Disqus - Latest Comments for JamesBurland

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

Steve — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:08:08 -0000

The iPhone has blown out highlights and crushed shadow in the same image! This isn't bad exposure, otherwise it would be one or the other, it's a restricted dynamic range!

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

JamesBurland — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:13:06 -0000

The 'crushed blacks' and 'blown out highlights' is more about exposure control than anything else, which leads me to another point. Had Mark simply pointed at other parts of the scene using the 3GS's touch spot metering feature he could have totally changed the tonal level of everyone of these photos. Those blown out highlights would have been present and the crushed blacks could be nice and open had Mark had a bit more experience with the phone, using the powerful (but very narrow) feature set.

Do you have any observations about the two example photos that I featured in a comment below?

I love the Nseries, and I've spent hundreds of hours poring over amazing photos taken by the N95 and N82 in order to judge this competition...

http://tinyurl.com/nsoh83

I cannot state enough how brilliant these devices are at capturing scenes in all kinds of conditions. But when viewed at 100% size they do exhibit nasty characteristics due to processing which hasn't really changed much since the introduction of the N82.

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

Name — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:05:08 -0000

i don't think the iphone shots are any less processed to be honest. The colours of the iphone shots are far more processed than that of the n97. The iphone suffers from blown out highlights in some of its pictures, and crushed blacks, due to its colour processing. The overall result may look more pleasing to the eye but details in these areas are lost and cannot be recovered.
The details of the n97 may be more processed than the iphone, but the colours of the iphone are more processed than the n97.
Hence I don't think it would be right to claim that the n97 shots are over processed compared to the iphone shots.

Re: Nokia Booklet 3G Hands-On and First Impressions

RandomFinnishGeek — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:26:23 -0000

1280x720 according to Nokia cenversations.

http://conversations.nokia.com/2009/09/02/more-...

Re: Nokia Booklet 3G Hands-On and First Impressions

JamesBurland — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:35:37 -0000

Any news on the screen res?

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Night Photos

thetruth34 — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:56:06 -0000

That would be nice,the iphone 3gs will be smoother and less pixelated., but again from my experience suffers the same fate as pictures,always seems a bit darker like its always cloudy outside.

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Night Photos

JamesBurland — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:47:47 -0000

Now that's what you call a sound thrashing! The N97 is *much* more capable in low light.

Will we be seeing a video shoot out too?

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

JamesBurland — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:09:00 -0000

Just to clarify, I never said that the iPhone shots had more detail.

I've spent a good portion of my adult life employed to ensure that photographs are reproduced correctly in print. The N97 shots, indeed all Nseries shots, have an over processed look. Take a look again at the 100% crops that I posted above, look at Mark's wife's leg and arm. There is clearly colour banding present, also where her ankle meets the floorboard you can make out a halo (an unnatural change in tone).

I'm sure that N97 will soundly thrash the iPhone is low light situations, and I expect the N97 to improve with each firmware revision, but right now, I prefer the look of the iPhone shots.

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

napier — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:07:13 -0000

James, seriously, the N97 shots have far more detail. It's clearly obvious. Are you being serious?

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

JamesBurland — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:31:50 -0000

Ah, the good old 'fanboy' label, thrown in there whenever you need to instantly discredit somebody.

<sigh>

Check out these 100% crops and see for yourself...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesburland/38584...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesburland/38584...

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

Fleksnes — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:32:09 -0000

lol, either you are a fanboy,or you need to get your eyes check/screen cleaned. Either way: fail!

Re: Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3GS Photo Comparison at the Park

JamesBurland — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:54:54 -0000

Simple. The iPhone shots are less processed and more natural. I'd take the iPhone shots thank you.

However, I have good reason to believe that Nokia's over processed look will come to an end shortly, this will make a world of difference and swing my opinion back in favour of the Nseries... Probably ^_-

Look at a 100% crop of the "By The Stairs" shot. N97 gets mullered!

Re: The Nokia N86… has it got the best camera on the market?

JamesBurland — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:29:46 -0000

I hear the 7650 puts in a strong performance. ^_-

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

JamesBurland — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:16:49 -0000

Thanks for your kind words. Much appreciated.

At the end of the day, we all get excited by features and multi-mega pixel cameras, but nothing beats good natural lighting and being in the right place at the right time.

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

JamesBurland — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:08:43 -0000

I think you'll find that the video capture on all current Nseries devices (N86 included) is H.263. The N97 can't even play back a VGA H.264 file, much less capture one! ^_^ Apple take credit for the MP4 container format not H.264.

