Database Users

Improving Z1 Compact; camera, audio, screen, battery, ...

Hello everybody!
I'm writing from Italy. I had a Z1 Compact that I returned to Amazon for water damages.
Now I'm thinking of buying another phone (I think Moto X) because I had some problems with Z1 Compact.
Before buying the Moto X, I'll try to find if this problems can be solved so I can buy another Z1 Compact, that is a nice phone.
My problems (not mine, but of all the Z1 Compact) were:
- Camera: The camera was pretty good, but I hated the way that it recorded videos. The stabilization was good but, moving a little the hand, all the edges of the figures blurred, and above all the focus was really slow and inaccurate;
- Audio recording: The audio recoding was really bad... I didn't like the recorded audio quality at all, it seemed like it was underwater, the quality was always crappy IMHO, and with big volumes (concert, disco) it was really really distorted;
(for these camera and audio problems I tried different camera softwares, but they were even worse than the Sony original one!)
- Multimedial audio: The multimedial audio was really low and with a normal (but not good or excellent) quality. I tried this boost; it improved the speaker volume (even if the quality wasn't good at all) but not the headphones one;
- Screen and battery: Screen's colours didn't impressed me, they were always faded. Battery was good but non excellent (however, these aren't big problems).
Now... Can I solve this problems in some ways or they are unsolvable hardware problems?
Thank you so much. Bye!

There is no perfect mobile in the market and it's the same for our phone z1c
I love this phone,for me camera is nice,video recording is good(way better then some phones i have tried(yeah its not real camcorder),audio is great recording quality and with sound boost speaker is enough loud for my taste Cheers
That's how this phone work's and if you don't like it you can always try another with things that suits you more cheers
ps. I have yet to meat the person that holded our phone for the first time,played with it and said "this phone sucks"

If you think the Moto X is a better phone overall just buy that one. If you don't like the screen,battery,camera and multimedia related stuff what's left for you to like about this phone ?! This site can only tweak some aspects about a phone , not change it entirely.

I like it because it's compact and very powerful. Plus, I like Sony interface.
But I hate the problems I listed, so I asked to know if I can solve it with mod or tweak or they are hardware "issues" and so not solvable...

Andrea45 said:
I like it because it's compact and very powerful. Plus, I like Sony interface.
But I hate the problems I listed, so I asked to know if I can solve it with mod or tweak or they are hardware "issues" and so not solvable...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem you listed almost all can be partly solved but there is no bugs free or perfect android phone in the world because your requirement is very high.
1. In reality, I found many of digital stabilization on smartphone somehow got some drawback like you mentioned. It will also happen on other phone but just maybe in some other ways and the perfect solution is get a OIS like HTC M7, N5(video quality is just normal in my experiences) or LG G2/G3. If you got a real fast cpu and know how to do video editing, there are some software stabilization available and they are all better but very time consuming works.
This camera has details because of 1/2.3" sensor but the focus is bad. If you need a fast and accurate focus then only HTC and Samsung can help you in my experiences, you should consider HTC M7(with OIS) or Galaxy S5 but remember HTC M7 UltraPixel is only 4MP and many guys not satisfy with that.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2730097
Indeed, the z1c focus already improved noticeably in 4.4.4(but still can't beat HTC and Samsung) and with this mod(remember to only flash v7 8MP ver) the image, video and audio quality is also improved. Our tiny phone got a small mic just never expect to get real good quality.
2. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=54328280&postcount=53
Many to complain about the multimedia and looking for some complicated solutions but I found it can be easily solved via PowerAMP. The Dynamic normaliser got boost nearly 50% volume in headphone without distort during in my experiences.
3. The screen actually not impressed me either but in general, Sony never use top quality LCD like HTC, LG and Samsung. The IPS screen on z1c is already the 2nd best in Sony history(1st sure is Z2). Battery is ok but it won't be excellent because 2300mah is not enough for S800.
MotoX won't help because it doesn't has dedicated ISP and the camera is bad overall comments on net. MotoX+1 may equipped with dedicated ISP. In your case, actually I would recommend you LG G2. The G2 mod cam is great on xda(but the dev got temp. banned you gonna find some backup download) and it also got OIS. The focus is a little bit accurate than z1c but G2 focus is also same slow, G3 focus is faster. If you think G3 5.5" is too big then consider G3 beat 5". The screen quality and battery is all good on LG.
But if you just want a small flagship, then no choice now only Z1 Compact. Indeed, with 4.4.4 and the mod cam been many things improved.

I don't like LG phones because they have distorsion with high volume too, and I think that they don't have reception and audio of Moto X.
However, what is a "dedicated ISP"? Thank you.

Andrea45 said:
Hello everybody!
I'm writing from Italy. I had a Z1 Compact that I returned to Amazon for water damages.
Now I'm thinking of buying another phone (I think Moto X) because I had some problems with Z1 Compact.
Before buying the Moto X, I'll try to find if this problems can be solved so I can buy another Z1 Compact, that is a nice phone.
My problems (not mine, but of all the Z1 Compact) were:
- Camera: The camera was pretty good, but I hated the way that it recorded videos. The stabilization was good but, moving a little the hand, all the edges of the figures blurred, and above all the focus was really slow and inaccurate;
- Audio recording: The audio recoding was really bad... I didn't like the recorded audio quality at all, it seemed like it was underwater, the quality was always crappy IMHO, and with big volumes (concert, disco) it was really really distorted;
(for these camera and audio problems I tried different camera softwares, but they were even worse than the Sony original one!)
- Multimedial audio: The multimedial audio was really low and with a normal (but not good or excellent) quality. I tried this boost; it improved the speaker volume (even if the quality wasn't good at all) but not the headphones one;
- Screen and battery: Screen's colours didn't impressed me, they were always faded. Battery was good but non excellent (however, these aren't big problems).
Now... Can I solve this problems in some ways or they are unsolvable hardware problems?
Thank you so much. Bye!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get your phone under warranty. On mine, screen is sharp as knife, audio quality on headphones is a KILLER. Just send it to warranty or whatever. Battery on Z1 Compact is one of the best out here (comparing to i9505, 801n etc). Maybe you have chinese copy Or sell your phone and problem will be solved.

