worse camera ever..

**scabsk8s** · 09-30-2011, 11:20 PM

I have to say this bionic has the worse camera on any smartphone I have had... Not only does it take forever to take a pic but the pictures come out horrible, it doesn't even auto focus no matter what I do..
Anyone else have this problem?

**Taz** · 09-30-2011, 11:27 PM

In low light mine will take a little while to auto focus. But my photos come out pretty good. I had the samsung fascinate before the bionic, and i would say it is just as good in picture quality.

**kath00** · 09-30-2011, 11:27 PM

Lots of people have complained about it here and on the MOTO official site forum. Just read through about 3-4 pages of this forum or use the search function. There are about 10 other threads discussing this (and suggesting SOME help, although no great solutions). K

**pdecell** · 09-30-2011, 11:28 PM

You might check out the post bionic pictures thread. The camera is very capable for a cell phone. Now the UI well that IS another matter.

**SSHGuru** · 09-30-2011, 11:59 PM

Bought Camera FX for auto focus and general camera goodness.

Just downloaded Snaptastic Light which fixes the crappy color of pics.

Yeah they need to fix the camera software.

**sicario666** · 10-01-2011, 12:11 AM

Just give it some time. I'm sure there will be a fix soon. I'm sure there's also a developer out there that's already working on this exact problem. I know not everyone is into rooting. Flashing a rom with an optimized camera apk would help out a bunch

sent from planet xoom

**greydarrah** · 10-01-2011, 09:25 AM

My camera works great, but if you're so unhappy, take it back or sell it. There are plenty of other devices out there. They all have pro's and con's. Pick one with con's you can live with.

**Arelunde** · 10-01-2011, 11:14 AM

I agree the camera needs work. Among other issues, the most obvious missing capability is being able to choose the exposure - either shadow or light - in the photo. The moveable focus box is great, but the inability to control exposure is totally unacceptable! Even the lamest of point and shoots can handle this and the DX camera on Froyo was outstanding. What happened?

**cdf3** · 10-01-2011, 11:20 AM

Checkout the Vignette camera app in the market. It seemed to focus better than the stock camera app.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

**greydarrah** · 10-01-2011, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by SSHGuru

Bought Camera FX for auto focus and general camera goodness.

Just downloaded Snaptastic Light which fixes the crappy color of pics.

Yeah they need to fix the camera software.

What specific settings are you using to adjust the color?

**sicario666** · 10-01-2011, 12:43 PM

Right now I'm using my thunderbolt. Camera is great. I've been keeping up on this thread and all the complaints don't really scare me. My bionic should be here next week or maybe today if I'm lucky. So I'll be testing the camera as well. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just don't forget. Its a cell phone camera.

**shadowsjc** · 10-01-2011, 12:48 PM

worst camera ever?

worst thread ever.

**snowwy66** · 10-01-2011, 12:50 PM

well, i'll say it like this.

i just switch to verizon. and i'm not happy with either the service. the fees. OR the phone. which seems to be full of bugs.

verizon may have SOMEWHAT better coverage. but for the money and the quality. they are the worse.
seriously thinking of switching back and maybe just buying one of verizons portable hotspots with the cheapest price plan for those areas i can't get coverage.

**SSHGuru** · 10-01-2011, 01:39 PM

With Snaptasic I use the Bright preset.

However I have not purchased it because I'm tired of paying to get my pictures right. I'm hoping that Camera FX will build this in.

Originally Posted by greydarrah

What specific settings are you using to adjust the color?

**SSHGuru** · 10-01-2011, 01:40 PM

By the way here is the motorola thread on the camera..

**Syounger64** · 10-01-2011, 02:31 PM

There's other thread about the same issue. As for me, I took pretty good pics of my son and videos of him playing football this am. The lighting outsode was just cloudy. Enough already with the complaints.

