Poor camera

[bonerp]

Anyone else think the camera is pants compared to the n2? My N2 took much sharper images. Even with camera shake reduction switched on i cannot get a decent picture.

 

[mrpnut]

I have no problems and no the note 2 does not have better pictures than the note 3 8mp is not better then 13 mp

 

[Simon_Gardner]

This is not a specialist photography forum, but to spread a little enlightenment, it's not all about megapixels.

It's perfectly possible and indeed not uncommon to have a camera with less megapixels producing better IQ [Image Quality]. Lots of other things are equally, if not more important, including lens and crucially the sensor's physical size and its technology.

Manufacturers have seduced a large section of the pubic into believing they will automatically thus get better IQ with more megapixels and this is just untrue.

I make no comment on the Note 3's camera in particular.

 

[mafmmx]

Well one thing I really don't like about my N3 is the lack of a Macro option ...My N2 had a Macro option that I loved and used all the time and the pics looked great for what I used it for ..There is no such option on the N3 camera which is suppose to be a better camera ...

 

[Simon_Gardner]

Well one thing I really don't like about my N3 is the lack of a Macro option ...My N2 had a Macro option that I loved and used all the time and the pics looked great for what I used it for ..There is no such option on the N3 camera which is suppose to be a better camera ...

By all accounts, like a lot of modern small cameras, it goes into "macro" automatically and seamlessly without having to be "told". Have you tested how close it will still find focus?

 

[DroidL]

Too True, I bought a Canon with a 12 MP sensor over one with a 16MP Sensor which was much cheaper because the 12mp sensor was far better. In fact if you look at the Canon Point and Shoots you will find that the 16 MP cameras are generally cheaper then the 12MP cameras.

However in the case of the Note II vs the Note III from what I have seen my Note III blows my Note II out of the water in picture quality and I am generally a DSLR person so it isn't like I don't know what I am looking at. I will play some more but so far I am very happy with the Note III pics and Might do some side by side testing especially if I can set them both for the same image size.

 

[mastacow53]

Well one thing I really don't like about my N3 is the lack of a Macro option ...My N2 had a Macro option that I loved and used all the time and the pics looked great for what I used it for ..There is no such option on the N3 camera which is suppose to be a better camera ...

Being that my N3 focuses down to about 3", I think a "Macro" setting is unnecessary.

 

[Mikestony]

Please do not attack others opinions....that's what they are, "opinions", and whilst you may not agree to them, there is no need to attack them. Attack issues, not others or their opinions.
Thanks

/thread cleaned.

 

[Gearu]

Disappointed that the superfine option selector is gone. I just want to be sure that the phone knows what it's supposed to be doing. Not impressed with what I've seen on the screen so far when I zoomed in a little. Will take some daylight shots and view them on PC soon.

 

[DroidL]

OK I just took a few shots with Note III and They are fantastic, and not just for a phone kind of fantastic, they are fantastic in that I would stack them up next to most any Point and Shoot on the market.

It did make think of something and I know this is really stupid but in the rush to get my phone going and in its case and all I forgot to remove the little plastic protective film over the lens and the first few pics I took were OK but not what I expected and then I pulled the film of the lens and bingo this shit looked great just wondering if any of you might have gotten in a hurry and never removed the protective plastic from the lens.

I know it sounds dumb but I just can imagine anyone complaining about the pictures my phone takes.

 

[DroidL]

Gearu,
As for what you are saying about the zoom, I don't think the camera has any real optical zoom and think using the screen to zoom in and out being digital zoom you are far better off moving closer to the object if possible rather then use Digital Zoom. Of course if you use digital zoom the image will degrade.

 

[dafuse]

Gearu,
As for what you are saying about the zoom, I don't think the camera has any real optical zoom and think using the screen to zoom in and out being digital zoom you are far better off moving closer to the object if possible rather then use Digital Zoom. Of course if you use digital zoom the image will degrade.

You're right of course. But that's the advantage of having a higher mega pixel count in the camera: if you digitally "zoom" in with a higher count camera, it won't degrade as much as doing the same thing with a lower mega pixel count. So theoretically, you can zoom in a bit with GN3, and still wind up with the same amount of pixels in your image as a non-zoomed GN2 picture.

 

[dustwun77]

I have not been a real camera buff but was curious after reading comments. I took this shot with phone pretty close to can.
I noticed it was unfocused at first but when I brought my finger next to the screen it out up a little box and got in to focus.
I don't know if this has been standard procedure on phones or if this is a new feature, but I think it is great for how close it was.

 

[Simon_Gardner]

Gearu,
As for what you are saying about the zoom, I don't think the camera has any real optical zoom and think using the screen to zoom in and out being digital zoom you are far better off moving closer to the object if possible rather then use Digital Zoom. Of course if you use digital zoom the image will degrade.

Are there any phone cameras that have a genuine zoom anyway? There hardly seems room for the necessary optics. Surely all they do effectively is crop.

Oh yes there's that S4(?) camera/phone combo thing. That has a real zoom.

 

[Simon_Gardner]

Personally, I'm using an actual camera with one of these inside and letting the Note 3 easily hoover up the pictures. I always carry a camera.

 

[dynomot]

I think the camera is pretty good for macro shots. This is a link to a download of a picture of my SGS4's Download screen after resetting back to stock. I tried photo bucket, but it compressors the image and you couldn't read it. :


https://db.tt/cOB6JPMJ

 

[DroidL]

Simon my Canon P&S has built in Wifi and I use the Hotspot on my phone to upload stuff to Facebook and what not but it seems that with the Note III I might start leaving the Canon home.

I have a Nikon DSLR and if someone thinks any camera phone is going to pro shots of their kids sporting events they are deluded.

