Camera how good is it.....really?

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

I think to go back to the original question of this thread - How good is the camera?

This thread has made me actually use the camera more to test out some of the complaints noted in the thread. Having done so, I have become more impressed with the camera and really believe it does, in fact, live up to the HTC hype.

In my opinion it is great for a phone camera. It is probably the top low light phone camera there is outside of the Nokia Pureview. Based on my recent testing I am more impressed with the dynamic range than I was initially. It clearly handles contrasting light fine. Even cropped to 4:3 mode, which I prefer, the images are detailed and noise free on 1920x1080 monitors. It is unmatched for high shutter speed shooting to stop action. The OIS allows good results hand held to 1/7th second, which is amazing.

It is fast to start and has virtually no shutter lag.

Throw in 8 shot per second burst mode at full resolution, zoe, and highlights, and it is really pretty amazing.

It does take a bit of effort to learn how to get the best results, but once you do, I guarantee that it is the most fun phone camera you have ever had and you will shoot many more pictures with it than any other camera you have.

 

[warpdrive]

Back light vs. contrast is a whole different thing. If I shoot my dlsr back lit in evening sun, I am going to have the same problem. You think the one should outperform a dslr?

If you are talking about using reflectors and strobes, you aren't working with natural light. Sure, you can expose a back light scene our cure harsh sunlight using a bunch of equipment, but it ain't gonna fit in your pocket.

Show me some of your s4 shots that demonstrate how good they look in the noon sun. I have been waiting for your demonstration of how the s4 is better, but all you posted were the "humidity ruined" shots that looked awful.

Please stop thinking that I'm trying to degrade the htc one. All cameras like you say have the same issues with lighting. The problem here is without merit, you took one line that I disagreed with you on, and you took it like I'm trying to bash the phone. I'm not. In fact I now realise why you are so aggressive with my shots. .. you think I took them to prove something to you. Sorry bro, but I took them for someone else as well as a test for something that you clearly don't understand at this time, so I have no need to continue on that subject.

As for reflector or strobes in daylight, photographers use them all the time. You should research this and learn a thing or two.

As for me taking pics to prove something to you, why should I? Why should anyone? Your aggressive stance to many people including me is not the way to get what you want. A touch of honey is better then vinaiger.

My advice stands, in uneven lighting and contrasty situations, the htc one has problems like most camers. It is just agrivated at times by tap to focus and its lack of dynamic range. This doesn't mean that all cameras don't have this issue. It's just not as much of a problem as some other phones. In Jerry's example of the Lincon town car, yes the S4 will indeed have this issue too. Just not as bad. If Jerry used tap to focus then it would have agrivated this issue and it is no wonder that it looked that way. But, this can be fixed with some tweeks to the settings. And yes my settings adjustments that I gave to help in such a case will help.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

 

[warpdrive]

I don't claim to be a photographer. But Phil bought me several thousand dollars worth of camera and lenses, so I needed to learn how to use the damn things. A quick trip to my local community college website told me they offer plenty of photography courses, so I signed up.

The very first discussion of the very first class (the one they make everyone take) was about the golden hour and to never try and take pictures in mid day sun unless you're deep in the woods with a canopy of trees (relevant for my area).

I'm in no way saying to always shoot in mid day sun. But that is mostly due to shadows being too harsh. In fact I've never said to shoot in mid day. I've said that if you shoot under contrasty conditions such as your car shot, try -1 contrast and if it is as bad as yours try -1 exposure as well. You'll find that it will add detail to your background buildings without having that car get too dark. Try it Jerry. You'll see it works.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

 

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

Please stop thinking that I'm trying to degrade the htc one. All cameras like you say have the same issues with lighting. The problem here is without merit, you took one line that I disagreed with you on, and you took it like I'm trying to bash the phone. I'm not. In fact I now realise why you are so aggressive with my shots. .. you think I took them to prove something to you. Sorry bro, but I took them for someone else as well as a test for something that you clearly don't understand at this time, so I have no need to continue on that subject.

As for reflector or strobes in daylight, photographers use them all the time. You should research this and learn a thing or two.

