[Galaxy S III General] v8bait:
Can't believe this is still going on. I did a pretty big review of the Galaxy S1, S2 and S3 in lots of poor lighting situations here. Since then, I also compared the GD sensor in my girlfriends phone and saw no differences. What does everybody want? A full on lab test with measured light intensities, phones locked to certain ISO/shutter settings (which we can't even do), tripods and image analysis software? Really this issue should be long dead.

Additional proof the ZD and GD sensors are in essence identical on this gentlemans post.

Everybody was expecting a major leap forward with the camera on the SGS3 over the SGS2 or other competetors who shall remain unnamed. But seriously, the phones are only one year apart! Image sensor tech does not move as fast as CPU tech and only so much can be done software wise.

Customers wanted a BSI sensor, and while for quantum efficiency (QE, capturing photons) it is an improvement yes. However, with 8MP packed on such a small surface with tiny optics, that theoretical additional light is not going to ammount to much in the real world even in low light. Allow me to explain. A "old" sensor (front side, manufacturing process blocking some light) can hit around 60% QE, even in small sensors. All is not bad with this take on sensor tech though, due to these manufacturing "ridges", internal reflection is reduced and fringing is reduced vs backside illuminated sensors with smooth surfaces. The fancy "new" BSI sensors can hit almost 100% QE at NASA, but the SGS3 isn't made by NASA. Our sensor might be 80% QE if we are lucky depending on many things. So you have a 20% higher efficiency sensor... what does that even mean?

This post from page 66 has already shown you what this means. The GS3 vs GS2, BSI vs non-BSI, the BSI sensor (GS3) defaults to a faster shutter speed and/or lower ISO. SO: Since you have more QE at a sensor level, you are able to take the same picuture with either a faster shutter speed for less blur and/or a lower ISO setting for less artifacts. This doesn't magically make night pictures awesome and amazing, it simply makes it easier to avoid motion blur and static. This is not opinion, this is FACT based on the physical characteristics of the image sensors. What this also means, is that in bright environments the same holds true. Faster shutter speeds can be obtained. But due to the proximity of pixels on these small sensors, with the added problem of increased internal reflection (no longer have manufacturing artifacts to absorb light not coming from the lens, think of it as sideways/angular light) you gain a brand new "blooming" artifact, which looks like glowing whites. This is caused by charges from one pixel leaking to other neighbor pixels, and compounded by the internal reflection (fringing). Some of this can be possibly adressed in firmware.

In conclusion: This phone is only one year newer than the GS2 so stop expecting a leap to DSLR quality in your pocket overnight. The BSI sensor helps take night pictures, maybe you can't tell but it does. There are negatives to BSI sensors but the positives outweigh them even if you can't notice them. There have been numerous comparisons by myself and others, all of which support this. Hell, the GS1 images were very comparable to the GS3 and iPhone4S in my experience, showing how little sensor tech has come in the past 3 years. Optics and space are a huge limiting factor here and this will not be changing any time soon. HDR functions can help combat some of the drawbacks of a BSI sensor, I recommend Pro HDR Camera app if you really want to mess with exposure settings and have a steady hand (it's a little old now though maybe). Start enjoying the phones now, maybe next year you can have your pocket DSLR, or you'll just have something new to complain about #GS4camerasuxvsEOS70D /wrists