Database Users

Camera Frames

When i try to film, at night..in my own room using only one light bulb it's filming in frames, and that's pretty nasty. Anyoane else got the same problem? Maybe i'll put a link tonight...

the video camera on the dvp is pretty horrible. I found that fiddling with the camera settings in still shoot mode before switching over to the video camera helps slightly, as well as shooting in a lower resolution.

Uhm, thats how cameras work. The darker the surrounding area the more light the camera/shutter has to let in. EVERY camera has this problem because they aren't as sensative as your eyes.

The iphone 4 camera works great...is filming like a real cam
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Are there apps that take better photos and videos than the stock Camera app?

Hi, I don't know how various settings affect the results. However, I wish to be able to take excellent photos and videos under different conditions. Are there any good apps that take better photos and videos than the stock Camera App? I am using GB. Thanks

+1
Or 1up
Might be dependant on hardware cause of varying quality pics
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

what is wrong with pictures taken by the stock camera app? can you provide some example of a 'bad picture'?.
if you want an interface that is more DSLR like try https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.lite
here are some of my pics, i dont feel that they are of bad quality for a 'phone camera'.
http://www.flugbaerchen.de/lnkimg/egypt12/20120506_164915.jpg
http://www.flugbaerchen.de/lnkimg/egypt12/20120525_151334.jpg
http://www.flugbaerchen.de/lnkimg/egypt12/20120506_191654.jpg

I am happy with the stock camera.. Many features too
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Perhaps it is better to talk about this via samples.
Any suggestion on better camera settings is appreciated.
I guess I may need an app that stores a set of preset settings
for taking photos/videos under different environments. Thanks.
In photo 1, I do not know why the ceiling lights are like that.
I changed various settings but there was no improvement.
In some cases, the overall color of the room changed.
In photo 2, the room appeared to be dark but it was not.
I changed the flash to auto, on along with changing other
settings. The room still appeared to be dark.
In photo 3, again, that place was not dark. Setting the flash
to auto or on did not help.
In photo 4, everything including the room appears to be somewhat yellowish.
In reality, the wall is white and the pillows are gray.

madbird said:
what is wrong with pictures taken by the stock camera app? can you provide some example of a 'bad picture'?.
if you want an interface that is more DSLR like try https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.lite
here are some of my pics, i dont fell that the are of bad quality for a 'phone camera'.
http://www.flugbaerchen.de/lnkimg/egypt12/20120506_164915.jpg
http://www.flugbaerchen.de/lnkimg/egypt12/20120525_151334.jpg
http://www.flugbaerchen.de/lnkimg/egypt12/20120506_191654.jpg
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion but I am not a professional. I don't know how various settings affect the results. By the time I have tested out various settings, things that I want to capture will have been gone.

ah now things are getting clearer . your pictures looks a little bit like something is wrong with the 'white balance' of your camera. so you can try different settings for the white balance, the default should be automatic (AWB). I'm not an photoexpert too, but maybe some one else can guide you further with this.

Thanks for pointing this out. I also tried white balance but it did not help. Perhaps I did not do it properly. Hoping somebody could provide some tips. Are the strong glares from the ceiling lights in photo 1 also caused by the white balance?

hajime_android said:
In photo 1, I do not know why the ceiling lights are like that.
I changed various settings but there was no improvement.
In some cases, the overall color of the room changed.
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This effect on the ceiling lights is due to a hardware fault, there are no settings within the phone that can correct this. You can try, like me, and use photoshop. For me, its no problem because I have used photoshop for many years, but others are not so fortunate. This fault is well documented. Samsung know about it, yet have done nothing to correct it. The only way is to send the unit back to the retailer for a new unit. I tried three or four brand new units and they were all the same.
In general. The camera has limitations because of its size and proximity to other circuitry that may introduce noise etc. Its 8megapix with a tiny lens, so as is, I feel it does a pretty good job (apart from that pink dot that is). To get better pictures, consider post processing with photoshop. If that's not an option, and quite frankly I would not recommend purchasing it just for pics from any camphone, try the GIMP, its free and does an awful lot to enhance your pics. You can find the GIMP here www.gimp.org it will run on linux, windows and the Mac
Hope that helps

So, getting something like Camera ZOOM FX won't help.

hajime_android said:
So, getting something like Camera ZOOM FX won't help.
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Nope. sorry about that.

bigstarrynight said:
This effect on the ceiling lights is due to a hardware fault, there are no settings within the phone that can correct this.
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Is there a name for this hardware fault? Does the S3 has this problem as well?

