Camera verdict

[Morty2264]

I do agree that camera reviews will be largely subjective. You can't be subjective with specs, but you can be subjective about opinions and overall reviews of devices' camera performance.

For example, one can take a shot with an Essential Phone under X conditions and dislike it; whereas I can take that same photo, under the same conditions, with the same phone, and like it. I find that camera reviews don't really do it for me anymore. I do appreciate them but I take them with a grain of salt. Until I can hold the device in question in my hand and take the picture, only then will I know if the phone's camera will meet my needs.

I think that's a good bottom line, too: if it works for you and you enjoy it - awesome! That is truly all that matters.

 

[rld082982]

I do agree that camera reviews will be largely subjective. You can't be subjective with specs, but you can be subjective about opinions and overall reviews of devices' camera performance.

For example, one can take a shot with an Essential Phone under X conditions and dislike it; whereas I can take that same photo, under the same conditions, with the same phone, and like it. I find that camera reviews don't really do it for me anymore. I do appreciate them but I take them with a grain of salt. Until I can hold the device in question in my hand and take the picture, only then will I know if the phone's camera will meet my needs.

I think that's a good bottom line, too: if it works for you and you enjoy it - awesome! That is truly all that matters.

Picture quality aside, the main issue here is the slowness of the camera app. It takes forever to snap a picture... and many times it freezes immediately after taking a picture... especially holding the phone landscape and returning to portrait view. Many times I've had to do a hard reset because of this.

 

[Morty2264]

Picture quality aside, the main issue here is the slowness of the camera app. It takes forever to snap a picture... and many times it freezes immediately after taking a picture... especially holding the phone landscape and returning to portrait view. Many times I've had to do a hard reset because of this.

You are right. Having any kind of lag is not desirable. Has the hard reset temporarily fixed things for you; and then the lag would continue?

 

[rld082982]

You are right. Having any kind of lag is not desirable. Has the hard reset temporarily fixed things for you; and then the lag would continue?

The overall process of taking a picture is just generally slow, and laggy. A reset will fix a freeze, but that issue is intermittent. I experience the lag every time however.

 

[modifier]

The overall process of taking a picture is just generally slow, and laggy. A reset will fix a freeze, but that issue is intermittent. I experience the lag every time however.

Sideload the Pixel camera APK.

 

[rld082982]

Sideload the Pixel camera APK.

Didn't work, same issue

 

[1901Madison]

Didn't work, same issue

The Pixel camera APK is fine, but it doesn't make it a great camera. It's still just average. Could it be the hardware?

 

[SactoKingsFan]

The Pixel camera APK is fine, but it doesn't make it a great camera. It's still just average. Could it be the hardware?

It's a hardware and software issue. Using a smaller 2 year old sensor (Sony IMX 258) and no OIS was a poor decision. The LG G6 uses the same sensor but produces better pictures due to OIS and better software. Other phones had issues when using similar dual camera (RGB and monochrome) setup with IMX 258 and no OIS. Essential should have just focused on single camera with OIS instead of hyping up the world's thinnest dual camera.

 

[modifier]

Didn't work, same issue

Odd. None of my camera apps cause a hang or lockup. Not sure what's causing yours.

 

[mzman]

Odd. None of my camera apps cause a hang or lockup. Not sure what's causing yours.

I love my phone, but have seen many people complain of lags and freezes in the camera both here and elsewhere on the Web.

I've noticed a problem if I try to do a lot, such as take 3 or 4 pictures in quick succession while the last-image preview thumbnail in the lower-right of the screen is still generating from the previous pic.

When it freezes, it's often frozen for a minute or two, or perhaps permanently. I usually lose patience and reboot.

 

[msp1518]

It's a hardware and software issue. Using a smaller 2 year old sensor (Sony IMX 258) and no OIS was a poor decision. The LG G6 uses the same sensor but produces better pictures due to OIS and better software. Other phones had issues when using similar dual camera (RGB and monochrome) setup with IMX 258 and no OIS. Essential should have just focused on single camera with OIS instead of hyping up the world's thinnest dual camera.

I agree with you 100%. They really messed up and there is no fixing it.

Last night I was at a wine tasting event and the Essential's camera failed COMPLETELY! I could not take one decent picture. Meanwhile every single iphone 6, 6S, 7, 8 and X were nailing the pics every time. So were the Samsung Galaxy owners.

 

[mzman]

I agree with you 100%. They really messed up and there is no fixing it.

Last night I was at a wine tasting event and the Essential's camera failed COMPLETELY! I could not take one decent picture. Meanwhile every single iphone 6, 6S, 7, 8 and X were nailing the pics every time. So were the Samsung Galaxy owners.

I honestly don't understand this. I get plenty of good pictures in low light. It's not class-leading, but not horrible. I did some tests against my former phone, an HTC 10. The Essential phone had pictures with similar quality (slightly worse when zooming). The HTC 10 had one of the best cameras from last year. Perhaps my hand is just steadier - I don't know.

Try the Mono camera too. Wonderful low light pics. My wife and I both love it, and I thought I was completely over black and white photo modes on phones.