Photographic camera

The V30 uses the same basic camera blueprint as the LG G6: a primary standard-angle camera, paired with a broad-angle secondary camera. The 35mm-equivalent focal lengths of each camera are approximately 30mm and 13mm respectively, so that broad-angle photographic camera is very broad by smartphone and even DSLR standards.

Shot taken on the standard 16-megapixel camera

The primary camera features a small-scale hardware upgrade over the G6, moving from a 13-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 lens to a 16-megapixel sensor with an f/1.6 lens. The pixel size is like (now 1.0µm, downward from 1.1µm) though the resolution increment brings the V30 back to where the G5 debuted. Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation autofocus as well returns, which was omitted from the G6, while OIS remains. One of my criticisms of the G6 photographic camera was the weaker principal camera hardware relative to the G5, but LG has rectified this business with the V30.

Shot taken with the 13-megapixel wide-angle camera from the same position

The wide-angle camera sticks with the G6'southward 13-megapixel sensor with ane.0µm pixels, simply the lens aperture is now much wider, at f/1.9 compared to f/ii.four. There's yet no autofocus or OIS in the wide-angle photographic camera, but these features aren't equally necessary with such a wide field of view. The front camera appears identical to the G6: 5-megapixel sensor with 1.1µm pixels plus an f/two.2 lens. This is fairly weak selfie camera hardware for a flagship phone, though the field of view of this photographic camera is wider than normal.

As for video capabilities? You'll get upward to 4K 30fps from either of the rear cameras, plus tiresome motility capabilities up to 120 fps at 720p. Audio is recorded at 24-bit/192kHz, and it's pretty darn skillful quality.

The biggest omission here from a hardware perspective is a sensor with large pixels, though LG has attempted to compensate for this through wide-aperture lenses. Many competing handsets, such as the Google Pixel 2 XL, opt for a 12-megapixel sensor with larger 1.4µm pixels, assuasive better light capture in low-light situations. The Pixel 2 XL besides has dual-pixel tech for extremely fast autofocus; the V30 is pretty fast thanks to its laser autofocus assembly, just not quite as fast equally the Pixel ii or Milky way S8 that have dual-pixel sensors.

The good news, though, is the V30 has an fantabulous photographic camera in full general. Whether y'all're using it outdoors, indoors or in low-light situations, the V30 nails the exposure, tone and colors of the scene. Images are suitably vivid, even in weaker lighting, while color saturation is fantastic throughout basically every photo I captured. In the trickiest weather, the V30 doesn't always blast information technology, simply for the most part yous'll get great photos in any condition.

This quality is maintained whether you use the standard or wide-bending cameras. Colour performance between each sensor is basically identical, and while the 13-megapixel wide-angle photographic camera doesn't capture equally much detail as the 16-megapixel main shooter, it nonetheless captures enough that photos expect skilful. The only main downside to the wide-angle camera is it's not every bit skillful in depression-calorie-free situations, due to its lack of OIS and less wide lens, though it outperforms the LG G6'due south broad angle camera in these atmospheric condition.

Having used both zoom and wide-bending secondary cameras on smartphones, I find the wide-angle camera more useful. Well-nigh 2x zoom smartphone cameras only provide a small increase in detail relative to a cropped or digitally zoomed shot with the principal camera. LG's wide-bending camera, though, is fantastic for landscape photos that tend to experience a flake too cramped using standard smartphone cameras. It allows you to capture an expansive scene without having to stand too far back; a feature that comes in handy more often than you might call up.

LG has as well worked to reduce the fish-center effect with their wide-bending photographic camera. There is far less of this effect than with the original LG G5 camera, and while it's not completely removed, fish-eye reduction makes the broad-angle camera more than usable.

The V30's camera app implements motorcar-HDR in all the right conditions, leading to photos with fantabulous dynamic range. There'southward a bit of shutter lag when capturing HDR images – again it's not every bit fast as the Pixel 2 – but results are stunning. Photos are deep, total of contrast, and perfectly saturated. Shadows are rarely crushed and highlights rarely blown out; information technology's an excellent implementation.

My merely major concern with paradigm quality is carried over from past LG handsets, and that's ambitious noise reduction. While images are basically devoid of grain, this comes at the expense of fine item. Images tend to take the dreaded oil-painting result when viewing 100% crops. In other words, edges of detailed objects like trees and leaves can await a bit smudged rather than sharp and crisp, which leads to less detail overall in these areas. You won't observe when viewing downscaled images, but it's more than apparent the more yous zoom in.

Low light performance is good, only not quite equally good equally the Pixel 2. That said, the Pixel 2 camera is outstanding and is superior to the V30 in general. Don't worry, though, every bit the V30 is yet highly competitive and produces great photos.

The selfie camera on the V30 is pretty disappointing, nevertheless. It's not very good in low calorie-free situations, and photos it takes are style too soft, leading to a consummate lack of fine detail. I expect better from a loftier-end smartphone; those that really value selfie quality volition take to expect elsewhere.

LG's photographic camera app is absolutely packed with features, headlined by an excellent manual mode with controls over basically every aspect of the camera. There's fifty-fifty a manual mode for video capture with like controls, and then those who desire the best video capture experience with controls for ISO, white rest so along, the V30 might exist what you're after.

Aside from the manual style, there's a bunch of other modes including multi-shot modes that use multiple cameras, a dedicated food mode, support for both wearisome mo and time lapse videos, every bit well as a absurd cinematics mode for impressive video recording.