Conclusion
Conclusion - The Good
Good exposure and color up to the highest ISO settings
ISO sensitivity up to 3200 and fast aperture allow for usable results in very low light
Physical two-position shutter button
Good build quality, dust- and waterproof
Efficient HDR-mode
4K video
Efficient digital video stabilization (but not as good as optical systems)
MicroSD-slot
Good battery life
Conclusion - The Bad
Noise and pixel-level artifacts across the ISO range
Strong blurring of fine low-contrast detail from base ISO
Soft spots in the lens of our sample unit
No control over exposure in Superior Auto mode
Camera app lacks structure and does not remember last shooting mode
Small and low-quality panorama images
Several special modes only produce 1080p output
Severe focus pumping in video mode, even in bright light
Lens location means it's very easy to shade with your finger
Overall Conclusion
From a mobile photography perspective the Sony Xperia Z2 is in many ways very similar to its predecessor, the Xperia Z1, and that's good and bad thing at the same time. The Z2 has the same environmental protection and premium-level build quality as the Z1 and the two-position shutter button give it a real camera-feel when taking pictures.
However, the camera app is not too well structured and some of the special modes produce lower-quality results than the competition in the high-end bracket. Image quality itself has not noticeably improved from the Xperia Z1 and, when viewed at 100%, the 20.7MP output shows a lot of of noise, artifacts and blurring of fine detail which means that shooting at the default 8MP resolution is arguably the better option for most users.
On the upside the Z2 images maintain good exposure and color even in very low light and even pictures taken at extreme ISO settings are still usable for social sharing and web use. Overall, the Z2 is still a good option for Android users but if pixel-level image quality or powerful camera features are a priority there are better alternatives around.
Features & Operation
The Z2 takes over most of the imaging features from its predecessor and the ability to install further shooting modes and apps from the Sony Store means that just trying the camera functions alone can keep you busy for days. However, when having a closer look at some of the special modes it becomes obvious that not all of them are as powerful as those we've seen on some competitors.
Some modes, such as Timeshift Burst and Creative Effects, only capture output at 1080p full-HD video size. Panorama mode, arguably one of the most used special modes (and originally introduced to the camera market by Sony), produces much smaller images than on the Samsung Galaxy S5 or iPhone 5S. The stitching quality is not great either.
In terms of ergonomics the Xperia Z2's big plus is its two-position shutter button that, in combination with the phone's angular shapes, almost makes you feel like using a real camera. However, like on the Z1, the camera app needs to be easier to use. Superior Auto mode works well for point-and-shoot operation but overall the user interface design is not intuitive. For example 4K-video has its own mode instead of being implemented as just another video resolution and HDR mode and the full ISO range are not available at the full 20.7MP resolution which can take a while to get your head around.
Image Quality
In terms of image quality the Xperia Z2 gets a lot of things right. Exposure and white balance are generally reliable and thanks to the combination of an ISO 3200 maximum sensitivity (in 8MP mode) and fast F2.0 aperture the Sony is capable of maintaining good exposure and color in lower light levels than some of the competition.
However, when you start zooming into your images things turn ugly. In its 20.7 MP mode the Sony's images show a lot of noise, blurring of fine detail and artifacts right from base ISO upwards. The lens of our test sample also had several soft spots. Overall, the Xperia Z2 is definitely not recommended for pixel-peepers. That said, chroma noise, chromatic aberrations and moire patterns are all well under control across the ISO range. The pixel-level imperfections become less intrusive in the camera's 8MP mode and given the reduced storage requirements and better choice of shooting modes the latter is arguably the better resolution option for most users of the Xperia Z2.
In both its dedicated 4K and standard video mode the Sony captures smooth footage but constant focus hunting, even in bright light, rendered many of our sample videos pretty much unusable. Hopefully Sony can improve things here with a firmware update, otherwise the Z2 can hardly be recommended to frequent video shooters.
The Final Word
The Xperia Z2 offers high-end specs all around and a nicely made body that offers premium materials and environmental sealing. However, on the imaging front Sony has not made any significant progress from last year's Xperia Z1 and in terms of both image quality and camera features there are currently better alternatives around.
Among the Android competitors the Samsung Galaxy S5 only comes in a plastic shell but offers better pixel-level image quality and more powerful features including panorama images that are multiple times larger than the Sony's. If the Windows Phone operating system is an option for you Nokia's Lumia 1520 and 930 models offer excellent image quality, Raw capture and arguably the best camera app in the business. App availability is still an issue though. The iPhone 5S is getting close to being superceded but is still the obvious choice if you're invested into Apple's mobile OS.
That said, with its physical shutter button, environmental sealing and attractive exterior the Sony Xperia Z2 is still a great option for mobile photographers who are mainly operating in full-auto mode and not too concerned about pixel-level image quality.
