Is my Nexus 5 defective?

[dsdxp]

I can't seem to take a picture in focus. I've read things here and there about people having similar issues, but many people don't seem to have any problems. It's not user error either--I know how to hold it steady. Is my phone defective?

 

[N4Newbie]

I don't want to insult your intelligence, but did you remove the tiny plastic film protecting the lens during manufacture and shipping?

Really, I could see how one might easily miss it...

 

[dsdxp]

Yep

I can get a pretty clear picture if I'm taking a pic of an object, but if I'm takin a pic of a person and there's even the slightest movement it's blurry no matter what. I'm coming from an iPhone 5 and had no problems. It's not like the people are running or walking in the pictures either.

 

[N4Newbie]

Try disabling HDR+ mode. As you can read here, Nexus 5 camera samples and first impressions | Android Central

HDR+ can run into issues with movement, however, as you'll see in the second set of comparison images below. The people in the foreground are blurred and obscured by noise. Not surprising — as the phone has to have time to take multiple exposures.

 

[dsdxp]

Did not have HDR+ on

 

[ibbyj]

Are you using flash? If not, try turning it on.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ttwiitch]

Weird problem. I can set my nexus to any mode and I still haven't come across this...

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dsdxp]

Haven't been using flash.. Usually don't use flash if there's decent lighting. It's like it takes forever to focus and then can't take the picture in time (once it does focus).

 

[dsdxp]

This site outlines the exact issue I have with the camera:

Nexus 5: Common Problems Users Have and How to Fix Them | Digital Trends

"Issues include blurry photos, very slow auto-focus, shutter lag, and generally disappointing results in terms of photo quality. The general consensus seems to be that this is a software problem rather than a hardware problem, which is good in the sense that it can be fixed by an update and there’s no need to replace your handset, the downside is that you have to wait for the update."

No one here has this problem?

 

[Diesel6401]

I did when taking a pic of my kid yesterday. Try downloading camera 360 https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...s?id=vStudio.Android.Camera360&token=3niJMUJ0

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[dsdxp]

I've tried camera 360 and various other cameras, but none of them have any faster shutter speed and focus speed...

 

[ring o fire]

I am also not trying to insult your intelligence, but are you tapping the screen to focus on what you are taking a picture of? I have taken quite a few pictures of people and things and haven't had any issues.

 

[foxbat121]

Try taking some pics outside. Most indoor lighting are not good enough for any camera phones. Some might be a little bit faster than others. But without flash on, it will be very slow and hard to focus on. The shutter lag of the default camera app is also mentioned in many reviews.
Here is what you should do: take a picture in the condition you describe in OP and open the picture, choose menu->Details. Report the aperture and exposure time here. From what I can gather, the rear camera has a fixed aperture of F2.53 (which is not that fast). Indoor pictures can often in the range of 1/15 sec to 1/30 sec of exposure time. At 1/15, your subject should stay steady. The OIS can only compensate minor hand shake of who takes picture, not for the subject movement.

 

[dsdxp]

I am also not trying to insult your intelligence, but are you tapping the screen to focus on what you are taking a picture of? I have taken quite a few pictures of people and things and haven't had any issues.

yes I do tap the screen on where i want to focus and see it focus, but then when i snap the picture, its subtly out of focus every time

- - - Updated - - -

Try taking some pics outside. Most indoor lighting are not good enough for any camera phones. Some might be a little bit faster than others. But without flash on, it will be very slow and hard to focus on. The shutter lag of the default camera app is also mentioned in many reviews.
Here is what you should do: take a picture in the condition you describe in OP and open the picture, choose menu->Details. Report the aperture and exposure time here. From what I can gather, the rear camera has a fixed aperture of F2.53 (which is not that fast). Indoor pictures can often in the range of 1/15 sec to 1/30 sec of exposure time. At 1/15, your subject should stay steady. The OIS can only compensate minor hand shake of who takes picture, not for the subject movement.

I will do this, thanks

 

[Diesel6401]

I've tried camera 360 and various other cameras, but none of them have any faster shutter speed and focus speed...

Try switching the focus mode to "infinity" in Camera 360.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Shilohcane]

I sure wish my Nexus 5 had a Hot Word to snap a picture like my last LG phone since I want to hold the camera with two hands even with it's ISP. I have an issue tapping too hard and it shakes the camera. Looks like the count down timer is the only hand free method of taking a photo without touching the screen.

 

[Diesel6401]

From what I can gather, the rear camera has a fixed aperture of F2.53 (which is not that fast).

HDR+ is showing F2.678 all my non HDR+ are showing F2.53

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Shilohcane]

I am not suggesting anyone try Jishnu Sir camera patch fix since it could void your warranty. However this is the part I liked;

On the bright side though, we have now confirmed that many of the problems with the Nexus 5′s camera can in fact be fixed with a software update, and it’s likely just a matter of time before Google issues some fixes.

A developer fixed one of the worst things about the Nexus 5

 

[srkmagnus]

Can you take two pictures (one with HDR+ and one without) and post it here for us to take a look at? I'm interested in seeing the image quality.

 

[Shilohcane]

Can you take two pictures (one with HDR+ and one without) and post it here for us to take a look at? I'm interested in seeing the image quality.

There are lots of people reviewing this HDR+ with the Nexus 5 that know a lot more about it than I do. Here is one review that shows two pictures with a N5 with and without HDR+ turned on.

HDR+ on Google Nexus 5 detailed: smarter, reduces motion blur

This one has even more pictures of with and without HDR+ mode. I love the difference with the water shot.

Shooting with the Nexus 5