Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Does anyone else think the camera sucks?

[DrSavant]

Because I'm not doing this for a living like the paid tech reviewers, so I'm not going to go and obtain a Note 2 just to do the comparison. I only use whatever tech gadgets I own, as this is a personal interest, and I'm only spending the ridiculous number of hours (the whole article will likely add up to about two weeks' worth of full-time work) organizing it into a full article for the purpose of giving something back to the web community. I don't have to spend time doing this--I could be writing my novels or composing music or just watching movies and playing games instead.

Fair enough, however a part of the "camera sucks" argument disappears - its great vs the iPhone 4 and 4S, however it horribly loses vs the Note 2, when it comes to low light performance - I'd say this is fairly crucial information.

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[LunatiqueRob]

Fair enough, however a part of the "camera sucks" argument disappears - its great vs the iPhone 4 and 4S, however it horribly loses vs the Note 2, when it comes to low light performance - I'd say this is fairly crucial information.

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Not if you look at it objectively. You have to consider where the Note 3 actually improves upon the Note 2. Samsung did not place emphasis on the area that you deem to be the most important. They placed it elsewhere that they think is more important, and whether you agree with where Samsung placed the improvements is a subjective matter. It does not mean the camera "sucks." It means you are expecting something different from what Samsung gave you. It is up to you if you want to stick to the Note 3, or pick a different device that places emphasis that matches your needs.

 

[DrSavant]

Not if you look at it objectively. You have to consider where the Note 3 actually improves upon the Note 2. Samsung did not place emphasis on the area that you deem to be the most important. They placed it elsewhere that they think is more important, and whether you agree with where Samsung placed the improvements is a subjective matter. It does not mean the camera "sucks." It means you are expecting something different from what Samsung gave you. It is up to you if you want to stick to the Note 3, or pick a different device that places emphasis that matches your needs.

I'm not sure how you've reached this conclusion... The Note 3 is improved in many ways, but its camera delivers performance inferior to that of it's predecessor, while claiming higher specs - I love every aspect of my Note 3, except for the camera - its a downgrade, due to a spec war and deceptive marketing.

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[LunatiqueRob]

I'm not sure how you've reached this conclusion... The Note 3 is improved in many ways, but its camera delivers performance inferior to that of it's predecessor, while claiming higher specs - I love every aspect of my Note 3, except for the camera - its a downgrade, due to a spec war and deceptive marketing.

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You're not being objective.Can the Note 2 shoot 4K video? Nope. It's not important to you, but it's important to some people. Your expectation didn't align with where Samsung has placed the emphasis on the improvements, but that doesn't make the product "suck."

There are ways to shoot with the Note 3 in low-light and achieve quality at least as good as the Note 2, but it takes a bit of photography knowledge and using the right app. Samsung's default camera app will not give you that ability, and this is one of the reasons I'm writing the article, so I can help people like you achieve what you want, instead of go on feeling like you've got a disappointing product. I'll teach you exactly how to achieve better results, using what app, with what setting, as well as when it's okay to use the default Samsung app and when to use another app.

 

[kj11]

You're not being objective.Can the Note 2 shoot 4K video? Nope. It's not important to you, but it's important to some people. Your expectation didn't align with where Samsung has placed the emphasis on the improvements, but that doesn't make the product "suck."

There are ways to shoot with the Note 3 in low-light and achieve quality at least as good as the Note 2, but it takes a bit of photography knowledge and using the right app. Samsung's default camera app will not give you that ability, and this is one of the reasons I'm writing the article, so I can help people like you achieve what you want, instead of go on feeling like you've got a disappointing product. I'll teach you exactly how to achieve better results, using what app, with what setting, as well as when it's okay to use the default Samsung app and when to use another app.

Looking forward to your review, particularly what camera app you recommend. I've looked at getting one but there are so many, which of course all claim to be the best. Thanks for doing this

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[whitezee10]

Been waiting for the review too, I love cam shootouts!

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[Bobbman]

Fair enough, however a part of the "camera sucks" argument disappears - its great vs the iPhone 4 and 4S, however it horribly loses vs the Note 2, when it comes to low light performance - I'd say this is fairly crucial information.

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Dude if your Note 3 "horribly loses" to the Note 2 in any condition you better get a new phone. We have both phones in our family and the Note 3 camera is better across the board. Low light it gets close.... Maybe even a wash.... In any other condition it is much better. Look at the sticky thread... The proof is there.

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[Isc73]

Make sure you enable the motion control thing in the settings of the camera it helps a lot with low light

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[Isc73]

What app do you use?

