The Watering Hole

Yesterday was new phone day.  Was originally going to go back to Apple with an iPhone 5 (which I still like quite a bit), but this little guy came on my radar a few days ago.  
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/phones/nokia-lumia-1020?model=rm-877&cmpid=sem_2F1qX4ti_pcrid_3053097831_kwd_nokia%201020_pmt_e

When I got my Droid, I liked the photo quality.  But I still didn't like it as much as my point-and-shoot.  I really wanted to ditch the point and shoot and not sacrifice image quality.  When I saw this guy last month I said, "Yeah, right.  Marketing hype."  Last week early reviews came out with photo samples and the image quality is just awesome.  This is a shutter-bug's phone.  The shooting options are simply awesome.  I went to AT&T (they have better coverage in this area), gave one a spin and brought her home.  

Yes, I know it is a Windows 8 phone.  I know the app store is a little weak, but I don't use a ton of apps on my phone.  The ones I do use regularly have apps for it.  I do use it for internet, calendar, contacts, email, Facebook, camera, and video recorder.  This thing has those things very well.  Now that I have gotten used to it, I like it even more.  This phone eats my Droid for lunch (that doesn't take much; my Droid was voted one of the 5 worst Droids of all time...LOL).  

Nice, but where the hell are all the sheep in that pic???  :-?  :D

In the back yard.   ;) ;D

Cool

Nice greens.  I'm admittedly biased because I play music with the guy who develops the camera for the iPhone... but I'd say that photo is pretty damn close to iPhone quality.  What do you even do with a 41-megapixel image?  Wish that wall was in focus... but I like the variances among the greens.

Actually the picture is only 36 MPixel in the widescreen format and 38 in regular format (or it's the other way around; can't remember).  The sensor is 41MP (so there is room for it to grow with software updates).  Up close shots is the one area this phone is only average and most reviews (and this picture) bear that out.  Regular distances are better.  I didn't tweak any settings (ISO, shutter speed, etc) and didn't do any color tweaking at all.  

One technique they mention you can use with the larger pic is to get better quality zoom-in shots when you want to cut and paste part of the pic.  I've seen some of the larger pictures shot with the camera that they had on display at AT&T and they were impressive.  This was my first picture.  I'll throw up some others later when I get a chance.  

Also, in most reviews, the pics from the Nokia are edging out most of the major phone makers...with the exception of macro shots.  

Man I remember when Nokia was the shit. They kinda got lost for a while it seems. If I remember right, they use to have one of the better phones out there. Seems like the signal was always better than most for some reason. Glad you like it.

I think the whole smart phone revolution changed the playing field and the companies that didn't react got marginalized.  Motorola is another example.  Shame because they make a Droid with a battery that is the Shiznit...pretty much best in class battery life and it's only on Verizon.  

I actually like Windows Phone 8.  I can get where I want quick.  There are some things it does with social media that none of the others do.  If you are heavily into social media, there is an area where you can update all of your sites (FBook, Twitter, Linkedin) with one post.  I like the email app very much too...except for the fact you can't attach multiple files/pics).  But I don't do that, so it is ok.  

Nokia also elevates this phone with software.  There Pro Camera app is so worthy for photobugs.  You can tweak settings and it shows you how it will change the image on the fly.  The tweak for shuttertime goes up to 4 seconds, so you can do some timelapse shots.  I'll have to mess with that sometime.   ;)

Here is a pretty decent distance shot of St. Vincents College in Latrobe, PA

Another one.

wow, without that good picture I wouldn't have known there was girls football!   :D :D

To get girls football, I would have had to Photoshop the colors to Orange and Black and add an underage bonking chearleader to the mix. :D ;)

Friendly bet on who wins the division this year?  

I never bet.  Feel it jinxes my teams.  I've bet on things like that before and have always ended up on the wrong end of the deal.  When I don't bet, they win.  Yeah, a little superstition goes a long way.  LOL

Dearthian: — Aug 01, 2013I never bet.  Feel it jinxes my teams.  I've bet on things like that before and have always ended up on the wrong end of the deal.  When I don't bet, they win.  Yeah, a little superstition goes a long way.  LOL

Then bet on Howie's team instead!  ;D

LOL!