Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Cannot take clear pictures

[nate1821]

I took out my son for Halloween. Went to a well lit, bright office building to collect candy and still could not take a single decent shot. A friend of ours who was with us had a iphone 6 and didn't have any issues with blurring. I ended up just taking a bunch of videos and getting some pics from that.

For as much as I want to keep this phone, its going back. I think every other aspect of this phone is great, but I can't roll the dice hoping Samsung will update it or Lollipop will fix it. I called Samsung and this isn't even a widespread issue for them or something they are acknowledging yet. Verizon is letting me hang on to the note 4 until the iphone 6 plus gets here.

 

[Almeuit]

I took out my son for Halloween. Went to a well lit, bright office building to collect candy and still could not take a single decent shot. A friend of ours who was with us had a iphone 6 and didn't have any issues with blurring. I ended up just taking a bunch of videos and getting some pics from that.

For as much as I want to keep this phone, its going back. I think every other aspect of this phone is great, but I can't roll the dice hoping Samsung will update it or Lollipop will fix it. I called Samsung and this isn't even a widespread issue for them or something they are acknowledging yet. Verizon is letting me hang on to the note 4 until the iphone 6 plus gets here.

I don't blame you there man ... Pictures of kids > a phone choice. I may have this dilemma coming up since my Nephew is getting older .. so camera will be more important to me since I would want to snap photos of him.

 

[LaTuFu]

I took out my son for Halloween. Went to a well lit, bright office building to collect candy and still could not take a single decent shot. A friend of ours who was with us had a iphone 6 and didn't have any issues with blurring. I ended up just taking a bunch of videos and getting some pics from that.

For as much as I want to keep this phone, its going back. I think every other aspect of this phone is great, but I can't roll the dice hoping Samsung will update it or Lollipop will fix it. I called Samsung and this isn't even a widespread issue for them or something they are acknowledging yet. Verizon is letting me hang on to the note 4 until the iphone 6 plus gets here.

Have you tried using the camera with the flash on? I've found that for situations where low light and movement are issues, forcing the flash to be on will override the low light settings and take a pretty decent picture. It also doesn't take as long to focus and shoot.

I completely agree with you that the camera is a lot different than previous Samsung cameras. My S4 camera was about as rock solid of a camera as I've ever had on a phone, even if the low light settings were not that great.

At first I didn't really like this camera either, for a lot of the same reasons you've mentioned (particularly the kids) but I've found ways to work with the camera, and the results have been excellent.

 

[nate1821]

I have tried the flash on with slightly better results. I'm starting to wonder if the type of overhead lighting makes a difference, such as florescent or LED. Most of the pics I've taken have been under these lights. I still have another upgrade left on my account. I definitely want to go back to android at some point, the nerd in me loves it. I'll look back into the S6 or Note 5.

 

[lostsoul2]

Did you try what I posted ? increasing the iso helps. I was out in the dark and still got some none blued pics.. not perfect but it was better then just leaving on auto and sports mode did nothing. you need flash and high iso... also helps if the kids can slow down a little.. haha

 

[Verizoned]

Re: Cannot take clear pictures

I'd say it's better to have at LEAST a 1/250th shutter speed for active kids, esp if they are close to the camera. Unless blur is intentional, of course, which can be an effective choice, depending on the situation.

Yup...totally agree!

 

[Verizoned]

I took out my son for Halloween. Went to a well lit, bright office building to collect candy and still could not take a single decent shot. A friend of ours who was with us had a iphone 6 and didn't have any issues with blurring. I ended up just taking a bunch of videos and getting some pics from that.

For as much as I want to keep this phone, its going back. I think every other aspect of this phone is great, but I can't roll the dice hoping Samsung will update it or Lollipop will fix it. I called Samsung and this isn't even a widespread issue for them or something they are acknowledging yet. Verizon is letting me hang on to the note 4 until the iphone 6 plus gets here.

if you are willing to look at windows phones pick up a uses Nokia 1020 for about $225- $250. The camera absolutely blows away any camera phone. 41mp and a much larger sensor, giving much better low light performance and amazing detail with it's zeiss lens.

 

[Axr6]

Re: Cannot take clear pictures

HDR should be OFF for pictures with motion. In that mode it takes several shots and combines them for the best light exposures. HDR will introduce blur if motion is present.

 

[PlanetPluto7]

Sorry. Android camera software just is not very good; just not bad. Since both my hands shake I turn on the hardware anti shake. I have tried 'sport' setting hoping the exposure would be faster. I also downloaded the Google camera app but for me it was not useable; You might try it.

 

[bikerbetty]

Hello, I also just got the Galaxy Note 4 on Dec. 3rd. When Christmas morning rolled around all of our "opening presents" pictures turned out blurry. On Sunday at our daughters track meet again all of the action pictures were blurry. Spent countless hours on the phone with Verizon tech support, Samsung support and nothing changed. Went to the Verizon store and they told me it most likely would not change if I tried another note so they suggested the Iphone 6 plus...I am really disappointed because I love the note but I HAVE got to have a good camera.

 

[ejohnnyk]

I'm a professional photographer and photograph children weekly. I say... Hold still... And they do. Photographing fast-moving children in low light is pointless. The pros don't do it. Why should you?

 

[Magwai]

The Galaxy S5 has the same issue. It picks far too long shutter speeds even in so-called sports mode. High iso does help but its a real pain having to remember to do it.

The camera should never ever be choosing a shutter speed below 1/80 even with OIS.

If Samsung do not fix their exposure algorithm then I am going to jump ship. It is incredible that a company that makes cameras can get this wrong!

 

[Magwai]

I'm a professional photographer and photograph children weekly. I say... Hold still... And they do. Photographing fast-moving children in low light is pointless. The pros don't do it. Why should you?

It doesn't matter how still the kids stay. 1/24 is too slow.

 

[coldspring22]

Yes indoor shots with motion is bad on Note 4. I've tested several different camera apps, and found Google camera app to be best with setting HDR on and exposure to -2. Shot is grainy, but this can capture motions best. Another option is to just take UHD video, and pull frames from it, using UHD video as sort of "low light burst shots". UHD video is better than single still shots in being less grainy and also deliver high number of frames so you can be sure to capture exact shot you want.

 

[fish momma]

I have had 3 replacements because of the same issue and would never have another note 4. When a phone costs this much money, it should work perfectly.