Andrea45 said:
I don't like LG phones because they have distorsion with high volume too, and I think that they don't have reception and audio of Moto X.
However, what is a "dedicated ISP"? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There won't be perfect phone in the world atm as we all mentioned in this thread. You either need to accept one or two problem existed or else your decision making is ridiculous and just wasting your time.
Things changed, LG is much better now. But if you want good audio, I think only HTC BoomSound and Sony Z2 S-Force speaker do the job on android. HTC M7 got OIS and BoomSound but the camera is just 4MP. Nokia almost did all things you want but it is a WP device. If you are so like MotoX then just get it, don't ask.

i've several phones here: N4 / N5 / One Mini / Xcover2 / Moto G / Z1c
washed out Colors? That would Fit N5, not Z1c. Z1c has great colours, only the blacks are to black
Audio sucks? have you exer listened to N4 / N5 / Xcover? I mean, it is not HTC Boomsound, but it is a phone, and thats okay. The only real drawback from a One: like all Phones with one Speaker, is does matter how you hold it while listening to the speaker...
are you sure your z1c has no physical problem?

For audio recording i guess you are using the stock recording app? I use the app ASR and it is amazing. beautiful stereo audio.

In apps and themes section is mod which one activate headspeaker and when you listen to music 2 speakers works fine and you have stereo music the same situaton is when somebody calls to you 2 spekares are on about camre i think that update after update something is changed and works always better. Nothing is perfect remember that everyone!))
Screen is great really great but no compete with old s2 super amoled
i have both fones and when i compare in the same situations amoled was always better but this is my own private opinion. I was thinking for a long time about changing my s2 and z1c is the only one phone for me there is no better phone in this size

mosespl said:
In apps and themes section is mod which one activate headspeaker and when you listen to music 2 speakers works fine and you have stereo music the same situaton is when somebody calls to you 2 spekares are on about camre i think that update after update something is changed and works always better. Nothing is perfect remember that everyone!))
Screen is great really great but no compete with old s2 super amoled
i have both fones and when i compare in the same situations amoled was always better but this is my own private opinion. I was thinking for a long time about changing my s2 and z1c is the only one phone for me there is no better phone in this size
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I come from HTC One S and also used 4.3" Super AMOLED from Samsung. They both have pros and cons. The color is much accurate on IPS but lack of contrast and saturation levels, amoled does much better job but somewhat over as we all know. So, they are just 50/50. No winner.
The real advantage is the touch sensitive on amoled is better than IPS panel. But since the galaxy s5 mini spec. is very ****, we have no choice but z1c.

This phone is really fantastic!

I was little bit skeptical before buying this phone, but I have it now for few days and all has been great. The build quality is OK, even with those plastic edges, and I really like the simplistic design. I can imagine this phone lasting me for about 4-5 years!
It's fast and it's responsiveness is insane! For all the people who can't decide because of some bad experience of some users here, they are just a small fraction and there are thousands of happy owners of this beauty...
Only two things than can be improved is the storage capacity (only 16gb) and the overheating (this phone can get really hot), otherwise it's all great...
This is my small review of the features of the phone.
design: 10/10 (this design is timeless)
build quality: 9/10 (much better than I was expecting)
performance: 10/10 (can't be better)
battery life: 10/10 (about 7 hours on display)
display: 8/10 (the white balance is not perfect)
camera: 8/10 (photos are not the best, video quality is amazing)
audio quality 10/10 (it's awesome for listening to mp3 albums)
speakers: 8/10 (loud enough, not the best quality)
system UI: 10/10 (just great)
texting/calling/signal: 10/10 (no problems at all)
overall: 9.5/10 ...best phone I've ever had!
Thanks Sony, you did it!

Mine doesn't get hot. A little warm when it's working hard, but temps are very manageable.
It is a great device though.

Continue : my small review ( I had / Have a Moto G before )
design: 9/10 nice, but very 1990's
build quality: 8/10 feels fragile , plastic sides not wonderful
performance: 10/10 (can't be better)
battery life: 10/10 it goes on and on and on on
display: 8/10 not as good as some other "flagship " phones out there
camera: 9/10 all good so far , have three camera apps , google and stock is best so far
audio quality 9/10 , it has a equalizer , and can be tweaked , out of the box , not bad
speakers: 8/10 (loud enough, not the best quality)
system UI: 9/10 Not 5.0
texting/calling/signal: 9/10 sound a bit muffled ... water proofing etc
Linking with my Sony TV 10/10 seamless
overall: 8.5/10 can it beat my desire ??? so far its giving it a good go !

I am currently with MOTO G .There is a serious improvement? after
You buy Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

I love this phone too. I pair my my ANT+ strap and go out running, i take a lot o photos and i like to install many apps that make my life better. This phone never gives up whatever i do and it's unbelievable the potentials that it has for its small size. It's the phone of the decade for me!

New Sony fanboy here. I love this little powerhouse!
Sent from my D5803 using xda-developers.com, powered by appyet.com

amos700 said:
I am currently with MOTO G .There is a serious improvement? after
You buy Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My gf has the Moto g. On paper it's a serious improvement. However the Moto g is a great phone. If it's truly an improvement, depends on your personal needs. If you want specific comparisons based on your needs, ask away.

Sometimes i think my Z3c has a Ghost Touch problem. Anyone else?

