Your view on cell phone with 4 cameras

I really think that the future is near when DSLR capabilities are comparable with smartphones. I know an app that makes your phone a DSLR when it comes to capabilities. Although you will need a high specification phone to use this, it is a sign that phones are on their way to DSLR level.

Cool! May I know what app that is? What are the recommended phone or camera specs for it? Is it available for both Android and iOS phones? Thanks!

There are lots of them actually @EfficientNinja , and some apps are available on both Android and IOS. Here are some links:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.pro&hl=en
http://www.nightcapcamera.com/nightcap-camera/

Thanks for the link! I'm curious because you mentioned that you will need a phone with high specs to run the camera app. I'll have a look myself.

"I know an app that makes your phone a DSLR when itcomes to capabilities."

I'm such a purist when it comes to photography that even I find myself annoying sometimes, but in my opinion, no application or smart phone is ever going to go toe-to-toe with a good DSLR camera.

In terms megapixels, many smart phones are definitely up there. However, the thing is that it isn't just about the megapixels. The most important factor which is always going to separate DSLR cameras from smart phones are the lenses. There is a reason why any above average lens costs as much as an iPhone X, and professional lenses will cost a couple of iPhones and an arm and leg.

Until they come up with a system that lets you mount lenses onto your smart phone (which I don't doubt will be possible some day) DSLRs will always be top rank to both professionals and enthusiasts.

That being said, the general population might not really be able to tell the difference.

Photos taken by someone who has even the basic grasp of using focus and alignment won't show up any different on a tiny screen, compressed by Instagram, so in that sense you simply cannot see any difference in regards to the equipment, but when it comes to print media or other needs where you really need to blow up the image then usage of a smartphone can clearly be seen - in a negative way.

Sorry but I have to respectfully disagree. You absolutely can tell a difference even in compressed images, especially under specific circumstances. Yes, there are certain situations where you aren't going to be able to tell the difference between a smart phone and DSLR image, but there are many deciding factors besides just resolution and composition.

There are situations where a DSLR will always outshine a smart phone. One these situations is lowlight photography. DSLRs have a higher dynamic range and lower noise in lowlight situations. Then there is the matter of perspective. DSLR cameras are unmatched when it comes to wide-angle and telephoto photography.

One day if I decide to get a better phone, I'd love to demonstrate this by showing how some images taken with DSLRs simply aren't replicable using a smart phone.

I think you would be surprised if you see some of the reviews about these new 4 camera smartphones. I was amazed about it. It is literally competing with dslrs and in a sense exceeding it. back then crisp movement photos cannot be easily achieved through smart phones but with the 4 camera one it is possible, so jump shots using phones is really easy with this kind of technology. Higher pixels much better resolution and a lot more features. The down side? THE PRICE. OMG!

The only benefits I would see in building a phone device to to have 4 or more camera would be if such devices are used for spy work rather than just for photography jobs.

It would only serve spy operatives to capture images on the job without getting noticed that the spy is taking pictures which would blow the agent's cover.

In other words they would be useful for specific purposes and not for photographers in general. Common sense tells us that we do not need 4 cameras and no matter what they may come up with I am not sure they can compete with real cameras.

I'd like to differ. The 4 camera phone really does give out excellent quality when it comes to pictures. That is according to what I saw in different reviews. It has out outstanding feed backs from tech reviewers. As they say, it has features that may exceed dslrs. Come on, who doesn't want crisp photos, with good motion capture, beautiful resolutions and others. Too bad most of us couldn't afford it. LOL

I think it can be use for a wider range and for panoramic views. I agree definitely it can be use not only for photography. Also with four synchronous camera, you have enough power for slow motion and video rendering controls just like in movies.

Agree, first thing that came to my mind was the amazing panoramic views I could get with one of those. Then, really strikes again, and I realized it can be used for not so good purposes too. The spy issue, would be more than sure with 4 cameras, so paparazzis, and thieves/cheaters, will go crazy with a cellphone like that. Maybe they should be sell to not just everybody.

I think the phone company is almost there, 20+ megapixels in camera phone is enough to see the images clearly, and just a little edit to the pictures and it's looks like its coming from the DSLR camera. But I wonder, Why four camera's? two camera's is enough right? I wonder if I'm able to use the four camera's at the same time.

I'm not a fan of cameras as well on the mobile device back in those days till I fell in love with the world of photography. This has made me taken special interest in every thing that has got to do with the phone cameras and the thing is that I enjoy the ones that have bright cameras as well.

Yeah, you're right, somehow I love to use the IOS camera and aside from that it's easy to edit because there're a lot of filters or options just to make your images looks great, But I think having four cameras in one phone is too much. Two camera's is enough I think. What is the purpose or the rest? Well, I think much better to see the reviews.

I see a lot of benefits of having a good camera on your phone. If your phone cameras have good lens, you can take pictures and record your every day events. The cell phone cameras are the best tools to record your life.Not everyone can afford a professional camera, therefore cell phone camera can always come handy. cellphone photography is not just about taking selfies and posting on Instagram, it is more than that. I think two cameras, one on the front and another on the back, on a phone are good, however, anything more than this is just embellishments.

I agree that they need to step up the battery game. They keep bumping other areas of the smartphones but all we need are larger batteries. We couldn't enjoy our phones even if they have so many new features if they keep the battery capacities the same as last year.

