Smartphone cameras are always an important upgrade when choosing which new model to buy. Most new smartphones perform just as well as a small digital camera. 

With the advent of trendy photo-sharing sites like Instagram and Facebook, smartphone manufacturers understand the importance of offering a quality camera

8-megapixel seems to be the high end standard for two of the most popular smartphones out: the Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III. Both phones offer seemingly similar features, but which is better?

Apple iPhone 5

I own an iPhone 4S and couldn't be more pleased. My girlfriend owns the iPhone 5. Between the two I can tell right off the bad, the iPhone 5 captures more realistic color. There's a level of detail and accuracy that doesn't need to rely on edits.

Like the Galaxy S III, there's no shutter button lag on the iPhone 5. There's no built in "burst-shot" mode but with no lag, it's relatively easy to take multiple shots quickly.

The iPhone 5 also handles low light situations well.

The only true drawback is screen size, which isn't necessarily a deal breaker. It's pocket portability could be a blessing, compared to the massive Galaxy S III.

Essentially the iPhone 5 camera is just the iPhone 4, but better.

Samsung Galaxy S III

The Galaxy S III has a great camera, with a giant 4.8" screen. Not only does a display that large serve as a great viewfinder it also opens up precise, on-the-go editing opportunities.

Color accuracy seems similar to the iPhone 4S, but not as good as the iPhone 5. Unlike the iPhone 4, the Galaxy S III isn't burdened with shutter lag, making it easy to take multiple shots quickly.

Auto-focus is a bit of a drag. If taking a picture of a moving object, the Galaxy S III doesn't do as good of a job of maintaining focus integrity.

The Galaxy S III does seem to handle low light situations better, with a good mix of resolution and contrast. Unlike the iPhone 5, the Galaxy III's high ISO isn't nearly as noisy.

The Verdict

Look, they're both great phones that will only continue to get better. In terms of picture quality I slightly prefer the iPhone 5. However, if your planning on transforming you smartphone into a fully-fledged multi-media workstation I'd opt with the Galaxy S III for it's large display functionality. Your call!