I have read on Reddit and a few other places where Z3C users are not getting text and mms messages and sometimes can not get calls.
Are these people who are trying to use the wrong version
on USA Carriers instead of D 5803 ?
With the power of the Compact, how is it working as a Phone/Mini Computer?
Are you guys able to make clear audible Speakerphone calls?
Can you put 6 photos together in a slideshow and adjust timing of each slide ?
Can you easily type a Proposal in Desktop Gmail and send it
with photos and attachments ?
Problems, issues ?
Thanks.

williamgrant said:
Sometimes i think my Z3c has a Ghost Touch problem. Anyone else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has a very sensitive touch screen, although that's mitigated somewhat by having a screen protector.
I've had the phone for a few weeks now and it's been pretty good. The one feature I had high hopes for, however, is proving to be an increasing disappointment -- the camera. Between the pink spot, awful white balance, often weird choice of settings in auto mode, and different features for different resolutions, the camera is proving to be inconsistent and infuriating in equal measure. I'm jealous of my GF's iPhone camera, which just works consistently all the time. Need a quick photo with the Z3c in auto mode? Just be prepared for the lottery of whether it turns out blurry, pink, noisy or OK.

Yeah the camera is particularly awful... They should have stuck to a simple UI too, instead of having 20 different photo modes, none of which are straightforward. I actually use Google camera, way better in its ergonomics... The most impressive thing i find about this phone is its battery life and Sony's software effort on Stamina mode. Screen white balance is utterly random across devices (I've tried 3 different z3c's...) which doesn't fit the quality effort from Sony's on its screen...

amos700 said:
I am currently with MOTO G .There is a serious improvement? after
You buy Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have / had a moto g . the difference is chalk and cheese! You have a good phone but very cheap against a flagship phone... Well worth the move , loads of videos on you tube , comparing them both

phentex said:
Yeah the camera is particularly awful... They should have stuck to a simple UI too, instead of having 20 different photo modes, none of which are straightforward. I actually use Google camera, way better in its ergonomics... The most impressive thing i find about this phone is its battery life and Sony's software effort on Stamina mode. Screen white balance is utterly random across devices (I've tried 3 different z3c's...) which doesn't fit the quality effort from Sony's on its screen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go in and disable the various camera mode in your apps list they will not show up in the camera UI... makes things look a whole lot cleaner and if I ever want to play around with elves I can just enable the particular plugin.
On a side note the Manual mode can take some seriously impressive pictures. Been comparing the Z3c to my wife's Canon XTI DSLR and its really remarkable how good the little sony cam is. They do need a better white balance adjustment option. Colors also seem to come out a bit bluish on some of the pics for some reason. Still need to play around with a few different cam apps to see if that fixes things.

Cronis said:
If you go in and disable the various camera mode in your apps list they will not show up in the camera UI... makes things look a whole lot cleaner and if I ever want to play around with elves I can just enable the particular plugin.
On a side note the Manual mode can take some seriously impressive pictures. Been comparing the Z3c to my wife's Canon XTI DSLR and its really remarkable how good the little sony cam is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can take impressive photos in good light, but Sony's infamous noise reduction/detail-smearing jpeg processing can also sometimes do a number on low-light photos (I took a photo in manual of a menu last night, for example, and the color of some of the text was smeared nicely into the surrounding white). But it's the auto mode lottery that annoys me the most and the auto mode is the one I tend to use the most with the dedicated shutter button. I really hope Sony fixes this in the next update. Yes, battery life is phenomenal, but I'd happily trade that for a decent camera. Plugging a phone in to recharge once a day is tolerable and easy to get used to. Having a photo you just took of a unique moment in time turn out a blurry, pink-tinged mess gets annoying very fast.

The Superior Auto mode will be improved for Z3c after the update to Android 5.0 like as it did for Z2 after the update to 4.4.4.

Katsigaros said:
The Superior Auto mode will be improved for Z3c after the update to Android 5.0 like as it did for Z2 after the update to 4.4.4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont believe till see it...

"Inferior Auto" will likely become slightly less inferior with the next update, but I'm not holding my breath that it will ever live up to the "Superior" moniker. Meanwhile we have a few more months of crappy photos to tolerate :crying:

Not sure why people bash this phones Camera so much. Maybe a skill issue? yes its not the type of cam you can just whip out and take great shots with(like an Iphone 5/6 or S5), but it does reward a little research/learning immensely. I would be willing to bet most people seeing a lineup of pictures taken by a reasonably skilled photographer using a Iphone 5/6 S5 G3 and Z3c could not accurately pick out the individual phones pics.
The main fault I have found with this cam is the bluish tint that seems to come out when using the auto white balance. Its hard to adjust, because the other white balance options in manual mode tend to make the pics too red or yellow. I will try playing around with other cam apps to see if I can improve things. Any recomendations on camera apps? I have heard good things about Camera FV-5.
Either way I don't mind all the complaining too much... if it gets Sony in a tizzy to get their cam software improved all the better for us!
I will say this thing blows my OG Moto X out of the water for quality of pics in virtually any setting.

Any tips for taking good pics then?
Im finding the camera appalling, the other day it was just overwhelmed by light and incredibly blurry, seriously it was like having a Motorola Razr all over again, tried taking it outside and it was exactly the same. Then 2 hours later it was back to being just mediocre. Very weird.

Cronis said:
Not sure why people bash this phones Camera so much. Maybe a skill issue? yes its not the type of cam you can just whip out and take great shots with(like an Iphone 5/6 or S5), but it does reward a little research/learning immensely. I would be willing to bet most people seeing a lineup of pictures taken by a reasonably skilled photographer using a Iphone 5/6 S5 G3 and Z3c could not accurately pick out the individual phones pics.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a phone, not an SLR! I expect the majority of people (me included) simply want to use it as a simple point and shoot, which it's really not very good for that. Sure, if I find myself without my SLR gear and have the time to take a higher-quality pic then the manual mode can be good. But as a basic phone camera for quick, on-the-go photos, it's often appalling.
As for other camera apps... I've tried FV-5, and it offers almost too many options (it can also be unstable.... it kept crashing on my Nexus 4). ProCapture is another good option and I also quite like Open Camera. I'm still trying to work out if any of them do better in auto mode than the Sony software.

Moving from Sony Xperia Z2/Z3 to Galaxy S6 - your feedback

Hi Boys and Girls!
It's been a while since I last posted on XDA, maybe since I have been very content of my Z2 which was ticking almost all of my requirements. This phone is ALMOST all I need - legendary battery life, good camera, waterproofness, stereo speakers and so much more.
I want to upgrade and S6 is one of the options - others being considered are Galaxy S6 Active, Xperia Z4 later this year.
I would like to hear opinions from those of you who made the switch and it would be great if you gave some comparison on the following:
- Camera quality,
- Screen quality (sun legibility),
- Speaker LOUDNESS,
- Battery life.
My biggest worry is battery life. I know that Z2 has almost 25% more battery capacity, but Samsung has more energy efficient elements so really curious how this looks from your personal experience.
Any feedback from you and examples (your usage Z2 vs usage on S6) would be really appreciated!
Do you regret and if yes/no - why?

Already have forum.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3043183
Moved to S6 from which device & why
Read forum rules and do use search..
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app

That topic is garbage, not only opinions but much off topic.
I am targeting this to more specific user group so no, don't think I have violated any rules and I have done search...

valdigre said:
That topic is garbage, not only opinions but much off topic.
I am targeting this to more specific user group so no, don't think I have violated any rules and I have done search...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree.
I had a Z2 then went to a Z3 C and then to a OPO and then to a SGS 6.
I much prefer the SGS 6 over any of the other devices.
For the sake of this topic I will compare it directly to the Z3C.
- Camera quality
SGS 6 hands down kicks the arse off of the Z3 C.. I believe the sensor on the Z3 is capable of competing with the SGS 6 but the processing done on the SGS 6 is unbelievably gorgeous, plus the 1.9 aperture really REALLY helps it out a lot. Oh and the pink spot issue was ridiculously bad as well.
Best camera in a mobile device. Simply as that.
- Screen quality (sun legibility)
Never had any dramas with the Z3 C in this regard, but the SGS 6 is marvellous in sunlight.. The Super AMOLED screen simply cannot be beaten in any way shape or form.
- Speaker LOUDNESS
Plenty loud enough, when I first got it and copied some music across I started listening to it (couple slider notches from maximum) and it was heaps loud enough while sitting at my desk. My ringtone volume and message tone sits at 3 notches from maximum and I can easily hear it across the house. Even while using my electric shaver! Plus the sound quality is spectacular.. By far the best I have ever heard on a mobile. HTC can bite it.
- Battery life.
The only point of the SGS 6 that isn't spectacular.
Medium usage it will last a full day easily enough, in fact I'd say the only time you'd have trouble with the battery not lasting a full day is if you were heavily gaming all day.
It really is not bad at all. It will easily get you a full day and two days light usage and Coming from an OPO that is a pretty strong opinion.
To be honest, I've owned an arse load of devices and have used/tested so many I can't even remember half of them and this device blows them all out of the water, it has every good quality you could possibly want from a device. The lack of removable storage I don't care about (OTG EXISTS PEOPLE!! AND ITS FASTER AND CHEAPER THAN MICROSD!!!) the lack of battery I don't care about, it's plenty enough for me. Buy a portable battery pack if you're paranoid or need to be out of electric power point range for a week.
I went off Samsung because I didn't like the whole plastic casing design choice, and I am glad to say I am back on the bandwagon with this beautiful device
By the way.. The Xperia devices are significantly let down by the lack of hardware buttons. Really pisses me off having such a nice large screen and having a chunk of that taken away with terrible soft keys.

I currently have a Z2, and I am almost certainly going to jump to the S6. Probably solely for the camera. The Z2 never really seemed to fulfill it's potential camera-wise. It takes aaaaaages for the thing to focus - a toddler will only sit still for so long!. The video is also a bit disappointing on it - it's a bit too mushy (not sharp enough) even in good light. The software stabillisation really helps eliminate handshake for videos, but again, it adds to the mushyness of the image.
Although, really well made, it's also a bit too blocky. I think the S6 looks about the right size and shape.
I will miss the battery though, which is fantastic - I still can't believe sometimes how much juice is left at the end of the day.

le_lutin said:
I currently have a Z2, and I am almost certainly going to jump to the S6. Probably solely for the camera. The Z2 never really seemed to fulfill it's potential camera-wise. It takes aaaaaages for the thing to focus - a toddler will only sit still for so long!. The video is also a bit disappointing on it - it's a bit too mushy (not sharp enough) even in good light. The software stabillisation really helps eliminate handshake for videos, but again, it adds to the mushyness of the image.
Although, really well made, it's also a bit too blocky. I think the S6 looks about the right size and shape.
I will miss the battery though, which is fantastic - I still can't believe sometimes how much juice is left at the end of the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha yeah the blockiness was absurd! Forgot about that!
It was like carrying a thin brick in your pocket.

Now this is what I am talking about!
Thanks people and keep it comming!
Batter life worries me. If you get a full day of medium usage and end up with <10% battery life then in the long term, this will not be good for the battery... This stops me from going for it... Still thinking

Stevles said:
Haha yeah the blockiness was absurd! Forgot about that!
It was like carrying a thin brick in your pocket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stevles,
Do you have any feel for how it captures images of people in less than ideal light? I'm thinking specifically about taking photos of my kids indoors.
I remember I had a G2 a while back and it was TERRIBLE at this. Because it had OIS, the camera would always keep the shutter open way too long to let more light in. The downside of this is of course that any movement resulted in a blurry mess. Z2 is better at this, but still not very good.

le_lutin said:
Stevles,
Do you have any feel for how it captures images of people in less than ideal light? I'm thinking specifically about taking photos of my kids indoors.
I remember I had a G2 a while back and it was TERRIBLE at this. Because it had OIS, the camera would always keep the shutter open way too long to let more light in. The downside of this is of course that any movement resulted in a blurry mess. Z2 is better at this, but still not very good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah the shutter speed goes to around 1/10 in low-light. Highly recommended to switch to "pro" and manually adjust the shutter speed to around 1/30 - 1/50 while keeping the rest of the "pro" settings on auto to account for it automatically. It will result in slightly noisier pictures but at least they won't be fully blurry like auto mode provides in fast-pace low-light situations.
Ultimately, best bet would be to either a) use flash b) pro mode with manual shutter speed c) Sony A7S (current low-light king MILC costing around $2600AUD)
With the SGS6 it will let you either use tracking focus OR Optical image stabilization, not both at the same time. Although I'm pretty sure that only effects the video taking, not 100% sure.
I'm sure you'll work something out

