Hi everyone, I am thinking about upgrading to the Nexus 4, but the only thing that is holding me back is that I have heard the camera isn't very good, especially in low light. Is that true? A good camera is a very important consideration for me when considering a phone. I currently have a Galaxy S2. Has anyone owned both phones and would be able to comment on how the pictures compare between phones? I find the camera on the S2 to be much worse than on my wife's iPhone, but I definitely don't want an iPhone. I have also considered the S3, S4 or HTC One, but they are a bit too expensive for me. I think I remember Google saying something about how they were not impressed with smartphone cameras and wanted to improve them, so the alternative is I might wait for the next Nexus phone or the rumored X Phone.
Thanks!
Based on my camera usage patterns, I find them pretty close. (I had a Galaxy S2 before switching), although I will rate the S2 marginally better, because, there are situations where I find the S2 camera resolving more detail which is indecipherable on the N4 camera; Although the HDR mode on the N4 is damn cool, which definitely helps in producing better low light images than the S2 for still objects.
If you are not in a hurry, you might want to wait for the next Nexus if the camera is important. As you said, Google is rumored to incorporate some camera-wizardy into their next phone along with Nikon. No one knows how true this is, but, safe to say that the camera on their next device should be way ahead than the one on the N4.
Thanks 3xeno!
Yeah, I'm not in a hurry so I might just stick with the S2 for now. I had been thinking about the Nexus 4 for a while, and my carrier just lowered the price (even lower than buying directly from Google! ) so I started seriously considering it, but there's no point in buying it if I'm going to be disappointed in the camera. The Nexus 4 does otherwise look like a very nice device, but then I do like the removable battery and microSD slot on my S2. I also like the UI on the stock Android camera app better than the Touchwiz camera, but I flashed the camera app on my S2 so now I have both
gc84245 said:
Thanks 3xeno!
Yeah, I'm not in a hurry so I might just stick with the S2 for now. I had been thinking about the Nexus 4 for a while, and my carrier just lowered the price (even lower than buying directly from Google! ) so I started seriously considering it, but there's no point in buying it if I'm going to be disappointed in the camera. The Nexus 4 does otherwise look like a very nice device, but then I do like the removable battery and microSD slot on my S2. I also like the UI on the stock Android camera app better than the Touchwiz camera, but I flashed the camera app on my S2 so now I have both
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The N4 is pretty cheap! You still have probably about 6-7 months assuming a N5 comes out considering Google's launch history.
gc84245 said:
Hi everyone, I am thinking about upgrading to the Nexus 4, but the only thing that is holding me back is that I have heard the camera isn't very good, especially in low light. Is that true? A good camera is a very important consideration for me when considering a phone. I currently have a Galaxy S2. Has anyone owned both phones and would be able to comment on how the pictures compare between phones? I find the camera on the S2 to be much worse than on my wife's iPhone, but I definitely don't want an iPhone. I have also considered the S3, S4 or HTC One, but they are a bit too expensive for me. I think I remember Google saying something about how they were not impressed with smartphone cameras and wanted to improve them, so the alternative is I might wait for the next Nexus phone or the rumored X Phone.
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
I had a galaxy nexus and an s3, i use the camera a lot on my phones, and the nexus 4 is the worst in that field among those 3. The s3 camera was just impressive. As for galaxy nexus, 1080p was way better than on nexus4, more details, better color saturation, better bitrate.. Photos were nearly the same.
My advice is, the s2 is still a great phone, keep it for a little while longer and then get whatever's coming next..
P.s. i find the aosp camera UI crappy, minimal options, and sometimes hard to switch stuff...
But, despite that, the nexus 4 is one hell of a phone, and it looks and feels really premium.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
thfreedumb said:
The N4 is pretty cheap! You still have probably about 6-7 months assuming a N5 comes out considering Google's launch history.
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Next Nexus device should come out at the same time the N4 did, around the end of 2013.
The N4 indeed has a meh camera, even compared to my Ion. But 8mpix are enough imho
My previous phone had an 8.0 MP camera with poor optics and so the N4's camera feels like a massive upgrade. No complaints from me.
Note: Megapixels mean nothing if the optics suck. My 5.0 MP point and shoot from 2005 still blows away every smartphone camera I've seen. If you know in advance that you want to take photos to keep and remember, bring along a point-and-shoot! I generally only use the phone camera for quick shots that I'll likely delete a short time later (i.e. whatsapping a photo of an item to a family member to ask if I should buy it).
