Samsung Galaxy S4
My review of the Galaxy S4 camera
Yep, it’s the dog mom’s turn again today. This is going to be my own little FYI review of what I think is THE best camera/phone out there. It all started earlier in the year when my little point and shoot camera finally died. That was always my go to camera for hiking, and whenever I didn’t want to carry my DSLR. After it died, I had to carry the Nikon if I wanted to get any pictures. I like my Nikon, it’s an old one, the D70. But has always taken fairly good pictures. And I really liked shooting with my 1.8f macro lens. Then it died. So all my pictures lately have been shot with my Galaxy S4. I was due for an upgraded phone in July, so I started doing some research on the phone with the best camera. (Isn’t it weird that’s what our world is now?) I also wanted something that would do all the other things we expect from a phone now. Internet, email, social media, and my favorite…Google maps. Without Google maps, we would have driven around in new cities for a day looking for groceries. It’s great to have that nice Google lady tell us where to go. I would prefer Sam Elliot…but that’s another subject. Anyway, after looking at the options I decided that A – the iphone was out. Not a fan, for lots of reasons. And B – The Galaxy S4 has the best camera of any phone on the market. With 13 megapixels and a ton of built in, and very cool features, this was the one. And they are a great size. Large clear screen, thin, and light weight. The pictures in this post are straight out of the camera. All I did was size them down, and watermark them. That’s it, nothing else. And they are all shot with features that are included on the Galaxy S4. No extra Apps. I am only showing the features I have actually used. There are 4 more way cool shooting modes that I have never used. First up….Richtone HDR. This shoots amazing pictures. More colorful colors.
The next picture is shot in Auto mode. I love to shoot macro, and this is an extreme close up of a cool leaf.
I shot this panorama picture one night at sunset when we were in Jackson still.
The camera has a 4X zoom. Not a lot, but pretty good just the same. This hornets nest was probably 3 feet above my head. This was shot in Auto mode too.
I took these photos in Night mode in a dark room. No flash. There is a kitty on Al’s lap, and Torrey could not figure that one out.
The next features are just fun to play around with. I like this dual camera mode. You can change the frame around the small photo from a heart, stamp, circle, polaroid, etc.
The Best picture mode, takes 8 pictures super fast. then you can pick which one is the best. I took this picture while walking, actually moving, on the path one day.
This next one is Sport mode. Kinda the same thing. Super fast pics, but you don’t choose a favorite from a batch, you get all the photos saved. These guys were running full blast.
The animated feature is super fun, and so easy! The camera shoots for 8 seconds. It automatically creates the GIF for you. You can then trim the GIF down if there is a spot on the beginning or end you don’t want. Simple!!
The last shooting mode is called Drama. I really want to experiment with this one more. I took these two photos real fast the other day on our rainy hike. The camera detects movement across the screen, then puts together a whole series of the photos into one shot. I want to play with this more and get several photos together, instead of just two.
The phone also is voice activated. So if your hands are yucky or wet, and the phone rings, you just say “answer” and it answers, plus puts it on speaker. The camera is voice activated too. So if you have one hand say holding a dog, and the other with the camera, you just say “cheese” and it takes the picture. Very cool and handy.
Well, that’s my unprofessional review. I hope it was helpful. If you are in the market for a new phone, and are a photography nut like I am, you can’t beat the Galaxy S4.
My Dad switched from iPhone to the Galaxy S4 and is so, so glad he did! We enjoyed your review!!!
Thanks! I love the S4!
Wow those are brilliant pix with your new phone. Love the hands free activation function. We just have a dumb phone as we really don’t use it. Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
That second gif with the moving eyes is something! Phone cameras are getting better and better. I know Mom does all the video with the phone, but we still like to use the Nikon when we can. The phone is for when we are out on walks since we rarely take the Nikon on a walk. Looks like you have really studied up and learned to use that S4 camera!
I liked my Nikon, before it gave up, but it was always a pain to carry. This is proving to be a fantastic all around camera.
If I get a cell phone, this is the one I was considering. Great review and great pictures.
I love it, you can’t go wrong.
wow! I want one! Maybe would be a neat together xmas present for us. You got me sold on it. I guess you can download to a chip? so you could print pictures for photos to sent or make greeting cards, etc for family or things?
Have to THANK YOU and tell you that this was one of the BEST reviews EVER! Damn! Now I am soooo regretting that I got an iPhone last Spring and I am SERIOUSLY thinking of switching to this phone. Reading Brian’s comment that he switched too has me really thinking.
I have point and shoot that is NEVER with me and I HATE that I have to charge it (even if I don’t have to charge it that much) it is more that I never have it with me.