I think anyone coming from a z3c will be massively spoiled by its battery life. Its a freak. My s6 battery is average tbh but it's super fast and the camera is awesome. Sammy cam and picture software is really on point here

Stevles said:
Yeah the shutter speed goes to around 1/10 in low-light. Highly recommended to switch to "pro" and manually adjust the shutter speed to around 1/30 - 1/50 while keeping the rest of the "pro" settings on auto to account for it automatically. It will result in slightly noisier pictures but at least they won't be fully blurry like auto mode provides in fast-pace low-light situations.
Ultimately, best bet would be to either a) use flash b) pro mode with manual shutter speed c) Sony A7S (current low-light king MILC costing around $2600AUD)
With the SGS6 it will let you either use tracking focus OR Optical image stabilization, not both at the same time. Although I'm pretty sure that only effects the video taking, not 100% sure.
I'm sure you'll work something out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The s6 has two types of stabilisation: OIS which is mechanical and you can't turn off. This used for photo and video. The second is EIS (electronic image stabilisation) which is software stabilisation and can be turned off. This is only for video. Both can be used together for video. EIS is type is the one that can't be used with tracking focus, but the camera is still using OIS (as it isn't something you can switch off).
Apologies if you knew all this already.

le_lutin said:
The s6 has two types of stabilisation: OIS which is mechanical and you can't turn off. This used for photo and video. The second is EIS (electronic image stabilisation) which is software stabilisation and can be turned off. This is only for video. Both can be used together for video. EIS is type is the one that can't be used with tracking focus, but the camera is still using OIS (as it isn't something you can switch off).
Apologies if you knew all this already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah that makes sense, thanks. Knew there was something a bit "this sounds wrong" about my post lol

I owned z3 since its release although sold it two moth ago and got s6 last week. I can say this, s6 is vastly superior in every aspect except the battery life. You can really tweak z3 setting and that battery would last two days easy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mostly agree with everything that was already said. Battery life is far from equivalent to the z3c. Also I should mention size and one hand usability in favor of the Sony. Also another missed function that Samsung just doesnt want to implement is Tap to unlock the screen. I dont really use the photos on the laptop screen, so from a small screen point of view I sometimes liked the photos of the z3c more that those of the S6. Colors combinations and the final result was more eye pleasant for me on the z3c (many times). Sure S6 has a great overall camera.
Lack of microsd is annoying, but I solved it with OTG.

I still have both because I cracked the screen on the Z3 and I won't sell it until I get it repaired. But my opinion pretty much reflects what everyone else said.
The S6 does pretty much everything better except for battery life.
I love the fingerprint scanner. Way easier than having to use lock pattern or password.
I tested the speaker with the same youtube video and the S6 was actually louder. But the Z3 sounds better when you're watching something that pans from left or right.

Interesting, z3 louder than S6?
My z2 seems very quiet in comparison to other phones. My gf's 2013 motto g seems louder on 50 percent than z2 on 90 percent... No comparison with z3, maybe they actually made it louder.
I am also really tempted to wait on z4 but I have this bad feeling that nothing will change in terms of camera software and screen... Also worried about overheating snapdragon.
I guess z4 will not beat s6 in those regards and as you said, s6 is better in everything but battery...
If I only knew when S6 active is released and will it have better battery and same screen and camera...

Was just going through some videos I took recently with my Z2 and remembered another issue: the autofocus during video capture is diabolical. It's either out of focus or constantly going in and out of focus. It really affects the watchability of the recorded videos.

le_lutin said:
Was just going through some videos I took recently with my Z2 and remembered another issue: the autofocus during video capture is diabolical. It's either out of focus or constantly going in and out of focus. It really affects the watchability of the recorded videos.
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Click to collapse
Good point. I noticed this as well, especially in worse lighting.

I've only owned my S6 for about 8 hours, but compared to my Z3,it blows it out the water. The only thing I preferred on the Z3 is the mostly stock Android UI, and the battery life. The camera on the s6 is crazy good. When you take a picture of say a cat or a dog, the amount of detail it picks up is amazing. My Z3 took some really nice pictures when the lighting was nice and sunny, but it was very inconsistent. The S6 is better in every condition by far. .
Display wise, the Z3 has a very bluish white balance, while the S6 is warmer. I haven't directly compared brightness yet but they both get bright enough in direct sunlight. The S6 kills it when it comes to resolution, and also them gorgeous deep blacks. The S6 display is easily the best display on any smartphone that I've ever seen. But that's not to say the Z3 has a bad display, it just isn't as good when directly compared.
Build quality, I would say they're both really nice, and I'm hesitant to give the win to either of them.
Ergonomics go to the S6. It's a smaller size, and just feels better in the hand as opposed to the square shape of the Z3. They're both quite slippery though.
Performance goes to the S6,but not by much. My Z3 was no slouch, and never lagged, but the S6 does seem faster by a little, and the animations are smoother more often.
Overall I would say the S6 is definitely the better phone. But if battery life is very important to you, and you really do prefer stock android to Touchwiz, then the Z3 is the better option. Honestly though, they're both awesome phones, and the only massive difference is the camera, and the S6 is noticeably better.

I came from an Xperia Z2 and the camera on this S6 is 1000x better. The focusing is fast and the pictures are sharp even in low light. The slow focusing speed on my Z2 drove me insane...

