Sony Xperia 10iii and Android 13
This is my latest video recorded on my Sony Xperia 10 iii (see below) and combined with my other uploads, from the earliest images I have posted, it almost represents the full development story of this camera/phone (about 4-6 more months and I should have the last firmware update, but it should mainly be "bug fixes"). The obvious questions are "how much did it change over time" and "did the camera phone progress or regress? And along with those is the general questions "do I like the phone?"
I have been thinking about these questions for months now, and they are hard questions, mainly because I did not really pay attention to the cameras during the early period. Also, it is easy when you look at the top line products to say something like "this is the best on the market". When you look at something that you know is not "the absolute best", then you have to find a way to say something that is relative to the market, and accurate.
For example, in HDR stills mode, it often takes about 1 - 2 seconds from the time I tap the screen till the picture is taken - when it works. Sometimes I tap the screen and nothing happens. Is that the fault of the way I tap the screen? I don't feel that I know for certain, and so, up till now, I have not mention it.
What does the latest video I posted show? Looking back to the beginning and thinking about it, it does seem to me that the exposures and maybe the colors are a bit better now. Among my earlier posted images (see comment #5 from Aug 26, 2021 above) I found that often, exposure needed to be reduced by about 1 stop. This was also seen in samples that I posted in the "stills" topic. I have never been satisfied that I knew what caused it, but it did seem somewhat consistent in that it I cannot recall it under-exposing except in obviously dark situations.
What I will say is that it seems to me now, that the stills and videos I have shown seem to be getting better. But the difference seems to be inconsistent and hard to tell. I cannot say for certain whether the difference is my getting better using the cameras, or whether the firmware is getting better, or both. I believe that the difference is, at least in part due to a slight improvement to the firmware. That much is good. Unfortunately, I would also say that I feel that Sony has not developed the camera apps (or maybe the system level firmware) as much as I would have liked. I apologize for being vague, but the most I can say for now is that I would have preferred Sony to have moved the interface a bit closer to the upper line Xperia 5 and Xperia 1. But I have to acknowledge that the Xperia 10 series is aimed at a less "enthusiast" type market.
This latest sample video is a fairly hard test for the camera with some dark shadows (under tree branches and even a fairly lengthy tunnel) and bright highlights (a small waterfall and some rocks in open bright sunlight).
Do I "like" the phone/camera? Well, "sort of . . ." The latest "Xperia 10v" seems to be aimed at a slightly lower price bracket, just as the "Xperia 5iv" which was introduced a few months back. If I could buy one now, I suppose I would buy the Xperia 5iv. But it is still a higher priced product than my 10iii, and I cannot currently afford it. So I am happy that I got what I have. Make what you can of that.
Would I buy an Apple or Samsung at the same price range? No, I can say that I prefer image files I get from the Sony over what I have seen from those phones. The Pixels? I am not sure enough about the prices I could get for the Pixels, but for now, I would say they are competitive.
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[FHD] 2023 05 29 Black Creek Sony Xperia 10 iii Android 13"
posted June 06, 2023
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