Cartoon like colours or something similar to your digital camera where it captures close to what your eyes see? Imagine trying to remember a colour of a certain car – it helps if the digital camera captures it as close to reality instead of jazzing it up to something ridiculous.

HOWEVER – contrasting this are those who may prefer the unnatural, more vibrant popping colours. It works in certain situations. It just depends on your taste. f you want something similar, the N8’s extensive camera features colour settings to change the photos to produce something more vivid. But I’m guessing, if you’re after the N8, you want a good all-situation camera with natural colours.

Let’s take a look at this random crop. 1064×784 selection. N8 first, then Fuji cam, then iPhone 4. Look at the accuracy of the skin tone colour. On the iPhone 4, the poor guy seems to have a heat rash. This is obvious in CNET and Engadget’s samples.

“First, here’s a picture of nature’s bounty in a well-lit, controlled environment, against a plain white table. In this environment, the N8 did a great job of capturing the correct colours and exposures. We would have a hard time telling the N8’s picture from that of a compact camera. “

CNET

Note, CNET are not pro Nokia, actually the rest of their “review” was pretty harsh on the N8 (not even considering many other important features and being slapped 3/5) Anyway…N8 first, then Fuji cam, then iPhone 4.

N8 has much more detail

Another crop. Same photo and region. N8 first, iPhone then Fuji cam. Same photo example.  Look at the intricate groves in the skin with the N8. If you look closer at the full res shots there seem to be lots of random black dots scattered on the fuji shot.

Now using the set below

Nokia N8 above, iPhone 4 below. Just look at it. This is why you get usable digital zoom with the N8. You have more pixels to play with.

And with the set below. There’s a tiny SANYO box mid right, but only from the N8 can you read the label Sanyo (FUJI, N8, iPhone)

Now Xenon flash tests. I haven’t got any comparison samples at my disposal but the sheer lack of Xenon in the iPhone 4 means it pretty much loses by default for those low light, indoor people photos. Pubs/clubs/parties etc – Xenon captures those moments, freezing any motion and brighting up the darkest of rooms.

I look forward to more rigorous testing of the N8’s camera.