US version z5 compact impressions

Hi
I got the phone from amazon yesteday. My previous phone is z3 compact.
Build quality:
To start with fingerprint is disabled on us version. I really like the new glass material on the back when compared to my z3c. The lock/unlock button is big and pronounced and feedback is good. Over all build quality is excellent. I prefer this phone for form factor. I did not find any phone in the market nearly spec'd as this in compact size.
4/5
Display:
A part from that display is the same as z3c. No improvement at all except it is more brighter. But for some reason it feels dim under sunlight. I dont have z3c with me right now to compare. But i think z3c is a little more bright under sunlight. Other than that i hate the display. I am ok with 720p but the colors suck. Blacks are better than previous model but still have greyish tint.. Overall i hate this display.. I dont understand why sony makes such beautiful displays for TV's and worse displays on their smart phones.
2/5
Sound:
Speaker volume is tiny. Even though they are front facing volume is too low for my liking. Speaker phone volume when on calls is terrible. For the earphones its the other way round. Clarity is excellent. Sony did not include any earphones despite charging 499+tax which is a shame. I did not experience any bluetooth issues. Worked fine in my car and with my lg headset.
3/5
Performance:
I dont see noticeable improvement in performance from z3c to z5c. Apps open a tad bit faster. Ram is the same so dont except much with multitasking. It handled decent.. I see lagging and frame rate drop from time to time.. May be lollipop? Because i tested nexus 6p on marshmallow with sd810 and it flies.. Hopefully update should fix it. Also i noticed back of my phone very hot when i am restoring apps from google play after first boot.. I also feel the heat when its charging.. After that i did not feel heat again.. I dont play any games on my phone so not a deal breaker
3/5
Camera:
As sony touts, focus is very quick. But my god.. It takes forever to launch the app and take a photo.. Photo quality is decent in day light but low light it is terrible with a lot of noise. Again the same.. Sony makes some great point and shoot and DSLR cameras. Provides sensors for major manufacturers but fails with their phones.. Need major work especially with software.. I did not test video recording
3/5
Battery:
The biggest pro for this phone.. I did not have it longer to give statements but from what i see it is amazing.. Standby drain is ok.. Lost 9% over the course of 8 hours which is acceptable.. currently at 63% with 2 hrs 14 mins screen on time which is great..
5/5
Conclusion:
Overall i am disappointed with the phone. What ever it does it is just ok except for battery and build quality. Display and camera are deal breakers for me. I have the same impressions with my z3c but compact size won me over display and camera issues. After 1 year i cannot take this anymore.. 23mp camera upgrade is a dud.. same display.. bad speaker quality despite of front facing.. Some heating issues which is ok but still for a $500 phone.. With fingerprint disabled in us markets i dont see a good reason to upgrade from a z3c if you have one. If you want compact size phone with great battery , excellent build and dont mind short comings of display and camera look no further. For me sadly i will be returning this phone.
Let me know if you have any questions

Pretty fair review. I agree with all your points. The Z5 series is very disappointing, and the awful firmware doesn't help. I'm not very impressed by Sony (it's my first Sony phone) and I will probably replace my Z5 soon for something better.
Sadly, I don't think they belong in the same league as LG, Motorola, a Nexus or Samsung (despite Touchwiz). I wouldn't recommend someone to buy a Xperia over a Nexus or Galaxy. Too many issues and flaws

fair review and agree with most points..

sravanz said:
Let me know if you have any questions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have other thoughts. IPS screen you must have grey scale issues it's just more or less, if you want true black go get an Amoled. The screen on Z5c is excellent and color is more of a personal taste, on Z5 the color style tend to the more accurate side not the eye catching one. The same on the camera color reproduction, my Z1c photo provided more vivd color and sometimes it does look better. But in fact, the Z5c color is closer to real scene.
I've heard the speaker volume is a bit lower than Z3c but the quality on Z5c should be better, more stereo output.
Marshmallow will optimize the big.Little CPU so expected speed gains later.
Camera is good within 200iso range both day and light. Low-light photo is also good but only if you manage to shoot at low ISO without OIS...lol... It real better than my Z1c at low iso but above 200iso my Z1c outperformed Z5c noticeably, I think it is a software issue waiting for 6.0 to fix the camera driver.
The official price of Z5c in Hong Kong dropped to USD460 now in all major provider channel, I think it is more valuable here.

The speaker on Z5c is great. Go to sound settings and turn on Dynamic Normaliser only. And turn off all the other settings. And you'll get great sound on speaker. It's much much better than on Z3c. Nearly as good as Boomsound and no I'm not exaggerating. Sound also depends on the app or the kind of music.
You can try the song " Diary Of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin on Youtube after setting it up like I said, to test how loud the speakers are.

TheEndHK said:
I have other thoughts. IPS screen you must have grey scale issues it's just more or less, if you want true black go get an Amoled. The screen on Z5c is excellent and color is more of a personal taste, on Z5 the color style tend to the more accurate side not the eye catching one. The same on the camera color reproduction, my Z1c photo provided more vivd color and sometimes it does look better. But in fact, the Z5c color is closer to real scene.
I've heard the speaker volume is a bit lower than Z3c but the quality on Z5c should be better, more stereo output.
Marshmallow will optimize the big.Little CPU so expected speed gains later.
Camera is good within 200iso range both day and light. Low-light photo is also good but only if you manage to shoot at low ISO without OIS...lol... It real better than my Z1c at low iso but above 200iso my Z1c outperformed Z5c noticeably, I think it is a software issue waiting for 6.0 to fix the camera driver.
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Click to collapse
I understand your point about deep blacks. I have seen several other screens which are not amoled and produce not only better blacks but also have a vibrant display.. I dont think iphone or htc m9 has amoled screen. I am comparing to those because for the price we are paying we should get a better quality display considering iphone 6s also has 760p screen and is better overall.. May be i prefer vibrant or saturated colors rather than real life ones as you are stating.. Even nexus 5x screen looks amazing to me and its not amoled..
For the sound as you said clarity may be good but it is very low and if you are outside you can hardly hear it..
For camera even though there is manual mode i prefer phone to handle it automatically rather than me tinkering with settings. I like how well optimized samsung's and apple's camera software.. I want to see that level of output with sony's. Sadly it is no where near it..
I havent used z1c.. From what i can see you are quite happy with the jump.. But from z3c to z5c that too us variant there is no good reason to upgrade