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[Sonshine01]

LunatiqueRob- Thank you very much for doing the write up on the camera for the Note 3. I for one am VERY excited as I have been all over Google trying to find articles to help me use the camera for better pictures. I really just need a better understanding of some ways to obtain better pictures especially in low light situations. Your article sounds like exactly what I have been searching for. Thank you again for taking your time and effort to help someone like me that just can't figure out how to to use this camera to its fullest potential.

 

[DrSavant]

Dude if your Note 3 "horribly loses" to the Note 2 in any condition you better get a new phone. We have both phones in our family and the Note 3 camera is better across the board. Low light it gets close.... Maybe even a wash.... In any other condition it is much better. Look at the sticky thread... The proof is there.

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Not getting into fanboy arguments. The Note 3 camera with the stock app produces oil painting effect wash, compared to the Note 2, which did not. I have an apples to apples comparison.

I also have other, exceptionally compelling arguments, but arguing on the Internet is like competing in special olympics.

You don't share my opinion and that's fine.

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[DrSavant]

Make sure you enable the motion control thing in the settings of the camera it helps a lot with low light

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It actually makes things worse, with the oil painting effect - I don't want to settle for overprocessed images - I want at least what my Note 2 delivered, if not more.

@ LunatiqueRob - while I would be very happy to read your recommendations on other apps, and immediately try them out, 4k video has nothing to do with my personal issue - all I'm unhappy about is low light photo performance.

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[anon24860]

DrSavant, how about some A/Bs?

 

[DrSavant]

DrSavant, how about some A/Bs?

I would need to find the time to photoshop my kids faces out - that's a bit of a premium right now

ProCapture seems to yield better results btw - just not sure about buying the full app. The software argument becomes even bigger - it means Samsung can fix things with an update, just as I originally thought and said.

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[JLadd4420]

Not getting into fanboy arguments. The Note 3 camera with the stock app produces oil painting effect wash, compared to the Note 2, which did not. I have an apples to apples comparison.

I also have other, exceptionally compelling arguments, but arguing on the Internet is like competing in special olympics.

You don't share my opinion and that's fine.

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I feel the same way about the Note 3 pictures. They look like oil paintings, which sucks. I've had the S3,S4,Note, Note 2 and never had this issue before. I love my Note 3, but that is one of few issues I have with it.

 

[z06mike]

I would need to find the time to photoshop my kids faces out - that's a bit of a premium right now

ProCapture seems to yield better results btw - just not sure about buying the full app. The software argument becomes even bigger - it means Samsung can fix things with an update, just as I originally thought and said.

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Just use your S-pen to scribble their faces out!

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[JLadd4420]

This is what I mean. Auto settings for the camera in a semi-lowlight condition. What am I doing wrong? or what can I do to make my photos look better.

 

[z06mike]

View attachment 100178

This is what I mean. Auto settings for the camera in a semi-lowlight condition. What am I doing wrong? or what can I do to make my photos look better.

That is auto with smart stabilization on correct?

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[runamuck0870]

There are ways to shoot with the Note 3 in low-light and achieve quality at least as good as the Note 2, but it takes a bit of photography knowledge and using the right app. Samsung's default camera app will not give you that ability, and this is one of the reasons I'm writing the article, so I can help people like you achieve what you want, instead of go on feeling like you've got a disappointing product. I'll teach you exactly how to achieve better results, using what app, with what setting, as well as when it's okay to use the default Samsung app and when to use another app.

Emphasis mine.

See that's exactly what the argument has been all along. You are basically going to show us (and believe me when I say I'm interested in your show-and-tell) that we can work really hard to offset the limitations of the Note 3's native camera and camera app. That is like saying "I can show you how to convert a Ford Focus into a Nascar-worthy racer, but you'll have to pretty much abandon the Ford Focus part of the equation."

But I think you've already proven the point of this thread. The native Note 3 camera, using native Note 3 software, is inferior. If we are really willing to pose our subjects, switch software, fiddle with the settings and ask our camera subjects to stop moving, hold their breath and pose nicely....we can improve our results.

Sorry, but that's not even remotely the topic of this thread. I'd still appreciate knowing how to force this inferior camera setup to provide passable shots for the 4 or 5 times I may get a perfect scenario to shoot a vase of flowers by candlelight, but for otherwise its just amusement and amazement....not useful for grabbing quick snapshots. And since grabbing quick snapshots is THE purpose for a smartphone camera.....case closed.

 

[runamuck0870]

View attachment 100178

What am I doing wrong? or what can I do to make my photos look better.

Use a different smartphone. iPhone 3G, Samsung Fascinate or a Note 1 would be an improvement.