DX Camera/Camcorder, don't believe the "critics"

[3Oclockslop]

I had done LOTS of research on the X and all the latest smartphones before I decided. I loved my D1, but never used the physical keyboard, and wanted the faster processor and larger screen. After ordering the phone and while waiting impatiently for the fed ex truck, I was busying myself by reading some reviews. The one consistent negative was on the camera and camcorder performance. I was believing it myself until yesterday, when I took some videos and pics at my fathers 80th birthday shindig. When all of the doubts I had about the video quality were answered was when I hooked it up to a hdtv. The X was the hit of the party! Seeing videos shot hours before on 720p definition was cool as hell! I also had some pics and videos brought over from my D1 on the sd card, and while on the camera screen the D1 images looked equal to if not superior to the X, you put it on a 46"hd screen, and there is NO comparison! X wins. I DO wish, however, that the camera and video functions were a little more user friendly and comprehensive, but that may be correctable in the future with software updates. I personally feel, thankfully, that the hardware and specs are in place. Any thoughts, fellow X' ers? Scott

(p.s...swype ROCKS!)

 

[Vihzel]

I'm satisfied with the camera on this. I am very much looking forward to upcoming CMOS cameras this winter on the Android platform though! Much better for nighttime shots. I believe HTC is already having a phone come out with it, but if it still has the same issues as the current Incredible and EVO's cameras with color fidelity and recording quality... then perhaps not.

 

[dmiller2007]

My camera and camcorder on my dx is basically unusable indoors. The amount of noise is ridiculous. That said, I found vignette helps some but not completely. And any videos or pictures taken outdoors look amazing.

 

[Hrethgir]

I have found my indoor pics are much improved just from putting the camera into Steady Shot mode, made a big difference to me. But while the DX does have a very good camera that works well, it isn't the best cameraphone on the market. Hurts to say it, but the iPhone4 takes AMAZING pictures, even though it is "only" 5MP. So much better color and clarity. We need that kind of camera in Android phones. This megapixel war is just a number thing, not a quality thing, and I would gladly take a lower MP count for higher quality pictures. Heck, my stand-alone digicam is only 5MP, and that is more than enough for me, I don't need every picture I take to be poster sized and 2MB.

 

[Deleted User]

I like it....check out my blog. All the pictures on it are taken with the Droid X in fact!!

 

[smhsmh]

Let's think about this general issue by means of an analogy.

Suppose I need to hang a small picture or calendar on drywall. I need to tap into the wall one of those small tacks with a shaped picture hook. The right tool for this job, obviously, is a small tack hammer, or lacking that, any larger hammer. But if I don't have a tack hammer handy, I could use my old clamshell phone. It isn't exactly the right tool for the job, but it would get the job done.

Suppose I need to take a photo (or video). The right tool for the job, obviously, is a camera (or videocamera). But if I don't have a camera (or videocamera) handy, I could use my old clamshel cell phone. It isn't exactly the right tool for the job, but it would get the job done.

My last several phones have had cameras, and the really useful thing about my cell phone is that it is nearly always with me. So when I have unanticipated need to take a picture (or video) I have been able.

I have been quite pleased with the unexpected capabilities of the Droid X to take pictures and videos. A modern cell phone needs to be thin enough to fit into a pocket (I remember the brick phones 20 years ago!) and this severely compromises the design options for the lens mechanism. The Droid X is absolutely not a reasonable tool for hanging a picture, but it does extremely well at taking pictures for something that I bought to be a phone and browser, not a camera.

All that said, remember that for indoors the camera has a flash and the video recorder has a light, and the camera (but not the video) has a night mode that may improve performance for indoor low-light circumstances. The video light is unexpectedly bright, considering the platform. Running it makes the phone hot, and probably depletes the battery in a few minutes. I turned it on accidentally while showing off the phone at my workplace, and several colleagues are now suing me on the reasonable belief they can no longer have children. I'll post again as the case progresses. That thing is bright!

 

[Hrethgir]

I've blinded myself a couple times with the flashlight app! I was so used to the flashlight app on my iPhone, where you turn it on, and it would make the screen white and turn the brightness up to full, so what I did with that phone was hit the app and turn the screen away from me to light the hallway. Well, I did the same thing with my DX the first couple times I needed to light my way. But turning the screen away from you does what? That's right, points the LEDs right at your face! Yeah, those things are BRIGHT!

 

[Deleted User]

Ya the flashlight app ROCKS on the X!!!

 

[3Oclockslop]

Amen to smhsmh! I guess I want as clear as I should have been about what I "expected" from the camera/camcorder. I KNOW that a cameraphone is NOT a substitute for a decent digital camera or a camcorder, my point was that judging from the reviews, one would think you could do a better image reproduction with a crayon and a napkin. So when people want to critique it about "noise" on the images, that goes into a totally unnecessary area. I WAS, nonetheless, VERY impressed by the images displayed on the HD tv, in spite of the "noise"....lol. One personal note, I have no biases against the Apple (dumpling) gang, and would have seriously considered an iphone if it was on verizon. I don't care what a smartphone can do if it can't make phone calls, and in my neck of the w Pennsylvania woods, you ain't making no calls on ATT....LOL! Thanks everyone so far for their input! And swype STILL rocks!!!!

 

[bigbadwulff]

Camera is decent at best. Video is awesome!

