Soo about the Nexus's Camera..

**wege12** · 11-18-2011, 07:02 PM

So i just finished reading The Verge's review of the Galaxy Nexus and I was excited to hear just how amazing the camera is since Google and Samsung hyped it up so much. I read the section on the camera and I have to say that Im pissed. He said that its either a hit or miss and that its not that great in low light situations. Didnt Samsung tout this camera to be able to perform amaxing in low light? Ugh! Im really starting to lose faith in adroid handsets... Theres always a glaring problem with a handset (except SGSII but of course thats not coming to verizon) I guess I was jsut really excited for a Android phone to have it all or very close too. Some days I wonder if I should atleast try an Iphone..but I LOVE Android..

Your guys thoughts?

Heres what the review said on the camera:

"When I originally saw camera shots from the Galaxy Nexus (during my interview with Matias Duarte at the Google campus), I was blown away by the quality of what I was shown. The pictures were taken on a sunny day at the beach, and they looked incredible. I'd like to report that all photo results on the Nexus are as impressive as the ones I saw that day, but that's not exactly the case.

The 5-megapixel shooter on the device is most definitely capable of taking great looking photos, and that's aided by a super-fast auto focus (with tap-to-focus as well), consistent face detection, and a generally forgiving sensor. The camera taking and photo editing software Google provides with Ice Cream Sandwich is truly outstanding. I was impressed by the panorama and time-lapse modes provided, and there are some relatively powerful tools for editing your pictures after you've done some snapping. Google is even providing a set of filters not wildly dissimilar to some of what Instagram is doing, obviously gunning for the retro picture craze that's sweeping the globe. The filters are good — though not as good — as the Instagram offerings, and they'll go a long way to salving the wounds of Android users who are envious of their iPhone-owning brothers.

But while the software is excellent, it can't make up for that so-so sensor. Even though you can get great results with the camera, it's pretty easy to get bad results as well. Compared to something like the iPhone 4S camera, I found the Nexus' lens to be lacking.

COLOR REPRODUCTION WASN'T AS TRUE AS THAT OF THE IPHONE 4S
I had mixed results while shooting. While that zero shutter-lag feature is really great when trying to quickly capture moments, I feel like its speediness can sometimes contribute to slightly shakier looking photos. It's almost too fast, if that's possible. Some of my photos and macro shots looked really gorgeous, but others were ever-so-slightly out of focus in a way that kind of drove me crazy. Obviously shooting in bright daylight is the optimum environment for the Galaxy Nexus, and my lower light results were not inspiring. I saw a lot of noise in darker scenes, and focusing was doubly difficult. I also felt color reproduction wasn't as true as that of the iPhone 4S; images can look washed out in certain settings.

There's no question that I was able to get good photos out of the phone, and I think overall the camera is very capable, but I don't think Samsung built a world-beater with the sensor used in the Galaxy Nexus.

As far as video is concerned, the Galaxy Nexus can capture great 720p and 1080p recordings, though the quality suffers from the same issues as the still camera. One thing that's kind of interesting is that Google has included a batch of realtime video effects which use face tracking to create some surprisingly cool modifications of your subjects. There's no practical use for the software (at this point), but it's a great example of just what the Nexus is capable of."

**BaloneyPony** · 11-18-2011, 07:06 PM

If you are buying a phone as a camera then go with the iPhone.

**Mannysaurus** · 11-18-2011, 07:06 PM

TL;DR Version

Galaxy Nexus camera is good but it's so fast that sometimes the shots taken are shaky. We expect the video to suffer the same. If you're taking still photos, it'll be great. Low-light photos, not so much.

**greydarrah** · 11-18-2011, 07:07 PM

I'd say we'll have to wait and see, but no teeny tiny cell phone camera is going to be awesome, or on par with a dedicated camera. If that were the case, then we'd be buying cameras the size of a flash drive.

**mebaker** · 11-18-2011, 07:10 PM

Maybe Nokia should come out with a camera you can make calls on. Its a smart "phone" not a smart "camera"

**Poopai** · 11-18-2011, 07:24 PM

Comon guys, try to come up with a better excuse for a bad camera than "it's a phone not a camera". Spare me.

**wege12** · 11-18-2011, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Poopai

Comon guys. try to come up with a better excuse for a bad camera than "it's a phone not a camera". Spare me.

Exactly I hate how people say that. Based of their logic, I should buy a HDTV instead of the phone becasue a standalone HDTV will have a higher quality screen. Pathetic reason.

Anyways.. Dont get me wrong guys. I will most likely still get the Nexus but im just a little let down. I was expecting greatness and i may have to settle for above average. Could be worse i guess..

