It is for some models, last I saw was for the Desire Eye.
Hopefully they continue to make more of their apps update through the Play Store.
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HTC One M9 Professional Reviews
- Thread starter Hadron
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- htc one m9
Hopefully they continue to make more of their apps update through the Play Store.
No idea who this and I haven't checked the EXIF data yet but this guy has been posting this on Disqus, thought some might find it interesting.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jpenico/sets/72157650671608427/
I've only seen the page overall on my phone, and the only statement I'm making, I've made - maybe some will find the photos interesting.
I'm putting this here because HTC is not above using professional photographers to show off their cameras.
Or, this is just some guy. Don't know ok.
PS - not final software.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jpenico/sets/72157650671608427/
I've only seen the page overall on my phone, and the only statement I'm making, I've made - maybe some will find the photos interesting.
I'm putting this here because HTC is not above using professional photographers to show off their cameras.
Or, this is just some guy. Don't know ok.
PS - not final software.
Cobravision
Android Expert
I must say, those low light shots look better than what I can do on my S5. But then again, I'm not a professional photographer 
That one shot with the girl in the cowboy hat appears to be impossible without proper lighting. Only pros or big time hobbyists have equipment like that.
Here are a bunch of comparison shots that a distinctly non-pro photographer took:
Sogi Shootout
The M9 shows a lot of blur, grain, and smearing in all of the shots. That's basically what my S5 shots look like in those conditions.
That one shot with the girl in the cowboy hat appears to be impossible without proper lighting. Only pros or big time hobbyists have equipment like that.Here are a bunch of comparison shots that a distinctly non-pro photographer took:
Sogi Shootout
The M9 shows a lot of blur, grain, and smearing in all of the shots. That's basically what my S5 shots look like in those conditions.
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I think you make an excellent point.
Both the M9 and S5 cameras are f/2.2, pixels are both 1.2 microns. The M9 gets more pixels with a slightly larger sensor and slightly larger aperture (lens diameter) but at these geometries, that's splitting hairs.
Assuming his non-pro skills are the same as yours, you've confirmed that the M9 low light pictures look about the same as the S5.
I'm not surprised and it sets a reasonable expectation - rather than the greatest dog of all time, the M9 is going to perform similarly to the S5 in low light because you can't escape physics (unless you're @Hadron on vacation, not sure lol).
My son-in-law has an S5, I can confirm that it's not great in low light, especially with the default settings. (Changing them results in a noticeable improvement, true for most every camera of every type I've used.)
The S6 is an f/1.9 setup - I would expect sight unseen for it to do better in low light, all else being basically equal because that's what the f-stop number is there to tell you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
So, worst case, the M9 will be like an S5 in low light.
Under normal lighting or with an experienced hand at the controls, image quality goes up from there.
That's all based on the earlier software.
So if the questions are - how does it perform in its own right, what can I expect, and is it really the worst camera of all time - pretty sure that those questions are answered.
If that's you and you're good with the expectation, then the M9 may be right for you.
If the question is - how do I get the best low light performance, period - then the answer is the same as it always will be. Get the phone with the lowest f-stop and largest sensor with the best lens, from a decent manufacturer so the software doesn't suck entirely.
So on the other hand, if the second case is more you, you probably want to consider the S9 (or similar if it occurs this year) over the M9. (edit - If you want the largest sensor and best lens, get a Panasonic Lumix CM1.)
If your concern is for low light selfies, then the M9 is very probably going to win you over because it's an f/2 Ultrapixel shooter.
Both the M9 and S5 cameras are f/2.2, pixels are both 1.2 microns. The M9 gets more pixels with a slightly larger sensor and slightly larger aperture (lens diameter) but at these geometries, that's splitting hairs.
Assuming his non-pro skills are the same as yours, you've confirmed that the M9 low light pictures look about the same as the S5.
I'm not surprised and it sets a reasonable expectation - rather than the greatest dog of all time, the M9 is going to perform similarly to the S5 in low light because you can't escape physics (unless you're @Hadron on vacation, not sure lol).
My son-in-law has an S5, I can confirm that it's not great in low light, especially with the default settings. (Changing them results in a noticeable improvement, true for most every camera of every type I've used.)
The S6 is an f/1.9 setup - I would expect sight unseen for it to do better in low light, all else being basically equal because that's what the f-stop number is there to tell you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
So, worst case, the M9 will be like an S5 in low light.
Under normal lighting or with an experienced hand at the controls, image quality goes up from there.
That's all based on the earlier software.
So if the questions are - how does it perform in its own right, what can I expect, and is it really the worst camera of all time - pretty sure that those questions are answered.
