[Xperia Z1 General] Timaustin2000:
First Impressions

Sony Xperia Z1 First Impressions!

Before the phone dropped on my mat (it really didn't, it was handed delicately to my wife), I didn't really know what to make of it. Early previews and reviews had been mixed, to say the least.

Was it going to be too big? Was the screen going to be a crushing disappointment? And, most importantly, was all that talk of a 20mp camera all hot air; all talk and no trousers?

First things first, the build is superb. It just feels nice to hold. That smooth aluminium frame, coupled with the plastic contouring and glass front and back scream premium. I thought the Xperia Z was good - this is on another level.

That said, it's big in the hand - no doubt about it, this is NOT a one handed affair - you're going to need both of your mitts. Oddly, however, despite it being longer, wider and thicker than the original Z, it feels smaller. It's the tapered and rounded edges that do it. It's more comfy in the hand, that's for sure.

The screen? Head on, it's outstanding. Colours are punchy without being artificial, fine detail is scalpel sharp, blacks are deep and brightness will sear your retinas. Outside visibility is also fine.

At an angle, however, there is no real improvement from the first Z. Turning it beyond 30 degrees washes out colours very quickly, though detail remains fairly strong. It's a real shame but livable, considering you'll be viewing it head-on for 90% of the time,... and when you do, you're in for a treat. Top drawer, if not back-of-the-net.

And finally, the biggie: "It's as good as a compact" shouted Sony. "It's behind the competition" lamented CNET. "The World's best camera in a waterproof smartphone" retorted Sony (see how they qualified that? Cheeky beggars.) "Camera not as far ahead as we'd hoped" chipped in Pocket Lint (GSM Arena are, wisely, awaiting a replacement unit before the come to any conclusions).

So, who to believe? I have to admit, after all that negative fuss, I was ready to be disappointed - Sony blows it again.

Wrong.

Never, ever get sucked in by early reviews. They're never running final software (mine was updated to new firmware 10 minutes after powering it on).

The camera detail on 8mp stills is superb in good light. Tests with my Xperia Z, shooting at 9mp to keep comparisons fair, demonstrate a very visible difference. As expected, the Z1 seems to be employing some form of Pixel Binning to draw more detail out of individual pixels, leading to a less blocky, smoother and higher-contrast image.

As good as a compact? Better than the competition? A bit early to say, but my initial tests are very promising.

BUT there is a fly in the ointment: Much like GSM Arena, my unit seems to have a lens aberration. There is a spot just to the left of centre that is noticeably indistinct and out of focus compared to the areas around it. if I'm shooting high-contrast detail, like the tree in my back garden, the software processing seems to adjust for it, but distant objects just become a blur.

It's a pain in the arse. I will be sending the phone back for replacement as soon as I am able. Hopefully my second unit will be perfect.

So, how do I feel? A mixture of relief and annoyance. Relief because the camera seems to live up to the hype (and I bought it for the camera) and disappointment that I'm going to have to replace it so soon. Why oh why don't Sony spend just that little more on quality control? Sigh,......