low-Light Photography: The new Night mode feature allows you to take beautifully detailed photos even in low-light conditions, such as concerts and nightclubs.
Portrait Mode and Depth Control: The iPhone 12 Pro offers a new feature, Portrait mode, to create beautiful studio-quality photos. You can control the background blur and the photo's lighting, and you can also adjust the level of blur in real-time while taking the photo
Smart HDR: The iPhone 12 Pro also features Smart HDR, which combines multiple shots at different exposures to bring out the best details in your photos and get rid of unwanted noise
Dolby Vision HDR Video Recording: The iPhone 12 Pro can record video in Dolby Vision HDR, a format used by Hollywood cinematographers, at up to 4K resolution at 60 fps. This provides superior-quality video for your mobile photography projects.
2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a quad-camera system with a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. It also has a high-resolution AMOLED display, making it great for editing and viewing photos on the go.
Here are the main features of this phone camera.
Impressive Camera Quality: The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra features a 108MP wide-angle camera, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 30x Super Resolution Zoom. This makes shooting professional-quality photos and videos with the S21 Ultra a breeze.
Pro-Level Video Features: The S21 Ultra comes with 8K video recording capabilities, allowing you to capture sharp and detailed footage. There are also advanced video stabilization features, cinematic HDR10+ recording, and High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC).
AI-Powered Camera: The S21 Ultra uses artificial intelligence to automatically adjust exposure, contrast, and other settings for optimized images. It can also detect facial expressions and automatically snap a picture when everyone is smiling
3. Google Pixel 7
The Google Pixel 7 has a dual-camera system with a 12.2MP main camera and a 16MP ultra-wide camera, as well as a host of software features that make it easy to take great photos.
Here are the main features of this phone camera.
12.2MP Camera: The Google Pixel 7 has a 12.2MP rear-facing camera allowing for high-resolution photos and videos.
Advanced Camera System: The Google Pixel 7 has an advanced camera system that includes dual-pixel autofocus, optical image stabilization, and a lens with an f/1.7 aperture for low-light photography.
HDR+ Mode: Pixel 7 has an HDR+ mode which automatically combines multiple shots taken at different exposures to create an HDR image with greater dynamic range and improved low-light performance.
Google Lens: The Google Pixel 7 includes Google Lens, which is a powerful AI-based technology that can detect and identify objects in photos
Night Sight: Pixel 7 also has a Night Sight mode which can take crystal clear photos even in very low light or even in dark environments
Portrait Mode: The Pixel 7 has a portrait mode, allowing you to take beautiful portraits with a blurred background
Long Battery Life: The Pixel 7 has a long-lasting battery life and fast charging, meaning you can take more photos without worrying about running out of power.
Unlimited Storage: The Google Pixel 7 comes with an unlimited storage plan, meaning you can store all your photos and videos without worrying about running out of space.
4. Huawei P40 Pro
The Huawei P40 Pro has a quad-camera system with a 50MP main camera, a 40MP ultra-wide camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, and a 3D ToF camera. It also has a powerful processor and a long-lasting battery, making it a great choice for photographers who need a phone that can keep up with them on long trips.
Here are the main features of this phone camera.
High-End Camera Technology: Huawei P40 Pro is equipped with the world's first 50MP Ultra Vision Camera, which offers a triple-lens setup with a 50MP Ultra Vision wide-angle lens, 40MP Cine Camera, and 8MP Telephoto Lens. The phone also has a 32MP front camera system that helps you capture amazing selfies and video calls.
High-Resolution Images: The Huawei P40 Pro is capable of capturing images with incredible resolutions of up to 8K. This means that you can get high-quality shots that look great even when zoomed in or printed out.
Smart AI Aesthetics: The Huawei P40 Pro also boasts a Smart AI Aesthetics engine, which helps you edit and enhance your images. This feature helps to reduce noise and enhance features like contrast, saturation, and sharpness
Portrait Mode: The Huawei P40 Pro is able to detect edges and faces so that it can accurately blur the background, giving you a professional-looking portrait photo
Night Mode: Night mode helps to bring out more details in low-light conditions, helping you capture beautiful night shots
AI Image Stabilization: AI image stabilization helps to reduce unwanted shake and blur, allowing you to take sharper and more detailed images
Depth Sensing Technology: Huawei P40 Pro also has depth sensing technology which helps to measure depth and distance accurately. This technology helps you to get true-to-life portrait images with a more natural feel.
You can find more information about this phone's features and camera benefits in my Instagram highlights here.
5. OnePlus 8T
The OnePlus 8T has a quad-camera system with a 48MP main camera, a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP monochrome camera. It also has a high-refresh-rate display, making it great for viewing and editing photos on the go.
Here are the main features of this phone camera.
48 MP Quad Camera Setup: The OnePlus 8T comes with a 48 MP Sony IMX586 Quad Camera setup that gives you the best in mobile photography. The main 48 MP camera is accompanied by a 16 MP ultra-wide, a 5 MP macro and a 2 MP mono lens for detailed shots. The 8T also offers Nightscape and Super Macro shooting modes for impressive photos in low-light and close-up situations respectively.
Improved Color: The OnePlus 8T camera is capable of capturing more vibrant colors and smoother gradients, which significantly improves the quality of image output. With the help of a dedicated HDR algorithm, colors are more balanced and balanced across the frame.
High Quality Video: The OnePlus 8T also comes with a suite of professional-level video features that make it an ideal choice for mobile videographers. It offers 4K Ultra HD at 30/60 fps, 4K time-lapse, and slow-motion 1080p at 240 fps.
Portrait Mode: OnePlus 8T can replicate DSLR-level portrait shots with its dual camera setup. It offers accurate separation of the subject from the background with realistic-looking bokeh effects
Faster Autofocus: The Autofocus algorithms have also been improved, giving users faster focus speeds and accurate autofocus even in low-light or dimly lit conditions. The autofocus system on the 8T is also capable of tracking movements up to 120 fps.
No matter what camera phone you choose, it's important to consider the features that are most important to you as a photographer. Do you need a phone with a powerful processor for editing photos on the go? Do you want a phone with a long-lasting battery to keep up with you on long trips? Or do you need a phone with a high-resolution display to view and edit your photos in detail? By considering these factors, you can find the best camera phone for your travel photography needs.
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