One of the centerpiece features of the Nokia Lumia 920 is the Pureview camera and optical image stabilization. Now that the specs are official with the HTC 8X and 8S we know that HTC has scaled back the camera resolution from the HTC Titan II but kept the BSI Sensor in play. But there are a few bells and whistles in play with the 8X's camera that may make it hold its own against Nokia's Pureview technology.
Let's go ahead and get this out of the way. The 8S is an entry level Windows Phone and the camera matches that class. The 8S has a 5MP camera fitted with a 35mm f2.8 lens. It will likely produce average photos. We'll have to wait and see how the processing software performs but look for the 8S to offer decent, if not average, photos.
The 8X on the other hand has a camera that might turn a few heads. While only a 8MP camera it utilizes the BSI sensor and a 28mm f2.0 lens. The two combined will boost the 8X's low light performance nicely. Add a dedicated HTC ImageChip and the overall performance of the camera will improve. You won't have to share processing time with the main processor which will result in faster camera performance from focusing to lag time between photos.
The 2.1MP front camera is also fitted with a faster lens (f 2.0) which will allow for more light to reach the sensor. Both cameras are capable of capturing 1080p HD video with stereo sound.
While not mentioned, I am guessing that HTC will continue to rely on software stabilization methods which are nice. But a mechanical stabilization method, like the OIS present on the Lumia 920, would have been a great addition.
While we still believe the Pureview camera on the Lumia 920 will be the better camera, HTC's offering on the 8X isn't going to be a light weight. Don't get too worried about HTC dropping from a 16MP camera to a 8MP. 8MP is plenty for such a small sensor.
The proof will ultimately rest with the pudding and once we get our hands on the HTC 8X we will put the camera to the test and let you know how what is on paper translates to every day use.