 

[Simon_Gardner]

Simon my Canon P&S has built in Wifi and I use the Hotspot on my phone to upload stuff to Facebook and what not but it seems that with the Note III I might start leaving the Canon home.

Those EZ-Share cards and in particular the EZ-share app are a killer combination. Boot the app and pictures are in your phone. Or just leave it tethered as you go along.

I'm aware a lot of recent cameras have wifi built in. I'm not sure if the phone software is up to snuff? (Anyway, I've resolved not to replace my pocket cameras until there's a decent one with remote or cable release facility. I've been having a VERY long wait. DPreview said the Canon 120 did, but I think they lied.)

The lovely Sony RX100M2 I think does via NFC which of course means the Note 3.

I have a Nikon DSLR and if someone thinks any camera phone is going to pro shots of their kids sporting events they are deluded.

I don't think anyone does. But they are hoping for "good enough". Personally, I'm having to learn how to shoot occasional JPGs again. I'd completely forgotten. My DSLR will shoot full size RAW and small JPGs ideal for the phone. But shooting JPGs is a different ball game anyway. I normally only use them for HDR. The phone App is set only to hoover up the JPGs and leave the RAW files alone.

I'd take a whole lot of convincing I'd want to use any phone camera... I'll have a play around sometime. Plus Joby is promising me a quick device to stick the Note 3 on a tripod shortly. I do have something which may well work once I get my ordered UAG phone case. I almost never hand-hold even with a pocket camera.

 

[androidexpat]

Those EZ-Share cards and in particular the EZ-share app are a killer combination. Boot the app and pictures are in your phone. Or just leave it tethered as you go along.

I'm aware a lot of recent cameras have wifi built in. I'm not sure if the phone software is up to snuff? (Anyway, I've resolved not to replace my pocket cameras until there's a decent one with remote or cable release facility. I've been having a VERY long wait. DPreview said the Canon 120 did, but I think they lied.)

The lovely Sony RX100M2 I think does via NFC which of course means the Note 3.



I don't think anyone does. But they are hoping for "good enough". Personally, I'm having to learn how to shoot occasional JPGs again. I'd completely forgotten. My DSLR will shoot full size RAW and small JPGs ideal for the phone. But shooting JPGs is a different ball game anyway. I normally only use them for HDR. The phone App is set only to hoover up the JPGs and leave the RAW files alone.

I'd take a whole lot of convincing I'd want to use any phone camera... I'll have a play around sometime. Plus Joby is promising me a quick device to stick the Note 3 on a tripod shortly. I do have something which may well work once I get my ordered UAG phone case. I almost never hand-hold even with a pocket camera.

I was thinking of picking up a Nikon P330 to use to send pictures to my smartphone. I saw the new Olypmus Pen but it was way over $1K. The Sony RC 100M2 did not seem to take as good as macro shots as the Nikon 330

 

[FlyingPigL]

Anyone else think the camera is pants compared to the n2? My N2 took much sharper images. Even with camera shake reduction switched on i cannot get a decent picture.

First disclaimers: (1) I'm not a professional photographer nor do I have any particular interest in that direction; (2) I did not own a Note 2.

However I do take pictures of food, scenic areas, friends, etc., and I don't know if it's the camera or that beautiful screen, but I am simply amazed at the clarity, the colors (not oversaturated greenish like my previous phone the S2), etc.

I used to use an app called Pro HDR, which takes multiple shots, and blends them into one better picture. It was quite nice, but I'm hesitating to load it on this phone as I'm happy with the picture quality. Perhaps that app would be something you'd like to try?

Good luck!

 

[Reggie3]

I came from an original Note and for sure I can see the difference in picture quality

 

[Simon_Gardner]

I came from an original Note and for sure I can see the difference in picture quality

That could be read either way.

 

[chimphappyhour]

I'm a semi-pro photog and usually always have a DSLR somewhat close as well as a smaller CSC. That said, I always test perspective new phones for image quality from their cameras before I buy. It's the second thing I check after making sure the phone has expandable memory. My Sony w810i was good for its time. Then I didn't have another phone with a decent camera until I got my GNex.

After that I picked up my Note 2 which did exceptionally well. I was even able to print some of the shots I took with it for sale. So I was really excited when I saw the Sony Z come to my carrier. The reviews made me a bit hesitant though but no problem, I could just go to my carrier's store and side by side it with my Note 2, right? To answer the earlier post about 13 has to be better than 8.... no. No, it wasn't. They weren't even on par. I thought I had done something wrong and redid my tests 3 times. Each time, the Note 2 beat the 13MP Sony.

So the Note 3 hit my carrier maybe a week after the LG G2, I think. I went in again to do a side by side by side. With no expandable storage, the G2 would have to really best my Note 2 by quite a bit to make up for it. My results? The Note 3 and G2 looked better than my Note 2 but both were close to each other for quality. If I get a shot worthy, I wouldn't be against printing 16x20 from either. Obviously, I went with the Note 3 as it had the extra storage and the added benefit of the S-pen features. I really like the manual control of the G2 but decided I'd see if some of that stuff showed up in the next Nexus device.

My only gripe with the camera on the Note 3 isn't actually with it but with Snapseed. It seems Snapseed doesn't want to work with the full file out of a Note 3 and possibly all cameras 13MP and up. That's a real shame as it was a great part of my workflow that allowed me to get the most out of my Note 2 shots.

 

[Simon_Gardner]

The thing I use phone cameras for - the one useful thing - is to take a snap through my car windscreen of the pay-and-display parking ticket as I leave so I can later check on the phone exactly what time the ticket expires. I'm sure I'll think of something else sometime.

 

[missy brown]

I taken a few pictures with my note 3 and i for one thine my pictures look better then they did on my note 2 so far i think this is great so far