As you know, I think your photos are AMAZING and the different features that you mentioned really have me interested.
The iPhone doesn’t do half of what the Galaxy S4 does……
Sprint has a new program where you don’t have to wait to upgrade your phone. I seriously think I am going to look into this.
THANK YOU for this AMAZING, HELPFUL, THOROUGH and INFORMATIVE review!
Caren, Thanks for the compliment on the review. You would love the Galaxy! I am in love with the quality photos it takes and all the cool things it can do. And as a working blog girl phone, it’s great.
Now I know how you get all those pawesome photos! Have a great weekend (and take lots more photos)! BOL
I got a new phone 6 months ago. After a lot of research on the best camera on a cell phone, I went wit the Galaxy S4. I absolutely love it! I use the phone for half of my blog photos now…although I had do idea it could do half of the fancy things you mention :)
Wow! What cool features! Dang… Wish you had published this a coupla weeks ago. I just finally got into the 21st century and got a smart phone a few weeks ago – went with an iPhone cuz the hubs has one for work, so I already knew how to work it and didn’t want a big learning curve. Since I have a nikon that I love, I didn’t think of the camera as being that important, but man… those are some fun features! And great shots! LOVE the gifs! Jealous-wealous.
And thank you SO MUCH for leaving a review on Amazon! Those are so important for little ol’ self-pubbed folks like myself! :)
Crap Jackie, If I had known. Sorry you already made a decision, maybe you can take it back.
That is an awesome review and sounds like a very cool phone! Probably my biggest issue with any camera phone I have is the difficulty taking a photo with one hand. That’s hard! Which is why I rarely use my camera phone for photos on the trail. (One hand is usually holding back a certain chocolate lab.) I recently went to the iPhone and really that would be my biggest complaint. Of course I’m not one for reading up on how to work things either. :-D
The voice commands on this camera are a huge plus.
Mary this is some impressive evidence…I love the richness and depth of the colors
I know that a lot of people really like it! I am really biased with my DSLR, but it’s good to know there are easy options.
I was liking my DSLR too, then it died. Honestly, the pictures from this camera are every bit as good. Sometimes better.
I have the S4 too and I choose it for the camera as well. I am definitely not disappointed, but I haven’t yet played with many of these fun features yet!
Oh but you must play with all the cool stuff.
I had this phone written down as one to look at from another recommendation. But your post has me 100% sold on it (too bad you don’t get commission)! I’m with Caren, this was an awesome review. We got talking about it on FB today when she shared your post, and I couldn’t wait to get home to sit down and read your review. Now I just have to wait for my contract to expire (3 long months to go) so I can upgrade without having to pay all the money! :) Thank you!
I am so glad this review helped out. That was my intent in writing it. You won’t be sorry, I have loved everything about the phone, and of course the camera too. LOL…I had to wait too. Sucks!
Great Review, but I just LOVE my iPhone…and my iPad…simply cannot beat the operating system of an Apple. I love that every single picture I take automatically is transferred to my Retina Display iPad and to the Cloud so I don’t even have to back it up! Many, MANY reasons why I love my iPhone and will never, ever go back. The number of apps in the app store is enough to make me switch all by itself!!
I also love the aluminum case on the iPhone vs the plastic on the Samsung. My best friend has the Samsung and it’s a constant topic of conversation between us.
That being said, the pictures you took are beautiful!!
Your review was excellent! I use an android phone as well, and am pretty happy with the camera, but it could probably be better. What you describe pretty much sounds like a nice digital camera that you can buy. Except, it has all the perks of a smart phone too! If I ever get to upgrade to a fancier phone, I’d probably get this one.
Very nice! Nice camera and excellent photos. The gif is awesome.
Hmm, I need to admit that I don’t have a smart phone, and I barely ever use a cell phone because we have no coverage near our house. I am falling so far behind the rest of the world!!!!
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Love the review. I have an iPhone and love it and all the photo/editing apps that I can use with it, but do especially love the “8 quick shots” and animated features on your Samsung Galaxy S4 phone. I will be selecting a new phone in February, and will have to do more research between now and then. Perhaps this is the phone for me also, since I use it SO much for photography, along with my Sony NEX C-3 camera. Again thanks for the fabulous review!
And by the way, love your map of all the places you have been. Wow!!
Great review! I have the Samsung S3 and now I sooo want the S4! Question: how do you upload videos from your phone to your Facebook Page? I used to have the app “Video to Facebook” but it’s gone now.
I have this phone (since April) and still haven’t played with all of the camera features yet LOL. Great review!