sravanz said:
I havent used z1c.. From what i can see you are quite happy with the jump.. But from z3c to z5c that too us variant there is no good reason to upgrade
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Click to collapse
In my experiences, Apple & HTC & LG always use top-notch LCD screen, they pretty much represented the best screen you can get on market. I've to admit Sony usually only used second grade panel but Z5c isn't bad in my opinions. There are many beautiful FHD/2K but you hardly could find one small screen 720P better with the only exception of IP6/IP6s. The official price of Z5c is USD460 now in HK and to that price level, I think worth it. Yes, I think you prefer vibrant or saturated color.
The jump from Z1c to Z5c is big enough to stay but it's a mixed result to me bcoz sometimes I also prefer more vivd color photo/video from Z1c(but overall I prefer accurate color) and 320iso started better than my Z5c, not to mention my Z1c 4K video(with 4K mod) at low-light even got better focus and quality. If Sony doesn't fix the camera in 6.0, I may sell it out and stick with Z1c and wait Z6c/Z7c.

TheEndHK said:
In my experiences, Apple & HTC & LG always use top-notch LCD screen, they pretty much represented the best screen you can get on market. I've to admit Sony usually only used second grade panel but Z5c isn't bad in my opinions. There are many beautiful FHD/2K but you hardly could find one small screen 720P better with the only exception of IP6/IP6s. The official price of Z5c is USD460 now in HK and to that price level, I think worth it. Yes, I think you prefer vibrant or saturated color.
The jump from Z1c to Z5c is big enough to stay but it's a mixed result to me bcoz sometimes I also prefer more vivd color photo/video from Z1c(but overall I prefer accurate color) and 320iso started better than my Z5c, not to mention my Z1c 4K video(with 4K mod) at low-light even got better focus and quality. If Sony doesn't fix the camera in 6.0, I may sell it out and stick with Z1c and wait Z6c/Z7c.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.. Its 499 here and with tax it came to 540 for me.. Hopefully marshmallow update should fix some of the issues.. Amazon has 30 day return policy so i will see if i get update and if it fixes camera issues.. i might keep it

Sadman Khan said:
The speaker on Z5c is great. Go to sound settings and turn on Dynamic Normaliser only. And turn off all the other settings. And you'll get great sound on speaker. It's much much better than on Z3c. Nearly as good as Boomsound and no I'm not exaggerating. Sound also depends on the app or the kind of music.
You can try the song " Diary Of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin on Youtube after setting it up like I said, to test how loud the speakers are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did sound good.. My issue is with watching videos with people talking and listening podcasts..

sravanz said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.. Its 499 here and with tax it came to 540 for me.. Hopefully marshmallow update should fix some of the issues.. Amazon has 30 day return policy so i will see if i get update and if it fixes camera issues.. i might keep it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow it's freaky expensive 540, no wonder you are unhappy. It's only 460 here no tax and small retailers may even sell a bit lower but no return policy.

TheEndHK said:
wow it's freaky expensive 540, no wonder you are unhappy. It's only 460 here no tax and small retailers may even sell a bit lower but no return policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see a lot of listings on ebay for international version around 430 and no tax but problem is no returns and no warranty

sravanz said:
It did sound good.. My issue is with watching videos with people talking and listening podcasts..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/themes-apps/split-thread-soundmod-xperia-z5-project-t3255636
I think sound mod might be able to fix your issue but you got to root your phone to void the warranty.
---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------
sravanz said:
I see a lot of listings on ebay for international version around 430 and no tax but problem is no returns and no warranty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
460 here comes with warranty.

TheEndHK said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/themes-apps/split-thread-soundmod-xperia-z5-project-t3255636
I think sound mod might be able to fix your issue but you got to root your phone to void the warranty.
---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------
460 here comes with warranty.
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If unlock bootloader i think i will lose drm keys which makes camera even worse and no warranty so not gonna do that right now.. thanks

sravanz said:
It did sound good.. My issue is with watching videos with people talking and listening podcasts..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What podcast app do you use? If you use Pocket Casts, there's a feature that's kind of hidden away that boosts the volume substantially. You have to play an episode of a podcast, and bring up the control screen (the screen where you would skip back or skip forward the audio). On the bottom left hand corner should be what looks like a dial. If you click on it, you should get an option to "Volume Boost" that you can click on. Made a huge difference for me.

Adrift98 said:
What podcast app do you use? If you use Pocket Casts, there's a feature that's kind of hidden away that boosts the volume substantially. You have to play an episode of a podcast, and bring up the control screen (the screen where you would skip back or skip forward the audio). On the bottom left hand corner should be what looks like a dial. If you click on it, you should get an option to "Volume Boost" that you can click on. Made a huge difference for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i use pocketcasts.. will try that.. thanks for the tip

sravanz said:
If unlock bootloader i think i will lose drm keys which makes camera even worse and no warranty so not gonna do that right now.. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been used DRM patch for 2~3 weeks on my z5c.

I've been debating weather I want to go back to the z5c. (had one but sold to try the 5x) Is there any real reason to buy the US version over the UK version besides warranty? I'd buy the UK model to save for sure.
*edit.. Sorry don't mean to hijack your thread but I would love an answer
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Notchr302 said:
I've been debating weather I want to go back to the z5c. (had one but sold to try the 5x) Is there any real reason to buy the US version over the UK version besides warranty? I'd buy the UK model to save for sure.
*edit.. Sorry don't mean to hijack your thread but I would love an answer
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/general/e6653-flash-e6603-firmware-enable-t3307158
It's very easy to enable fingerprint sensor without root and void warranty on US Z5, I think it's just same on US Z5c.

sravanz said:
Hi
Camera:
As sony touts, focus is very quick. But my god.. It takes forever to launch the app and take a photo.. Photo quality is decent in day light but low light it is terrible with a lot of noise. Again the same.. Sony makes some great point and shoot and DSLR cameras. Provides sensors for major manufacturers but fails with their phones.. Need major work especially with software.. I did not test video recording
3/5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you let us know which firmware version is running on your Z5c? On my phone with firmware 32.0.A.6.200 (unlocked German version) the camera app starts up quickly when I firmly push the camera button. Also starting the app from the app drawer doesn't show noticeable delays. Maybe an update will resolve (some) of your issues.

