Windows Phone Camera Face-off: AT&T Nokia Lumia 1520 vs. Lumia 1020

Windows Phone Photographic camera Face-off: AT&T Nokia Lumia 1520 vs. Lumia 1020

Windows Phone Central Camera Showdown: AT&T Nokia Lumia 1520 vs. Lumia 1020

AT&T Nokia Lumia 1020 and 1520

Nokia has released 2 eye-communicable Lumia Windows Phones this year. The Nokia Lumia 1020 turns heads with its 41 MP PureView camera and the Nokia Lumia 1520 turns heads with its massive six-inch screen. The Lumia 1520 likewise sports a respectable twenty MP PureView photographic camera.

While the half dozen-inch screen of the Lumia 1520 dwarfs the Lumia 1020'due south 4.5" screen, but how does the Lumia 1520'due south 20 MP camera stack upwards? The Lumia 1020 is easily one of (if not the) best smartphone cameras on the market. If photographic camera operation is key, are y'all sacrificing too much with the Lumia 1520 for the sake of a larger screen?

We took the 2 Lumia Windows Phones out this past weekend to see how well they compared.

General Comparison

In using both the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1020 side by side, you tin make a stiff argument for either Windows Phone beingness the better of the two. The Lumia 1020 is a little easier to handle one-handed simply the vi" screen of the Lumia 1520 can be seductive. Here are a few of our general observations in using both these outstanding Windows Phones.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 has 3 2GB of internal storage compared to the Lumia 1520's 16 GB. However, the Lumia 1520 has the ability to relieve new photos to a microSD card (up to 64 GB). I recollect the microSD card expansion will show beneficial when shooting the larger DNG/RAW file formats.
The Lumia 1020 has the photographic camera grip accessory that not only gives the Lumia 1020 meliorate feel every bit a photographic camera but also extends the battery life of the Lumia 1020. If you are looking for your Windows Phone to supplant a stand-alone, signal-n-shoot photographic camera this grip will come in handy.
The Lumia 1520 wins easily for screen size, which makes for a fantastic viewfinder. The screen opens up a lot of detail in your photos and is like shooting a medium format camera. The only downside (and I use the term loosely) to the large screen is that I found myself accidentally brushing a finger against the screen causing it to zoom or shift the focus bespeak.
I have never been a large fan of smartphone flashes but the Lumia 1020'south Xenon flash is one of the stronger performers. The Lumia 1520 relies on dual LED lights as a wink. They work but non as effectively equally the Xenon of the Lumia 1020.
Both Lumia Windows Phones savour optical stabilization and PureView technology. The Lumia 1520 has a slightly smaller sensor and uses a 26mm f2.4 lens. The Lumia 1020 has the larger sensor and sports a 26mm lens. However, it is a slightly faster (lets in more light) f2.2 lens. As far as the camera pattern is concerned, we will call it a draw with both cameras performing admirably with their respective hardware.

Epitome Quality

Photos were taken hand held (hence the slight differences in framing), using Nokia Camera and the resolution gear up to the 4:iii image ratio, giving the Lumia 1520 a 19 MP resolution and the Lumia 1020 a 38 MP resolution. The but the only editing being resizing the high-resolution image files for publication purposes. Images from the Lumia 1520, direct from the camera measured 4992 x 3744 and images from the Lumia 1020 measured 7136 ten 5360 pixels. Due to the size difference, image pairs are from the same Windows Telephone. To view the full paradigm, just click on the photo prepare.

While both Lumia cameras are respectable on paper, the proof is in the pudding. And the pudding is merely fine from either of these Windows Phone cameras.

Lumia 1020 Test Photos
Indoor Photograph Samples - Nokia Lumia 1020

Lumia 1520 Test Photos
Indoor Photo Samples - Nokia Lumia 1520

The 41MP image of the Lumia 1020 gives you a little more than jerk room when using the zoom afterwards feature of Nokia Photographic camera and may help with printable images. The 20MP camera of the Lumia 1520 produces quality images in its own right and it isn't fair to say the smaller resolution is restricted. You tin zoom into images nicely with the Lumia 1520, just not as much as you lot tin can with the Lumia 1020.

