SONY XPERIA Z1

On paper, the Sony Xperia Z1 should be impressive – after all, the smartphone comes with a 20MP digital compact camera-sized sensor, similar in size to the one in the Samsung S4 Zoom and only smaller than the Nokia 1020. Unfortunately, the results aren’t, thanks to aggressive image processing and soft glass.

Even at low ISO settings; there’s a noticeable amount of noise and image artifacts, the camera introduces checkered patterns into dark areas, even in pictures shot in good light. The Z1 can shoot at full-resolution only in Manual, if you shoot in Auto it down-samples 20MP to 8MP, tamping down the appearance of noise and artifacts, but even then the Z1 has the worst ISO performance of the lot.

Aside from being sharp in the center, there is noticeable softness elsewhere in the lens. It’s also susceptible to flare and chromatic aberration, the checkered pattern is more prevalent around a bright light source. The best thing about the Z1’s images is the rich and naturallooking colors.