Help HTC M8 Camera Discussion-Show off your pictures!

[CafeKampuchia]

I see reviews that say the m8 can't handle scenes with high dynamic range. I wonder if they used the hdr mode? This didn't come out good in auto mode (either the sky was blown out or the foreground was too dark,depending on where I focused) but in hdr mode it looks pretty good.

Actually, this picture illustrates the problem with HDR the review sites were talking about. From the AnandTech review:

The multi-exposure HDR still produces blown out highlights in bright scenes, somewhat defeating the point of HDR photography to begin with.

If you look in the upper right-hand corner of the picture, the clouds are over-exposed to the point of being washed out. Hopefully a software update will be able to solve the problem.

 

[Granite1]

Now we're talking. Another photo from the new camera, let's see some more photos!!

 

[SolApathy]

Thanks for adding the picture! We need more from other users though...HDR, pano, macro shots, auto, low light...etc

 

[Shocky]

I see reviews that say the m8 can't handle scenes with high dynamic range. I wonder if they used the hdr mode? This didn't come out good in auto mode (either the sky was blown out or the foreground was too dark,depending on where I focused) but in hdr mode it looks pretty good.

Looks washed out and the image is very soft, reminds me a little of the HDR mode on the Moto G.

Thanks for posting the pic.

 

[sean76]

Looks washed out and the image is very soft, reminds me a little of the HDR mode on the Moto G.

Thanks for posting the pic.

I agree...looks like moto G to some extant. Shame...the phone is super besides the camera

 

[sikclown]

This is my first picture taken, out of the box, no settings changed.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ug43kmabqk2ykz/IMAG0001.jpg

And this is the same photo using ufocus.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aewd52h6w1wmrey/IMAG0001_1.jpg

The flowers are blown out but I can work with that. The color accuracy kills my OG One's and personally I like the image quality a lot. I will spend all day tomorrow out and about taking pictures but I am impressed so far.

 

[swerver32]

Looks washed out and the image is very soft, reminds me a little of the HDR mode on the Moto G.

Thanks for posting the pic.

Well to be fair, there was no sunlight so it shouldn't look bright. I see pictures on pages touting great iphone pictures that look pretty similar, like this windmill photo.

How To Take Stunning HDR Photos With Your iPhone

Notice the washed out look of the foreground, and the loss of detail in the brightest part of the clouds.

 

[Shocky]

Well to be fair, there was no sunlight so it shouldn't look bright. I see pictures on pages touting great iphone pictures that look pretty similar, like this windmill photo.

How To Take Stunning HDR Photos With Your iPhone

Notice the washed out look of the foreground, and the loss of detail in the brightest part of the clouds.

The HDR images looks fine, it's hard to judge overall quality from such a small image anyway.

The shot I think you referring to wasn't using HDR, also bear in mind the quality of HDR image varies allot depending on the device used. When was this posted? what iPhone was he using for these shots? I can't see a date.

 

[swerver32]

Well it's not pretty, compared to devices from last year it comes out in last place and this is flagship device in 2014.

Check out the link, not much of an improvement over the M7, the colour accuracy has improved but it used to be terrible so it wasn't hard to improve upon. The samples are well not very impressive.

Surprised the Galaxy S4 came out on top though.


Camera comparison: HTC One (M8) vs Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, iPhone 5s, LG G2, Nexus 5, Nokia Lumia 1520, Sony Xperia Z1S - Conclusion

The difference between the s4 being first and the one being last comes down to the detail test. Remove that score and the one is at or near the top. Personally I don't often zoom in on pictures so at least for me, the low score on that one aspect of photos is no big deal. Given everything else the one has going for it, if that's the worst nit then I am happy as can be. :smokingsomb:

I see they also left the night score out of the final score, supposedly since that's not a common use case? What??? That's one of the most common picture taking problems, low light or night. People want to take these pictures, they are just usually unable to. The one scored near the top on that metric. They also left out video, where the one was also near the top. So there's some selective scoring going on here.

 

[swerver32]

The HDR images looks fine, it's hard to judge overall quality from such a small image anyway.

The shot I think you referring to wasn't using HDR, also bear in mind the quality of HDR image varies allot depending on the device used. When was this posted? what iPhone was he using for these shots? I can't see a date.

I don't know, that's just the first thing that came up when I googled "great iphone hdr photos" or something like that.

I'd post a brighter outdoor photo, but it's a rainy week in Seattle! Not much sun in the forecast either. Maybe by July I'll get a sunny photo.

 

[Shocky]

I don't know, that's just the first thing that came up when I googled "great iphone hdr photos" or something like that.

I'd post a brighter outdoor photo, but it's a rainy week in Seattle! Not much sun in the forecast either. Maybe by July I'll get a sunny photo.

Based on the some of the screenshots it's either the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s.

The difference between the s4 being first and the one being last comes down to the detail test. Remove that score and the one is at or near the top.

Well like it or not detail is pretty important in a photo, you can't just ignore it because it's inconvenient for the HTC One M8.

Also they did low light and night tests, the HTC One M8 came last in the low light tests and it never came top in night or video either so if you included everything in the score it wouldn't have made much difference.

I think it's fair to exclude night and video test, I generally don't take night shots and since we are looking mostly at stills the video shouldn't be included.

 

[whitehat]

I am still trying to decide which new android phone to upgrade to. In searching for photos, I found this UK site with photos comparing the Lg G2 Pro, the HTC M8, The SGS 5, and the Xperia Z2.

Speaking of the Xperia Z2, the site also claims it will be a VZW exclusive here in the states.