Zoom Later
Zoom Subsequently Exam Images - Lumia 1020 and Lumia 1520

Both of the inserts in the images above are zoomed to the maximum on both the Lumia 1020 and Lumia 1520. While both cameras perform respectfully with regards to the "zoom later" characteristic, yous can make out more detail of the chicken wire that lines the within of the attic vents with the Lumia 1020.

Lumia 1020 Photo Samples
Outdoor Photo Samples - Nokia Lumia 1020

Lumia 1520 Photo Samples
Outdoor Photo Samples - Nokia Lumia 1520

I did find a slightly warmer tone with the Lumia 1020 images at times. It wasn't a consequent issue and there were times that the Lumia 1520 had the warmer tones. Sharpness, colour saturation and dissimilarity were very close with both Lumia cameras and equally respectable between the ii Windows Phone cameras.

Nokia Lumia 1020 Photo Samples

Nokia Lumia 1520 Photo Samples

Night photos were a smidgen ameliorate with the Lumia 1020 due to the slightly faster lens and image tones were more natural. The colour tone in the Lumia 1020 park demote prototype is in line with the tones present while the Lumia 1520 cooled the tone downwards significantly.

Lumia 1020 Photo Sample
Night Photo Samples - Nokia Lumia 1020

Lumia 1520 Photo Sample
Night Photograph Samples - Nokia Lumia 1520

We also took video footage from both Lumia Windows Phones. While the video quality was skilful from both the Lumia 1020 and 1520, the optical stabilization seemed to be a touch better with the Lumia 1520 and the color tones slightly better with the Lumia 1020. Some other departure was with the audio quality. The Lumia 1520 with its four, noise-cancelling microphones (High Amplitude Audio Capture or HAAC) gives your audio a deeper sound with more bass than what you find with the Lumia 1020.

While there were slight performance variations between the ii Lumia Windows Telephone cameras, nada was critical or to the caste that a little mail-processing would not right things.

Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1020

Overall Impressions

The Lumia 1520 is a fun Windows Phone to use equally a camera. The larger screen makes for a great viewfinder. Viewing images and videos from the big screen is a treat too. However, no matter how exhilarant the half-dozen-inch screen is the sheer size of the Lumia 1520 may not exist applied for everyone. You besides have bug with the lack of built-in Qi wireless charging, smaller internal storage and the nano-SIM card that may make the Lumia 1520 less appealing (I really wish the 1520 used a micro-SIM card).

Lumia 1020 Photo Samples
Indoor Photo Samples - Nokia Lumia 1020

Lumia 1520 Indoors
Indoor Photo Samples - Nokia Lumia 1520

Nonetheless, judging the Lumia 1520 on the camera lonely, Nokia hitting the nail on the head once again by producing a stellar Windows Telephone camera. Choosing which Windows Phone has the better camera is a tough telephone call with both phones capable of capturing quality images.

I actually enjoyed the 6-inch viewfinder on the Lumia 1520 and prototype quality on the 1520 is right upward there amongst the best. I also liked shooting with the DNG/RAW format merely that ability volition land on the Nokia Lumia 1020 eventually.

Still, if I had to lean ane mode or the other, it would exist towards the Lumia 1020. The Lumia 1020 has a larger sensor, faster lens and higher megapixel count. Information technology is also more than pocketable and easier to use one-handed. Every bit far as the megapixel count is concerned, it isn't a case of more megapixels automatically beingness amend but with the Lumia 1020, you do take greater editing latitude with the larger images. You also have the reward of the camera grip accessory which extends the camera time with the grip's internal battery.

Having said that, based on the camera alone, yous really cannot go wrong with either of these Lumia Windows Phones. The hard role is deciding which Lumia, overall, fits your needs and tastes the best.

Nokia Lumia 1020 Photo Samples
Nokia Lumia 1020 Photograph Samples