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SXSW 2016 through the eyes of LG G5

Take a tour of Austin, Texas and the iconic SXSW festival through the eyes of the unique dual-camera array on the LG G5.
By
March 23, 2016
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Smartphone cameras have become a crucial part of our daily existence as they aimed (and succeeded) in superseding our need to carry a dedicated camera. Most succeed to varying degrees of success, but some are more reliable than others at those special occasions where you want to capture every detail possible.

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Last week, Android Authority headed out to South by South West (SXSW) 2016, which was the 30th edition of the world famous Interactive, Music and Film Festival, and we thought this would be a good scene to test out the unique dual-camera arrangement in LG’s flagship LG G5.

Does having a 135° angle camera help you capture all the finer details and is the G5 the perfect smartphone for your travels? Join us below for a unique look at SXSW 2016 through the eyes of the LG G5.

As mentioned in the video, this is a pre-final version of LG’s latest flagship, and that’s why we’re not going to look too closely at the actual camera samples; we’ll save that for the final review. However, we can look at some of the key features that make the G5’s camera unique:

Camera Module

The G5 comes with an all-new modular design that allows you to extend the functionality with modules, which LG calls “Friends”. At MWC, we spent some extensive time with the camera grip, which is probably the most important of the module in terms of camera performance. You can see the LG G5 camera module in all its glory in the video below.

Wide Angle Lens

Where modules can help to extend the functionality of the G5’s camera, sometimes you may only have the phone itself on you and this is where the wide angle and dual lens setup on the back of the G5 really comes into its own. Last year, LG introduced the dual lens setup on the front of the LG V10 but with the G5, the handset can automatically switch between the two cameras as you zoom into, or out of, the scene.

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Intelligent switching is one thing but as we found out at SXSW 2016, the 135° field of view on the wide angle lens also makes the G5 a very powerful tool for capturing a much wider scene; in this case, it was a panel being held in a conference room but imagine using the wide angle lens to capture a concert or a football stadium.

LG G5 camera – what do you think?

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There’s no doubt that LG has made some interesting changes to its smartphone lineup in a bid to revolutionise how we use our smartphones going forward, and for the most part, the camera certainly has some advantages over the competition. 

Whether you’re a vlogger who needs a camera to use on the move, a hobbyist photographer who likes capturing expansive scenes, or even just a normal consumer who would like to finally be able to capture all the people in a wedding photo, the LG G5 camera certainly has a lot to offer.

Is it the best however? This remains to be seen and we’ll be pitting it against the best smartphone cameras as part of our review process. For now, check out the gallery above and let us know what you think of the LG G5’s camera in the comments below!