Tested outside of PH: realme GT 7 Dream Edition as my go-to tourist camera
I recently visited the beautiful city of Paris, France, to attend the launch of the realme GT 7 Series.
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| File photo: realme GT 7 Dream Edition in Paris |
One of my phones I brought with me during the trip is the realme GT 7 Dream Edition (PHP 39,999), a special edition variant of the realme GT 7 (PHP 37,999 SRP), inspired by luxury British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin.
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| I used the realme GT 7 Dream Edition as my main camera phone for the trip |
Why? It has strong overall specs, which include a nice 6.78-inch 120Hz 2780 x 1264 resolution OLED screen, powerful Dimensity 9400e chipset, large 7,000mAh battery capacity, and a new generation cooling system.
But like nearly all smartphones at this price point, the realme GT 7 and GT 7 Dream Edition are also equipped with strong cameras.
Here are its camera specs.
realme GT 7/GT 7 Dream Edition Camera Specs
Back Camera: 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX906 w/ OIS + 8MP f/2.2 OV0D100 + 50MP f/2.0 Samsung S5KJN5 2x zoom + LED flash
Selfie Camera: 32MP f/2.4 Sony IMX615
Moreover, its chipset also has a flagship-level 18-bit RAW ISP and has advanced AI capabilities to help optimize shots. In fact, this is one of the few in this price range with the ability to record up to 4K 60fps or 8K 30fps videos.
To put it to the test, I used it as my main camera phone as a tourist.
realme GT 7 Dream Edition Paris Shots
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| Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre 1x and zoom |
The first touristy spot we visited was the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. The clouds were a bit dark that day, and it shows well in the photos. The shot isn't washed. The dynamic range is good. Colors are a bit warm and vibrant.
I also used this opportunity to try its 47mm zoom. The color changes a little. But shots are crisp.
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| 113mm zoom mode |
Even at 113mm far range, I was content with the results, even if it has a few artifacts showing, considering that this handset is not known as a camera phone. This mode allowed me to view the intricate details of the church quite well.
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| Close-up snap |
There is also an area there where you can put love locks, so we tried the close-up mode of its 47mm mode, and the result is good. It produced a shot with a dreamy and creamy background blur.
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| Random tourist photos using the back and front cameras of the phone |
After, we roam around the area. I asked one of my friends to take a picture of my fit, and I took a selfie with bokeh as well. Both are nice-looking images with consistent colors.
The selfie cam captured the tone of my skin with subtle beautification. It didn't make my skin look extra white and smooth. Moreover, the bokeh from its Portrait mode is more than acceptable.
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| Black and White Portrait mode and a random turista shot |
I also tried its back and white filter while on Portrait mode with the Eiffel Tower in the background, and it produced a vintage camera-like effect with a nice background blur and subject to background separation.
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| Notre-Dame and streets of Paris |
I tried it in a few more locations, like the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and the results remained consistent. Even on moving subjects, its autofocus and shooting speed can catch up.
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| Portrait mode outside Lourve Museum |
I also enjoyed using its Portrait mode for both the back and front cameras to take touristy images with dreamy blur, with the outside of the Louvre Museum in the background.
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| Portrait mode |
After which, I took more snaps around the area, and I'm genuinely glad I did. Most of the shots I took are on point.
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| Parisian breakfast in a well-lit condition |
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| Low light steak shot |
Yes, if you know even just basic photography, you will be able to take good quality food snaps in different conditions, including low light.
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| Sunset 113mm zoom |
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| Eiffel Tower main cam and zoom |
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| Moulin Rouge low light main cam and ultra-wide |
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| Indoor low light |
Speaking of low light, the quality will dip a little in some conditions. But generally, your snaps will look decent as its cameras are usually good at light gathering. Even the ultra-wide and zoom shots are social media-ready. Most shots will look bright, vibrant, and crisp enough.
The OIS, particularly for the main camera, helps in capturing non-blurry images in challenging conditions like this.
The Night mode will automatically kick in when needed, which works great in non-moving subjects.
By the way, this is a decent camera phone for taking videos with minimal shake, particularly in daylight. I enjoyed using it for some product clips. It is also one of the few at this price point with the ability to record up to 8K 30fps videos.
Quick thoughts
I'll keep it short: this device has reasonably capable cameras.
It's a fun phone to use for taking photos and some videos.
If you want a performance-focused smartphone in the sub PHP 40K range, but can also pass as an all-rounder with more than capable cameras for casual photography and even touristy shots, the realme GT 7 and GT 7 Dream Edition are must-consider devices.
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