Galaxy S5 vs Xperia Z2: Camera Showdown

The Galaxy S5 from Samsung and Xperia Z2 from Sony are two of the hottest phones out right now. Both have significant water protection, powerful specs and beautiful displays. In many of the ways that count they're quite similar, but how do their cameras compare?

The average store attendant might point you towards the helpful accompanying spec sheet, highlighting that the Xperia Z2 has a 20.7MP shooter while the Galaxy S5's is just 16MP. If only it were so easy.

In real life, megapixels are only part of the story, and a very small one at that. There's so much more to a camera than its resolution, and the only way to really judge which is better is to take them out and do some side by side comparisons. So, without further ado, here's our Galaxy S5 vs Xperia Z2 camera show-down. Be sure to click the images for the full-sized versions.

Test 1

White flowers are always a good test of how a camera handles colour accuracy, white balance, glare and shadows. Here you can see immediately that the Galaxy S5 has done better at three of the four, and you'll just have to take our word on the colour balance aspect.

The petals on the flower are far more detailed in the GS5 photo, especially around the top. The Xperia Z2 shot lends the flower a yellow hue that was not present, as well as a sort of halo effect that, try as we might by refocusing, we could not eliminate.

Moving to the rest of the image, the GS5 continues to shine. The green of the leaves is closer to the real colour of the plant. All of the leaves in the foreground have significantly better detail and contrast.

Both cameras handled the background with similar dexterity, although once again the GS5 won out with colour correctness.

Winner: Galaxy S5

Test 2

This was a well-shaded patch with very little light. Both cameras did surprisingly well brightening things up, although once again the GS5 came out on top.

Not much analysis is needed for this one. The Z2 image has a milky haze over the left side and a purple huge covering the whole picture. It's more out of focus in general, and its contrast is definitely inferior.

Neither camera handled the background glare too well, but at leat there wasn't any significant light bleeding.

Winner: Galaxy S5

Test 3

This one was all about contrast and shadow, although overall image quality still counts. In the fully-expanded images, the Z2 does much better at handling the shadows. More detail is captured underneath the hand, and off to the right side of the tree.

The Galaxy S5 came through with a far sharper image and better colour correctness. It also captured the texture of the bark with greater precision. Once again we're going to have to go with Samsung, purely on the overall look of the picture alone.

Winner: Galaxy S5

Test 4

What camera comparison would be complete without a photo of beautiful Sydney? Both cameras did very well here. They are almost identical in colour accuracy and mid-ground detail.

At full size there is a disparity. The Z2 image is good enough that if it weren't sitting right next to the GS5's we'd be totally content with it. However, the GS5 did capture more details in the foreground (look at the leaves), and a more well-defined image of the Harbour Bridge. This one was very close, and at the size where you'd upload it to Facebook or Twitter there was no difference, but the Galaxy S5 did better at full size.

Winner: Galaxy S5 (barely)

Test 5 (#SelfieTime)

Both the front-facing cameras here are similarly specced. The GS5 rocks a 2MP shooter while the Xperia Z2 weighs in with 2.2MP.

Unsurprisingly, the images were very similar. We were initially leaning towards the Galaxy S5, simply because it captured a slightly wider image, but then we noticed the colour of the shirt and water.

The S5 depicts an almost grey and black top with a dark, moody bay in the background. The Z2 much more accurately shows a blue shirt and brighter water reflection. Crack out the Cava and get ready to party, Sony, the Z2 just won its first round.

Winner: Xperia Z2

Bonus test

This one may seem a little rigged, but it would be unfair to not show off the Xperia Z2's ability to take photos underwater. No comparison or analysis this time.

Thanks to our lack of an office swimming pool, we had to make do with the kitchen sink. Enjoy.

Verdict

With 4 out of 5 comparisons going to the GS5, 3 of which were definitive, the Samsung Galaxy S5 was the clear winner today. Its rear camera has better clarity, handles low light more effectively, superior colour accuracy, better contrast and purer whites.

The Xperia Z2 has a better front-facing camera and handles long-distance, well-lit shots effectively, and captures details in shadows that its opponent missed. Unfortunately, in every other aspect the GS5 was its superior.

That is, every other aspect but one. The Xperia Z2 still has one ace up its sleeve: underwater photos. If you're a fan of the water-faring life then the Z2 is definitely still worth considering for this reason alone. Photos came out surprisingly well, especially when we used the flash.

On the other hand, if you think that underwater photos are cool (and who doesn't?), but like us have to admit you'd get limited use from them, then the Galaxy S5 is the better camera choice.

Alex Angove-Plumb

Digital Content Editor

Alex Angove-Plumb is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut and an award-winning journalist. He's been in the tech publishing industry since 2010, putting him a few short years away from the title of Grizzled Ancient in his chosen profession. He was an original WhistleOut-er before running NBN Co's corporate blog for two years, then moving on to a lengthy stint at CHOICE. Now he's come home.

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