A quick glance at the spec sheet of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ and you will realise that the handsets come with the same rear camera setup as the Galaxy S7/edge. While Samsung is using a newer camera sensor, other key specs of the camera setup remain the same. This means we are looking at OIS, 1/4um pixels, Dual Pixel, and a f/1.7 aperture.
While it is disappointing that the Galaxy S8 camera setup remains the same as the Galaxy S7, it is not a deal breaker by any means since the latter’s camera performance was nothing to scoff at. However, specs are just one part of the story. As Google proved with the Pixel and Pixel XL last year, there is a lot that can be done through software as well to improve the overall imaging performance of a phone. Despite coming with a modest f/2.0 aperture and no OIS, the Pixel is able to rival the likes of the iPhone 7 Plus and Galaxy S7 edge with its camera performance. The phone manages to do this by taking and merging three photos together that helps it in resolving more details and reduce noise.
With the Galaxy S8, Samsung is doing something similar. Called multi-frame image processing, the handset will merge up to three photos into one, which Samsung says will lead to better low-light performance and less blurry subjects. If Samsung’s implementation is even half as good as that of Google’s, the Galaxy S8’s rear camera should be able to take some impressive photos. The use of a more powerful ISP in the Exynos 8895/Snapdragon 835 chipset also means that the processing times for such photos will almost be negligible.
Front Camera
As for the front 8MP f/1.7 selfie camera, it is a huge upgrade over the 5MP camera found on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Not only is it capable of recording videos in 4K resolution, it now also features autofocus and facial recognition. The addition of autofocus means that the Galaxy S8 will be able to take more detailed selfies as it will be able to properly focus on your face unlike other front cameras used on other smartphones which have their focus set to infinity.
Stickers
The camera app on the Galaxy S8 has received a major upgrade and to keep up with times and the increasing creativity level of consumers, it now comes with a collection of 16 filters which includes eight beauty filters. And if you find having to go through all the filters exhausting, there is an Auto Filter option that will automatically apply the relevant filter for you. https://youtu.be/XTWLXF5t7vY And if you are not satisfied with the 16 stickers, there are also 34 stickers and 50 stamps that you can add to your photos right from within the camera app. Samsung has also promised to add more stickers and stamps to the Galaxy S8’s camera app over time. So, don’t be disappointed looking at the camera specs of the Galaxy S8 thinking that it will offer the same performance as the Galaxy S7 edge. If the Google Pixel is anything to go by, the Galaxy S8 should be able to capture some stunning low-light shots with plenty of details.