Its true that pictures in low lighting or inside look absolutely horrible on the nexus 4. However if you take a lot of pictures outside (like I do myself) the camera is really good compared to my galaxy s2. I am really impressed with the autofocus on the phone. If you want check the "photos taken by your nexus 4" thread in the general section, it should give you a pretty good idea of what the camera is like.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
rayiskon said:
P.s. i find the aosp camera UI crappy, minimal options, and sometimes hard to switch stuff...
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I must be in the minority for preferring the aosp camera over the touchwiz camera. I find that the touchwiz camera takes forever to load, and if I want to review the pictures it takes forever for the gallery to load. I love that the aosp camera switches back and forth between the camera and the gallery seamlessly. I also find that it's very easy to change settings on the aosp camera, just hold your finger and drag. Turning the flash on and off is particularly fast and easy to do.
aanonymoushuman said:
Its true that pictures in low lighting or inside look absolutely horrible on the nexus 4. However if you take a lot of pictures outside (like I do myself) the camera is really good compared to my galaxy s2. I am really impressed with the autofocus on the phone. If you want check the "photos taken by your nexus 4" thread in the general section, it should give you a pretty good idea of what the camera is like.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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I take a lot of pictures of my kid, so a lot of them are indoors and that's why the camera is so important to me. The camera on the S2 takes great pictures outside, but inside they can be grainy. I also have a point and shoot, but it's not always within arm's reach like a smartphone and I find that it is very slow taking pictures, so if I want to capture a smile it's gone by the time it takes the picture (I even tried the smile recognition feature, but it doesn't work so well).
the camera isn't too bad. probably better IQ than my old 5MP hd2, albeit alower and clunkier in use.
3rd-party camera apps make it a bit slicker and give better control over focus/ exposure/ flash etc.
one of the big drawbacks with camera phones is poor dynamic range which the HDR mode in the N4 stock camera app partially overcomes for static subjects. with fast-moving subjects unfortunately you get double-exposures.
My major gripe with the Nexus 4 camera is photos/video show in the wrong orientation. i.e. a video I filmed in portrait plays back on the PC rotated 90 degrees wrongly, so it shows as landscape. I have to put it into Windows Movie Maker, rotate to right, re-save then upload to facebook/youtube.
Thanks rayiskon, it is very helpful. I currently have a galaxy nexus, and I'm considering upgrading to nexus 4 through a boxing day deal. If the camera in nexus 4 is even worse than that in galaxy nexus. I would not choose nexus 4. Probably s3 or nexus 5 are much wiser choices.
rayiskon said:
I had a galaxy nexus and an s3, i use the camera a lot on my phones, and the nexus 4 is the worst in that field among those 3. The s3 camera was just impressive. As for galaxy nexus, 1080p was way better than on nexus4, more details, better color saturation, better bitrate.. Photos were nearly the same.
My advice is, the s2 is still a great phone, keep it for a little while longer and then get whatever's coming next..
P.s. i find the aosp camera UI crappy, minimal options, and sometimes hard to switch stuff...
But, despite that, the nexus 4 is one hell of a phone, and it looks and feels really premium.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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xdaSEx10 said:
Thanks rayiskon, it is very helpful. I currently have a galaxy nexus, and I'm considering upgrading to nexus 4 through a boxing day deal. If the camera in nexus 4 is even worse than that in galaxy nexus. I would not choose nexus 4. Probably s3 or nexus 5 are much wiser choices.
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Click to collapse
go for Nexus 5. it will be a huge upgrade from your Gnex.
Related
Hi guys, i was wondering if the camera on the Nexus 4 is above the Note 2/SIII's camera because i wanna buy the N4 or the Note 2 and i am weighing my options.
I read some reviews about the Nexus 4 camera that it isnt so great, it's mediocre.It's true?
If you read the reviews you also saw the sample pics, do they look mediocre to you?
They look great, but compared to the SIII or Note 2 it's not that great.Or am i wrong?
I can only compare to the S3 and there is no real comparison. The S3 has a better camera and the differences can be seen a lot with indoor pics. Kinda a let down but I don't buy a nexus for the camera hardware. I buy it to avoid long software updates.
Sent from my Nexus 4
S3 running standard android - a bit better
S3 running tw - no but not by alot
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
So only in the indoor pictures is the Nexus 4 a let down, comparison to the SIII, right?
Outdoors they are equally matched?
I am not a camera guy also but its kind of a let down that Google didnt put a better camera in it.
I mean, at least to top the S3...which is 6 months old already.