If that's you and you're good with the expectation, then the M9 may be right for you.
If the question is - how do I get the best low light performance, period - then the answer is the same as it always will be. Get the phone with the lowest f-stop and largest sensor with the best lens, from a decent manufacturer so the software doesn't suck entirely.
So on the other hand, if the second case is more you, you probably want to consider the S9 (or similar if it occurs this year) over the M9. (edit - If you want the largest sensor and best lens, get a Panasonic Lumix CM1.)
If your concern is for low light selfies, then the M9 is very probably going to win you over because it's an f/2 Ultrapixel shooter.
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Cobravision
Android Expert
The S6 FFC is also f/1.9. If you compare the last two pictures in the Sogi shootout, the selfies are about equal in quality, with the M9 showing a bit more detail at the expense of more noise. Also, the background in the S6 selfie looks a heck of a lot better, although that may be due to the photographer and not the camera.
And just as a basic issue with all shootouts and picture samples. etc -- if you know your stuff and make manual adjustments, use a tripod, actually have a lighting rig, etc -- you can probably take amazing pictures with almost any camera. But that's clearly not representative of most people who will leave the settings on full auto.
And just as a basic issue with all shootouts and picture samples. etc -- if you know your stuff and make manual adjustments, use a tripod, actually have a lighting rig, etc -- you can probably take amazing pictures with almost any camera. But that's clearly not representative of most people who will leave the settings on full auto.
When you get some review samples of the M9 with the new software and shot the way most people will use the camera, please post them.
A lot of people are going to choose the M9 and get pictures they like and they'll be very happy.
It won't mean that they screwed up and missed the best possible camera out there.
A whole lot of people told me last year, and a number of reviewers agreed, that the S5 was the best possible camera last year prior to release.
It wasn't.
It was a cell phone camera with cell phone camera strengths and weaknesses, exactly like this year's crop.
I don't think that the point of this thread is to prove that the M9 sucks and the S6 rulez. Pretty clear from your S6 forum posts you think it's head and shoulders above all else. Great - I sincerely hope it fulfills all of your expectations and you have a blast with it.
You've posted information that will help M9 fans and potential shoppers know what some of the expectations might be owning an M9 and whether you meant to or not, helped establish that the M9 might not really suck after all.
Isn't that fair enough?
A lot of people are going to choose the M9 and get pictures they like and they'll be very happy.
It won't mean that they screwed up and missed the best possible camera out there.
A whole lot of people told me last year, and a number of reviewers agreed, that the S5 was the best possible camera last year prior to release.
It wasn't.
It was a cell phone camera with cell phone camera strengths and weaknesses, exactly like this year's crop.
I don't think that the point of this thread is to prove that the M9 sucks and the S6 rulez. Pretty clear from your S6 forum posts you think it's head and shoulders above all else. Great - I sincerely hope it fulfills all of your expectations and you have a blast with it.
You've posted information that will help M9 fans and potential shoppers know what some of the expectations might be owning an M9 and whether you meant to or not, helped establish that the M9 might not really suck after all.
Isn't that fair enough?
Cobravision
Android Expert
You are correct about that . I was enjoying the back and forth with you and forgot which forum I was in.
. I was enjoying the back and forth with you and forgot which forum I was in.
Me too.You are correct about that
Afraid I don't get to take vacations from physics. 
M
Member282753
Guest
This article really summed it up for me: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Noki...Galaxy-Note-4-HTC-One-M9-ends-up-last_id67659
I've already ordered the M9 and don't plan to send it back after reading this.
There is a big difference between a photo not being chosen as the best in a comparison lineup and there being something inherently wrong or terrible about a photo.
I tried to imagine myself being frustrated with any of those M9 results in isolation and couldn't. I think this whole camera thing is getting blown way out of proportion.
I've already ordered the M9 and don't plan to send it back after reading this.
There is a big difference between a photo not being chosen as the best in a comparison lineup and there being something inherently wrong or terrible about a photo.
I tried to imagine myself being frustrated with any of those M9 results in isolation and couldn't. I think this whole camera thing is getting blown way out of proportion.
Rose4uKy
Android Expert
As long as I get decent pictures to upload to facebook like I do with my M8 I'll be happy. Doesn't have to be the best picture and I don't print out any and make them bigger. I do hope the selfies are good though. And it says that it is going to do 4K video the 8 didn't do that did it? My M8 takes good video as it is and sounds great too so I am hoping the M9 is better. I video local bands sometimes.
K
KOLIO
Guest
Kinda/sorta off-topic for a moment:
Ya ever cross the river to check out the band scene?