Without lab printed (300dpi) copies of the photos I don't see any major differences between the 4 MP M8 and the 20MP Z2.

 

[swerver32]

Based on the some of the screenshots it's either the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s.



Well like it or not detail is pretty important in a photo, you can't just ignore it because it's inconvenient for the HTC One M8.

I can if it doesn't matter to me. Obviously "detail" is important to everyone, it's the degree that matters. The review cherry picks from the test results too. You did it too when you said performance at night isn't important to you. One could probably cherry pick the results and get any one of the cameras to come out at or near the top.

I guess I'm saying I do think that you and I should cherry pick to find something that matches our particular desires, but the review shouldn't do that, just present the facts, don't tilt the table.

 

[swerver32]

Here's some more m8 pics.

HTC One M8 camera samples - a set on Flickr

 

[CafeKampuchia]

I am still trying to decide which new android phone to upgrade to. In searching for photos, I found this UK site with photos comparing the Lg G2 Pro, the HTC M8, The SGS 5, and the Xperia Z2.

That site links to here and gives samples of the Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Experia Z2. Here is one set of samples:
Galaxy S5

Spoiler

HTC One M8

Spoiler

Experia Z2

Spoiler

 

[swerver32]

I spoke too soon about the weather - sun came out. Here's a hdr of some awesome clouds floating by.

 

[swerver32]

Macro

 

[olbriar]

I'm just not a big photo fan so all the haters can jump on these pics. To me they look just fine. The camera is not stopping me from owning this bad boy.

 

[SolApathy]

I have a SLR for professional photos, I think this bad boy will do just fine for the majority of folks out there.

 

[Shocky]

I can if it doesn't matter to me. Obviously "detail" is important to everyone, it's the degree that matters. The review cherry picks from the test results too. You did it too when you said performance at night isn't important to you. One could probably cherry pick the results and get any one of the cameras to come out at or near the top.

I guess I'm saying I do think that you and I should cherry pick to find something that matches our particular desires, but the review shouldn't do that, just present the facts, don't tilt the table.

I'm hardly cherry picking, it was the ONLY camera comparison comparing a selection of smartphones cameras.

Also I don't agree they are cherry picking either, like I said if they included scores for all areas it wouldn't have made any difference to the HTC One M8 being last in the comparison.

Think about this, HTC sacrificed resolution for Ultrapixel technology which is meant to give large benefits in low light conditions yet it comes last in the low light test and equaled the performance of some devices in a the night test, all compared to devices from last year.

Lets face it, they need to drop this Ultrapixel camera because it's not even good at what it's meant to excel at.

That site links to here and gives samples of the Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Experia Z2. Here is one set of samples:

I'm really liking the Z2 in the is comparison, some great shots there.

The Galaxy S5 does a good job as-well though considering they are night shots.

Notice the colours in some of the HTC images look a little off compared to the other two, I thought they fixed that.

 

[sean76]

I'm just not a big photo fan so all the haters can jump on these pics. To me they look just fine. The camera is not stopping me from owning this bad boy.

Why are people who say the camera is underwhelming haters? And that if you want good photos get a professional camera?

Its 2014, surely HTC can put a camera on here that is either just as good if not better then the $349 nexus 5, especially when they are charging $700 for the phone off contract.

I'm neither a hater or a person who wants to carry a camera around, and I'm not scared to spend the money either, but I'm sorry, a 4MP main shooter on a flagship phone that gets outdone by phones from 2013 is a little ridiculous IMO! And yes I was one of the people who were 100% ready to buy the M8 off contract.

 

[olbriar]

Why are people who say the camera is underwhelming haters? And that if you want good photos get a professional camera?

Its 2014, surely HTC can put a camera on here that is either just as good if not better then the $349 nexus 5, especially when they are charging $700 for the phone off contract.

I'm neither a hater or a person who wants to carry a camera around, and I'm not scared to spend the money either, but I'm sorry, a 4MP main shooter on a flagship phone that gets outdone by phones from 2013 is a little ridiculous IMO! And yes I was one of the people who were 100% ready to buy the M8 off contract.

It seems the masses either hate the camera or they don't... just my take. It's entirely what floats ones boat. If you desire a phone with a stellar camera and the M8 is below the mark for you, it's just not the phone for you. It's as simple as that. If it reaches the mark that's ok, then perhaps it should be considered. It's a choice all consumers will make.

And trust me, I understand how one might feel after waiting for the M8 only to find that it isn't what I wanted. It has to be a real let down. I would feel the same if the BT didn't work or something similar that's way important to me. Photos are not that important to me. I can't speak for others... it's their call. But for me the phone meets and exceeds my desires.

 

[CafeKampuchia]

Notice the colours in some of the HTC images look a little off compared to the other two, I thought they fixed that.

+1 Aside from the resolution issue, the HTC picture is very yellow (poor white balance) and lacks contrast compared to the S5 and Z2. I didn't mention this in my previous post because I'm tired of this:

Why are people who say the camera is underwhelming haters?

 

[WifiMaxed]

I know, this guy seem to poo poo on the M8, but his photos seem gorgeous.

Gear Review: A Photographers Take on The HTC One M8 (2014) | Colby Brown Photography

 

[WifiMaxed]

+1 Aside from the resolution issue, the HTC picture is very yellow (poor white balance) and lacks contrast compared to the S5 and Z2. I didn't mention this in my previous post because I'm tired of this:

I have not seen any photos posted yet from
S5 or Z2 as they both have not been released yet.
Could you post a link, as I am very curious.
Thx.