any droid maxx/turbo users ever use LG? (camera questions and more)

[I800C0LLECT]

You're right... Sorry about that.

I wasn't referencing any of these photos that aren't specific to your problem in low light and up close.

I can achieve blurred images the same as you guys but it's not as frequent.

I just spent a few minutes putting my kids toys in action in the living room with HDR set to automatic and achieved your problem maybe 1/3 of the time. That's why I'm wondering if there's a manufacturers defect as some of you seem to have the issue 100%of the time

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[I800C0LLECT]

This may be anecdotal.... But I changed the resolution to 21 megapixel and now I'm achieving the same poor photo quality as you guys under low light and close up

I also had HDR turned to automatic with automatic flash too.

Turning megapixels down/choosing wide-screen brought back my previous results. I guess it's not specific to your phones

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[I800C0LLECT]

Posting again... Sorry.

I can't get very good photos at all with 21 megapixels in my house right now.

I guess I never noticed because as soon as I got it I switched to wide-screen mode.

Alright... Going back to wide-screen. Don't want to deal with that anymore

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[KPMcClave]

This may be anecdotal.... But I changed the resolution to 21 megapixel and now I'm achieving the same poor photo quality as you guys under low light and close up

I also had HDR turned to automatic with automatic flash too.

Turning megapixels down/choosing wide-screen brought back my previous results. I guess it's not specific to your phones

Posted via the Android Central App

I'ver had mine set to 21 MP the whole time I've had it (got it at launch).

I have tried toggling HDR. it didn't seem to make a big difference over all. I also understand that HDR is supposed to be less than optimal for the lower light action shots. It keeps the shutter open longer, which leads to more blur, if I recall.

What would be great is an ability to manually set the ISO of the Turbo. Just like I used to buy faster film for baseball spring training shots (and those were even outdoors but benefited from the fast film's ability to freeze action).

 

[doogald]

I have tried toggling HDR. it didn't seem to make a big difference over all. I also understand that HDR is supposed to be less than optimal for the lower light action shots. It keeps the shutter open longer, which leads to more blur, if I recall.

True HDR should be taking three quick shots - one with normal exposure and two either a half or full stop under and overexposed, and then the software combines them to get the most detail with the best exposure. That's why movement of the subject kills HDR (it's best for landscapes in less than ideal lighting), that's why moving the phone kills HDR.

 

[KPMcClave]

True HDR should be taking three quick shots - one with normal exposure and two either a half or full stop under and overexposed, and then the software combines them to get the most detail with the best exposure. That's why movement of the subject kills HDR (it's best for landscapes in less than ideal lighting), that's why moving the phone kills HDR.

That's right. It creates ghost images, or can. I've taken some cool outdoor shots by accident that way.

It's good for a pic of a (stationary) subject that is backlit outdoors, too.

 

[bhameyedoc]

I've owned a MAXX since it was released. I found a good deal on an LG G3 a few weeks ago so I have been using it lately. There is no question for me that the LG camera is much better than the Moto camera. I also think I prefer LG's quick start to the camera by holding the volume button down. As of late, my MAXX only works with the twist motion about 50% of the time, and the response time has gotten a lot slower. Also, the speak to take a picture and hand gesture to take a selfie with the G3 is pretty cool.

I miss active notifications and being able to use voice recognition with the screen off. I also miss my MAXX's battery life, but at least I can swap the battery in the G3 and use the removable micro SD card for all of my photos. I didn't feel the need to root my MAXX, but I have rooted my G3 to help with battery life. I forgot how much fun rooting can be. LOL

These are both great phones, but if you are looking for the best camera, LG definitely wins.

 

[vzwuser76]

I'ver had mine set to 21 MP the whole time I've had it (got it at launch).

I have tried toggling HDR. it didn't seem to make a big difference over all. I also understand that HDR is supposed to be less than optimal for the lower light action shots. It keeps the shutter open longer, which leads to more blur, if I recall.

