Nokia N8 fights back with heavenly HD video sample (updated)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted April 28th 2010 6:07AM
posted April 28th 2010 6:07AM
Nokia is doing its best to rewind the negative spin placed on its flagship N8 after one of its children went missing. As part of the effort, it just published the first un-retouched 720p video captured by a pre-production N8's Carl Zeiss lens as followup to the first sample images released yesterday. We downloaded the H.264 video's .MP4 container to view natively (that's a 600 pixel wide screencap above) and sure enough came away impressed -- though we're curious to hear the original audio that was replaced by a dramatic soundtrack. Now, we're not saying it's better or worse than other similarly equipped smartphones shooting well-lit video -- without seeing side-by-side video of the same footage it's difficult to tell. But Nokia, a company known for using decent optics, sensors, and flash units in its N-series devices, certainly won't be disappointing impromptu photogs making their first jump into Symbian^3. Just imagine what Nokia hardware coupled with a killer user experience could do. Could do. Embedded video sample after the break.
Update: All About Symbian has a marvelously detailed breakdown of the N8's camera that dives deeply into the phone's optics, mic, flash, and more.
Update: All About Symbian has a marvelously detailed breakdown of the N8's camera that dives deeply into the phone's optics, mic, flash, and more.
Is this a joke?
@elanis
Yeah... Wtf is up with all this non-apple news? Engadget, get back on track, please.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
@elanis I have to say my LGKC550 does 720p also it is does really good, and I found out that mine is one the few that the feature actually worked out right, some of them it did not. Well actually that most of the features worked right with this phone.
@elanis Yeah really. Oh and I would be very cautious believing ANYTHING Nokia says about user experience and quality of their products. They have been knows ( a gross understatement ) to use simulated demo's of their devices that are nothing like the actual experience. N97 anyone? Sorry but considering that reviewers saw something very different about the device I'd hold off until there is a *final* i.e. *stable* version of the device. Although considering what's coming from the competitors in the shape of Android, Blackberry and Apple devices I think farewell to Nokia is in order …
@LeJay Come on man, get an editor arrested, people stop writing about you for a while.
@brrip well, not arrested, but you know . . .
@LeJay You had to bring that up didn't you loser......
@elanis
@RIM @Nokia: What's with mobile phone promo videos and dancing, these past couple days?
@elanis
YouTube Version.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dzvnnkPdfs
@stevenf17
The one on yoube does not look as good as the one on vimeo.
Anyway, the video quality is amazing. But i don't get the theme chosen by Nokia to present the HD video feature on their new phone.
@elanis
I would probably have to agree with you there, it does still look slightly better on Vimeo..... thats probably why they uploaded it to there and not to youtube!! Its a little strange though.. because nokia conversations do have a youtube channel which they upload to every week or two, but this video has yet to appear on there channel!!
@(Unverified) Lol, so you're saying that video was a simulation?
@N900
No just that it doesn't look like a video that Nokia would you for advertising.
@N900
Plus why would nokia advertise for Nike and Mizuno ?
@elanis I don't think that was the point. I think it was to showcase the quality of the video. The dancer with Nike jacket was just thrown in for hoopla.
When you were watching the video, were you focused on the quality and depth of the picture shown through the 12MP lens, or just the random dancer?
@elanis Price is indeed surprising low, but i guess this is the part when they really start moving MeeGo to high end Symbian flagship is already 200 euros cheaper than the previous. Reactions. http://j.mp/nokia-n8-compiled-impressions
Impressive. But how would it hold up in a real life situation with hand shake and low light conditions?
@Shanebenn
probably better than my nexus one would. nuff said.
@Shanebenn If you're not able to stand still while shooting a video, nothing will do that for you.
@Shanebenn HD Amateur pr0n vids? Can't wait!
@franchg Watch the video again. Especially the start, it being a phone i wouldn't expect it to be used on a tripod or other equipment.
@Shanebenn
Nokia has had image stability settings in the camera for video for years now. It uses the accelerometer and other stuff to get it done.
@Shanebenn ...Though, if it had a tripod mount (as an accessory, for instance), it would make for fabulous video. The N900 video is good as well - though it ends up being a bit choppy - but there's no fix for hand shake. Except, well, maybe a shot of whisky.
How did the phone not shake? How can we even know that phone filmed it?
And... is he part of the Upload Generation?
@Mars478
it's pretty apparent that it was mountain to a trolley/steadycam/tripod for the shoot, and I don't think Nokia would have had a Canon 5D or something shooting the thing and tell us all it was their phone.
@Jono20
uhg, *mounted*
@Mars478 They use those mounting devices for few years now... And also it is that simple to create a small rail where the camera sits on top and it goes around...
@Mars478
I agree. I want to see the phone on the steady-shot rig they used to film it.
Very impressive if legit...
@Jono20
The camera has image stabilization. Look at the pictures Eldar took earlier, depicting the camera options menu... You can see that option there.
@Jono20
That's what she said...
@efekt
No image stabilisation is that good, even in a professional camera. Its trolley and tripod.
Ladies and Gentle Men, the bar have just been raised yet again by Nokia!
@Nino ...has been raised.
@Bahumbug
has it?
@Bahumbug
Thanks man.
@Nino .. Shame the OS doesn't match the amazing hardware.
Slap Android or Web OS on that bad boy and you would have a killer device. But unfortunately Symbian^3 with its 90's look and tiny app store (only 7K on Ovi versus 250K on Apple and 50K on Android) just doesn't cut it for me.
@taligent
its all abt quality nt quantity...
@taligent See, that's the problem, No other OS apart from Symbian is mature enough in the media department to handle such media creation.. I mean, how many camera centric smartphones on other OSes do you see on par with nokia's offerings? close to none
@I like things
agreed. They are finally reaching N93 image quality, and its 4 years later.
@taligent
Actually, since the have different numbers for different devices, the average for popular devices is over 10K. Which is, more than enough, and will grow tremendously with S^3, Qt, etc.
Anywho, apps are apps, and the only people who want you to believe they are that important are the ones that, well, have a lot of apps.
The whole idea of dedicated apps is just plain stupid in my mind. Especially because most of those apps just try to circumvent platform shortcomings. Like flash. Or different.
How many apps do you have. Be honest. 100? Why do you need 185k apps. Do you actually think you can find the best app in that stack of apps? Its bull.
So when do we get the Jackie Chan version ?
"Could do"? Eldar and Ricker, the first guys with leaked protos from Nokia :)
@Mr w00t
Come on, you do want us to wait for production units before making a final verdict don't you? Can't blame me for being tentative of S^3 UX improvement claims after the launch of a rough S^1 (which has been improved but only after launch).
@Thomas Ricker hehe actually i would like you to rip them off just after the release :P (If it sucks of course)
Wait for it... Who knows? Maybe its another horrible thing like the N97 (or not). You can even put in the thread "N8 is a disgrace. Mr w00t fanboy can cry in fetal position now"
@Thomas Ricker
"Come on, you do want us to wait for production units before making a final verdict don't you?"
Yes, that's what real journalists would do.
@Sp4mer Sorry about that (Seriously, Engadget is messing with me!). The following is the original thing I wanted to post:
"You know what a real journalist would want? (Assuming Thomas is one :p). A good camera to carry it with him everywhere , something like ...hmm... Nokia N8?"
Wow
Well, at first sight, great quality, but the best shots in this clip are taken with assistance of a tripod and maybe even more tools. Most pocket DVR's currently available (Flip, bloggie) can achieve this level of quality, with the appropriate tools.
Phones are not about camera quality any more, they are about connectivity again.
@jholleboom I dont agree with your last claim. I want BOTH.