As for me taking pics to prove something to you, why should I? Why should anyone? Your aggressive stance to many people including me is not the way to get what you want. A touch of honey is better then vinaiger.

My advice stands, in uneven lighting and contrasty situations, the htc one has problems like most camers. It is just agrivated at times by tap to focus and its lack of dynamic range. This doesn't mean that all cameras don't have this issue. It's just not as much of a problem as some other phones. In Jerry's example of the Lincon town car, yes the S4 will indeed have this issue too. Just not as bad. If Jerry used tap to focus then it would have agrivated this issue and it is no wonder that it looked that way. But, this can be fixed with some tweeks to the settings. And yes my settings adjustments that I gave to help in such a case will help.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

Now you are claiming the s4 will have better dynamic range, which you have not demonstrated, nor is it logical given the larger pixels of the one. You criticism of the Lincoln photo appears unfounded based on the small compressed image on the thread. There could be some blown highlights, but I don't think it is obvious from the shot posted. Perhaps your monitor isn' t well calibrated?

Here is the problem. You own the s4 and you don't own the One. Despite that, you are on a One forum for some reason acting as if you are familiar with the one's performance. You started off trying desperately to prove that the larger pixels make no difference in low light. You were clearly proven wrong on that. Then you tried to say the performance was all of trick of the way HTC set up the software. Again, that was not correct. Now you have grabbed hold of dynamic range as an issue.

I posted a shot in high contrast lighting, showing the one does fine with the high contrast. So then you try to redefine what high contrast light in photography means. You refuse to post any photos to support your claims of the s4 being better in high contrast light.

I have a hard time knowing how to respond beyond that without getting into trouble with the moderators.

 

[mcantu]

if youre getting blown highlights (which is very common with pics taken with direct overhead light) then use tap to focus on a different area of the screen to change the exposure point.

i'd like to see examples of pics taken with the international version of the One that has the most recent update installed that corrected many of the camera issues

 

[warpdrive]

Now you are claiming the s4 will have better dynamic range, which you have not demonstrated, nor is it logical given the larger pixels of the one. You criticism of the Lincoln photo appears unfounded based on the small compressed image on the thread. There could be some blown highlights, but I don't think it is obvious from the shot posted. Perhaps your monitor isn' t well calibrated?

Here is the problem. You own the s4 and you don't own the One. Despite that, you are on a One forum for some reason acting as if you are familiar with the one's performance. You started off trying desperately to prove that the larger pixels make no difference in low light. You were clearly proven wrong on that. Then you tried to say the performance was all of trick of the way HTC set up the software. Again, that was not correct. Now you have grabbed hold of dynamic range as an issue.

I posted a shot in high contrast lighting, showing the one does fine with the high contrast. So then you try to redefine what high contrast light in photography means. You refuse to post any photos to support your claims of the s4 being better in high contrast light.

I have a hard time knowing how to respond beyond that without getting into trouble with the moderators.

This simple and short version or TLDR; you misunderstood almost everything I said and thought from the beginning to end that I'm here to bash this phone. I'm not. Never was. If you would have been less aggressive towards people who have different opinions then you as some how being distasteful toward a phone, you might have had a different view of me from the start.

Because of this, we have spent more time bickering then enjoying our phones. And while I will not use the htc one as my daily driver, I will have one to use from time to time as my wife will be getting one.

With that said, I have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to making adjustments on the htc one when it comes to photography. I've even have given out adjustments to people well before the US release. One of the adjustments is to lower the over sharpening that the camera has to -1. Brian from Anandtech prefers -2, and if I remember correctly you like -1.

My point is that if you weren't so insistent on thinking everyone is wrong, then maybe you could find that you are just like us... lovers of phones.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[warpdrive]

if youre getting blown highlights (which is very common with pics taken with direct overhead light) then use tap to focus on a different area of the screen to change the exposure point.

i'd like to see examples of pics taken with the international version of the One that has the most recent update installed that corrected many of the camera issues

If I'm not mistaken, the US phones came out with that firmware pre installed. So it has it already and all or most reviews use photos that use the update. Including the AC camera review of the htc one vs the S4.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[mcantu]

If I'm not mistaken, the US phones came out with that firmware pre installed. So it has it already and all or most reviews use photos that use the update. Including the AC camera review of the htc one vs the S4.