What would be great is an ability to manually set the ISO of the Turbo. Just like I used to buy faster film for baseball spring training shots (and those were even outdoors but benefited from the fast film's ability to freeze action).

You might want to try switching to 15MP wide screen. I put mine there right off the bat and don't seem to have as many issues with blur as you guys seem to. Might be worth a try.

 

[KPMcClave]

You might want to try switching to 15MP wide screen. I put mine there right off the bat and don't seem to have as many issues with blur as you guys seem to. Might be worth a try.

I'll give it a try. Thanks. Our daughter is starting a spring basketball program so I'll have some daytime indoor gym shots to try it out.

I'll also try the pic while recording video trick. That's sort of a pain, but if it works, better than nothing.

 

[PowrDroid]

You might want to try switching to 15MP wide screen. I put mine there right off the bat and don't seem to have as many issues with blur as you guys seem to. Might be worth a try.

I don't know why that would make a difference but my phone has been set on 15MP wide-screen since day 1, and I get good results.

 

[jamielov]

Heard and read enough where I'm really excited for the LG. Can't wait. Having kept the maxx was something I'm glad I did, as I have the backup now, and if it doesn't work with the LG, I have a very, very good phone to fall back on. All the helpful posters I do thank you. But setting camera to different megapixels, HDR on/off, taking videos and then snapping pics during it...all for wanting a quick snap of something happening right at the moment....no thanks, lol. Took some hockey shots last night and was shocked how much better they came out on the maxx with no work what so ever. Point and shoot. So if the G4 is going to improve on the maxx, I'll be a happy camper! Sometimes you don't know how much you miss something, taking simple pictures that work, until you lose it

 

[vzwuser76]

I don't know why that would make a difference but my phone has been set on 15MP wide-screen since day 1, and I get good results.

1800COLLECT mentioned that he switched to 21MP and was getting crappy shots, perhaps similar to what some here are experiencing. Since I've always had mine on 15MP, that could be part of the problem. Just trying a hunch.

 

[vzwuser76]

Heard and read enough where I'm really excited for the LG. Can't wait. Having kept the maxx was something I'm glad I did, as I have the backup now, and if it doesn't work with the LG, I have a very, very good phone to fall back on. All the helpful posters I do thank you. But setting camera to different megapixels, HDR on/off, taking videos and then snapping pics during it...all for wanting a quick snap of something happening right at the moment....no thanks, lol. Took some hockey shots last night and was shocked how much better they came out on the maxx with no work what so ever. Point and shoot. So if the G4 is going to improve on the maxx, I'll be a happy camper! Sometimes you don't know how much you miss something, taking simple pictures that work, until you lose it

You don't have to do all that every time to get a picture. The point was to maybe try each thing at some time and see if it resolves your issue. If one of them does, then you have your solution and can possibly take better pictures going forward. But if you'd rather spend more money rather than try three simple and things that might fix what you have for nothing, more power to ya.

 

[KPMcClave]

You might want to try switching to 15MP wide screen. I put mine there right off the bat and don't seem to have as many issues with blur as you guys seem to. Might be worth a try.

I did try changing the setting to 15MP widescreen. I also did the run video and snap stills within that. Neither made a significant difference. It may be there was negligible improvement (or it may be a lucky shot here and there as also happens in 21MP), but the best shots were still garbage, generally speaking.

That said, this wasn't a scientific study, as the gym our daughter was playing in is different from the one she plays in during the winter. I've taken hundreds of shots in the winter gym. I would say the gym this morning was not as well lit, though I still think some cameras (including I suspect the Droid Maxx) would have been able to handle it. All the lights were on. There are four high windows (the other gym where the issues also exist has huge windows that almost entirely take up one side of the gym) and the sun was shining brighlty outside. I tried taking shots where the light was optimal.

She's 8, by the way. So the action I'm trying to capture is also not at the speed of, say, a high school game.