You're right. the first five or six months of your new phone, everything is fine, specially the battery. but after that, you will notice that your battery is getting weak. specially if you allowed to open the data connection during whole day. Specially in the android phone, a lot of software running without your permission.

Holographic features in phones are really interesting, I wonder how much this kind of phone right now. The innovation of technology is pretty amazing right now, and I think they should really need to develop the battery for this kind of features, I think it will consume more battery percentage for that 3D holographic imagery.

Well RED hydrogen one doesn't come cheep, in an article i found that a unit cost $1200. This unit is not yet on the market i believe. But they say it will be out in the market within this month.

I think it's not worth to by this phone. I think they need to release two or three more version to consider if this worth to buy. Well, with that price and first time to release this kind of features in phone, I'm sure there're a lot of negative things will occurs, however, I'm also excited about this feature.

I agree, i'm actually waiting for reviews and comments from people that had bought this device. I'm always searching for reviews but i only see prototype reviews and advertisements. I wonder what they feel about their $ 1200 phone....

I agree multi function devices are so in demand because of their features. People tend to have more with less and these devices are the best choice. Phones are the most versatile device i know today and their capabilities range from 1-50 different devices just in one pocket size phone. Imagine if you have to carry these 50 devices, it would be a mess.

It's gonna be a literal 360 shot, if the four camera's are able to use at the same time. Actually I don't even know also the purpose of that, I think you're right, two camera's are enough, and additional two is gonna be useless.

I don't think it would be like that, because for a "literal 360 shot", you would need one of those massive circle things. I don't think four camera's would be able to get a 360 shot because the cameras would only be on the back and the front, and not on the sides. It would be pretty weird and ugly looking if the cameras were on the side lol

Ah, alright, I thought the two camera's will place at the both side of the phone, and the next two if ever at the top and bottom I wonder if what really looks like if they do that. I think I need to read some reviews about the four camera phone.

With wide enough field of view you would actually be able to have 360 videos with just four lenses, like this: https://www.bublcam.com/products/bublcam

But yeah, not going to happen with a cell phone, and there's really no reason to have such functionality anyway.

Hmm, looks interesting although yeah, I just can't see that ever being added to a phone because the phone would have to be a pretty weird phone shape. And like you said, there would be no need for such a feature because most people wouldn't really need it at all. It just is one of those novelty features that you try out and never use again really.

I think it is more to tempt youngsters who will brlindly go for anything that comes under 'upgrade' They will spend no time to see the practicality of owning upgraded devices and this the industry is full aware. This is exploitation according to me.

This one is an expensive phone of having this feature of four cameras is one that we show the need for those of us that enjoy snapping pictures to take as much as we can many pictures from different angles. I always look at the world of technology as a developing one and time will come when better phones and mobile gadgets better than the one we have now will surface under the face of the earth.

Well, Quad Cam phones gives you the best photos it works like a Quadcore or Octacore processor it uses both cameras to take a perfect shot it's like having integrated 2 back and 2 front cams. I got a cheap one but it's super okay. You can check its features out just go to the Cloudfone site and search for Cloudfone Next Infinity Quattro. I've been using Cloudfone for years and to me it's the best reasonably priced smartphone in the market today.

This is the exact question I have. I did some research after reading the original post, and can't find any information regarding a cell phone that has 4 cameras. The only reason I can fathom for having that many cameras on a phone is if each camera has a wide enough field of view that the user can make 360 degree video by recording with each cameras at the same time. I'm wondering where the original poster got this information, and I've already asked them to share their source since it's a curious topic.

There's a lot of Quad Camera Phones in the market now from brands like Huawei, Gionee, Oukitel and Honor to name a few. It has 2 front and 2 rear integrated cameras that gives great photos. These phones also has dual flash.

Sounds like they still have a lot of kinks to work out in the whole "4 lenses" idea for these phones, since the technology hasn't been implemented into more well known brands yet. It'll be interesting to see if this idea can be developed into something that can actually sustain mainstream popularity.

Exactly. I read an article after doing a little more research on these phones, and I couldn't find anything that compared the quality of their photos with those from brands like Samsung and Apple. The iPhone 8 Plus has a phenomenal camera with some really neat editing features that I doubt these offbrand phones offer, which probably plays against them as well.

Amount of cameras doesn't increase image quality, better optics do. I also don't see how any "spy" would be using a consumer level gadgets like that, because for those needs they're way too limited and no amount of camera lenses will change that at all.

Yeah, you're right. Much better to try it to know the difference. Having four cameras on your phone is not really bad. However if the additional two cameras is the only reason for the phone to increase their price, I will chose the normal phone with two cameras.

There are phones with a dual rear-facing and dual front-facing cameras, and their function kinda varies per phone manufacturer, with others helping achieve a 3D or changing focus view while others claim to have a higher quality image to capture more detail on a picture.

Agreed. It's only a matter of time before they catch up. I own a DSLR camera but it's too bulky to bring all the time. I hope high-end cameras go up a notch better or else they are at risk of getting replaced by smaller cameras.

Well smartphones with 4 cameras is a welcome innovation and it's expected with the current technological breakthroughs that are happening, innovations are being done to a lot of things.

I agree , the numbers of camera on a phone might be absurd or ridiculous, but the technology behind it is definitely great. Sometimes a thing that is different or unique today maybe a thing that is essential in the future.