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Help camera takes terrible pics......

Thai said:
THANKS for posting this. I had trouble finding this article. Actually, if you look at the 2nd page summary chart, then you will notice a few things:

1. iPhone 4S got very consistent scores throughout among smartphones, second only to MyTouch.

2. It beat GSII in 3 of 4 categories.

3. SHOCKINGLY (for Tim), it got 2nd best color ACCURACY, even beating the Nikon and Sammy GSII.

Which leads to this conclusion: "and the iPhone 4S had an impressive lack of distortion and the most evenly balanced scores across the board for exposure, color, sharpness, and distortion. Without a doubt, the star feature of the iPhone 4S's camera is its automated white balance, which is extremely accurate."

So, in other words, Tim has no basis for saying that GN has better color accuracy than iPhone 4S...despite every info/pics out there saying otherwise.
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Welcome. And actually I did happen to notice those two points, but unfortunately for the iPhone it can't cherry pick its own results like that and take the cake for overall quality. ;)

And actually, if it is something that can be perceived, there is a basis for at least bringing it to discussion.
 
You can find an article or blog entry saying anything you want. Most of the ones you referenced were terrible (and in fact DO know less than some people posting in this thread), from a photography and basic scientific method perspective.

I never claimed anything about the iphone camera. It very likely is technically superior to the nexus camera in some trivial ways. My original point stands: the differences are meaningless when compared to a basic understanding of simple settings and rudimentary principles of photography. Also, I agree that the iphone's in-camera processing serves the lowest common denominator with its color processing settings.
 
Hi gang!

Help me out, I'm new here.

How is the argument about iPhone camera helping support the topic that some are experiencing difficulty with the Nexus camera and looking for help?

What is the advice here? Buy an iPhone?

I'm seriously lost where this is all supposed to be going.

The number one thing about a camera - the best one is the one you have with you when you need to take a shot.

The number two thing - the one you have with you most ought to do a decent job.

And while I'm no sort of expert, I learned over the years of developing my own film and prints (started 40 years ago, but who cares, just saying), is that pretty much, common sense and your own eyes can tell you if your phone's camera - the one you're inclined to carry the most - is doing the job or not.

And similar to the old darkroom tricks, many of any shot's deficiencies can be cured with post-processing and good editing software. Not all woes can be can be cured, but many.

If the point of the iPhone comparison is to help decide which phone to switch to if some are unhappy with their Nexus cameras, Ok, sorry I interrupted.

I'm just somewhat lost here, and would appreciate anyone catching me up. :)
 
Hi EarlyMon,

Thanks for the interjection. Essentially this thread started off with owners of the GNex discussing how to get better pictures on their phones, but seemed to veer off track when people who don't own the phone post unproductive arguments about the iPhone's superiority.

Considering the similar size of the sensor in both cameras, you'd get about the results I would expect. See the link I posted above about the GNex and iPhone 4S comparisons. They resolve detail similarly. There may be some software tweaking in regards to color saturation and such, but they are VERY similar.
 
Yeah, so here's the thing and on these points, I am not lost at all. Here is a simplification of our site rules and overall philosophy:


  • Attack issues and not other forum members. Calling names like fanboy is just not productive. And it's not nice.
  • Stay mostly on-topic. I'm not going to straightjacket anyone, just saying, _mostly_ on-topic.
  • Please be polite. Agree to disagree. Life is short, and we're talking about phones. People's feelings count more than phones.


Posts not following these guidelines may begin to mysteriously disappear. ;)


Cheers, thanks everybuddy! :)
 
Outatime said:
Hi EarlyMon,

Thanks for the interjection. Essentially this thread started off with owners of the GNex discussing how to get better pictures on their phones, but seemed to veer off track when people who don't own the phone post unproductive arguments about the iPhone's superiority.

Considering the similar size of the sensor in both cameras, you'd get about the results I would expect. See the link I posted above about the GNex and iPhone 4S comparisons. They resolve detail similarly. There may be some software tweaking in regards to color saturation and such, but they are VERY similar.
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Ok, thanks. I think I've got it.

I think in my experience, personal electronics vary a lot.

In my opinion, each and every manufacturer really has to step up their QA game, no exceptions.

Example - my buddy's iPhone takes great shots, my daughter's iPhone takes really crappy shots.

So, I can see different opposing views on comparisons and I can see where someone might be wrong - or simply may have sampled a different unit.