**greydarrah** · 10-01-2011, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by snowwy66

well, i'll say it like this.

i just switch to verizon. and i'm not happy with either the service. the fees. OR the phone. which seems to be full of bugs.

verizon may have SOMEWHAT better coverage. but for the money and the quality. they are the worse.
seriously thinking of switching back and maybe just buying one of verizons portable hotspots with the cheapest price plan for those areas i can't get coverage.

So leave.

**snowwy66** · 10-01-2011, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by greydarrah

So leave.

i got 5 days to decide what i'm gonna do.

**Simonbarsinistr** · 10-01-2011, 11:53 PM

After messing with mine today, trying to take pictures of my one year old, I figured out some settings that helped me out. If you want a fast picture, set it to sport. It is instant with no autofocus, great for a moving kid. I also realized that the reticle is an open square when unfocused on auto, and closed and green when focussed. When its green it will take an instant shot with no delay. When its not green it takes forever and is horrible.

Sent from my Xoom

**SSHGuru** · 10-02-2011, 12:58 AM

The problem really is there should be an autofocus. Nearly any program you download from the market has it and takes the picture very fast.

If you take a picture from an IPhone it focuses very fast and snaps instantly. I find that Camera FX is almost as fast - but doesn't have the color correction it needs yet. Hoping they program that in to make it a complete package.

Originally Posted by Simonbarsinistr

After messing with mine today, trying to take pictures of my one year old, I figured out some settings that helped me out. If you want a fast picture, set it to sport. It is instant with no autofocus, great for a moving kid. I also realized that the reticle is an open square when unfocused on auto, and closed and green when focussed. When its green it will take an instant shot with no delay. When its not green it takes forever and is horrible.

Sent from my Xoom

**ddemlong** · 10-02-2011, 03:35 AM

Its not the worse camera ever, it just needs a software fix for the auto focus. I have had some really nice pics but the timing was perfect. Once auto focus is fixed it will be fine.

**freeky1** · 10-02-2011, 07:22 AM

I don't think it's the worse (or worst) camera ever. Maybe it's user error.

**cdf3** · 10-02-2011, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by sicario666

Right now I'm using my thunderbolt. Camera is great. I've been keeping up on this thread and all the complaints don't really scare me. My bionic should be here next week or maybe today if I'm lucky. So I'll be testing the camera as well. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just don't forget. Its a cell phone camera.

Hope you don't be too disappointed. The TB has an awesome camera for a smartphone. The quality of pictures I took with my Bionic didn't even compare to the quality of pics my friend got with their TB.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

**EnergyPlus** · 10-02-2011, 03:47 PM

My sentiments exactly. It's a cellphone camera, not a Nikon D700. A little thought process into what you want and it can deliver within reason. Some just LIKE complaining (and exaggerating). I would like to see an improved interface, though (and where is the white balance, or am I overlooking something?).

Originally Posted by pdecell

You might check out the post bionic pictures thread. The camera is very capable for a cell phone. Now the UI well that IS another matter.

**Arelunde** · 10-02-2011, 04:01 PM

I have discovered some GOOD things about the camera, garnered from various comments from AC members and Moto's forums ...

In the stock camera options:
Check store on SD card (not internal storage)
Mode: Choose the "hand" - steady
Move the brightness slider SLIGHTLY to the right (brighter)
Use auto flash when you want flash but turn it off when there's enough light (flash tends to wash out colors)

AND most important (that I had to learn the hard way) ... Aim at your subject and wait ... until the white corner square turns into a full square and then turns green. At this point, the camera has focused and adjusted the exposure. THEN, click. Takes more time than it should, but at least it works. Experiment with other modes besides "auto," which seems to be a culprit.

Of course, most already know you can move the little box to whatever you want the camera to center its focus/exposure, but still be patient, wait till green, click.

I got some pretty impressive results from this combination. No 3rd party apps, either (I uninstalled Vignette, which didn't seem to make a lot of difference despite all the available options).