Q: All pictures and contacts delated

I was asking if you are using IOS7 (hence photo stream) or IOS8 (iCloud photo library) or IOS8 without using the library (hence photo stream)

Then they are gone.

iTunes backups

From your Mac or PC, you can make a backup of your device in iTunes. Syncing your device with your computer isn't the same as making a backup.

An iTunes backup includes nearly all of your device's data and settings. An iTunes backup doesn't include:

• Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to iBooks (You can back up this content using Transfer Purchases in iTunes.)
• Content synced from iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
• Photos already stored in the cloud, like My Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Library
• Touch ID settings
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Health and Keychain data (To back up Health and Keychain data, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)

Learn how to make backups in iTunes, how to find them on your Mac or PC, and how to delete backups you no longer need.

I could be wrong, but this indicates to me that camera roll photos - those taken with the device - are still contained in the backup.

iOS 8, no iCloud Photo library.

But if you ask me, I would end this conversation here to avoid bugging the OP with replies that aren't related to his thread.

Yes it does (Camera Roll) but we have no clue where they were, the OP has omitted that information, but he has said that he uses iTunes for 'resetting' I have no clue what he actually did but there is a chance that an iTunes backup contains the Camera Roll, but it's cloudy

A 5S should be on IOS8 by now, and the Photo Library may be on, but that is even cloudier,

Then you do have a Camera Roll, not so if you use the iCloud Photo Library, details that are lacking from the OP's post.

I Agree with what you are saying. I was just trying to provide some clarity on the chance of any photos being contained in an iTunes backup.

We're trying to answer a question with unclear parameters, in other words, we're guessing at the state of the iPhone and throwing suggestions into the stream.

Csound1 wrote:

 

Then you do have a Camera Roll, not so if you use the iCloud Photo Library, details that are lacking from the OP's post.

So you admit Camera Roll photos are part of the backup, eh?

When you said, "Photos are not part of an iCloud or iTunes backup, so that idea won't work", I was assuming by "Photos" you mean all photos--Camera roll, My Photo Stream, iCloud Photo library. But what you really meant was My Photo Stream and iCloud Photo Library. So that statement is incorrect.

Could've saved us both a lot of trouble

Have a great weekend.

You are forgetting that if iCloud Photo Library is on (as it is on many IOS8 devices) there is no camera roll, so a blanket statement like yours will be wrong in numerous instances. Other than that you are right (does that help)