I have one gripe about the camera.....the view finder looks bad compared to the end result of the picture.I don't know why it's like that.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
TylerDurden1999 said:
So only in the indoor pictures is the Nexus 4 a let down, comparison to the SIII, right?
Outdoors they are equally matched?
I am not a camera guy also but its kind of a let down that Google didnt put a better camera in it.
I mean, at least to top the S3...which is 6 months old already.
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The difference between the two is less with outdoor images. If I could I would provide sample pics but I no longer have the s3.
Sent from my Nexus 4
eao1991 said:
The difference between the two is less with outdoor images. If I could I would provide sample pics but I no longer have the s3.
Sent from my Nexus 4
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But it's significant the difference at outdoor images?
Which do you like, Nexus 4 or the SIII?And why?Please detail.
TylerDurden1999 said:
But it's significant the difference at outdoor images?
Which do you like, Nexus 4 or the SIII?And why?Please detail.
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Interested as well. I take A LOT of pictures with my phone. Mainly outdoors on the boat or out and about. A phone is a tool to me and needs to have a good camera. I don't own a camera other than the phone so If i catch a nice fish I want a GOOD picture!
I see, it's a little bit worse than the S3's camera but how does it stand up against Galaxy S2?
I currently own Galaxy S2 and I am very satisfied with the camera it has so I hope Nexus can do better than that.
Is anyone else disappointed with the camera on the nexus 4? I find I'm getting poorly focused photos for objects at short range.
Is there a better camera app?
Yes search XDA for lgcamera. I like using better than the original camera app.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Worst feature of the phone. The autofocus makes me want to shoot myself in the face.
AOKP camera seems to be better tho.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Hi,
Poor performance, poor quality, poor focus, etc... Maybe a faulty Nexus 4 (I don't know / hardware maybe ).
Take a look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2000602 ... Not all the pics are great but... Most are awesome (yeah, it depends mainly of your eyes ).
Seriously not the best cam (software / post-software traitement) but in any case not poor and poor in all circumstance...
Coming from a SGS III (not the best in quality picture but not the last in the course), the Nexus is great! (maybe not in dark place, I agree, besides that it's top!).
And picture quality depends of the photographer (and his eyes) and the subject, the camera settings, etc...
In fact you can try some third apps... I (personnaly) never seen an improvement, on HTC Desire HD, HTC Sensation, Galaxy Nexus, S III, etc... it's not an app which overlay all the post traitement... I mean hardware->software, just some sharpness, colours, effects, etc... it's just in post traitement (you can do the same thing on your computer).
I can understand you're disapointed, but you're coming from what? I mean what smartphone? Real camera? You compare about what?
Post some pics and we'll see if it's poor or not...
And it's a Nexus not an extreme camera-phone, if you just buy a Nexus for his quality pics... You purchased a Nexus for anything other than his camera (or for just that)
we can speak endlessly about the picture quality of the Nexus 4, it depends on too many factors...
Not to be rude but... with no more explanation...
viking37 said:
Coming from a SGS III (not the best in quality picture but not the last in the course), the Nexus is great! (maybe not in dark place, I agree, besides that it's top!).
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I find the camera on the SGSII to be much better than that on the Nexus 4.
Here is a picture that I took which I'm a bit disappointed with. It is predominantly the focus, though perhaps on this one there's a bit of camera shake.
Hi,
I really like the Nexus 4 but the camera currently is really feeling like a let down. Now having had many smartphones (even before they were really called smartphones) I've come a long way and for the last 18 months I've had an iPhone for doing FaceTime calls when away as Skype etc didn't work well in the UK.
Don't get me wrong, I am not an Apple fanboy and in fact hate the restrictiveness of it all. It sucks donkey balls, but I can take decent pictures with it of my son when he goofs around and send them to granny etc.
This is what I'm currently missing from the Nexus. The camera lag is more noticeable and when using HDR apps they just seem a bit grainy, like I'm using an old 2-3MP camera or something.
So, today is my last day within the 2 week returns period for the Nexus.
Is there an app or something to make the camera work nicely?
Thanks,
Joe, a firm android fan
joebongo said:
Hi,
I really like the Nexus 4 but the camera currently is really feeling like a let down. Now having had many smartphones (even before they were really called smartphones) I've come a long way and for the last 18 months I've had an iPhone for doing FaceTime calls when away as Skype etc didn't work well in the UK.
Don't get me wrong, I am not an Apple fanboy and in fact hate the restrictiveness of it all. It sucks donkey balls, but I can take decent pictures with it of my son when he goofs around and send them to granny etc.
This is what I'm currently missing from the Nexus. The camera lag is more noticeable and when using HDR apps they just seem a bit grainy, like I'm using an old 2-3MP camera or something.