**Nakrohtap** · 11-18-2011, 08:00 PM

For the camera to be not quite as good as the iPhone 4S...that's a reason to be pissed? I don't think there is such a thing as the perfect phone, but the Nexus at this time is pretty much at the top of the class.
I do recall reading another review from someone just this morning that said it did perform well in low-light situations. You can't take one guy's review as fact. Yes, the review is very thorough, but take it for what it's worth. Read some other reviews before climbing out on the ledge for a phone you don't even own yet.
Coming from an OG, I can't wait to use a camera that works, doesn't force close and takes good pictures.
You DO have the option of using an actual camera too instead of your phone. The cameras in phones are for convenience. They will never replace a stand alone camera.

**thescreensavers** · 11-18-2011, 08:24 PM

If the camera is the reason your buying, go iPhone. No one is stopping you.

Response to the review - Well duh its a camera on a phone.

**complexx** · 11-18-2011, 09:08 PM

This is only one review. Relax. The guy even mentioned that he really hasn't spent much time with the phone.

**johnyguy** · 11-18-2011, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by complexx

This is only one review. Relax. The guy even mentioned that he really hasn't spent much time with the phone.

How much time you need to spend with a phone to take a picture you need a steady hand that's it there is no excuse for the camera it sucks...

**SpaceHippie** · 11-18-2011, 10:35 PM

ehhh. I judge cameras myself. Just need it to be good. Not asking for incredible.

**xAGx#AC** · 11-18-2011, 11:23 PM

It may not be as good as the 4S, but realistically its not like its going to be some piece of trash.

**dammitcubs** · 11-19-2011, 03:59 AM

This should help you out.

**Andrew Ruffolo** · 11-19-2011, 04:05 AM

Um... its better than what I have??? lol. Hard to find anything with small aperture to take great low-light photos. You need a big opening to let as much light in as possible.

**clownstrike** · 11-19-2011, 07:34 AM

The OP is right (about the topic, not necessarily right about the quality of the Nexus camera). The 'it's just a cell phone' replies don't cut it when Samsung spent so much time touting the camera attributes. I too am likely to buy a Nexus anyway, but will be disappointed if the camera picture quality is inferior to the current crop of best phone cameras. Unlike the media who don't understand that the difference between 8mp and 5mp in a camera is completely irrelevant, I was actually happy that they announced a 5mp camera for the Nexus. I assumed that would lead to higher quality pictures, instead of chasing megapixels with the latest crappy 8mp sensor.

Thanks to dammitcubs for posting a great link above. I disagree with the blogger who took the pictures and thinks the Nexus camera is better than the S2 camera based on his own pics. The color looks better in most of the Nexus pics, but many of the Nexus pics look considerably noisier and less sharp than the S2 pics (disappointing). The exposure on the night pics is clearly superior in the Nexus, and a couple of the other pics look a little better on the Nexus (encouraging). But most of the S2 pics look better than Nexus (aside from color). There is some camera shake in a couple of Nexus pics, so I have a feeling that the blogger hadn't yet found the best way to hold and operate the Nexus camera, which leads me to believe that the jury is still out. Comparison to the S2 camera is perfectly appropriate. Nobody here is comparing the Nexus camera to a larger sensor camera.

**stingray389** · 11-19-2011, 12:47 PM

Cnet, in their review has something similar: "

Photo quality at this early stage was satisfying, but color accuracy was uneven. In some shots the brighter hues were faded, while in other pictures, we had too much saturation. We'll be testing the camera in more detail over the next couple of days and we'll report back.
Videos were a mixed bag. HD clips were crisp and bright, though quick motions were blurry. Lower-res clips are usable in a pinch, but nothing appropriate for your wedding. The Galaxy Nexus also has an integrated Movie Studio app for creating your own video projects."

I realize not everyone here uses their phone to take pictures, but I don't always carry an actual camera with me, so I was hoping that the camera on this phone would take consistent quality pictures

Read more:

**TBolt2011** · 11-19-2011, 01:30 PM

Are you guys forgetting this is a Software phone?

It's not the best camera, no, but it's still, what, 5.0MP?

That's as high as a low end digital camera from just a year or two ago, so it's not like it's going to be even close to terrible.

**xiaosong** · 11-19-2011, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by dammitcubs

This should help you out.

From looking at the pictures, it seems like the Nexus seemed to overexpose some of the daylight shoots compared to the SII (see picture of intersection with one side of building in the sun). The SII is exposed so that you can still make out the details on the wall on the side with the sun but these details are gone with the Nexus. This probably also contributes a bit to the slightly washed out appearance in the first shot of the apartment building. However, this same overexposure also helps in the dark by making everything a bit brighter. Hopefully there will be a way to regulate exposure compensation on the Nexus.