That's why all opinions are valid - they're opinions.

Theoretical debates about quality may be enlightening, and I'm all for enlightenment. But entrenched arguing is just a buzz kill, am I right?

Can I assume that everyone here is ready to agree to disagree, move on, and get back on track about the Nexus camera? :)

Edit and PS - If people are having _positive_ fun comparing and contrasting the iPhone camera with the Nexus camera, maybe a thread devoted to just that is a very good idea, okey dokey?
 
EarlyMon said:
Ok, thanks. I think I've got it.

I think in my experience, personal electronics vary a lot.

In my opinion, each and every manufacturer really has to step up their QA game, no exceptions.

Example - my buddy's iPhone takes great shots, my daughter's iPhone takes really crappy shots.

So, I can see different opposing views on comparisons and I can see where someone might be wrong - or simply may have sampled a different unit.

That's why all opinions are valid - they're opinions.

Theoretical debates about quality may be enlightening, and I'm all for enlightenment. But entrenched arguing is just a buzz kill, am I right?

Can I assume that everyone here is ready to agree to disagree, move on, and get back on track about the Nexus camera? :)
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Exactly. This will be a never-ending battle, even among blogs and reviewers
 
For Utility. OK

For Posterity. No way.

For utility this phone is fine. In a store I see something I may want to buy but think the wife should see it first. I take a shot and send it to her via a text. OK.

But if I go this evening to my son's elementary school graduation and want to take some pictures to put in a family scrap book I should pick up a point and shoot camera and bring it along with me.

The GNEX cannot cut it here and that for two reasons

1: You will not enjoy the event.

You will spend all of your time being so overly self-conscious and preoccupied with everything it takes to keep your body as stiff-still as a corpse and worrying over whether you were supposed to simply click a button/ push a button/ hold a button and wondering if the right software is running for the type of environment --- etc ad nauseum.

2. Chances are you will come away disappointed even after your best efforts and alas --- the moment is gone and you have nothing to show for the special event in the years to come except mediocre pics

Utility. OK

Posterity. No way
 
stenzor said:
Or you can just take a shitload of pics in a row and find the best ones later at home
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Yep. It's what the pros do. It has been proven over and over that the GNex takes awesome pics. I know this has been said, haters gonna hate.

There's a part of me wants to go shoot a wedding with my phone and post the results :)
 
Outatime said:
Yep. It's what the pros do. It has been proven over and over that the GNex takes awesome pics. I know this has been said, haters gonna hate.

There's a part of me wants to go shoot a wedding with my phone and post the results :)
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Spray and pray works with good DSLR bodies with good autofocus (Think Canon 1D series). SGN won't be able to re-autofocus fast between those shots like a DSLR..... but if it works for you.... cool!
 
Wow, I tried to bail out politely many hours ago....

Anyway, I don't rely on the opinions of random guys on the internet who happen to have a "job" writing for tech websites. They are no more qualified than me in most cases. I prefer to try to find comparison shots and, shockingly, make my own decisions. Unfortunately, many of them are also hacks who don't bother to line up identical shots, change angles, have different lighting or even shoot on different days - and call it a comparison. One thing I really don't understand is the declaration that the iPhone is a better camera than the GN based on a comparison.....to another phone altogether like the Galaxy S2. I wish I had a 4s to play with.

Once again....the GN takes good pictures....good enough for me. Do I wish I had the resolution of an 8MP sensor, sure do. But like I said, its good enough. The iPhone takes good pictures, good enough for me. But I still think it oversaturates a lot of colors.

As to the question of would I use either to shoot an important event like a graduation or wedding? No way. I would bring something with an optical zoom. I'm not gonna be the a-hole standing in the front of the room holding my phone up to try to take a good picture of my kid.
 
chucksings said:
For Utility. OK

For Posterity. No way.

For utility this phone is fine. In a store I see something I may want to buy but think the wife should see it first. I take a shot and send it to her via a text. OK.

But if I go this evening to my son's elementary school graduation and want to take some pictures to put in a family scrap book I should pick up a point and shoot camera and bring it along with me.

The GNEX cannot cut it here and that for two reasons

1: You will not enjoy the event.

You will spend all of your time being so overly self-conscious and preoccupied with everything it takes to keep your body as stiff-still as a corpse and worrying over whether you were supposed to simply click a button/ push a button/ hold a button and wondering if the right software is running for the type of environment --- etc ad nauseum.

2. Chances are you will come away disappointed even after your best efforts and alas --- the moment is gone and you have nothing to show for the special event in the years to come except mediocre pics

Utility. OK

Posterity. No way
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The same can be said for iPhone, imo.

the only phone cam that is good enough for the job would be N8, anything less is fail.
 
Remember this is a zero shutter lag camera...you will have to treat it a little different and its a learning curve.

If you want it to act like an iphone, go buy a damn iphone. If you can actually be happy with that boring cheezy interface day after day, by all means go gloat about it somewhere else.

The GN camera is perfectly fine, you can get it to take gorgeous pics as displayed by myself and others, as well as horrible pics (which ive shown the iphone4s can take crappy photos as well). Most of the time its composition, subject matter, proper lighting techniques (when to use flash).

<off high horse>
 
fam said:
Remember this is a zero shutter lag camera...you will have to treat it a little different and its a learning curve.
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Exactly that. People, even the "expert" reviewers, are so used to pressing the shutter button (which shakes the phone) and then having a second to steady the phone before the shutter actually activates. Now, they finally get something they've been asking for, and they don't know how to deal with it (or even realize it), and they blame the camera.
 
VMac said:
Exactly that. People, even the "expert" reviewers, are so used to pressing the shutter button (which shakes the phone) and then having a second to steady the phone before the shutter actually activates. Now, they finally get something they've been asking for, and they don't know how to deal with it (or even realize it), and they blame the camera.
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Hahhaha, well said! There is a LOT of truth in this!
 
I had a Dinc before, and i just don't like the photos that my Nexus takes as much... it still works, but things are a little fuzzy or blurry.

I can't do anything about it however since I'm locked into a contract. So for the next 18 months I'll be using it and I hope they fix it up some with software updates.
 
fam said:
Remember this is a zero shutter lag camera...you will have to treat it a little different and its a learning curve.

If you want it to act like an iphone, go buy a damn iphone. If you can actually be happy with that boring cheezy interface day after day, by all means go gloat about it somewhere else.<off high horse>
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I can take the Galaxy Nexus not having as good of a camera as the iPhone 4s, but it should be able to produce a decent picture without having a learning curve to it.

If the Galaxy Nexus camera is hard to use by its average user, then it is a failure in design and needs to be fixed. Phone cameras are meant to be point and shoot cameras and Google has failed to deliver a point and shoot experience.

It would have been better if the Galaxy Nexus had a speed priority and autofocus priority modes, with the default on focus. It seems that Google wanted to use zero shutter lag as a selling point, while neglecting other important factors of the camera.
 
I dont even want to respond per the mods.

But...to sum up how I feel on this issue I will leave you with an einstein quote that relates to the classification of this as a basic point and shoot:

&#8220;Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.&#8221; ~Albert Einstein
 
Perhaps Google will update the camera software with desired options.

If not, or not soon enough, there are some great alternative camera apps, either as non-pirated sideloads or in the Market.

Example, the Rezound camera features were blowing the doors off of my Evo 3D. Picked up that HTC app matched for my sensor, problem solved. And it features newer image processing algorithms, so all my snaps look much better now.

Wanted a good panoramic shooter - sideloaded the Sony camera app, problem solved.

I know some are way happy with the Nexus camera, some less so.

If you are in the second group, then work-around settings, post-processing, and app alternatives are likely your best bets.
 
i will admit, i love my GN, im a little disappointed in the camera, however i always remember, its a phone, a camera phone, it will not be perfect.

it also relies on the person taking the picture, being careful of movement and such.

but i am under the assumption that an app can correct some of these faults, or you can edit the camera settings yourself and correct most of them.... that i hope anyway
 
Outatime said:
There is a great free app called Camera Effects that has an awesome camera interface. Even if you never use any of the effects it can do, try it just for the interface.
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i had the app for a while, because someone recommended it to me, im probably going to try vignette(i think thats how it is) and see how it works for me. as for me, my pictures look a little hazy, its not bad, but it is quite annoying, but i dont take many pictures, so im ok with it for now.

if anyone remembers

the dx camera was horrible on different roms, you basically needed the blur camera for it to be amazing, then the great devs found the secret to it, and miui had the best camera, and cm7 came out with it as well. so regardless, give it time, and it will be improved. or maybe its a dirty lens?
 
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