Posted via Android Central App

dpreviews did their S4 vs HTC One vs iPhone 5 vs Lumina 920 test at the end of April and they stated that the One did not have the update. iirc, the update pushed out to International versions about 3 weeks after it went on sale in the US

 

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

This simple and short version or TLDR; you misunderstood almost everything I said and thought from the beginning to end that I'm here to bash this phone. I'm not. Never was. If you would have been less aggressive towards people who have different opinions then you as some how being distasteful toward a phone, you might have had a different view of me from the start.

Because of this, we have spent more time bickering then enjoying our phones. And while I will not use the htc one as my daily driver, I will have one to use from time to time as my wife will be getting one.

With that said, I have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to making adjustments on the htc one when it comes to photography. I've even have given out adjustments to people well before the US release. One of the adjustments is to lower the over sharpening that the camera has to -1. Brian from Anandtech prefers -2, and if I remember correctly you like -1.

My point is that if you weren't so insistent on thinking everyone is wrong, then maybe you could find that you are just like us... lovers of phones.

Posted via Android Central App

I think most people realize it takes 2 sides to have an argument. When I argue with someone I make sure I am right. I gather from your posts in this thread, you don't bother with the being right part.

You own the S4 which has a fine camera. But this isn't the S4 forum, so you should consider yourself a visitor here, as I would if I were posting in the s4 camera threads. But you come in here posting inaccurate statements with an air of authority and making derisivel statements like "...everyone has been hoodwinked by the BS marketing that htc implied".

Go back and read this thread. Read you various claims. (bigger pixels don't help with low light, etc.) and then understand that the One forum is my turf and while I will readily agree if some one raises a real issue, I will not shy away from squashing FUD from owners of other devices. Just like I would be treated on the S4 forum if I tried the same.

I think it would be better for all concerned if you would start every post here with "I haven't every used the one, but I read some reviews that said...".

 

[warpdrive]

dpreviews did their S4 vs HTC One vs iPhone 5 vs Lumina 920 test at the end of April and they stated that the One did not have the update. iirc, the update pushed out to International versions about 3 weeks after it went on sale in the US

Thanks for the correction. But if you read almost any other review, specifically from AC, you'll notice that all tests were done with the update.

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[mcantu]

Thanks for the correction. But if you read almost any other review, specifically from AC, you'll notice that all tests were done with the update.

Posted via Android Central App

i'm not sure though that the update that come out for the US versions included the camera changes. the change log for the international update said this:

? Improvement to sound capture with Zoe
? Noise reduction in slow motion movie capture
? Improved color reproduction and dynamic range (reduced over-exposure in non-HDR images) in certain conditions
? Fix to display correct ISO in EXIF information when ISO settings are manually changed by the user
? Improved system performance and stability


i dont think the change log of the US update had anything similar

 

[warpdrive]

I think most people realize it takes 2 sides to have an argument. When I argue with someone I make sure I am right. I gather from your posts in this thread, you don't bother with the being right part.

You own the S4 which has a fine camera. But this isn't the S4 forum, so you should consider yourself a visitor here, as I would if I were posting in the s4 camera threads. But you come in here posting inaccurate statements with an air of authority and making derisivel statements like "...everyone has been hoodwinked by the BS marketing that htc implied".

Go back and read this thread. Read you various claims. (bigger pixels don't help with low light, etc.) and then understand that the One forum is my turf and while I will readily agree if some one raises a real issue, I will not shy away from squashing FUD from owners of other devices. Just like I would be treated on the S4 forum if I tried the same.

I think it would be better for all concerned if you would start every post here with "I haven't every used the one, but I read some reviews that said...".

Again, I'm not going to rehash the past. This is clearly not your forum. You are as much a guest as I and just because my views on things are different then yours doesn't make me less worthy to post here. It seems we disagree even on this subject. But unlike you I welcome your thoughts no matter how different they may be.