I agree with:
- Build quality.
- Performance
-Camera: I'd rest 1 more point; 2/5 in total because I don't like the FoV of this camera and the minimum focus distance of 12mm, bad for really close close-ups. Obviously, considering the price of the phone. As you said, photos under a LOT of light are fine). I really don't like the camera of this phone is my biggest disappointment.
- Battery
I disagree with:
> Display: for me it's fine, 4/5 or 5/5. I'm happy with it (except for the Auto Brightness bug), I love the idea of a 720p screen with 2015 hardware (I know you didn't complain about the resolution), battery and performance is incredible thanks to this resolution and DPI settings. Brightness is high enough for me under the sun. They should tweak a little more the auto brightness levels in dark rooms.
> Sound: I don't care too much about, I mean, speaker is hi enough. It's stereo. Sound is fine for games and some quick videos. Not good for music, like any small speaker. But I never use small speakers for that. Maybe not a 5/5 but 4/5 would be my score.
One important point is the time to update after a new version is released. Sony has a 0/5 in that. At least for the Z5 line.
If I were you I'd enable the fingerprint sensor. But if you need to open the bootloader I'd wait some more time before do it.

My Short-ish Review of the XA2

So Ive had my XA2 for 4 days now.. and Ive got to say.. for a £200 phone (I paid), its pretty darn good...
I love the XZ3 style curved edged screen and the slightly curved back, and... even though the back plate is plastic.. it has a nice weighty feeling in the hand, it doesn't feel like a sub-£300 device..
The LCD screen is nice a clear and while, even at brightness 100%, its not fantastic in direct sunlight... its still pretty good... one of the best sub £500 screens for viewing outdoors Ive seen..
The speaker is surprisingly good and gets very VERY loud, so ringer and Msg tones are not a problem to hear at all, even in crowded places, although the speaker gets so loud that music can be tinney it doesn't distort, even past 90% volume... Its great.. the ear piece on recieving Calls is fantastically crisp, loud and clear
I don't play games on a 5.2" phone, so I cant comment on benchmarks, but so far.. Ive had no slow downs or stutters from the SD 630, its all liquid smooth and a breeze to use...
Also, the battery life is fantastic.. it really is... I am a moderate user and Ive only charged it once in 4 days and im still on 30%.. yep its really good... especially if you use Data saver in Google, turn your Location settings to "Battery Saving".. its Really good... and I haven't had any heat issues either... cool all the way, even using a QC3.0 fast charger.
One thing I have noticed.. Iam using a SanDisk 128GB 90M/S SDCard… but have found that its slow to access music using the SONY Music Player (album art is slow to load and songs can sometimes take a second or so to play.. .. yet on Google Music.. its nice and fast, but the XZ2 has the same issue so I don't think its the SD630 SoC ... strange that one..
Now, the camera... I purchased my XA2 and updated to build..123 (Dec 18), so I cant speak for previous issues, but I gotta say... the XA2 camera:
The Good..
Excellent in Daylight shots, great colour balance and lighting, Very clear and crisp, not bad on slow moving subjects, plenty of detail, hardly any barrel distortion or edge softening, no over-sharpening. great "Auto" Mode, great EIS..
The Bad
Poor in low light, but even when using the flash in low light.. it takes about 2 - 3 secs to actually take the image, so camera shake happens sometimes .... even when taking daylight shots, the camera can be slow to focus, over-exposes {like 90% of all phone cameras do} and I don't do selfies so I don't care about this but it has a terrible Selfie camera..
But hand on heart, this XA2 has a better camera than the old XZ Premium and XZ1.. Take all my "Good Points" and convert them to "Bad Points", plus the "Bad Points" ive already said... and you've got the XZP camera... Aside from the 4K 5.5" screen and Stereo speakers... IMHO, the XA2 is a better device than the XZP and XZ1. Ive owned 4 XZPs and an XZ1.. and ALL of them have had Terrible cameras, terrible Barrel distortion from the Z5 days, woolly, fuzzy edge softening as much as 15% on each image... Over-sharpening, terrible blurry images through rubbish EIS .. Believe me, Im still scratching my head at this XA2 compared to my XZP and XZ1 nightmares.
So, IMO its a no-brainer.. better than the P20 Lite and the Nokia 7 Plus... if you can put up with the "Sometimes" slow to focus times on the camera, not a selfie person or poor hand held low light images.. then Buy It.. this is easily the best phone under the OnePlus 5 for images and ease of use... its a joy to use, just remember it is only a 5.2" display

I'm considering getting the XA2 as a dedicated video camera for my Osmo mobile 2 gimbal. I've read some pretty damning reports that the audio when recording video is pretty awful. I have tried to find out if there has been any changes since the update but to no avail. Can you tell me if the audio has been improved? does it affect 3rd party camera apps too? Any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks

montgomary69 said:
I'm considering getting the XA2 as a dedicated video camera for my Osmo mobile 2 gimbal. I've read some pretty damning reports that the audio when recording video is pretty awful. I have tried to find out if there has been any changes since the update but to no avail. Can you tell me if the audio has been improved? does it affect 3rd party camera apps too? Any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it has been corrected. Now the audio recording is quite good. And yes, initially it was terrible !

montgomary69 said:
I'm considering getting the XA2 as a dedicated video camera for my Osmo mobile 2 gimbal. I've read some pretty damning reports that the audio when recording video is pretty awful. I have tried to find out if there has been any changes since the update but to no avail. Can you tell me if the audio has been improved? does it affect 3rd party camera apps too? Any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for late reply, but as emcom has pointed out... the audio is great on videos.. but I came to the XA2 using build 123, so I dont know about previous issues.. but IMO, Ive had NO issues at all and its nice and clear