Samsung Galaxy S8+ serious video issue?

[1jkent]

If the software is never fixed, this is the last Sammy I buy. Why bother building a phone with the capacity of shooting in QHD or UHD if it looks like garbage?

I was willing to take the drop in resolution from 16 to 12 (begrudgingly). But the video experience on the eight handsets I've seen is a disaster. Between the choppiness and lag and the digital "noise" when you move the camera, I believe that Samsung has a real problem on their hands.

 

[TylerLV76]

I don't have the issue at all

Also, it's easiest to notice panning from a dark area to a very bright area. Even then it's not that easy to see on the phone screen.

 

[Gary02468]

Also, it's easiest to notice panning from a dark area to a very bright area. Even then it's not that easy to see on the phone screen.

You're right. I hadn't noticed before, but if I pan quickly from trees to the sky, I do see brief pixelation at UHD.

 

[erwaso]

I picked up my S8+ from a local Verizon store less than 3 weeks ago. Just last Friday I shot video in UHD and QHD for the first time. I was stunned by the distorted, pixelated, "crushed" look - like the noise in a badly-compressed jpeg. When I set the camera back to regular HD (1920x1080) it all-but disappears. I did a factory reset... same deal after I moved back in; then I downloaded another app from the Google Play store that would shoot 4k video and suffered the same results. I found a thread at Samsung where the issue has been reported by others.

I contacted Samsung by chat and phone, and they gave me the runaround: they actually wanted me to mail the phone in and be without it for 2 weeks, after I've had it for less than 2 weeks! So I went back to the store.

The store manager was stunned when I showed him the problem. He pulled out a brand new S8+ and shot video at UHD, and *it did the same thing*. So he pulled out another one... and then an S8 for good measure. They ALL produced videos with electronic "noise" at UHD or QHD settings. They told me this was almost certainly a software issue, and that Samsung may not even be aware of the problem.

What do I do from here?

Kent

Go to another store to exchange it. maybe they had a "bad batch" where you went.

 

[Gary02468]

Go to another store to exchange it. maybe they had a "bad batch" where you went.

Doubtful. I was previously unaware of this problem with my AT&T S8+. But now that I try making a UHD video under the circumstances described above, I find the same image degradation. I suspect it's universal with these phones.

 

[socialillz]

I have recorded in UHD only to have the audio out of sync. Very disappointed.

 

[1jkent]

Erwaso: That was my thought, as well. However, the store I purchased it from offered to exchange it for me until we duplicated the problem on four handsets other than mine, including one that was an S8 instead of an S8+. A "Samsung World" employee at a Best Buy over an hour from where I live also duplicated the problem on a brand new s8+ there; but when he matched those settings on his personal S7, there was no such issue. There is a forum at Samsung.com's US site where a few other people have complained about the issue, and even after receiving replacement handsets the problem remains. Clearly, exchanging the handset won't solve the problem, and clearly, both S8 and S8+ handsets are suffering from the problem.

I'm curious to see if anyone, once they've matched my settings, does not experience this problem.

As an aside: if you hold the phone perfectly still, you won't see the issue, and everything looks great. For example, if you're outside on a blue-sky day (like the video I linked to in my earlier post), and the phone is still, you won't see it. But if you move the phone at all, you'll see a "flare" of electronic noise in the blue sky, sort of like an overly-compressed jpeg file.

 

[strikeIII]

Using the same settings and I don't have that issue. Video is very clear. Maybe this was fixed in one of the updates that were released and that's why all the ones in the store have the same issues because they're typically behind a few updates out the box. Have you checked if you're in the latest version?

 

[anon(9918034)]

it's not universal because mine doesn't do it at all. stop trying to make into something more. send it in to samsung and have them fix it or replace it.

 

[anon(7901790)]

I have the Verizon S8+ set to 4K video recording and I'm not having any problems. I'm using the stock camera app. What kind of lighting are you shooting in. If it's low light, the camera has to crank up the sensor's ISO to get proper exposure. In doing so, it can affect overall quality.

 

[1jkent]

StrikeIII - I'm glad you aren't having issues. Yes, I'm on the latest software update. That was a good idea.

gernerttl - That is fantastic! Maybe this is just a relatively small batch of phones affected, although 8 out of 8 from different stores and times is a rather high ratio, and I'm seeing other reports elsewhere beginning to crop up on this issue. I've been shooting in full daylight. In one of my previous posts I linked to a video file showing the issue.

And swagglepuff, I am not attempting to make more out of this than it is, but clearly Samsung is having issues on at least a decent portion of their new handsets. I am hopeful that if everyone having the problem reports it, it will help the company to come up with a fix. That is best aided by information-sharing, which is what I'm trying to do here. Even Samsung reps I've talked to are shocked when I show them the problem, as are Verizon Wireless salesmen that I've discussed the problem with. I'm sorry if this conversation is offensive to you, but I'm glad you aren't experiencing the problem on your set.

