Help Anybody else having camera autofocus issues?

[ikediggety]

So I've been putting the camera through its paces. I'm mostly satisfied with it, even though the image quality from the camera on my old samsung omnia was better. One thing is really annoying me though. The camera has an alarming tendency to not autofocus properly. It will autofocus, and I'll briefly see the correct focus i want, only for the camera to overshoot it and wind up focusing on something six inches behind what i was trying to take a picture of. The objects that do wind up in focus look great.

I've heard of similar problems on the nexus one and droid, but i was really hoping we'd dodge this bullet. Anybody else having a similar issue?

 

[Colchicine]

My first question is, how proficient are you at photography in general? I ask, because most people don't have a clue how to get genuinely good photos. On top of that, trying to get a good photo out of a camera phone is even more difficult (i.e. any teenager's profile pic on myspace).

I wonder if you are holding the camera steady enough. If you move the camera, even slightly, after focusing on a nearby object, it can throw the range of focus off. Most people I see taking phone photos are simply not holding it steady enough, especially in low light conditions.

 

[RadYOacTiVe]

Are you setting the focus by touching the subject on the screen?

I took two pictures yesterday of my 4 month old at the mall yesterday, good lighting so that's not an issue.

The first picture I locked the focus on her face and the picture came out blurry.

Took the second picture but let the camera auto-focus and the picture was much better.

This isn't a scientific experiment by any means, I could have been much more hurried trying not to miss the first picture and took my time on the second. My baby could have moved in the first pic too.

Just curious if anyone has noticed any difference letting the camera auto-focus or manually setting the focus by touching the screen.

 

[kbaxreno]

I too am disappointed with the camera quality. I have seen some nice pics posted that claim to be from the incredible, but out of 30 or so snaps, indoor and out I have yet to take a sharply focused photo. Just looking at the screen while composing a shot is bad. For example, on my table is a bottle of hot sauce. about two feet from me. I can clearly read the writing on the label with my eyes. Looking at the phone screen after I get a green focus indicator, I can only read the very largest text. All else is very blurry. Is this normal? (the smaller text is about 3/16" tall and is very easy to read at 5' by my eyes.)
ken

 

[narf]

The auto focus definitely has a mind of its own. I am a photographer and completely agree with the original post. When you try to focus sometimes it overshoots the target. You can test this by taking a photo with multiple objects that are each a different distance away. Often the object you focused on is out of focused but a different object will look sharp.

 

[syntrix]

The auto focus definitely has a mind of its own. I am a photographer and completely agree with the original post. When you try to focus sometimes it overshoots the target. You can test this by taking a photo with multiple objects that are each a different distance away. Often the object you focused on is out of focused but a different object will look sharp.

Oh cool! It's certainly not a modern day 1D series body. No question about that! But comparing the prosumer version, one has to ask about low light performance!

Low light, less contrast.... hard to focus
Bright light, more contrast.... easy to focus

OP hasn't stated the conditions, or posted a sample with exif data intact. This would be a good first start.

edit: for low DOF / low light shooting, you are using a steady hand and using on screen tap focusing, right?

 

[necosino]

I've been pretty happy with the camera. Turn off AF, metering to spot, sharpness -1

 

[heyeaglefn]

Buy a digital camera if you aren't happy, they are pretty cheap now.

 

[RedCamaroZSS]

I find that outdoor photos are perfect. Almost good enough to replace a point and shoot. Mine has trouble indoors regardless of lighting. The pics a serviceable for facebook posts, but nothing I'd print out. The flash is touchy on distance.... too close and everything gets washed out, and too far and things are too dark. Overall tho, this is the best camera on a phone that I have ever had. Previous best was a tie between LG Dare and LG EnV Touch. The Incred smokes both!

 

[kramerica]

I've been pretty happy with the camera. Turn off AF, metering to spot, sharpness -1

I shut the AF off about a week ago because I was having the same issues. I would agree that I have gotten better pictures with the AF OFF. I am going to try the spot/sharpness thought.

 

[narf]

I agree turning the sharpness down makes photos look more natural. The default level is way over-sharpened.

 

[TrumpetMan]

My first question is, how proficient are you at photography in general?

Photography has been my hobby for over 30 years, I even have a home photo studio, and I'm having problems with the autofocus as well. I've tried under a number of lighting situations and the autofocus just doesn't seem to want to lock in most times.

I know it's not a Nikon D3 but I expected the sharpness and focus to be much better.

 

[cman8882]

I agree, the auto focus is horrible and always seems like it focuses, and then immediately unfocuses prior to snapping a pic. Same thing happens with Google Goggles. Very frustrating. I know it's a camera phone, but it still should be able to focus properly. Maybe there's a bug or something.

 

[Taylored]

I do not have this issue with mine, but the guy next to me at Best Buy was having that issue with his phone. Could just be a faulty phone. Something tells me the QA department at HTC is a little over burdened at the moment... I need to find some wood to knock on.

 

[trankster]

I had low expectations, so have been impressed with what it does (coming off a Palm Centro). I have a couple of good digital cameras with lots of manual and automatic features, and use those for taking "good" pictures. Auto focus seems okay outdoors during the day, but took 2-3 tries indoors in med-low light to get the focus right for 3 people standing in a room. IMO is fine for a quick snapshot, after all it is only a smartphone.

 

[mixwell]

Having similar issues as well. Just changed the settings as suggested. I think you know what you're talking about necosino! Pics look much better now and seem to be easier to capture in focus. Thanks!

 

[zemerick]

It also doesn't hurt to wipe off the lens cover before you take a pic. It's really easy to leave large fingerprints all over it. NTM actually having your finger partly in the pic.

 

[ikediggety]

Oh cool! It's certainly not a modern day 1D series body. No question about that! But comparing the prosumer version, one has to ask about low light performance!

Low light, less contrast.... hard to focus
Bright light, more contrast.... easy to focus

OP hasn't stated the conditions, or posted a sample with exif data intact. This would be a good first start.

edit: for low DOF / low light shooting, you are using a steady hand and using on screen tap focusing, right?

I'm an av tech. I know how to use a camera. He's a pix i took yesterday. Outside. And with stage lighting on the subjects. Apologies in advance for the sidescroll.

Most of the pics i took yesterday came out good

 

[Lefort1]

Mine works fine

Don't expect magic in low-light situations...but that should be a given considering even some P-S cameras have trouble here.

 

[zemerick]

OK, first: Can you change that to just a link please? My 30" monitor has to be sent in on warranty, so that image is killin my screen, and I'm sure pretty much everyone else's

Not sure what happened there, even when I had autofocus on and it would miss the focus, it still looked a lot better than that!