“Memory is a tenuous thing, like a rainbow’s end or a camera with a failing lens.”
― Ellen Hopkins
As an Android enthusiast, I have been using the OS for almost a decade now. Among the variety of OEM and customized UI options I can choose from the Android universe, I’m a huge fan of the stock Android experience which has been offered by Nexus and Pixel brands. My first smartphone was Galaxy Nexus back in 2012, and I have since been an enthusiastic Nexus/Pixel user except for few exceptions for having “affairs” with Samsung and Huawei.
Until somewhere in June, Pixel 4 XL was my daily driver. But because of an unfortunate accident that I dropped it in a bathtub, the phone was dead. I went to an iCracked store, which is a Google Authorized Service Provider, and asked for a repair. They told me the phone is significantly damaged and it would cost me more than ￥90,000 ($852). I gave up fixing it and the flagship device became a super expensive paperweight.
Since then, I was looking for a budget device that could meet my criteria. A phone with stock Android and good camera quality. I was considering buying a middle-range device from Asus or Motorolla, but I wasn’t convinced enough to jump into a non-Pixel branded device. Also, there has been a rumor that Google would release a mid-range Pixel 4a somewhere in August, so I was waiting for it.
And In August, as it was expected the phone was released, I bought Pixel 4a. The $399 device offers almost the same experience I was able to access through the flagship 4 XL. Not to mention, the camera quality is awesome. And one of the significant reasons I always choose the Pixel brand is the existence of a lens company, Moment. Since Moment offers ‘Made for Google’ lenses, I can make the most of the industry’s one of the best photography qualities.
For photography, I own two Moment lenses: Fisheye 14mm Lens and Tele 58mm Lens. I especially love the Fisheye 14mm Lens. The look of the lens is super wide, with a 170-degree field of view, producing a 30% wider image than the 120 degrees you will find on ultra-wide phone lenses. So, pictures you can take with the lens is remarkable because the lens allows you to photograph and videotape unusual but breath-taking images. If you are an iPhone, Galaxy, or One Plus user, you can also get Moment cases and lenses.
Finally, here are some sample shots I photographed with Pixel 4a and Moment lenses.