I think so of the lack of sharpness (see fruit picture) is probably due to motion rather than a problem with the camera. Having never owned a camera without a hardware shutter button, it is going to take me some time to learn how to gently brush the screen to take the picture without moving the phone too much. Think of how you use a DSLR, the way you cradle it and the breathing and finger techniques used when taking a picture, all of which contribute to having a stable platform for when the shutter goes off. When you are stabbing at the screen to take the picture, it's like you are jumping forward each time you press the shutter with your DSLR.

Has anyone been able to write an app that uses one of the volume buttons as a shutter instead of zoom? I think that will help with picture taking on the phone.

**TBolt2011** · 11-19-2011, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by xiaosong

From looking at the pictures, it seems like the Nexus seemed to overexpose some of the daylight shoots compared to the SII (see picture of intersection with one side of building in the sun).

It Is a low light optimized camera. Good catch.

(Like people haven't seen that page...)

**xiaosong** · 11-19-2011, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by TBolt2011

It Is a low light optimized camera. Good catch.

(Like people haven't seen that page...)

I guess in the end it is a trade-off between overexposing daylight versus brighter low light shots. I wonder during the market research interviews if they got more people who take pictures at night or during the day with their phone.

For instance, maybe they got a response like: when I am vacationing and taking pictures during the day, I tend to have my camera but when I am out at night, I don't want to be burden with a camera and just have my phone... so I want my phone to be better in low light but I don't care if my daylight pictures are slightly overexposed.

**greydarrah** · 11-19-2011, 02:17 PM

I'm a professional photographer...it's all I do. I'm sorry (not really) if any of you don't like hearing that "it's a cell phone, not a digital camera," but those are the facts. There is no way in the world of current possibilities for a a device with as tiny a lens, as tiny a aperture, as tiny a sensor can produce the quality of photograph that a dedicated digital camera can. It's no different than expecting a car to pull a 20,000 pound trailer. It's the wrong tool for the job. If all that tiny stuff could work that well, all digital cameras would be the size of a flash drive. The Nexus camera looks to me to be a great camera for a cell phone, but if it's not good enough for you, keep your real camera close by.

**ragnarokx** · 11-19-2011, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by greydarrah

I'm a professional photographer...it's all I do. I'm sorry (not really) if any of you don't like hearing that "it's a cell phone, not a digital camera," but those are the facts. There is no way in the world of current possibilities for a a device with as tiny a lens, as tiny a aperture, as tiny a sensor can produce the quality of photograph that a dedicated digital camera can. It's no different than expecting a car to pull a 20,000 pound trailer. It's the wrong tool for the job. If all that tiny stuff could work that well, all digital cameras would be the size of a flash drive. The Nexus camera looks to me to be a great camera for a cell phone, but if it's not good enough for you, keep your real camera close by.

The precedent of phone-camera quality seems to have been set by the iPhone, so anything less disappoints people. I don't think anyone is expecting true camera quality in the GN.

Sent from my Google Nexus S

**blackrabbitklan** · 11-19-2011, 03:51 PM

Coming from OG droid, those low light shots make me very happy.

**kath00** · 11-19-2011, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by greydarrah

I'm a professional photographer...it's all I do. I'm sorry (not really) if any of you don't like hearing that "it's a cell phone, not a digital camera," but those are the facts. There is no way in the world of current possibilities for a a device with as tiny a lens, as tiny a aperture, as tiny a sensor can produce the quality of photograph that a dedicated digital camera can. It's no different than expecting a car to pull a 20,000 pound trailer. It's the wrong tool for the job. If all that tiny stuff could work that well, all digital cameras would be the size of a flash drive. The Nexus camera looks to me to be a great camera for a cell phone, but if it's not good enough for you, keep your real camera close by.

I am a photog as well, and while I agree with you partly, I really expect a phone camera to take decent enough pictures for me to be able to post on the web or at least print to a 4x6 photo. Certainly don't expect enlargements or pro quality images, but the pix I am getting out of my cameras in low light right now are total throw aways. Except with my new iPhone 4s, which just rocks in this department.

The sad thing is that I tried the Razr last night at Verizon, the latest and greatest from Moto. The camera is the same CR*P camera that I have had in my Droid X for 2 years (and the Bionic has currently). Some manufacturers, like Moto, seem to have absolutely no interest in developing their camera technology as the years go by, which is just ridiculous.

I am frankly glad that Apple is increasing people's expectations in this because it will force other manufacturers to pay attention to this aspect of the phone in the years to come.

Kath