So, today is my last day within the 2 week returns period for the Nexus.
Is there an app or something to make the camera work nicely?
Thanks,
Joe, a firm android fan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that the Nexus 4 camera isn't the best in the market. BUT, I also feel that, from my personal usage, it's not that bad either.
I haven't really noticed any considerable camera lag or grainy pictures, during normal usage. Of course, in low-light situations, there is def. a camera quality hit and graininess appears.
In fact, there's a thread here, with pictures taken by normal N4 users. You might wanna pop on over there and ask around - how to improve quality/speed, and stuff.
I don't really use the camera as much as you, I think. So, that thread might really help.
:good: Hope you keep your Nexus 4!
I am a new user as well, with kids and doubts about this camera indoors.
Try Camera FV-5. I've gotten better focusing with this app. And also, manually reducing ISO makes a noticeable difference in graininess. However, the app costs about $4. There is a Lite version that takes smaller sized pictures.
Yeah, the camera is pretty crappy for an 8MP, compared to an iPhone 4S or newer it's very disappointing.
Having said that, I did find that shooting at 5 or 3MP helps reduce the amount of noise in low light situations. I'm guessing the phone averages the values of neighbouring pixels, getting rid of some of the noise.
You do have to remember that this phone is about ⅓ the price of flagship phones. For example, it takes pretty crappy photos compared to my GF's Xperia Z, however she paid more than twice as much for it, so it's hard to be very disappointed. You get what you pay for I guess... It's definitely not HTC One or top end Lumia class.
But yeah, as parent of a small kid who often wants to grab that precious moment and needs the camera to focus now, not at some random point in the future, the N4 can really test your patience.
Basically, it feels like you have to roll d20 and pass a luck check every time you go to take a photo.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
Thanks. Camera FV is quite good there's lots of settings to play with. I got a trial version of it and am quite impressed with it.
I've called Google and started the RMA process off which apparently gives me a few more days before they actually send the bag for me to post it off with.
This means there's a little longer for me to get the camera sorted out.
So the results so far are:
1, stock app is to slow to capture the moving toddler in full flow and I get blurry shots.
2, camera fv is great for still shots but once again the moving toddler goes blurry at the edges. Really nice app indeed.
3, HDR camera+ is a world of blur.
There must be something out there that can do it. If crapple can do it for the iPhone then surely someone's got it licked for android.
I have an iPhone 5 and am impressed with its shots of my kids. So I am in the same boat as you.. longtime android user but don't want to jump ship to iOS fulltime.
Try the Scene mode setting in the stock camera app, so that you choose Action mode. This will increase the ISO but also increase the shutter speed. I haven't tested it yet.
I know people tout iPhone camera, but there are androids phone that take better photos like the Galaxy S4 and LG G2 (hands down no discussion), you can check GSM Arena for photos comparison. And the HTC one have good low light capability and the Zoe feature.
You can return it and get the ones I recommended or the Nexus 5 when it come out. Nexus 4 camera is average, but you get what you paid for.
As for facetime isn't that only from iPhone to iPhone, I'm sure there are plenty free video calls option on android like Google Hangouts and Vonage Mobile, both are available for iOS, and works on data connection too, not just Wi-Fi.
PS. All Skype conversation is a threesome, between you, the person you're talking to, and the nsa agent.
sent from xda premium app
The thing that the iPhone 5 camera excels at are poor light, quick focus shots. The kind of photos that get taken most often by people IRL. It's also much quicker to get the camera going, focus and take the shot. So, while under test conditions there are many phones with better cameras, when it comes to day to day usage, the iphone one is pretty unrivalled.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
I've read around that people don't like the shutter speed or possible focus problems with the camera.
After the KitKat update, how is it? Faster/better? Manageable?
I have 2 kids and I need camera speed.
My wife has the Nexus 5 and it too has some focus problems, but the potential to take some great shots. Same here?
Anyone who can compare their camera experience with the nexus 5?
Thank you
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
The g2 and most other smartphone cameras aren't very good except for the Nokia's bit they run windows phone 8 so that's a huge disadvantage but it has a great camera you would be better off getting a nice digital camera or a Samsung camera
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
spinninbsod said:
The g2 and most other smartphone cameras aren't very good except for the Nokia's bit they run windows phone 8 so that's a huge disadvantage but it has a great camera you would be better off getting a nice digital camera or a Samsung camera
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We all know that good quality digital cameras and naturally DSLRs are better than smartphone cameras but that doesn't change the fact that a phone is the one device that people will always have with them. And because of this camera quality does matter for many. So your answer doesn't really help mate - WP8 is a minority platform so if one was to choose an Android phone, is the G2 worth it camerawise?
pnut22r said:
I've read around that people don't like the shutter speed or possible focus problems with the camera.
