Flash, zoom, selfies – update improves the Fairphone 4’s camera
22.2.2024
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
The major camera update for the Fairphone 4 promises a new app design, faster photography and, above all, better image quality. A comparison with the old software shows what has really changed.
Fairphone ensures that its smartphones can be used for a long time. An update has now been released for the Fairphone 4 from 2021. But it doesn’t just contain the January 2024 security patch. The camera should work faster and image quality is said to have improved. The camera didn’t perform particularly well when I tested it just over two years ago. Delays when releasing the shutter, problems with the autofocus and colours that are just too cool top the list of shortcomings.
I was able to conduct my test by comparing one smartphone running the old software and one running the new.
Faster photography
I can’t measure Fairphone’s claims of increased speed, only guess at them. This is hard to do in the time ranges for autofocus and continuous shooting. Time until the first shot is said to have improved by 230 per cent, from 1,215 milliseconds to 360 milliseconds. But to truly understand this, I need to know exactly what this period applies to. When I start the app and press the shutter button, I don’t notice any difference.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Fairphone also claims that multiple shots in succession are now 50 per cent faster. This doesn’t refer to the continuous shooting function. Instead, it should now be possible to take 18 pictures in ten seconds instead of the previous 12, thanks to a shorter shutter release delay. In my tests, however, I was able to take up to 14 pictures in ten seconds with the old software. With the new one, I sometimes only managed 6. Too many external influences play a role for any serious conclusions here.
Better zoom, less image noise
Fairphone promises the Fairphone 4 has improved noise reduction, flash mode, scene recognition and zoom after the update.
Few changes in colour and level of detail
Changes after the update don’t jump out at you in every photo. I don’t notice any differences in the colourful street art, while colour reproduction and detail appear identical to the naked eye.
Hamburg currently offers no sunshine in which strong contrasts can be assessed or colours shine beautifully. But even with a grey, cloudy sky, I think I can see slightly fresher colours in one or two pictures after the update. They appear somewhat brighter and friendlier overall.
Digital zoom benefits significantly
Although the 8x digital zoom still can’t keep up with top devices sporting optical zoom, the massive improvements in detail accuracy and colour reproduction are unmistakable.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Not all upsides with the wide-angle camera
With the wide-angle camera, changes aren’t only positive. As with the main camera, the colour reproduction shows only slight changes. But I think I can make out more details in the centre of the picture, near the bricks. On the other hand, the grass in the foreground is much blurrier and has lost detail.
In the dark, Automatic rather than Night mode
At night, the improvements are less obvious than I expected, but they’re there. After the update, images are a little brighter and colourful lighting in particular comes into its own much better. On the other hand, the name of the subway station is easier to read in the old automatic system. In the new one, however, it’s the clock face. There seem to be minute differences in the automatic settings.
The increased brightness of Night mode after the update causes a little more noise in very dark areas such as the sky. In addition, the brightening in other pictures was too strong for me. In this example, however, it’s fine.
Side note: the preview in the camera app has become much sharper in the dark and looks more like the photo. Before the update, the preview looked much worse than the photo.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Massive changes when using flash
When I use the flash in the dark, I see massive differences between the old and new Fairphone 4 software. While the old camera app delivers a very cool image that’s completely filled with bright light, the new software uses the flash to brighten up a scene. As a result, colours now aren’t as cool. That nighttime feel is conveyed better. However, I do think these pics are more pixelated after the update.
The old and new versions of the camera app handle reflective elements very differently. My «old» Fairphone 4 can only display the backlit areas, while other parts remain in darkness. The «new» Fairphone 4 also lights up the rest of the surroundings with the help of the flash and displays them clearly.
I initially wrote that I didn’t feel any difference in speed. There’s one exception, and it’s flash shots. With the old software, I have to wait several seconds for the image to process – there might even be pre-flash. After the update, it only takes a little longer than a picture without flash. Press the shutter button, wait just a moment, the flash goes off and the photo is saved.
Selfies become more beautiful
The front camera also benefits from the update. Selfie colours look stronger and more natural. They were too pale before. In my opinion, however, this is associated with a slight drop in the level of detail. This isn’t noticeable on the smartphone display. It can only be seen on a PC screen when viewed in its original size.
Selfies in the dark still look bad. In my opinion, image noise has even increased.
Spring cleaning for the app
The update adapts the interface of the camera app to that of the Fairphone 5. This means that selectable scene categories and filters disappear from the top row on the Fairphone 4. Filters disappear completely, and scene recognition only runs automatically and can no longer be selected by the user. Settings, HDR mode and flash remain.
There’s now only one button for zoom. The second one for the ultra-wide-angle camera has disappeared. Instead, each click on the button switches between 1x, 2x, 8x and wide angle. The bar for manual zoom still appears.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Two additional shooting modes now appear below the image as standard – Pro and Panorama. They already existed before, but could only be found under More. All in all, the six recording modes are retained. Keep in mind, High Resolution has been renamed Full Pixel and Time Lapse has been renamed Stop Motion.
In the camera app settings, the countdown timer and the option to place a grid over the viewfinder have disappeared. The new, tidy interface should appeal to most people. However, anyone who previously selected their own scene modes, used the timer or the grid in the viewfinder will be disappointed.
In a nutshell
Still only an average camera despite improvements
I wasn’t able to verify all of Fairphone’s promises in practice, but the software update has resulted in improvements. The Fairphone 4’s camera delivers better image quality, especially when using the zoom and flash, as well as for selfies. In standard shots with the main camera and in the dark, however, the improvements are minimal. With the ultra-wide-angle camera, I even see a deterioration in the level of detail towards the edges. Overall, the pros of the update outweigh the cons. Same goes for the mostly optical adjustments in the camera app.
However, even with the improvements, the Fairphone 4’s camera remains average. But at least it’s moved from the lower end of the average to the upper third.
Pro
- 8× zoom.
- Shooting with flash
- Selfies
Contra
- Blurred edges in ultra-wide-angle shots
- Selfies in the dark
Header image: Jan Johannsen
As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
6 comments
later