Horrible photos

[ScottsoNJ]

Legitimately... This is the best photo I can get with my S9+. I know it doesn't fix my ugly mug. But I seriously want to like this phone. I have installed the pixel camera apk on my phone to no avail. Unless I can find a camera workaround it's going back. Every photo I take with my S9 + comes out looking filtered.

Once again the front facing camera is the only problem I have with this phone. It is imperative for me though because my girlfriend and I take a lot of selfies. I also take a lot with my dog.

Top photo is S9+ and bottom photo is the Pixel XL 2.

And before everyone says, oh that's an amazing photo! What phone are you currently using?View attachment 280725
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I think you must have a bad S9+

 

[evernolasco191]

That's the problem with the S9 camera. It doesn't look natural and has a very "cool" filter added onto it.

 

[edubb256]

Legitimately... This is the best photo I can get with my S9+. I know it doesn't fix my ugly mug. But I seriously want to like this phone. I have installed the pixel camera apk on my phone to no avail. Unless I can find a camera workaround it's going back. Every photo I take with my S9 + comes out looking filtered.

Yeah, I just got mine and I'm having similar results with the rear camera. The photos show two problems, relative to my Note 8, which to me is a better camera:

1. Most shots are overexposed in auto mode, almost by a full stop. I can workaround by using pro mode, but then I think I lose HDR, but I'm not sure about that.
2. There is significant loss of detail

I'll give it a week or so in case there is a software update that comes ou before my 14-day return window. But at this point, I'm planning to return it.

 

[Itsa_Me_Mario]

Yeah, I just got mine and I'm having similar results with the rear camera. The photos show two problems, relative to my Note 8, which to me is a better camera:

1. Most shots are overexposed in auto mode, almost by a full stop. I can workaround by using pro mode, but then I think I lose HDR, but I'm not sure about that.
2. There is significant loss of detail

I'll give it a week or so in case there is a software update that comes ou before my 14-day return window. But at this point, I'm planning to return it.

Sorry to hear that

 

[milehigherik]

Yeah, I just got mine and I'm having similar results with the rear camera. The photos show two problems, relative to my Note 8, which to me is a better camera:

1. Most shots are overexposed in auto mode, almost by a full stop. I can workaround by using pro mode, but then I think I lose HDR, but I'm not sure about that.
2. There is significant loss of detail

I'll give it a week or so in case there is a software update that comes ou before my 14-day return window. But at this point, I'm planning to return it.

This is exactly my plan. I ordered online so I have a 20 day return policy. Trust me I'm standing here with both phones in my hand wanting to love the S9 plus. But the camera is a deal-breaker for me. My girlfriend and I hike and I love to take photos on the Fly and the S9 plus does not allow for that. I have to set up for every shot to make sure I can get the best photo. Real life doesn't allow for that time.

For example I went for a hike two days ago with my girlfriend. I did not take my S9 Plus because I wanted to make sure that I captured good photos. That's not the confidence I like to have in a brand new device.

Patiently waiting... I have 13 days for a software fix to come out before my device must be returned. Not everyone enjoys the image processing. I wish Samsung gave me the option to disable it. If I use a third-party camera I lose all baked in camera functionality. For example the double tap to launch camera power button... Huge pain...

 

[rushmore]

Concensous from media reviews, users and camera centric media reviews is polar opposite of thecOP's assertion.

 

[rahool360]

Oh man.... pixel 2 just beats it left right and center!!!! great details, colors.....

 

[zerospace-net]

I'm going to throw a little monkey wrench into this conversation just because it's something that's bugging me. I'm typing this on a PC that has a very carefully calibrated monitor for color (I run an online shop, and color reproduction from my photo stage to screen/real life is very, very important -- I also shoot with a DSLR most of the time).

What I've noticed is that on my screen, your Pixel 2 XL photos are yellow. I mean some of them are really, really yellow/greenish in color, while the comparable S9 shots appear to be much better on white balance. Just an observation.

The last 2 outdoor shots you posted, though, appear to be perfect (presumably, from your post, these were taken with the Pixel 2).

Interestingly, from some of the reviews I've read, this makes sense. I don't remember where I read it, but one of the camera reviews that compared the S9+ to the Pixel 2 showed the S9+ had generally better auto white balance than the Pixel.

