Featured 
With the Nokia N97 in our grimpy little hands, we could help but want to really check out how good the 5 Megapixel Camera onboard is, with its Dual LED Flash, since we’re such imaging buffs here at ZCJ.
Unfortch, we werent overly impressed by the results of the N97′s camera, especially having come from the Nokia N82 as our main imaging device. Here’s a couple same images and video from the N97.
Note: The Nokia N97 we used for our Camera Review was on Firmware v11.0.021 , which was the latest available firmware at the time of this post.
The Interface :
The N97 uses Symbian S60 v5, just like the 5800 XpressMusic before it, and hence the Camera Interface is almost exactly the same as the Nokia 5800 Interface.
Since we’ve already talked about the S60 V5 Camera Interface before, we wont go over it again. Nothing has really changed in the Camera UI from the 5800 to the Nokia N97. GPS Geo-Tagging, Variable Quality settings, its all still in there.
Close up/ Macro Images :-
The camera was set to “Close up” mode for these pictures.
Image 1 :
Image 2 :
Image 3 :
Image 4 :
Image 5 :
Image 6 :
Image 7 :
Image 8 :
As you can see the N97 doesnt have a problem focussing in close-distances (like the N96 did on its older firmware). You cant go in as close as you can with the Nokia N82 though, but its pretty decent. You’ll notice some pictures seem to have really washed out colors, and in some cases the colors are just completely off. No doubt a firmware update might fix this, but this isnt really that impressive so far.
You’ll also notice that there seems to be a problem in light management in some cases. Not too sure if that’s because of the lens, or because of firmware.
Normal Distance shots :
The Camera was set to “Auto” mode for these pictures.
Image 1 :
Image 2 :
Image 3 :
Image 4 :
Image 5 :
Image 6 :
Image 7 :
Image 8 :
Image 9 :
Image 10 :
Image 11 :
Image 12 :
Image 13 :
Image 14 :
Image 15 :
Image 16 :
Again we see the N97 has no problems in focusing. The colors though, are completely wrong in some cases, and completely right in a few other cases. Again, I hope that a firmware update can fix this, but as of right now, some images have a very ugly purple-blue-ish tint to it, that isnt impressive at all. Not from a 5 Megapixel Carl Zeiss lens, on flagship device at the crazy high price-tag, that the N97 has.
Far-away distance shots :
The Camera was set to “Auto” mode for these pictures.
Image 1 :
Image 2 :
Image 3 :
Image 4 :
Image 5 :
Image 6 :
Image 7 :
Image 8 :
Image 9 :
Image 10 :
Image 11 :
Image 12 :
Image 13 :
Image 14 :
Image 15 :
Image 16 :
Image 17 :
Image 18 :
Image 19 :
Image 20 :
Image 21 :
Image 22 :
Image 23 :
Image 24 :
Image 25 :
Image 26 :
As you can see, the color problems arise again. That, and quite a few pictures where the N97 had problems with light management.
Low Light – No Flash :-
Taken in low light situations, with flash switched off.
Image 1 :
Image 2 :
Image 3 :
Image 4 :
The low light performance of the N97 is expected. Nothing great, but not all that bad. Mid-range or far away shots suffer greatly in this mode though.
Dual LED flash samples :
The camera was set to “auto” for this segment. All pictures were taken in low/no light conditions.
Image 1 :
Image 2 :
Image 3 :
Image 4 :
Image 5 :
Image 6 :
Image 7 :
Image 8 :
Image 9 :
Image 10 :
The Dual LED Flash of the N97 seems to be pretty okay. Its a far far cry from an Actual Xenon Flash, but it gets the job done. Just Barely.
The Dual LED Flash can handle Close range shots pretty well. Anything even remotely far away though, wont really make it into the picture, because the Dual LED flash cant go very far.
Image Shots with and without Flash :
Just a few shots to show you low light performance with and without Flash on.
Image 1 :
Flash Off :
Flash On :
Image 2 :
Flash Off :
Flash On :
Image 3 :
Flash Off :
Flash On :
Image 4 :
Flash Off :
Flash On :
Image 5 :
Flash Off :
Flash On :
So you can see, the Dual LED Flash does make a difference.
Video Recording sample :
The camera was set to “Auto” in video mode for this segment. Taken outside at 10am sunlight.
Video is recorded at a gorgeous WQGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution at 30fps. Nokia calls it “Dvd like” recording. As you can see, it does the job, although I’ve noticed that the camera seems more ‘zoomed in’ to the object in video mode than it is in camera image mode though. Weirdness.
Here’s a short video sample. Keep in mind, YouTube does degrade the quality quite a bit :
Performance in low-light videos is pretty decent but has a bit of noise. A step down from the N82 or N85 video quality in that section. The Dual LED Flash does help a lot in low light situations though.
Conclusion :
So what do we think of the N97 camera then ?
Well, its decent and definitely capable. It deffo needs a firmware update to solve its color reproductive problems, and if possible fix the light management issues. But otherwise, its pretty okay, although you wont be taking any award winning pictures with it. I wont go into another saga about how a xenon flash could have helped so much, but the Dual LED flash seems pretty okay for close-range shots.
You’ve seen the Image and Video Samples now, what do you guys think ?
Clinton is currently based in New Delhi, India and is executive editor for UnleashThePhones. He is responsible for all editorial decisions, and covers all forms of Mobile things.
Cj is addicted to caffeine, social media, and technology. Always up for a good conversation, you can reach him through the contact form, his website, ClintonJeff.com, on Google Plus or on Facebook or Twitter below:
Nokia explains their ClearBlack Display Technology
Nokia Lumia 900 up for Pre-order for $25 at U.S Microsoft Stores
iOS apps crash more than Android apps
“Nokia Hello” new NFC Project by Nokia Research
Nokia’s Stephen Elop makes Reuter’s top 50 social CEOs
Pingback: Daily News Roundup – 7th July 2009 | NokiApp
Pingback: Nokia N97 Camera Review : Pictures & Video | ZOMG its Cj
Pingback: Ye Giant Nokia N97 Review | ZOMG its Cj