hajime_android said:
Is there a name for this hardware fault? Does the S3 has this problem as well?
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Good question. I know the S2 does, and we all know about the Galaxy Note. I can see evidence of the problem on a slashgear.com presentation, and its that presentation that stopped me from going over to the S3. However, there are plenty of youtube tests where it seems pretty good. The S3 has only just been released, so it might be a while more before any issues become apparent. I think its one where you try before you buy. Personally, I'm not touching either the S3 or the 'Note until I have proof that the issue has been resolved.
Edit. The fault is commonly known as "the pink dot"

In photo 1 was the lens clean? Might sound obvious but even the slightest bit of grease or diet can affect how sources of light spear in photos. Typically in any photo I take where I light bulb or something similar is in the picture if the lens was not completely clean I got a similar effect as in photo 1
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

spfraggle said:
In photo 1 was the lens clean? Might sound obvious but even the slightest bit of grease or diet can affect how sources of light spear in photos. Typically in any photo I take where I light bulb or something similar is in the picture if the lens was not completely clean I got a similar effect as in photo 1
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
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Well, there must be a lot of pink dirt around. My crappy clam phone must have pink dirt repellent, because no matter how greasy the lens gets, pics from it don't have a pink dot. Neither does my DSLR when the uv filter gets filthy, or my specs come to that. Sorry, but the dirt bit on this issue is a red herring. The camera has a defect.

I use UCam. A lot of "pro" settings and also some cool. And... you can disable shutter sound.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

i think you should send the device to service/repair, because i think this is an hardware issue. i saw a lot of pictures taken by the note (not only my own device) and they are al just fine with the standard settings.

I just noticed that there is a protective film covering the back camera. Probably Samsung put it there to protect the lens. Do you think this is the cause to all of my problems? Am I supposed to remove it? For the first few days after purchase (3 weeks ago), the Note took excellent photos. As for last week and the week before that, it depends. The thin protective film has been there right from the beginning. Let's say the protective film covering the lens caused the pink dot, how do you explain why the cafe in photos 2 and 3 appeared to be dark whereas in reality, it was not. Also, photo 4 looks yellowish overall.

Hi,
Protective film would most likely create the effect on pic one. (which would be visible when a direct light source or reflection is in the frame.)
Pic two - could be a metering issue. Try changing the (cog wheel =>) metering setting and / or exposure level.
Yellowish photo is the result of incorrect "white balance". Change the white balance setting to incandescent.
I'm using both the stock ICS camera and camera zoom fx. On my previous phone the fx produced much better photos than the stock one. On my G - Note I don't see much difference.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

hajime_android said:
I just noticed that there is a protective film covering the back camera. Probably Samsung put it there to protect the lens.
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Yes you are supposed to remove it. It does say so in the instructions that came with your phone. Check the camera after you have done this.

A couple of questions regarding the camera

I am a new owner of the S5 and after few days of using it a couple of things bother me. Could you guys shed some light/
1. The camera sticks out in the back a bit. Does that mean that when I leave my phone on a table, desk, etc. it will scratch the camera lens and all my photos will have the scratch marks? If so, what should I do -- have a really thick and bulky case?
2. when taking photos, the 16 megapixels are only available in 16;9. But in photography, generally pictures are taken in 4:3. Unfortunately, the samsung camera is only 12 megapixels at 4:3. So, if i want to highest quality picture, I cannot take it with 4:3. What do you guys use? I mean 16:9 looks nice on a TV, but so what. In fact the biggest flaw is that the front-facing is 2 megapixel but, again, at 16:9. And a 16:9 selfie is horrible!

If the table is flat and clean it won't scratch, the other end sits lower so the entire phone is tilted lifting the lens up for a tiny bit.
Photos I just take 16:9, if you need 4:3 you can always crop it later on.

It's not clear if you are seeking pragmatic solutions or venting.
Scratching the rear camera glass is not a big concern. The rear camera glass is recessed from the bezel, so it won't be scratched if set down or even slid on a smooth surface. If you take decent care of your electronics it's not likely to get scratched. A reasonable person wouldn't set their phone down on something like a coarse stone bench.
Nor are minor scratches likely to have an obvious visible effect on photos. If you are careless with your phone, then consider a case. Or buy some spare $2 camera glass covers and replace them periodically.
If you want an old fashioned 4:3 image, just crop the 16:9 photo. Done.
If you still feel that the 16:9 format is a deal breaker, then you only have yourself to fault in not researching your purchase better in advance. A 16:9 format is pretty standard for phones and it's pretty picky to find that a serious fault. If you do, then you can look at other phones or a stand alone camera.
.

fffft said:
If you want an old fashioned 4:3 image, just crop the 16:9 photo. Done.
.
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but S5's 4/3 FoV is so small... compared to S4 or S3

And why oh why oh why can't the 7D have a full frame sensor????
I don't really understand your complaint. You can't change the camera in the way you are wishing for, so why are you bemoaning that it is 16:9? Either the overall package makes sense to you or it doesn't. You can crop the picture or probably find an app that crops the FOV as a default setting. You say that doesn't work for you. Fine. If the camera format is a deal breaker for you, then move on and get a different phone.
Complaining that you don't like the camera specs after your purchase accomplishes nothing other than venting. If you prefer an S3 or S4 or whatever model, then why did you buy the S5? Complaining after the fact only underscores that you didn't do your due diligence. The sensible time to have weighed your objections was before you bought your S5.
.

