Earlier today, Galaxy S24 Ultra launched. Unfortunately, rumors were right. Samsung replaced the 10x optical zoom with 5x; the previous reach remains available, synthetically: artificial intelligence plus 115mm (film equivalent) optical lens and software.
That 230mm (film equivalent) telephoto set apart the two previous Ultras—S22 and S23—from Apple and Google flagships. But the f/4.9 aperture really limited low-light shots at 10x. I hoped for something much better. I am not jumping jacks with excitement over S24 Ultra’s f/3.4 at 5x, particularly when iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro are f/2.8.
Samsung touts 50-megapixels for the 115mm lens, but Google’s got 48MP for the same range. Gimme f/2.8 over f/3.4, baby. For reference, Apple is 12MP. Ah, yeah. Like the S23 Ultra, the new model’s main camera—f/1.7, either 23mm or 24mm (not sure which, yet)—offers 200MP option, which still is a major competitive differentiator.
The AI features are yawners; nice to haves. The cameras I care about immensely and I use the 10x telephoto frequently. Take for example the Featured Image, which won’t win awards but marks a moment meaningful to me. Yesterday, while sitting in my car, I spotted a colorful, cute bird perched on a sign. I pulled out my Samsung and shot through the window at 10x. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 160, 1/60 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 4:21 p.m. PST. Composed as shot; unedited.
The question: Is less lens more? I dunno. Samsung is hugely generous with launch-day discounts and trade-ins. The company will give me $750 for my current phone—and that’s more than I paid for it after swapping the S22 Ultra last year. Other discounts make the 1TB model easily affordable and tempting upgrade. Then again, I love the long-reaching telephoto on the 23 Ultra.
Using the photo as a idiomatic metaphor: Is the bird in hand better than the one in the bush? I wonder.