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Posted on October 28, 2023 Posted by John Scalzi
I recently got my hands on the Pixel 8 Pro, just before returning home from my book tour. I wasted no time upgrading and updating it so I could use it on the remainder of my trip. Since being back home, I’ve been using it primarily to capture the beauty of the fall foliage. In this article, I’ll share some of my thoughts on the phone, although I must note that I haven’t fully explored all the updated features. Nonetheless, based on my daily use, I can confidently say that I am thoroughly impressed with this phone and highly recommend it.
Firstly, I upgraded from a Pixel 7 Pro. The transition was seamless, both in terms of data transfer and familiarity of use. Aside from the change in color, from olive green to a cheerful powder blue, you wouldn’t even notice the switch physically. Google has given the Pro a matte finish on the back, which supposedly makes it easier to grip. However, I immediately put a clear case on it, so I can’t really comment on the difference. I tend to use cases to protect my phone from accidental drops, and I confess that I dropped this new phone within ten minutes of having it. The most significant physical change I’ve noticed this year is the flat screen, which I actually prefer compared to the curved screens of previous Pro models.
Now, let’s talk about the major change that impressed me the most: the upgraded sensors in the cameras. In my experience, the picture quality has noticeably improved. The images are sharper, with better details, and the cameras are more responsive in various shooting conditions. I’ve captured landscapes, portraits, pet pictures, and lots of foliage shots, and all of them have that extra pop without looking oversaturated. Google still maintains a cooler and more natural tone in their shots, as opposed to the warmer vibe of Samsung. The patented Google “crispiness” is still present, so if you appreciate that style, you won’t be disappointed. A few years ago, I acknowledged that Google’s computational photography had reached a point where the camera on their phone was more than just “good enough” to capture excellent photos. Since then, both the sensors and the computational backend of the camera have only improved. I’ve come to realize that I’m using my DSLR less frequently now because the Pixel is usually more than sufficient for my day-to-day photography needs. Only for certain situations, such as macro photography, do I find the DSLR to be more suitable. Although I’m still considering upgrading my DSLR soon, the Pixel has become my primary camera, and the DSLR serves as an additional option. It’s worth mentioning that the Pixel phones typically use their high-megapixel sensors to create lower-megapixel final photos. However, the Pro now offers the option to take full-resolution photos. Personally, I didn’t have great results with this option as the longer exposure time required made it difficult due to hand shakiness. I would recommend using this feature in well-lit environments. Additionally, the Pro now includes a “pro” tab in the camera software, allowing photographers to have more control over settings. While this will appeal to some users, I tend to shoot in auto mode and then edit later in Photoshop. Thus, it has limited use for me. Like previous Pixel models, the Pro allows shooting in RAW format, but these files take up a lot of storage space. For my daily use, the 12-megapixel JPEG on auto mode is more than satisfactory.
Among the notable new features of the Pixel 8 Pro are the “AI” tricks that push the boundaries of photo editing on smartphones. The Pro now allows you to manipulate objects within a photo and use a “generative fill” process to compensate for the changes. It also has a setting that lets you select the best poses from several consecutive shots of people and combine them into a single image, eliminating instances where someone has their eyes closed. There has been some debate around these features, as they blur the line between photography as an accurate representation of reality and something entirely different. Personally, I’m not too bothered by this, especially when it comes to the “Best Take” feature. If we’re already using computational photography to alter reality, as we are, then replacing a face in a picture with another taken just seconds apart in the same context is one of the more harmless ways to do so. It’s worth noting that photography has always involved editing and selective choices since its inception. People have been manipulating photos, big and small, to deceive viewers for a long time. At this stage, these new editing features on the Pro are still mostly experimental. The face swapping works reasonably well based on my limited usage, but the feature that allows you to move objects and have the software fill in the gaps is not quite there yet. When I tried to move my pets around in a photo, it was evident that some editing had taken place. To make the photo look more realistic, I would have had to spend time and effort using a more advanced editing software like Photoshop. In my opinion, Google’s in-phone photo editing tools are suitable for basic edits, especially for social media posts where meticulous scrutiny is unlikely. Any substantial photo manipulation should be reserved for more robust software.
I haven’t had the chance to explore the audio and video capabilities of the phone, so I cannot provide any insights on those aspects.…