I take very good care of my electronics...and that's why I am paranoid and asking the question if I can easily scratch the camera even though I take good care since it is somewhat more exposed and sticks out. Generally, I leave my phone on its back while in the office or at home. The rest of the time -- it is in my pocket. I got an ultra slim case, which does not lift from the camera, so I was under the impression that I am not protecting the camera.
As far as the megapixels, do not get me wrong I am not complaining, rather asking what you guys are using 16:9 or 4:3. I used to be into amateur photography a couple of years ago, and back then the thing was to shoot in 4:3 always, regardless that cameras support 16:9. So, not sure of the trend has changed, and if folks using DSLRs for example are now shooting in 16:9. Now, for a selfie 16:9 is awful, but you can use an app like Retrica which always crops it to a square so no issues there.
I was just curious what people are shooting with 16 megapixel or 12.. or even less...

camera video quality

I took a couple of videos and the quality to me just isn't that great. This is with the UHD setting. Just isn't that clear for UHD.

I agree I had lots of noise/grain in mine. FHD60 seems a bit cleaner

This is a pic zoomed in half way. Looks awful. I bought this phone because the camera was supposed to be unreal. Is this normal or just maybe I have a bad cam?

Shot some video in a dark bar venue of a band playing. Using the main lens and manual settings, it turned out really well. The wide angle left a bit to be desired as shot but I think I have an idea for that lens. Shot with 1080 at 30fps high bit rate. Posted it in another thread over the weekend.

And at full zoom

Shot at 1080 30...

anth75 said:
Shot at 1080 30...
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Looks as though you may have a dirty lens.
The light in the room is a give away of grease or finger prints across lens. As the ceiling light starts to chase across your shot.
Same thing can cause grainy pictures. As it effects even a camera shot the same way.
Always try cleaning the lens if the shot seems to be poor.

shwnr11 said:
Looks as though you may have a dirty lens.
The light in the room is a give away of grease or finger prints across lens. As the ceiling light starts to chase across your shot.
Same thing can cause grainy pictures. As it effects even a camera shot the same way.
Always try cleaning the lens if the shot seems to be poor.
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I've tried to clean the lens, no luck. Do u think it's the phone itself?

Did you set to record in high bit rate?

Personally, I think the camera, both video and still, is the weakest part of the phone. I am not happy with that, but will live with it until the Note 8 comes out.

And you removed protector of the camera lens?

anth75 said:
Shot at 1080 30...
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What other settings did you use? (ISO, Shutter Speed, Bit Rate, Filters?)
I will say that it looks like you're using the digital zoom, which is always problem #1. Never use digital zoom unless you have to do so. Whoever came up with this gimmick should be dragged out into the street and hung. It just doesn't get you anything but a mess. Optical zoom is optimal. Bipedal zoom is your secondary option. Digital zoom just shouldn't be an option. It is quite literally the option you choose when you want to have some sort of shot, any shot, and you don't care about the quality of the shot. This goes for any device from a cellphone up to a DSLR.
---------- Post added at 12:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------
This was shot in a very dark bar venue with mediocre stage lighting. (Strike one against getting decent footage.) ISO 3200 (Another strike against any decent footage as you're maxing out the gain on the sensor.) 1080 at 30fps so I used a shutter speed of 1/60. I used the high bit rate setting. The refocusing is me touching the screen as I couldn't tell if I had good focus since it was dark and my eyes kinda suck these days without readers. I was playing with the audio settings and had no idea how to set it for a concert so I cheated and used approximately what I found for concert settings in the HD recorder app.
Considering the conditions..... the V20 did extremely well! I could pick things out in the audio that I couldn't live in person. In person, it was just a wall of sound sometimes. The video turned out amazing for being a tiny camera sensor. The only real thing I can knock the V20 on is the video stabilization. There needs to be settings somewhere so I can turn the OIS and EIS off and on so I know if it is on or off.