 

[SgtBaxter]

A modern cell phone needs to be thin enough to fit into a pocket (I remember the brick phones 20 years ago!) and this severely compromises the design options for the lens mechanism.

Not sure about that, my Samsung point and shoot is about the same thickness as my Droid and it has a real lens, and Samsung's also released cell phone/camera hybrids like the M8910 Pixon

 

[bigbadwulff]

My BB Storm had a 'lowly' 3.2mp camera and took better pictures. Must have had a better lens? Although the video on the X is very good in comparison.
Does that make any sense?
There is something off in the software. The pictures have an edited look to them like they are lightly modified with a 'painting' look to them. Can't explain it any better than that. They just aren't as clear as they should be.
They aren't bad. They just aren't up to 6-8mp quality.

 

[deftdrummer]

Guys, while we're on this topic I'd like to share a video I recently made using the DX and a Panasonic hdc -sd60 1080i camcorder. I needed to get multiple shots for my drum vid and the dx was all I had for other angles.

I guess the job is done but I am not too impressed with the quality and frame rate from the dx in low light. All front shots in my video were taken using the DX.

YouTube - Eminem - Soldier Drum Remix - Deftdrummer

 

[Hrethgir]

They just aren't up to 6-8mp quality.

Now THIS is where the problems of photo quality expectation come from. The MP number and photo quality are not necessarily the same thing. MP is how many pixels there are in the picture, and bigger is not always better. You can have a lower MP sensor (like the 5MP sensor in the iPhone 4) that has better sensitivity and will give you better picture quality than a higher MP sensor. Remember, MP is more about size, not quality. The lensing also plays a part in all this, but I don't know anything about the lens in the DX vs the iPhone 4. All I know is that the iP4 takes PHENOMENAL pictures. Heck, my old 3Gs took very nice pics too. Took it with me to Disneyland last year and used it as my primary still and video camera. Now, I'm not saying the DX has a bad cam, it doesn't, but it isn't the best.

Oh, and put your DX into Steady Shot mode, you WILL notice the difference!

 

[SgtBaxter]

The iP4's sensor is ~2X as sensitive as the one on the DX which is why it takes better pictures.

 

[Deleted User]

MP are like HP.

You are not going to notice the difference in 4mp or 8mp...UNLESS you are printing HUGE pictures.

You are not going to notice the difference in HP (Horsepower) in a 200hp vs 250hp car....UNLESS you are really flooring it and trying to use every pony!

Point being...in everyday use....it just a number.

 

[darreno1]

I tried the iPhone 4 and pics were mediocre, more so in low light. I've even searched the forums to find great pics and only saw more oversaturated mediocrity. I think that Apple logo has some hypnotic effect on people, so much so that they can't recognize crap when they see it. The X takes better pics.........if you know what you're doing.


And to the OP: You are correct, the X takes great pics for what it is and the video isn't bad either.

 

[tennisplayer]

My BB Tour took much better pics in medium light. Outdoors the X does well. Inside, less than the average smart phone.

 

[Watson111505]

I myself have no complaints with the DX Camera or Camcorder.. Works awesome.

 

[smhsmh]

I myself have no complaints with the DX Camera or Camcorder.. Works awesome.

I do have a minor complaint about the Droid X camera. I'm right handed, like most folks, and the camera controls gravitate around the right edge of the screen. So it is natural to hold the camera with the left hand and work the controls with the right.

If the left hand is holding the middle of the camera, it blocks the screen. If the left hand is holding the left edge of the camera, it is hard to keep fingers out of the lens' view, since the lens is at the extreme top left of the front of the camera. That location is probably the only place that could accommodate the depth of all the lens machinery and sensors.

Anyone figured out a better way to shoot with this thing?

 

[darreno1]

I do have a minor complaint about the Droid X camera. I'm right handed, like most folks, and the camera controls gravitate around the right edge of the screen. So it is natural to hold the camera with the left hand and work the controls with the right.

If the left hand is holding the middle of the camera, it blocks the screen. If the left hand is holding the left edge of the camera, it is hard to keep fingers out of the lens' view, since the lens is at the extreme top left of the front of the camera. That location is probably the only place that could accommodate the depth of all the lens machinery and sensors.

Anyone figured out a better way to shoot with this thing?

Hold the phone on all four corners (or close to them)with your index fingers and thumbs (index fingers on the top edge, thumbs on the bottom). The rest of your fingers on both hands should not be sticking out but resting naturally curled back into your palms. Use your right thumb to make your selections and your right index finger to shoot either by hitting the shutter icon or using the button on top. You can also use your right thumb to shoot using the shutter icon if it's comfortable to do so. Also, ALWAYS CLEAN THE LENS BEFORE SHOOTING!!!! And hold the phone as steady as possible.

 

[Deleted User]

I love the ability to click the screen now to take the picture instead of having to click the camera button on the top. I think it takes the picture faster that way too.

 

[MalikBear]

Omnia i910 had a much better 5mp cam but I love the X regardless, think I just got 1 one them bugged phones where all but 1 thing is ok.

 

[Kiwibru]

I thought the i910 gave rather diffuse pictures. They all looked like they had a softening effect or halo-like light distortion. DX is much better.

 

[Deleted User]

more X pics coming to my blog this weekend! Should be a fun night of good food and beers to take pictures of!