 

[jamielov]

You don't have to do all that every time to get a picture. The point was to maybe try each thing at some time and see if it resolves your issue. If one of them does, then you have your solution and can possibly take better pictures going forward. But if you'd rather spend more money rather than try three simple and things that might fix what you have for nothing, more power to ya.

Except I did try, and have been trying for months now. It didn't resolve the issue. I even had the phone exchanged when the Verizon rep agreed the quality was awful. New phone, same results. I promise you I attempted every possible solution, and when its THAT much work to get a damn clear picture, I'll gladly take the trade off of buying a new phone. More power to me? Well, no. But I have enough money to purchase a new phone. So it is what it is

 

[KPMcClave]

I think after all is said and done, the most damning thing about anyone's complaints with lower light motion shots (and I said "lower" not "low" intentionally) is that they had the Turbo's predecessor the Maxx doing it better.

After all the discussion, arguing, non-sequitur pics and such, the bottom line is I didn't, and I shouldn't, have to expect my newer phone with better specs (from the same manufacturer) will be worse. And in this way, very important to me not as important to others, it most certainly is.

 

[I800C0LLECT]

I have been wondering if it has to do with write burst transfer speed. Also, it makes sense that there's more processing to do with more megapixels. Perhaps, that's part of the issue with the software? It's not as efficient and capable, therefore 15 megapixels isn't as much of a strain.

But in the end I think it's a little of everything... Difficulty in focusing, light levels, iso settings, etc.

Hopefully it gets polished with 5.1. In the mean time mine works great for my applications. Wish it was that way for all of us

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[KPMcClave]

I have been wondering if it has to do with write burst transfer speed. Also, it makes sense that there's more processing to do with more megapixels. Perhaps, that's part of the issue with the software? It's not as efficient and capable, therefore 15 megapixels isn't as much of a strain.

But in the end I think it's a little of everything... Difficulty in focusing, light levels, iso settings, etc.

Hopefully it gets polished with 5.1. In the mean time mine works great for my applications. Wish it was that way for all of us

Posted via the Android Central App

Yep, I still hope it can be imrpoved via software, though I certainly don't know that I can.

I'm perfectly happy with the outdoor or even indoor shots that don't have modest motion to them. I understand not everyone takes motion shots much, but if the camera had something screwed up with HDR that resulted in red grass and green sky on landscape shots, I'd still understand there are a lot of folks who take shots like that. It would be an unacceptable shortcoming, even if it rarely if ever effected me personally.

So, hopefully 5.1, another camera update, or both, can make us all equally happy with it across all situations. Nobody's trying to photograph flying bats in a cave, after all.

 

[jamielov]

Exactly. That's been my issue from day 1, why a subsequent phone from the same manufacturer and line of droids, would have anything inferior from an earlier model. For my uses, examples, and outcomes the Maxx just blew away the performance of the turbo camera.

 

[vzwuser76]

Exactly. That's been my issue from day 1, why a subsequent phone from the same manufacturer and line of droids, would have anything inferior from an earlier model. For my uses, examples, and outcomes the Maxx just blew away the performance of the turbo camera.

Then you and I have an extremely different set of experiences, because my Maxx pics were dog$hit. The colors were always crap on that thing, it's like it had a colored filter over the lens. I stopped using the Maxx as a camera a week after I got it, and carried my old Galaxy S3 with me if I needed to snap a photo. And I tried it again after each update and while it improved a bit, it still wasn't as good as my Galaxy was. Most of the camera apps I have I picked up during my tenure with the Maxx. And the reason I didn't exchange or send it in, is because every display model, and a few that other people had all came out the same. Which is why I can't believe people are more satisfied with that camera over the Turbo. I've taken better outdoor, indoor and lowlight pics with my Turbo than I ever did with my Maxx. The only thing I've ever seen as an issue with the Turbo was the shutter speed, but I've still never had the amount of blur that you guys are getting in any lighting condition. So while you might get angry that people don't see your point of view, it's the same for me when people talk glowingly about the Maxx. In my opinion they would've been better off leaving the camera out of that phone and used the extra space for a larger battery.