Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: a camera in your pocket

Today I bring you the review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, one of the phones with the best camera. Go ahead that this article, like all the others we write Blog del Fotografo, is not sponsored, so our opinion is completely free. Although it is also true that we thank the house for temporarily giving us a device to carry out the tests and give our (I insist, free) opinion.

You should know that the Samsung Galaxy S20 has three variants, the S20, the S20+, and the S20 Ultra. In this article I am going to focus on the latter, although on more than one occasion I will refer to the other two. And I am going to stop at the part that most interests us, the photographic one, the one with the cameras. To know about other phone issues in terms of processor and others, you will find a lot of specialized reviews on the net.

I am going to tell you about its characteristics, its pros and cons, but in addition to doing it with a video of Mario, I will write all the details below, in case you prefer to see it in writing.

But before we get into the matter, you will surely be interested in knowing this complete guide that we have prepared for you with all the tricks and tips to improve your photographs with your mobile phone, this other one with the best photography applications for your mobile.

Video review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

notice that this video comes with bonus included, Mario tells you two mobile photography tricks and tells you about a risk related to the photographs you take with your mobile that you probably don’t know about.

And, as I was saying, in case reading is more your thing, then I leave you all the information about the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra in writing.

Features of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

This is a very latest generation mobile, keep in mind that Samsung has been the fourth company in terms of investment in R&D research in the world. Being honest, we must recognize that mobile manufacturers are evolving much more and faster than camera manufacturers.

It is a terminal with protection against splashes of water and dust that consists of four lenses, which I detail below, whose resolution reaches the outrageous figure of 108MP and which records in 8k.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra cameras

This model has four cameras, three rear and one front, as well as a ToF (Time of light) sensor to add depth to photography:

• Wide rear camera (major): 108MP and f / 1.8 which allows a great blur of the background. With optical stabilization it is the main camera of the phone and the one that offers the best results in general. In sufficient light conditions it has excellent dynamic range and good color capture. The change is noticeable when the light conditions begin to be scarce. It improves with the stabilization of the phone on a tripod or similar. Still, night photos are pretty decent even without using night mode.
• ultra wide rear camera with 12MP and f/2.2. To capture wonderful landscapes and cover large scenarios.
• telephoto rear camera 48Mp and f/3.5 with optical stabilization. Below we talk in detail about zoom.
• Front camera 40MP and f/2.2. With autofocus. A really interesting option for selfies.

The main differences between the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the other two versions in terms of cameras are the following:

Comparison of cameras of the S20 Ultra with the S20 and S20+

Other specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

• sensor size 1/1.33”. It has tripled its size almost three times with respect to the sensor of the S10. In the case of the S20 and S20+, the sensor size is 1/1.76”, that is, 1.7x larger than that of the S10. And it is that the size of the sensor is larger the smaller the number of the divider. A larger size implies better image quality, better response in low light conditions and greater dynamic range. I leave you a sensor size chart so that you can more or less position yourself.

• 10x hybrid optical zoom. Digital up to 100x (the other two versions of the S20 only go up to 30x magnification).
• RAW format.
• Shooting modes: Single Shot, Slow Motion, Super Slow Motion, Fast Motion Dynamic Focus, Pro, Night, Dynamic Video, Pro Video.
• Pro mode: It has different shooting modes but the most interesting, from our point of view, of course, is the Pro Mode, which allows you to control the parameters of the image in manual mode, that is, you can set shutter speed, ISO, balance of whites, etc., to achieve any photograph you imagine, such as long exposure. In addition, in this terminal it is easily accessible while you are photographing. In short, you do not need an external application to take photos in manual mode and it is also easy to use.

• 8K video, Although it is true that for now few people have screens on which 8K can be appreciated and enjoyed, when it is possible, your videos will be recorded in the best possible quality. The best thing is that you can extract a frame from a video, that is, a photo of up to 33MP. Here you can see it:

• The video also has a stabilizer that through AI (Artificial Intelligence) makes your recordings much more fluid and without strong movements. Also with another option to record videos with background blur that works better outdoors with light, just like slow motion.
• Water resistant but with buts 😉 With an IP68 certification which means that the test “It is based on test conditions for immersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. It is not recommended for use on beaches or swimming pools. So to make sure, we leave it at splash resistant. This does not prevent you from photographing at the edge of the pool, on the shore of the beach or in the rain, to name a few examples.
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8mm.
• Weight: 220g (the S20 is 163g).
• Colors: black and grey.

The best of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

In addition to his pro mode, the versatility of the lenses and the photographic quality, we highlight the optical stabilization and the ability to shoot in RAW, because photography does not end at the moment of clicking. A RAW allows you to finish creating your photo just as you had imagined it in your head.

Capture photos at 108MG or 8K videos, is impressive but this becomes a very high storage requirement. The good thing is that memory space is expandable up to 1TB via MicroSDthat is, you can add a memory card to expand the storage space.

Well, and if you like to take photos in the rain or near water, you only have to worry about giving free rein to your imagination instead of suffering from splashes 😉 .

drawbacks

The biggest drawback we see is the price. No, it is not a cheap mobile. It is true that it is as if you had 4 cameras and a phone in your pocket, but it is a price that not everyone can or is willing to pay.

Other detail What has not convinced us is that no matter how much they advertise a 100x zoom, in reality, from 30 increases it does not offer a decent quality, so we do not recommend making use of those 30x. The option you have is, making use of the 108MP, cropping the image works better than zooming beyond 30x.

How much does the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra cost?

Its current price on Amazon is between 1,000 and 1,400 euros approx. depending on the colour.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Image Gallery

These are some photos of those taken in the Samsung test, so you can see how the result is in different situations, its color representation or the response to complicated or special lighting situations:

Here we leave you another small sample of photos of other authors:

conclusion

If you want a state-of-the-art mobile, with the latest advances and that offers you the best possibilities in mobile photography, this is your phone, as long as you are clear that what you want is a mobile that takes good photos. Because yes, it works really well and is also up to the most demanding in video.

On the contrary, if what you expect is to take good photos and replace your SLR camera, or EVIL with its lenses, for the cameras of this Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, you will not do it without losing a lot along the way. Although it could replace any simple compact camera.

Mobile photography surprises us every day and offers us more. Every day it is overcome with benefits that we could not even imagine very recently. But today it is far from what a SLR or EVIL type camera can offer you in terms of photographic quality and creative possibilities. So if what you expect is, with this investment, not to buy a camera of this type, think about it. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra will be a perfect complement, because you will always carry it with you and it defends itself amazingly well, but don’t think that because it costs more than many SLRs, it will give you more photographic quality, even if it is more comfortable 😉 .

That’s why it’s perfect for those who are simply looking for a phone that does good photos, as I have already said, not everyone wants to venture into photography so much, nor are SLRs for everyone.

Clarified this, it is clear that it is a smartphone that will not disappoint you, especially knowing what you have read here. Versatility of cameras, high resolution, larger sensor that improves night photos, manual mode, RAW format, optical stabilization, competent zoom… what more can you ask for from a camera? telephone?!

If you make eyes at this Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra but it is out of your economic possibilities, keep in mind that as time passes since its presentation the price goes down and remember that there are other options, such as the S20the S20+ or other models like the ones we recommend in this article with a smartphone to photograph.

Do not hesitate to share this article if it has been useful to you or you think that among your contacts there may be someone who is interested. Thank you and see you soon!