Are you using the stock cam app? I don't see anything where I can change the zoom type.

anth75 said:
Are you using the stock cam app? I don't see anything where I can change the zoom type.
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Yup, stock camera app. There is no setting for changing the zoom type. If you aren't clicking the one tree/three tree buttons, then you are going through a digital zoom. Only clicking those two buttons uses purely "optical zoom" although in reality, you're just completely switching cameras. (Different sensors and different lenses which presents its own issues since the wider view uses a smaller sensor and smaller aperture while the main shooter uses a "larger" sensor and larger aperture.)
Using pinch to zoom or the zoom slider means you're going through digital zoom. So if you start at the widest setting with the wide view and start zooming, the image quality is only going to get worse until you pop over into the main imaging group. Then if you continue to zoom, the image quality will degrade again. The best quality you're ever going to get out of any single focal length imaging assembly (which is what we're technically dealing with here, two single focal length imaging assemblies) is at its native focal magnification and at its base ISO. Which the photo options says is 50 but that's not always necessarily true, I'd have to look up the native sensor ISO online to be sure.

Did an unprocessed and processed test with my v20. By far the best dynamic range of any phone camera I've worked with.
---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 PM ----------
CHH2 said:
What other settings did you use? (ISO, Shutter Speed, Bit Rate, Filters?)
I will say that it looks like you're using the digital zoom, which is always problem #1. Never use digital zoom unless you have to do so. Whoever came up with this gimmick should be dragged out into the street and hung. It just doesn't get you anything but a mess. Optical zoom is optimal. Bipedal zoom is your secondary option. Digital zoom just shouldn't be an option. It is quite literally the option you choose when you want to have some sort of shot, any shot, and you don't care about the quality of the shot. This goes for any device from a cellphone up to a DSLR.
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The only positive thing I found about the digital zoom on the v20 which is unique in my experience is that when you're shooting 1080p on other phones, even though it's a 4k sensor it zooms up on the post sampled 1080p frame instead of taking advantage of the 4k sensor and zooming up without any quality loss. The V20 appears to do just that and up to a point there's no fidelity loss with the digital zoom because you're sampling a smaller section of the sensor..

vargala81 said:
And you removed protector of the camera lens?
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Don't remove that. It helps protect the glass from scratches and shatter.

anth75 said:
This is a pic zoomed in half way. Looks awful. I bought this phone because the camera was supposed to be unreal. Is this normal or just maybe I have a bad cam?
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Did you gain any insight to help fix your grainy pic issues? I'm having the same problem. I keep seeing people suggest to remove the plastic protector but it has cutouts for the lenses and the sensors so I don't see how that makes a difference. I'm taking pictures without any zooming but when I take a look at the results and zoom in to different parts to review, it looks horrible and grainy.

arn82 said:
Did you gain any insight to help fix your grainy pic issues? I'm having the same problem. I keep seeing people suggest to remove the plastic protector but it has cutouts for the lenses and the sensors so I don't see how that makes a difference. I'm taking pictures without any zooming but when I take a look at the results and zoom in to different parts to review, it looks horrible and grainy.
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What is your photo size set at? 16mp or 12mp?

arn82 said:
Did you gain any insight to help fix your grainy pic issues? I'm having the same problem. I keep seeing people suggest to remove the plastic protector but it has cutouts for the lenses and the sensors so I don't see how that makes a difference. I'm taking pictures without any zooming but when I take a look at the results and zoom in to different parts to review, it looks horrible and grainy.
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I haven't. I wouldnt take the plastic off. As you said, it has cutouts for the lens. Not impressed at all with the camera

I'm amazed at your low light video. I also thought the camera was the weak point of the phone. Guess I need to work on my manual focus skills.
Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

Is it possible to use a USB camera for reversing?

So I have a reversing camera hooked up to my unit, and it works fine for most situation, but if it is dark out and there is a source of light in the view of the camera it is hopeless, it completely blows out the entire image.
I am assuming that cameras don't get much higher quality - as they are limited to VGA. So I was wondering if its possible to install a higher quality USB camera instead, and hopefully solve this problem...

Only if you could find a converter box that will take the video from the USB and convert it CVBS on an RCA jack but then you're back to standard resolution. You could use a USB DVR camera and just have it look backwards but it won't switch the screen automatically when you go to reverse. This is all a bunch of hassles as you can see. They do sell better quality backup cameras they might be worth the extra money to you. I have to ask can't you just aim your camera a little bit lower so it doesn't catch the glare from the light. Maybe all you need is to add a little flap to the top to shield the lens from glare.

nic2k said:
Only if you could find a converter box that will take the video from the USB and convert it CVBS on an RCA jack but then you're back to standard resolution. You could use a USB DVR camera and just have it look backwards but it won't switch the screen automatically when you go to reverse. This is all a bunch of hassles as you can see. They do sell better quality backup cameras they might be worth the extra money to you. I have to ask can't you just aim your camera a little bit lower so it doesn't catch the glare from the light. Maybe all you need is to add a little flap to the top to shield the lens from glare.
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I had a feeling that was the answer!
I have a van so I don't have a rear view mirror, as such I use it when reversing for a bit more than just checking the closest meter or so - I like to be able to see if there are any posts or pedestrians.
So I guess my question now becomes... what is the best quality VGA reversing camera you can buy?