Common usage for autofocus in video capture? Many of my home movies have macro (or close up) video sequences. Sometimes the beauty of a scene is in the small details.

I too would like to see RAW or TIFF supported on the N97. And yes, I'd like to read your 'long winded' observation. :)

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

thetruth34 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:26:26 -0000

cant wait to see it as i do admire your post and the photo contest u have,and to be fair James the average user is not going to crop there photos 100% to see the digital artifacts in them, that being said the nseries always suffered from this from the great n82 to the n86 now, but displaying both pics and a high resolution the crispness and colors of the nseries to me wins hands down, im sure u looked at the links i sent u and there is nothing exciting about the 3gs camera there, i saw the photos u took and they look very nice although they seemed pretty saturated also, the colors of the cherries and the flowers almost looked pastelish if thats a word hahaha.
I do agree with the video reording of the iphone but again the lighting is off makes everything darker for whatever reason and another issue i have is that there are no settings unless cydia releases something for it.
I will once again say it is a great device and im not knocking it, but the 6 reasons why Mark prefers the iphone (jailbroken) of course i can post 6 reasons why i dont.
Like i have said many times there is room for the 2 of them in this world hahaha.
P.S. on another note a jailbroken iphone is not the way the average consumer users it so we should also make a notation of that, thats like me having a n97 thats ables to add unsigned files and is hacked to do anything i want(again not the norm).

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

bitflung — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:14:38 -0000

"Firstly, the video capture on the iPhone 3GS is better than the N97. Autofocus and H.264 make a massive difference in my book."

wait - you mean Nokia dropped h.264? no no no, they couldn't have. (just checked, and indeed Quicktime on my mac sees my N97 videos as h.264. Apple even takes the credit for the format, despite it being an open standard...)

i'll agree that the focusing would be nice to have, for close up videos. but close up videos just aren't common enough for me to accept the argument that this really has a substantial effect overall. recording the kids soccer games? far away. recording your brother's wedding? far away. that sailboat about to crash into a dingy? hopefully, far away.

can you give a good example of a COMMON use case for videos less than a meter out?

photos less processed on the iphone? sounds good to me. [i wrote a really long winded observation that i myself should be able to write a RAW image capture app for my N97 - and i removed it because i'm sure no one wants to read it. dam i can be long winded].

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

JamesBurland — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:24:59 -0000

There are plenty of ways that it competes. Firstly, the video capture on the iPhone 3GS is better than the N97. Autofocus and H.264 make a massive difference in my book.

Secondly, the way the iPhone competes with the Nseries in the photographic department is by being less processed. It just looks more natural to my eyes. I do take your point about the general darkness of a good percentage of iPhone shots, they seem to be optimised for the iPhone screen rather than the computer screen.

I'm planning a massive shoot out soon, hopefully I'll be able to demonstrate some of these issues. ^_^

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

JamesBurland — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:19:18 -0000

Don't forget, the iPhone registers the *release* of your finger, not the tap.

Try this...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesburland/38115...

Low light and as sharp as any Nseries photo in these light conditions. You need some patience and an understanding of what the iPhone firmware in trying to accomplish.

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

thenokiablog — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:57:06 -0000

Great photo James! However, low-light photos on the iPhone are difficult to take. There's no camera hardware button and tapping the screen always result in blurry photos. I need to be completely still even in moderately-lit places.

Video on the other hand.... love it on the 3GS.

Re: Top 6 Reasons I Prefer the iPhone 3GS Over Nokia N97

JamesBurland — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:50:38 -0000

Brave man...

I agree with every one of your points. In my personal opinion the 3GS is significantly superior to the N97. And yes, on paper the N97 should destroy the 3GS in the photographic department, it just isn't happening for me. I find the 3GS images to be sharper, more colour accurate and generally more pleasant than those of the N97.

I submit this as evidence...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesburland/37407...

The Nseries needs a swift kick up the bum! Let's hope it happens soon.

Re: Karagos is bloggin'

wellboy — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:31:26 -0000

that would be seriously cool.

i'd buy that for a dollar!

Re: Karagos is bloggin'

JamesBurland — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:19:05 -0000

Seriously impressive stuff... Imagine a camera that could do this but in 3D and at 1080p res. Surely it's on the cards?

Re: What Nokia are You Using Now and Which are You Looking Forward To?

JamesBurland — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:49:29 -0000

Currently using the N95 8GB, looking forward to the N99! ^_-

Re: 19 Things To Consider When Planning A Blogger Launch Event

JamesBurland — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:40:45 -0000

Nice! No. 9 is my personal favourite!

Only kidding, obviously No.17 is the most important.