• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Camera & Recording Video too far out

S

SmithO77

Newbie
I don't know if the word used here is "Dynamic Range" but the shoots I take are to far out even when I'm up close. Changing the resolution doesn't do anything it stays the same. Is there anything I can do about this?
 
I don't think the term you mean is 'dynamic range' - that is where the photo incorporates details in both the shadows and the hightlights.

I believe what you are talking about is that the lens is too wide angle, and the shots look like you're further away because they're taking in a lot of the scene from the sides and top and bottom.

Use the zoom function to 'move closer' to the subject using the Vol Up and Down button.
 
Wide angle is a good thing. Most phones are too narrow of an angle and it's hard taking a group picture, especially in a crowded setting.

You can crop the photo after taking it, to better frame it for your needs, or move closer. I'm not a fan of digital zoom, as you can get the same effect by cropping, and many times the photo looks better this way. I can't wait for the day phones get optical zoom.
 
darkfiregt said:
I can't wait for the day phones get optical zoom.
Click to expand...

Or when I can make voice calls from my compact camera.

I think an optical zoom would require a motorized lens telescoping out the back of the phone, which would add some bulk. I remember there were some 'credit card' compact cameras out that were quite thin by having lens elements shifted sideways when retracted, which then had to realign as the lens came out upon power up.

The thing about optical zoom is that you need to have a number of glass elements that shift when focusing and zooming. that is why cameras usually have lenses that stick out of the camera body - it's all those internal lens elements needing physical distance between them.

And another thing - cropping a wide angle shot from close up will give you a different perspective than shooting from further away with a telephoto lens.
 
davoid said:
Or when I can make voice calls from my compact camera.

I think an optical zoom would require a motorized lens telescoping out the back of the phone, which would add some bulk. I remember there were some 'credit card' compact cameras out that were quite thin by having lens elements shifted sideways when retracted, which then had to realign as the lens came out upon power up.

The thing about optical zoom is that you need to have a number of glass elements that shift when focusing and zooming. that is why cameras usually have lenses that stick out of the camera body - it's all those internal lens elements needing physical distance between them.

And another thing - cropping a wide angle shot from close up will give you a different perspective than shooting from further away with a telephoto lens.
Click to expand...

Being a photographer, I know all of these things. I'm not asking for a huge optical zoom. But 2-3 times really wouldn't add too much.

As for cropping, the perspective will be the same on the phone picture because it has no optical zoom. Zooming is 100% digital, and all that's happening is the camera is cropping for you. I'm not sure why, maybe it's algorithms, but I've found cropping to look better than digital zoom). I'm not a fan of digital zoom at all.
 
darkfiregt said:
I'm not a fan of digital zoom at all.
Click to expand...

me neither.

I think the problem is that as the OP's comment suggests, the tendency is to move closer rather than stay further back from the subject and think 'I'll crop it later', but as we both know that will introduce distorted perspective into the shot.

I would love optical zoom, but I do think it would need to be telescopic i.e. a motorized extension that retracts back into the phone when the camera shuts off. But who knows? And if it were so, would that be a bad thing? :)

EDIT: Yours is a valid point about cropping, but being a photographer you see this as a simple next step in your workflow. Unfortunately the operative word there is work and the average phone user won't want to get involved with post processing their snapshots. I think that's why digital zooms exist. Most people want to take the shot and be done with it.
 
I hear ya, and I can see what you're saying. One thing Samsung, and most other manufacturers have done now is include cropping as a built-in editing tool, so at least you don't have to open up another app.

I think most people would rather have the wider angle, since half the shots they take are of their friends, and in their bathrooms for Facebook profile pics LOL.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom