Help Extremely Bright Camera Flash on the Evo

[MarcKevin]

Hey everyone, I am not sure this has been on a thread or not (Ive searched and not found one) but does anyone know of an app or fix for the Evo's superbright, can be seen from orbit, brighter than the Luxor hotel camera light? I am sooooo sick of all my pictures getting washed out and/or overexposed. I know the shutter speed is too slow to compensate for all that light but the light is also way too bright. I can use it to find my way in the dark woods if I needed to.

Ok I know I am being overdramatic but I am serious about finding a fix for this stupid flash. Help!

 

[marctronixx]

yeah it leaves hot spots on the subjects face.

the key is to bounce the light. try a one-ply piece of tissue paper over the lamps on the back of the phone.

 

[sitlet]

Ok I know I am being overdramatic

You are. The thing is, its a PHONE. If you want to take good pictures, get a real camera. Most people hate the camera on their phones because the flash is not bright enough. So you are blessed that you have such a bright flash on the evo. learn to live with it.

 

[isaemm]

Or just try not to take close up pictures. Thats when that glow effect from the flash happens the most.

 

[Mr. Ed]

play with the settings in the phone (lower the iso) ..take pics from further away, use your had, tissue or finger to deflect the flash

and take pictures by long pressing the point of focus in your picture...doing that alone helped my pics a ton

 

[isaemm]

and take pictures by long pressing the point of focus in your picture...doing that alone helped my pics a ton

Yes, this helped me out also. Instead of using the shutter button use your screen to take the picture. It takes longer but works better.

 

[Wadester]

You are. The thing is, its a PHONE. If you want to take good pictures, get a real camera. Most people hate the camera on their phones because the flash is not bright enough. So you are blessed that you have such a bright flash on the evo. learn to live with it.

That's kind of harsh, isn't it? I thought the point of having a camera, camcorder, e-mail client, Internet browser, game player, etc. was so that we DIDN'T have to carry around a device for each purpose?

The OP is just asking what can be done to improve the quality of the pictures in low light. For me, it takes excellent pictures in brighter environments so one does not really need to "get a real camera".

Besides, I like one of the suggestions made here that I haven't seen before with the long-press focus, and I'm actually going to thank the OP for posting the topic in the first place!

 

[Tiako]

I have notice this problem too. Standing back more seems to help

 

[duga]

This problem seems fixable and if so would make this camera much better at night.

Has anybody played around with some of the camera apps?

 

[huludical]

This is starting to annoy me too. I'm going to try the tissue thing.

Man my brothers new n8 takes AMAZING pictures...

Of course it has a xenon flash...

 

[mdean1981]

I read this on another forum. I only suggest this if you are really anal about wanting the flash problem fixed and aren't too concerned about appearance. One OP suggested taking masking tape cut down and putting it over the LED's. This will make the LED not as bright so this doesn't happen. It also doesn't leave the real nasty adhesive that will never come off if you need to take it off or change it. Another guy took a small piece of electrical tape and covered 1 of the LED's.

I personally would never do either because I just don't want this ever so sexy phone looking crappy covered in tape. I also feel your frustration. I have fooled with the ISO and moved to high light areas when I can just to get better pictures.

As I said it is a suggestion I read and quite a few have replied it works but cosmetically it's a bust.

Thanks, Mike

 

[fjumayao]

Maybe someone will develop a case that covers the flash area with some sort of material that will diffuse the flash. Or even a case with different lens for the flash area? What a great idea!!!! someone quick steal it from me!

 

[SaleenFiend]

Flash works like it supposed to. Camera doesn't work great enough with the flash. Adjust ISO, use long press, find better lighting, or Buy a Camera.

 

[Palmetto Fellow]

That's kind of harsh, isn't it? I thought the point of having a camera, camcorder, e-mail client, Internet browser, game player, etc. was so that we DIDN'T have to carry around a device for each purpose?

A Jack of all Trades is a Master of none

To the OP. Try playing with your exposure compensation. Bring it down to -1 and see what happens. Then try -2 and -3...but remember to turn it back up if not using the flash, as most images will be too dark.

 

[fivebass52]

I've found that lowering the exposure setting (swipe the tab open to see settings, then tap the sun icon) to -2 seems to work for most settings, In fact, I put it there about a month ago, and just noticed that's where it was when this thread made me curious.

I just read and learned the trick above about the long-click, and have a suggestion for covering the flash. Instead of tape on the outside, how about a small piece of a dark colored cloth, that is cut and placed over the lights, then the cover is snapped back into place. Experimenting with different shades of cloth might allow more adjustability in the long run with the exposure setting.

At this point, I prefer to have my lights available for when I use my flashlight app, or turn my screen on, which gives me enough light to put my keys in a lock etc.

 

[Palmetto Fellow]

I just read and learned the trick above about the long-click, and have a suggestion for covering the flash. Instead of tape on the outside, how about a small piece of a dark colored cloth, that is cut and placed over the lights, then the cover is snapped back into place. Experimenting with different shades of cloth might allow more adjustability in the long run with the exposure setting.

Interesting idea. I suggest using only gray or black cloth colors. Anything else will produce unwanted (or perhaps wanted) color shifts.

 

[fivebass52]

Interesting idea. I suggest using only gray or black cloth colors. Anything else will produce unwanted (or perhaps wanted) color shifts.

I agree, black or grey would be the logical choice. Taping various colors/thicknesses to the outside first to test the theory would be easier, then cut the preferred material to place inside the cover.

 

[shandroid]

yeah i hate the uber flash @ times

 

[DroidDrew]

I was frustrated with the flash brightness as well and took me a while playing with ISO/ASA etc, HOWEVER, what really did the trick was as simple as the BRIGHTNESS setting (don't turn off the flash). The flash light will "flash" at a lower brightness.

 

[DannyNYC]

Not sure if OP still has this issue but I lowered my ISO to 400 and took the brightness down to -1 and it works great now. No whitewashing.

 

[ryanissick]

Why is their two LEDs then? Sometimes it brightens the subject, but then dims. Most time it doesnt...? Im not a camera expert, but when i am drunk in a bar i want the picture to come out where its not just a white circle with hair. Ill try the long press....