Get these great camera phones
Mobile photography has come in leaps and bounds over the past three or four years, it must be said.
From the heady days of Nokia's zoom-capable Symbian devices to the current crop of smartphones, tremendous progress has been made.
Granted, smartphones have only really scratched the surface of what DSLR cameras are capable of, but we're still surprised by the technology.
So then, which smartphone should you pick if you want a fantastic camera? Well, there are loads of options...
HTC One (review)
The Taiwanese giant released the One last year to a fantastic reception, with the 2014 model retaining the same camera as the original for the most part.
If you're hoping to crop or blow up your photos though, then the HTC One's camera isn't for you - its four-megapixel resolution is just too low-res for that sort of thing. The low resolution also translates into photos that lack detail compared to other smartphones, although the colour reproduction is fantastic.
But the HTC One makes this list based purely on its night-time prowess, the large pixels on its sensor translating into well-lit scenes in low light. In fact, our S4/HTC One low-light comparison saw the HTC One win by a mile.
The 2014 HTC One also boasts a depth sensor, which means that you can create refocused images instantly - no need for multiple shots like other handsets.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom (review)
When it comes to optical zoom on your smartphone, there's really only one choice - and that's the bulky Galaxy S4 Zoom.
In terms of pure smartphone specs, the S4 Zoom is decidedly mid-range thanks to its dual-core processor and 960x540 display.
However, the camera itself is pretty notable thanks to its 16MP sensor and 16X optical zoom lens. The latter allows you to capture some fantastic photos from a distance, while the former captures oodles of detail too.
Best of all, the S4 Zoom has a ton of camera-related options, so for people used to SLRs, this could be up your alley.
Aside from its enormous size, the only downside is that the S4 Zoom records terrible audio, as we found out when taking a review unit to a live gig. A Lumia or iPhone 5s, this is not.
Apple iPhone 5s (review)
Apple's iPhone is the most popular smartphone camera for a good reason - you don't have to muck about with settings to get excellent results.
The iPhone 5's camera was pretty fantastic, taking some detailed daytime snaps and great close-ups too. However, the one downside was that its night-time performance left a lot to be desired.
Thankfully, Apple took HTC's route with the iPhone 5s, increasing the size of pixels on the camera sensor so that more light could be captured. Unlike HTC, Apple still managed to retain an 8MP resolution, so daytime photos are still sharp.
The end-result is that the iPhone 5s easily makes any list of great smartphone cameras.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung's cameras are generally known for being chock full of features, with the Galaxy S5 being no different.
There's real-time HDR, action shots, the ability to erase objects, a refocus feature as well as Ultra HD video recording. The S5 camera also features a 16MP sensor for detailed snaps and super-fast autofocus.
Want a bigger screen? Then the slightly older Note 3 ( review) is another great Samsung camera - its most notable features are a 13MP sensor, 4K recording and good low-light performance.
Best of all, all the Samsung Galaxy phones mentioned in this article have microSD support too, so you don't have to worry about deleting old snaps and videos.
Sony Xperia Z1/Z1 Compact/Z2 (Z1, Z1 Compact reviews)
Sony's Xperia Zx line is probably the only option if you're looking to take photos underwater - and that really should be all you need to know.
It must be said though, that Sony's range takes some great photos - or rather, they are capable of taking great snaps when they allow you to.
The Superior Auto mode is a great way to take the tweaking out of photos, but it's also hit and miss - for instance, taking soft snaps when you want macro shots. Also, the mode is a bit too restrictive - sometimes all you want to do is change the resolution.
Nevertheless, all three phones take their cues from Nokia by introducing 'oversampled' photos and lossless zoom - one makes lower resolution photos sharper while the other sees digital zoom used without any loss of detail.
These two features are made possible by the 20.7MP camera on each device - no Lumia 1020 but still pretty fantastic.
Much like Samsung's range, the Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z2 feature microSD support as well.
Nokia Lumia 1020 (review)
Arguably the king of all modern smartphone cameras, the Lumia 1020's headline feature is its 41-megapixel camera, first seen on the ageing Nokia 808.
Now, most people will wonder what on earth Nokia is thinking, but the 41MP sensor uses oversampling to create fantastic five-megapixel photos, while also introducing lossless zoom for photos and videos.
Nokia's phone also features two other neat features, first of all, the ability to simultaneously take a 5MP snap and a 38MP shot. Then there's the recrop feature, which lets users revisit a 38MP shot and crop an entirely new 5MP photo out of it.
Otherwise, the 1020 excels in all conditions and boasts some fantastic audio recording chops, making it great for live performances.
It does have two big disadvantages though: the shot-to-shot time can be up to four seconds and it doesn't let you simultaneously record and take photos.
Looking for something a bit more svelte? Then think about getting a Lumia 920/925 - it doesn't have a 41MP sensor (using an 8.7MP camera) but you don't need to turn the flash on at night.
Nokia Lumia 1520 (review)
The Finnish firm's first phablet is an excellent performer on many fronts, be it the full HD 6-inch display or the powerful quad-core chip. The camera is pretty good too, we found.
The Lumia 1520 doesn't have the 1020's 41MP camera either, but it does equal the Xperia Z1 and Z2 by featuring a 20MP sensor.
The phone is capable of taking some excellent photos in good light, with loads of detail and rich colours. Low-light conditions are a different matter, the phone not being quite as good as the iPhone 5s and 1020 with the flash disabled.
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