As for dynamic range I hsve always said this and so have reviewers, sadly you are the only one here that disagrees with people who have tested the device. You have dismissed their methods and results and is so defiant about it that I chose to just disagree. But, unlike you I don't ask people to post proof or shut up. If anything, since you disagree so much, it is you who should be posting proof.

But to be honest, who cares.

The person in question regarding contrasty lighting and his inconsistency in taking pics will now more then likely return the phone. Good job. Congrats.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[mcantu]

Thanks for the correction. But if you read almost any other review, specifically from AC, you'll notice that all tests were done with the update.

Posted via Android Central App

can you link me to the AC review that said that? all the ones i can find were written 3-6 weeks before the international update was released

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

can you link me to the AC review that said that? all the ones i can find were written 3-6 weeks before the international update was released

I spoke to Alex, who spoke to HTC, who said the US versions already had that firmware version when they shipped.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk HD

 

[warpdrive]

can you link me to the AC review that said that? all the ones i can find were written 3-6 weeks before the international update was released

Kevin already answered your question, but if you looked at one of the opening lines in the htc one and s4 camera review it would say " That's why we've prepared a few direct comparison shots from the European HTC One (on the latest 1.29 firmware) and the international Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-i9505). Check 'em out after the break."

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[TimmyB]

OK, I am a complete photo-imbecile. Point-and-shoot was made for me! That being said, I still like it when I get lucky and take a really nice picture, whether it's with my phone, my $80 point-and-shoot, or my slightly nicer Sony CyberShot. (Older, but still takes really nice pics!)

Tonight, my son's band had a gig and I took a few pics. The first is of the marquee out front. I thought it turned out very well, especially considering I didn't really put a lot of thought into it; I just walked up and snapped it when their picture was up.

I also took many pics and zoes during the show. Keep in mind, this is a very active alt-rock band, in a dimly-lit auditorium. The first pic I took on full automatic, the second was with manually adjusting the exposure down by 2, and the sharpness up by 2. It was obvious how much better the quality was by playing with these settings. I could have kept fiddling with these all night to see what was best, but I was really there to hear my son, not to worry about my phone!

I wish I could learn what the correct settings are for each situation; maybe, someday, I'll take the time, now that these phones are getting so capable.

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

can you link me to the AC review that said that? all the ones i can find were written 3-6 weeks before the international update was released

I spoke to Alex, who spoke to HTC, who said the US versions already had that firmware version when they shipped.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk HD

I can actually be useful for once

Originally, we and a handful of other sites got unofficial engineering sample HTC Ones to use and evaluate, a few days before they were announced. These devices did nt have the final software, and were never going to be updated. They all were to be sent back, but that never happens. The random times you see someone with a factory S-Off HTC One, chances are it's one of these units. I sent ours back when HTC asked us to.

Closer to launch, HTC sent out official review units. These units had the official software, but they also needed a camera update to adjust the auto-ISO settings. Alex used one of these for the first device review.

At US launch, HTCAmerica and Sprint both sent out review units. These units DID have the final camera software installed, and do not need the auto-ISO update. Phil used an AT&T branded unit from this batch for his AT&T review, and a Sprint branded unit from this batch for his Sprint review.

The unlocked devices, as well as the developer devices shipped with an even later version of the software, that did include the auto-ISO fix for the camera.

Alex's European unit DID have the update when he did his camera comparison.

As it stands now --

• Phil has an AT&T branded HTC One that never got a camera update
• Alex has a European HTC One that did get a camera update
• I have the Dev Edition HTC One that never got a camera update

But we all have the same version of camera software on our devices.

/complicated

 

[AdamsHouseCat]

Please clarify? Do those of us with commercially released AT&T HTC Ones have the latest camera software? ( or not?)

 

[badbrad17]

Fair enough. Seems I made a gross assumption. Also, I didn't take into account that the EXIF data was embedded in only 1 of the 2, thus I wouldn't have any solid data to support my theory.

I was in error and I stand corrected.

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You are a person of integrity. Well done.

Sent from my Nexus 4

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

Please clarify? Do those of us with commercially released AT&T HTC Ones have the latest camera software? ( or not?)

According to Jeff Gordon from HTC, yes. You have the latest version of the camera software.