This time, the MX4 is determined to make efforts in shooting. It not only uses the Sony IMX220 20.7 megapixel camera, but also further strengthens the function of manual shooting. In addition to the popular IMX214 camera, MIUI 6 has also improved the shooting experience of Xiaomi 4. This time, the two big enemies met. Who was the winner and loser in photographing?
Let's first take a look at the MX4 shooting interface. This time, the MX4 uses a relatively simple operation mode. In vertical composition, the shutter key is in the bottom center, the video key is on the left, and the sample playback is on the right. Flash, filter effect, front and rear camera switch and menu keys are arranged at the bottom. The menu selection is also relatively simple, including HDR, grid line, level, resolution size of photos and videos, etc. The photographing mode uses the left and right sliding mode, which is simple and intuitive. A new adjustable button will also appear after switching between different photographing modes. For example, if you switch to manual mode, the shutter will appear ISO、 Adjustment button for exposure value and manual focus. Corresponding adjustment buttons will also appear in other modes, which will not be described in detail.
This time, the MIUI 6 camera interface on Xiaomi 4 is very different from the previous one. Instead of the cumbersome camera interface of MIUI V5, it adopts a simpler design. In vertical composition, there are only fill lights and buttons for switching front and rear cameras. The bottom center is the shutter key, the right is the video key, and the left is the sample playback. Swipe left to call up twelve photo filters. Sliding to the right calls up eight shooting modes, and pulling down brings up a manual mode. There is also a camera setting button at the bottom, where we can change the proportion and quality of photos taken.
MIUI 6 also adds the function of selecting the exposure ring after focusing to easily control the exposure of the picture.
Daytime imaging
Let's take a look at the daytime shooting sample of Meizu MX4, which uses 20.7 million maximum pixels to shoot, with the focus set in the center of the frame. The first impression of the MX4 camera is that the focusing speed is good, the success rate is high, and the spot metering is very sensitive. However, we also believe that the spot metering of the MX4 is too sensitive, and the picture is not easy to control, which will easily lead to overexposure or underexposure. Originally, sensitive light measurement is a good thing, but it is better to take into account the exposure of the whole picture.
In terms of detail performance, the performance of this 20.7 million pixel IMX220 is not very satisfactory. Although the resolution of the sample is large, the overall detail performance is average when viewed in magnification. Moreover, the image feeling is also adjusted by sharpness. After shooting, the overall sharpness is improved, or even over sharpened, so that the image appears rough.
Xiaomi 4's performance in the daytime is relatively satisfactory. Focusing is also linked with photometry. The focus setting of this sample is also set at the shadow position at the bottom of the center of the building, but the overall exposure control is relatively good, without overexposure. After focusing, Xiaomi 4 can also easily control the overall exposure, which is very practical.
In terms of details, Xiaomi 4 is acceptable, but not excellent. After shooting Xiaomi 4, there is no sharpening treatment. Although the picture is a little fuzzy, it will not make the picture look very rough.
In terms of detail performance, Xiaomi 4 is a little weaker than Samsung Galaxy Alpha.
meet Let's take a look at the MX4 and the small By comparing the 100% screenshots of Mi 4, although the resolution of Mi 4 is smaller than that of the MX4, it does not have the phenomenon of excessive sharpening of the MX4, but it is more pleasing to the eye.
As for the exposure of both, it has also been said that the MX4's spot metering is too sensitive, resulting in a slight overexposure, and Xiaomi 4 balances the exposure of the entire shooting. Of course, some people like the feeling that the proof is slightly over exposed, while others like the balanced exposure of the picture, which depends on different opinions and circumstances.
In addition, we can also see that the MX4 has a very large wide-angle effect and a wide range of views. It has advantages in taking photos of landscapes and buildings.
However, the problem of excessive sharpening of the MX4 image is still obvious. The processing of excessive sharpening makes the image more rough, and the detail edge burrs increase. If there is no such problem, the performance of the MX4 should be better.
Another obvious problem is that the edge imaging of the MX4 is really weak. Since the 20.7 million pixel sensor used on the MX4 is IMX220R, no special optimization has been made for the edge imaging. Compared with the Sony exclusive lens of the Z3 and Z3C, it is still weak.
In terms of white balance, most scenes of the MX4 are slightly purple. Xiaomi 4, on the other hand, is bluer, and bluer is more common. The white balance of both cannot be said to be accurate. As for the white balance you like, it depends on your own choice. Just be happy~
HDR
Note: To be fair, both mobile phones use standard HDR, and Xiaomi 4 does not use real-time HDR alone for comparison.
In terms of HDR, after the MX4 uses HDR mode, the overall shadow details get more expression, but the overall color also becomes lighter.
However, when we continue to zoom in and watch the details, we also see that the HDR mode seems to highlight the problem of over sharpening more strongly. It feels like several original samples taken by HDR have been sharpened and then combined, resulting in a more serious problem of over sharpening.
The HDR imaging color of Xiaomi 4 is very pleasing. In addition to improving the shadow details, the color is also brighter, and the overall effect is slightly "demon".