Been many moons ago,but,I used to work in the SPAGHETTI JUNCTION Metropolitan area...........
Rose4uKy
Android Expert
Not to often I stay on the Ky side mostly. I am lucky that the Sprint warehouse is here though Can't wait till Monday to get my phone.
WuBoy
Well-Known Member
For anyone still wondering about the camera, check out this comparison:
http://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s6-camera-comparison-versus-htc-one-m9-iphone-6/
They took a bunch of pictures in a variety of situations with a basic setup for all the cameras.
I think overall, it's pretty clear the M9's cam is inferior to that of the s6 and iphone 6. That said there are areas where it performed as well as or better than one or both of those cams. I think a lot of the complaints about the cameras are a bit overblown. No it's not the best cam on the market, but you can clearly take good pics with it. Some of these reviewers are acting like it's unusable. It's not that bad, although the overexposure and lens flaring in some places were terrible, but the s6 was guilty of some of that too.
http://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s6-camera-comparison-versus-htc-one-m9-iphone-6/
They took a bunch of pictures in a variety of situations with a basic setup for all the cameras.
I think overall, it's pretty clear the M9's cam is inferior to that of the s6 and iphone 6. That said there are areas where it performed as well as or better than one or both of those cams. I think a lot of the complaints about the cameras are a bit overblown. No it's not the best cam on the market, but you can clearly take good pics with it. Some of these reviewers are acting like it's unusable. It's not that bad, although the overexposure and lens flaring in some places were terrible, but the s6 was guilty of some of that too.
Turn the sharpening down and cap the iso and it works better in low light than it does with the default settings (high iso generates noise, and their noise reduction is linked to the sharpening and is too heavy-handed by far). Of course limiting the iso does reduce shutter speed (that is the way optical stabilisation helps in low light - it let's you use a lower shutter speed and hence a lower iso).
HTC never seem to get that reviewers (and many customers) just use the defaults so these need to be good. But they do provide options which let you improve things if you make the effort to experiment with them and find what works. I don't have an M9 (yet?), but the suggestions above are based on what others have done and experience with previous HTC cameras.
And yeah, even with defaults it's not as bad as many say, and I would expect it to gradually improve with updates.
HTC never seem to get that reviewers (and many customers) just use the defaults so these need to be good. But they do provide options which let you improve things if you make the effort to experiment with them and find what works. I don't have an M9 (yet?), but the suggestions above are based on what others have done and experience with previous HTC cameras.
And yeah, even with defaults it's not as bad as many say, and I would expect it to gradually improve with updates.
WuBoy
Well-Known Member
Seems to me, they should basically do what audio EQ software does which is have a set of predetermined configurations for each type of setting. Like with EQ software you have a setup for Hip Hop or Rock or Classical that you can choose quickly based on what you're listening to. You could have Sunny Day, Well lit indoors, low light, etc... configurations that would optimize camera performance based on the situation. It wouldn't make the camera itself any better, but it would improve ability of the user to take good pics. That's what matters.
Yes, a few presets (as you say, sunny day, indoors, night) would help a lot of people get better pictures. Make them adjustable so that the user can tweak them to their own tastes and I'd even use them myself (I always have to tweak things to my tastes 
).
).
WuBoy
Well-Known Member
Moving away from the cam discussion. I saw this video on Youtube earlier. It's a battery comparison test between the M9 and S6 edge.
So basically, they performed a video loop test, battery benchmark test, and the reviewer gave an assessment based on his daily usage and the s6 Edge blew the M9 away in every test. I don't really understand it. The cam stuff isn't all that important to me, but battery life is important. The M9 has a bigger battery. Why is it getting outdone like this? What was HTC doing when they designed this phone. In every review it seems to be an inferior performer to everything its compared to.
This is by far a worse matter. Here's a speed test between the M8 and M9.
The M8 is noticeably faster in almost every area. I don't really understand this. Is there kind of mistake being made in the testing or did HTC really botch things up this badly?
So basically, they performed a video loop test, battery benchmark test, and the reviewer gave an assessment based on his daily usage and the s6 Edge blew the M9 away in every test. I don't really understand it. The cam stuff isn't all that important to me, but battery life is important. The M9 has a bigger battery. Why is it getting outdone like this? What was HTC doing when they designed this phone. In every review it seems to be an inferior performer to everything its compared to.
This is by far a worse matter. Here's a speed test between the M8 and M9.
The M8 is noticeably faster in almost every area. I don't really understand this. Is there kind of mistake being made in the testing or did HTC really botch things up this badly?
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