 

[anon(9918034)]

it's not offensive at all but if it was a major problem. there would be more than 31 replies to this post. out of the millions of phones made 8 is not the majority. they are most likely shocked because they haven't seen it before cause it's not a major problem with the devices.

I rank this post up there with the people who drop thier phones and the glass breaks. They try to justify it by saying there is a serious issue out there.

 

[jhimmel]

it's not offensive at all but if it was a major problem. there would be more than 31 replies to this post. out of the millions of phones made 8 is not the majority. they are most likely shocked because they haven't seen it before cause it's not a major problem with the devices.

I rank this post up there with the people who drop thier phones and the glass breaks. They try to justify it by saying there is a serious issue out there.

Out of the 8 phones he tried, 8 is the majority. It is a sampling. Obviously he is not able to test all the phones out there - he tested the ones he could get his hands on and reported his findings here. Even if you look at this thread, some are able to reproduce the problem. This is not at all like someone dropping his phone and complaining it broke - he didn't do anything wrong to his phone. He noticed an issue, did a fair amount of checking to see if it was only HIS phone with the problem, and then came here to talk about it. All seems pretty normal.

 

[skipatrol]

Took some 4k video recently and had no issues. In fact I'm really pleased with it.

 

[Gary02468]

if it was a major problem. there would be more than 31 replies to this post.

That doesn't follow at all. Until I saw this thread, I wasn't even aware that my phone had the problem, even though I'd made dozens of UHD videos. My initial response to this thread was to report that my phone did NOT have the problem. Then I made a UHD video under the same conditions as the OP's, and I discovered that my phone DOES have the problem. There are probably millions of others like me.

Have you tried reproducing the conditions (not just the camera settings) that the OP recorded?

 

[Suntan]

FWIW, I just tried my S8+. I am not seeing anything out of the ordinary when playing back UHD content on the phone or on a computer.

 

[anon(1070578)]

I'm having that issue also. It shows only in the blue sky in broad daylight. I'm going to test 2 more later in the day I'll let you know what the results are. This is really frustrating.

 

[Gary02468]

FWIW, I just tried my S8+. I am not seeing anything out of the ordinary when playing back UHD content on the phone or on a computer.

But can you say please whether you've tried making a UHD video under the specific circumstances that produce the problem for the OP and for the rest of us?

 

[anon(9918034)]

There are not millions that have this problem infact the only people who have this problem are the very few on this thread. I was sitting outside when I first read this and tried to duplicate it. I don't have this problem.

Samsung is known for the quality of camera. you would think that in the hundreds of camera comparison and tests and evaluations. One person would have been like hey this is happening. Guess what not one review or comparison or evaluation has turned up this issue. The companies that test camera quality to rate the over ability of the camera didn't find any issues. Again just because a very very very very very very small amount of people have discovered a defect in their device DOES NOT mean it's a major issue. Yes 8 is not the majority when 10's of millions of these devices are out there and no where except this thread has it ever been reported. So finding the smallest issue with a phone and trying to make it into something huge and claiming it's a major issue. Is the exact same as dropping it and claiming it's defective. Or putting it your pocket with keys and then saying it's defective because the glass scratched.

 

[TylerLV76]

There are not millions that have this problem infact the only people who have this problem are the very few on this thread. I was sitting outside when I first read this and tried to duplicate it. I don't have this problem.

Samsung is known for the quality of camera. you would think that in the hundreds of camera comparison and tests and evaluations. One person would have been like hey this is happening. Guess what not one review or comparison or evaluation has turned up this issue. The companies that test camera quality to rate the over ability of the camera didn't find any issues. Again just because a very very very very very very small amount of people have discovered a defect in their device DOES NOT mean it's a major issue. Yes 8 is not the majority when 10's of millions of these devices are out there and no where except this thread has it ever been reported. So finding the smallest issue with a phone and trying to make it into something huge and claiming it's a major issue. Is the exact same as dropping it and claiming it's defective. Or putting it your pocket with keys and then saying it's defective because the glass scratched.

You were the only one who said "universal" in this thread (Yes I went back an re-read the entire thread). The OP actually asked "if anyone else had this issue". Nobody claimed it was widespread or a massive problem. A few of us see the poor quality, some after thinking they didnt see it. The only time "millions" was used was by saying "millions may have this problem and not know it".

The OP isnt "making more out if it than it is" either. He sees a problem, came to a forum to receive help and comparisons for that problem, it was confirmed it wasnt just him and he's trying to see if its possible to fix. Thats exactly what the forum is here for.

You dont have the issue, thats cool. Some of us do, although its an issue that wont bother me.