In terms of detailed performance, there was no deterioration, and of course, there was no optimization. On the whole, the HDR imaging of Xiaomi 4 is much more stable.
In addition, the MX4 also has one of the biggest drawbacks in HDR. The ghost image is quite serious, which is really a little scary.
Even if there are no moving objects in your viewfinder, there are many chances that the MX4's HDR imaging will be slow and the proof will be ghosted.
This is the 100% screenshot comparison of the above sample. The details taken in the normal mode on the left are acceptable. Although it feels a little over sharpened, it is at least clear. However, the HDR mode on the right shows unsightly ghosting, which may be due to the long interval between several original photos taken in the HDR mode of the MX4.
Macro
In terms of macro, the MX 4 has the advantage of high pixels, and its performance is better than that of Xiaomi 4.
The advantage of high pixels is shown here, and the latest focusing distance of MX 4 is also a little closer than that of Xiaomi 4, which can capture a closer macro sample.
In terms of macro, I will not elaborate more. You can just watch several groups of comparison samples.
The indoor performance of both is also good, there is no very obvious difference. We can also see from these two samples that the MX4 has a very large wide angle, which has advantages in photographing scenic buildings.
The details of both are similar.
Nightscape
Next, let's take a look at the night scenes of the two. First, we can see from the sample information that the MX4 chooses to maintain a low ISO and slow down the shutter speed when the light is insufficient, while the Xiaomi 4 chooses to maintain a sufficient shutter to improve the ISO.
When we zoom in, we can see that the focus of Xiaomi 4 is not accurate enough, it is a little out of focus, and the high ISO noise is also quite serious.
Observe the position near the bottom of the proof sheet. The MX4 is badly pasted, but Xiaomi 4 can barely recognize the text on it.
Meizu officially announced that the MX4 night view mode will use the 2x2 binning technology, and will process and generate an 8 million photo in the night view mode. It seems that the sample in the night view mode is really pure without noise.
(There are 20.7 million pixel samples on the left and 8 million night view model samples on the right. Both are 100% magnified, but the magnified images are not consistent due to different resolutions)
However, when we zoom in a little, we will find that the night view mode of the MX4 is extremely heavy to erase the noise, but this will also erase the details. In the normal mode, even if there are more noise points, you can at least see the details on the lawn. In the night view mode, the whole lawn becomes green without any details.
If you want to keep your samples in more detail, you'd better not open the night view mode.
Xiaomi 4 certainly has a night view mode, but this night view mode hardly improves the brightness and details of the picture, just slightly smears noise, so we ignore it and do not make a careful comparison.
In the face of some night scenes where the light is seriously insufficient, the performance of both can not be satisfactory. Of course, using automatic mode shooting in such a light environment can not meet too high requirements.
However, in addition to maintaining the manual shooting function, the MX4 also extends the exposure time to 20 seconds. As long as you have a tripod or you can fix your phone, you can easily cope with such a scene.
Even if we enlarge the sample 100%, we can still see that it maintains good detail performance. Of course, the edge imaging is still the weakness of the MX4, and the automatic white balance is also purple.
Xiaomi 4, equipped with MIUI 6, also has manual mode, but unfortunately the exposure time is only 1 second. If it keeps 100 ISO, it is not enough to cope with such a dark scene. I casually said that Xiaomi 3 could support 2 seconds of exposure at that time. I don't know why it would only take 1 second to reach Xiaomi 4. If it was only 1 second, then this manual function would be a bit weak.
As for the focus speed of the MX4 mentioned above, if it is compared with Xiaomi 4, the focus speed of Xiaomi 4 will be faster when the light is enough. In the case of insufficient light, both focus speeds are the same. However, the focusing speed of the two mobile phones is definitely not slow. Although the MX4 focusing speed is relatively slow, the accuracy of focusing will be higher than that of Xiaomi4. This point will be shown in the video of Xiaomi4 vs. MX4 in the future because the text and pictures can't be better expressed.
Speaking of the common features of both, it is that both have added the function of taking pictures before focusing. The principle is basically the same, which is to take several photos with different focuses at the same angle. The experience of this function on both mobile phones is similar, but there is a little difference in the back focusing link. The MX4 must click the edit button to refocus, while the Xiaomi 4 can refocus by pressing and holding directly on the sample playback interface. In fact, it can also be used to show off to your friends after taking photos and focusing. There are few practical applications. (This part will also rely on video presentation)
summary
On the whole, the daytime performance of Xiaomi 4 and MX4 is OK. If the image sharpening of MX4 is not so heavy, the effect should be better. In terms of HDR, Xiaomi 4 is more stable than MX4, and also better in terms of color. In terms of macro, the latest focus distance of the MX4 is a little closer than that of Xiaomi 4. In addition to the high pixel effect, the overall performance of the MX4 is better than that of Xiaomi 4. As for the automatic mode of night scene, the performance of both is not satisfactory. However, the manual function of the MX4 can use long exposure. On the premise that the mobile phone can be fixed, the manual mode of the MX4 still has an advantage. Both have their own advantages. As for how to choose and which mobile phone you prefer, it depends on your needs.