I haven't tested the ffc on my S9 because I just don't do selfies. I do, however, do a lot of product photography and I sometimes snap quick pics with my phone camera. The S9 in this capacity so far, seems quite good for that -- far better color and detail than my old S7 camera had.

Again, just some observations. I realize you are mostly talking about the ffc, and that's probably the thing I care least about on my new phone.

 

[milehigherik]

I'm going to throw a little monkey wrench into this conversation just because it's something that's bugging me. I'm typing this on a PC that has a very carefully calibrated monitor for color (I run an online shop, and color reproduction from my photo stage to screen/real life is very, very important -- I also shoot with a DSLR most of the time).

What I've noticed is that on my screen, your Pixel 2 XL photos are yellow. I mean some of them are really, really yellow/greenish in color, while the comparable S9 shots appear to be much better on white balance. Just an observation.

The last 2 outdoor shots you posted, though, appear to be perfect (presumably, from your post, these were taken with the Pixel 2).

Interestingly, from some of the reviews I've read, this makes sense. I don't remember where I read it, but one of the camera reviews that compared the S9+ to the Pixel 2 showed the S9+ had generally better auto white balance than the Pixel.

I haven't tested the ffc on my S9 because I just don't do selfies. I do, however, do a lot of product photography and I sometimes snap quick pics with my phone camera. The S9 in this capacity so far, seems quite good for that -- far better color and detail than my old S7 camera had.

Again, just some observations. I realize you are mostly talking about the ffc, and that's probably the thing I care least about on my new phone.

Sometimes I do prefer the color of the Samsung. However for what I do with mine I guess there's no getting away from the pixel 2. It's just really tough because if I put the pixel cameras apk on the S9 plus I can get the same quality images but it's not as easy I have to really hold my hand steady and have it perfectly focused. With the pixel it just happens. Appreciate the input though.

For clarification I have taken some amazing photos both front and rear-facing on the S9 Plus. The amount of effort that goes into an excellent photo with the S9 Plus versus the pixel 2 is ridiculous. Again I'm a lazy photographer in auto mode only.

 

[GibMcFragger]

I just snapped a couple pic with my front facing camera in a medium lit room. They look great. Much better than the ones the OP put up.

I did get the software update that addresses the FFC issues though, maybe that's why.

 

[new2tec]

My selfies are bad too. What's the Ffc update?

 

[SDTRMG]

Samsung really needs to send out an update for this

 

[saadsolaiman]

As predicted based on the reputable reviews the S9+ is going back. I'll leave it at these two selfies. One is the Pixel XL 2 and the other is the S9+. Both in portrait mode.

Does anyone know of a way to remove all the image processing that Samsung and LG do to their photos? I don't like fuzzy looking photos.

View attachment 280648View attachment 280649

Oh my Lord! I wish I had come across this post before.

After seeing all the YouTubers give positive reviews to the S9 Plus, I switched from my Pixel 2 XL. For a day. Have it packed up and returning it tomorrow. The camera is ridiculously bad. What is more concerning to me however is that I saw at least 10 reviews and all of them seemed to casually just avoid saying it outright how bad the camera is.

 

[jtcannonball]

Oh my Lord! I wish I had come across this post before.

After seeing all the YouTubers give positive reviews to the S9 Plus, I switched from my Pixel 2 XL. For a day. Have it packed up and returning it tomorrow. The camera is ridiculously bad. What is more concerning to me however is that I saw at least 10 reviews and all of them seemed to casually just avoid saying it outright how bad the camera is.

Not sure what they have done or if there are defective units but I had mine replaced and the current S9+ I'm using takes substantially better photos than the first phone did. Still more motion blur far more frequently than my Pixel 2XL ever gave me but I'm pleased enough not to be a issue that bothered me as much as it did.

 

[Hermes Hidayat]

As predicted based on the reputable reviews the S9+ is going back. I'll leave it at these two selfies. One is the Pixel XL 2 and the other is the S9+. Both in portrait mode.

Does anyone know of a way to remove all the image processing that Samsung and LG do to their photos? I don't like fuzzy looking photos.

View attachment 280648View attachment 280649

hahahaha love the photos.and for the effects.samsung has been well known to make everyone look like kpop stars...

 

[donebrasko]

have you tried out the google camera with the s9+ yet?

Where is it located?