Samsung S25 Ultra VS. A Professional Photographer (eye opening camera test and review)

Summary

In this detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the presenter, a professional photographer, expresses disappointment with the camera's performance compared to the previous S24 Ultra. Despite improvements in hardware, such as the addition of a 50MP ultra-wide lens, the S25 Ultra's photo quality, especially in RAW files, fails to deliver better results. The reviewer highlights issues like distortion and fringing in ultra-wide photos, making the S24 Ultra a better option for serious photographers. For casual users, however, the S25 Ultra may still be a solid choice, offering incremental upgrades over its predecessor.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's camera is disappointing for a professional photographer, especially compared to the S24 Ultra.
• 😀 The S25 Ultra offers a 50 MP ultra-wide lens, but it introduces distortion, fringing, and artifacting, particularly in low-light conditions.
• 😀 Testing with raw files revealed significant quality issues with the S25 Ultra's 50 MP ultra-wide photos compared to the S24 Ultra's 12 MP.
• 😀 JPEG images from the S25 Ultra show minimal noticeable differences from the S24 Ultra, making the raw quality issues less relevant for casual users.
• 😀 The addition of the 50 MP ultra-wide lens on the S25 Ultra doesn't provide the expected improvement in photo quality compared to previous models.
• 😀 Samsung's marketing around the 50 MP lens seems to be more about creating hype rather than delivering real quality upgrades.
• 😀 The S25 Ultra's camera performance for professional photographers is lacking due to issues with raw file processing and color profiles.
• 😀 For casual users who don't edit raw files, the S25 Ultra might still be a good choice, as the differences from the S24 Ultra are minimal.
• 😀 The S25 Ultra’s camera performance feels like a repackaged version of the S24 Ultra, with minor, non-groundbreaking updates.
• 😀 If you're a photographer looking for professional-grade image quality, the S24 Ultra remains the better choice for raw editing and overall performance.
• 😀 The S25 Ultra may still be a good option for those upgrading from older smartphones, but it’s not a must-have for those already using the S24 Ultra.

Q & A

What was the initial expectation for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's camera performance?

The initial expectation was that the S25 Ultra would be a minor improvement over the previous S24 Ultra, similar to how the iPhone 16 Pro was an incremental upgrade over its predecessor.

What specific issue did the reviewer notice with the 50 MP ultra-wide lens on the S25 Ultra?

The reviewer noticed significant distortion, fringing, and artifacting in the corners of ultra-wide photos, especially in low light, which made the image quality worse than the S24 Ultra's 12 MP ultra-wide lens.

How did the raw photo processing on the S25 Ultra compare to the S24 Ultra?

Raw photos from the S25 Ultra, especially from the 50 MP ultra-wide lens, were more difficult to edit compared to those from the S24 Ultra. The S25 Ultra's photos had a 'Standard' picture profile, making them harder to manipulate in post-processing.

Why does the reviewer suggest the S25 Ultra is not a significant upgrade for professional photographers?

The S25 Ultra's camera, despite being marketed as having improvements, shows minimal enhancements in image quality, particularly with the ultra-wide lens. The raw files are harder to edit, and the improvements feel more like marketing tactics than real upgrades.

What impact does the S25 Ultra's 50 MP ultra-wide lens have on image quality compared to other smartphones?

The 50 MP ultra-wide lens on the S25 Ultra resulted in worse image quality compared to the iPhone 16 Pro and the Google Pixel 9 Pro, with noticeable issues like distortion and fringing, especially in low-light conditions.

Did the reviewer find any advantages when capturing images in JPEG format with the S25 Ultra?

When capturing images in JPEG, the reviewer found little noticeable difference between the 50 MP and 12 MP photos on the S25 Ultra, suggesting that most users may not notice the issues that are more apparent in raw files.

What might be causing the issues with the 50 MP ultra-wide lens on the S25 Ultra, according to the reviewer?

The reviewer speculates that the issues with the 50 MP ultra-wide lens may stem from how the images are processed, including potential issues with the sensor not being optimized for the higher megapixel count or software-related problems affecting raw file handling.

What is the reviewer’s overall recommendation for photographers thinking about upgrading to the S25 Ultra?

The reviewer recommends that photographers with the S24 Ultra should not upgrade to the S25 Ultra for better camera performance, as the S25 Ultra offers minimal improvements. Instead, they should wait for the next model.

How does the reviewer feel about the marketing of the S25 Ultra’s camera features?

The reviewer feels that the 50 MP ultra-wide lens on the S25 Ultra is primarily a marketing gimmick, as it doesn't provide a significant improvement over the S24 Ultra and may even detract from the overall image quality.

What advice does the reviewer give to casual users considering the S25 Ultra?

For casual users who aren't focused on professional photography, the S25 Ultra is a fine choice, especially if upgrading from an older device. However, for those already using the S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra may not offer a noticeable upgrade in terms of camera performance.