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Click to collapse
I simply cannot get this camera to focus properly. Nothing is completely sharp. I did not have this problem on my SGS II, III and Note II. But if you don't need pictures of sharp text etc., the lighting is pretty good. Even in pretty dark situations, the pictures come out brighter and than you expect. But I miss my Note II camera which was rich in contrast, had fast and precise focus and did just as well in dark situations. This by the way is what you will also find in most reviews.
If you come from a cheaper phone, you will be impressed. If you come from a SGS III/Note II plus or iPhone 4 plus, you will be disappointed.
Edit: I have tried multiple ROMs, both AOSP and Stock and also multiple camera apps like the stock app, lenovo, CMs cam app, Open Camera, modified stock camera apps from this forum and more that I cannot remember. Same thing.
Oh and yeah, the focus is very slow compared to some of the competition. You need to prepare your shot a little in advance. Unlike Samsungs cameras that are almost instant.
All said, I would prefer this phone to any other at the moment if you look at the phone as a whole.
I've been running into the usual problems, at least, I think. The camera is so slow - I'm coming from a Galaxy S3, and I actually use that phone around the house as a camera because of how much clearer the pictures come out (regardless of the number of megapixels...). The volume on calls is low. And today, using the speakerphone, I hear complaints of an echo immediately.
I'm honestly considering switching to an iPhone - just because the camera and battery life seem on par with this phone, or at least better than what I'm used to with the S3.
Lower the resolution if its an issue.
It takes quite speedy pics at 8mp, just like your s3.
As for battery life, no the iPhone isn't on par.
I've turned the size down on Google's camera, it's frustrating that you can't do it on the stock camera. It doesn't really change the speed for me, too. The speed of focus on the S3 was much, much faster, and that's what resulted in better pictures. Not the size of the picture, or the amount of pixels taken in. Plenty of threads in this forum say the same thing.
Then take it back.
You don't need us to convince you otherwise.
I've taken great pics with this camera. I am not one to subject myself to phones I dont like for the sake of a camera either.
Always buy a device for what it can do, not what it might do in the future. It sounds like there is a device you rather have. You should get it.
You're right. Just trying to see if anyone has had any luck with updates, or any other camera app, before I make the switch. I bought it in the holiday return period timeline, so I technically have until January 15th. I'm not super ready to leave android, but it might end up happening after 6 years.
Is what it is as the saying goes. If an iPhone will make you happier that's what you who should get.
This will provide you with no help at all. But I'm going to toss in one, lol at the iPhone battery being on par with the droid turbo. If camera is your number one thing though, I would suggest the iPhone. No one will deny it takes the best pictures. And if anybody does, there foolish. You can't crop them lol but for a point-and-click nobody does it better
have u try to clean cache ?
I just picked up the phone last night. Im used to the camera automatically focusing. Am I missing something here.
robmc826 said:
I just picked up the phone last night. Im used to the camera automatically focusing. Am I missing something here.
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It does focus automatically, and the nice thing about it is that you can actually pick the object you want it to focus on by moving the shutter. It just takes 1-3 seconds to actually focus properly.
mikethecat said:
It does focus automatically, and the nice thing about it is that you can actually pick the object you want it to focus on by moving the shutter. It just takes 1-3 seconds to actually focus properly.
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Before you switch give this camera app a try. I've had better results with it. Lenovo Super Camera download version 3.6.7. @Demiurge7 has a good explanation of how the resolutions work here.
I'll try it out! Honestly, I really want to like this phone, but the camera is a huge dealbreaker for me. I really love so much else about it, but I'm coming from a phone that had a fantastic camera, even if the sensor isn't technically as high quality.
Because this is the best phone right now and with lollipop it will only get better.
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
rhouse1983 said:
Because this is the best phone right now and with lollipop root it will only get better.
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Is there a way to make the double-twist open a different camera app? That would be awesomesauce.
If you want a better camera and want to stay on Android (seriously, iOS will drive you nuts), then you might consider the LG G3. The G3 has a fantastic camera with super fast laser focus and OIS. My wife has a 5s and the G3 definitely takes a better pics - especially indoors. The unlockable bootloader is a nice perk too. Debloated and Xposed, it runs flawlessly. My only gripe is the rear power and volume buttons.