What am I doing wrong? Or is this camera just THAT bad?

[Mike Dee]

Just started a thread on Pro-Mode, but thought I'd add this here also. I feel like Pro-Mode is solving a lot of the issues I had with the camera. Don't know if anyone else is having success but I've got the contrast and color balance where I'm happy and I'm getting a lot less washed out noise... As long as I touch the screen to focus. //uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190320/721f3f2e8c4cba05843e2b9bbc16b53a.jpg//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190320/e3ee41be30e8174ae5890b1fe8345354.jpg

It will solve issues but the average person wants to point and shoot. Great if you can set it up in advance of what you are going to shot.

One thing I like about Pro mode is that if take a low light shot I can adjust it to look more natural. In auto, slightly dark shots come out too bright.

 

[heatherburks]

So Pro photog here chiming in. Cameras need light to take photos, that literally all a photo is a camera capturing light. To capture any photo there are 3 things that come into play: ISO (that amount of grain), Shutter Speed (keeps away the blur), and Aperture (how blurry the background gets). The cameras of old got super grainy photos in low light, that was a big complaint because low light was basically unusable and there wasn't a fix. There are only two apertures on this phone so that's set. So that just leaves shutter speed. To get a non grainy photo it has to lower, which can result in blur with a moving subject or shaky hands. However this is a better option because if you can get a crisp on its great. If it were higher ISO it would be crisp but so grainy it's pointless. This transfers to all cameras even pro ones. The only 4th component you can add is flash, this can use the slow shutter speed but freeze the subject. And honestly the flash on this has improved a lot. Now the Pixel does something in software I get that, but I've used it and can get blurry pics too if they are moving. As a pro photog in all the situations y'all posted I'd grab a flash even with my pro camera. The shutter speed would just be too low. Hope that explains a little. It's not a bad camera it's doing things right just sometimes makes it a little tricky but low light always is.

 

[Mike Dee]

So Pro photog here chiming in. Cameras need light to take photos, that literally all a photo is a camera capturing light. To capture any photo there are 3 things that come into play: ISO (that amount of grain), Shutter Speed (keeps away the blur), and Aperture (how blurry the background gets). The cameras of old got super grainy photos in low light, that was a big complaint because low light was basically unusable and there wasn't a fix. There are only two apertures on this phone so that's set. So that just leaves shutter speed. To get a non grainy photo it has to lower, which can result in blur with a moving subject or shaky hands. However this is a better option because if you can get a crisp on its great. If it were higher ISO it would be crisp but so grainy it's pointless. This transfers to all cameras even pro ones. The only 4th component you can add is flash, this can use the slow shutter speed but freeze the subject. And honestly the flash on this has improved a lot. Now the Pixel does something in software I get that, but I've used it and can get blurry pics too if they are moving. As a pro photog in all the situations y'all posted I'd grab a flash even with my pro camera. The shutter speed would just be too low. Hope that explains a little. It's not a bad camera it's doing things right just sometimes makes it a little tricky but low light always is.

The flashes on smart devices are pitiful and in most cases makes the shot worse.

 

[heatherburks]

The flashes on smart devices are pitiful and in most cases makes the shot worse.

Any direct flash isn't the best but I've used the flash many times and enjoy it!

 

[mustang7757]

Any direct flash isn't the best but I've used the flash many times and enjoy it!

That's with flash?

 

[heatherburks]

That's with flash?

Yes on my husband's s10 very low lit bar

 

[mustang7757]

Yes on my husband's s10 very low lit bar

Came out pretty good for flash, I never use flash.

 

[heatherburks]

Came out pretty good for flash, I never use flash.

Like I said for photos to work you need light. Sometimes flash is essential. As a photographer the minute the sunsets or I'm indoors a flash goes on camera. Sure a better flash but still.

 

[YankInDaSouth]

So Pro photog here chiming in. Cameras need light to take photos, that literally all a photo is a camera capturing light. To capture any photo there are 3 things that come into play: ISO (that amount of grain), Shutter Speed (keeps away the blur), and Aperture (how blurry the background gets). The cameras of old got super grainy photos in low light, that was a big complaint because low light was basically unusable and there wasn't a fix. There are only two apertures on this phone so that's set. So that just leaves shutter speed. To get a non grainy photo it has to lower, which can result in blur with a moving subject or shaky hands. However this is a better option because if you can get a crisp on its great. If it were higher ISO it would be crisp but so grainy it's pointless. This transfers to all cameras even pro ones. The only 4th component you can add is flash, this can use the slow shutter speed but freeze the subject. And honestly the flash on this has improved a lot. Now the Pixel does something in software I get that, but I've used it and can get blurry pics too if they are moving. As a pro photog in all the situations y'all posted I'd grab a flash even with my pro camera. The shutter speed would just be too low. Hope that explains a little. It's not a bad camera it's doing things right just sometimes makes it a little tricky but low light always is.

Excellent write up! Thanks for taking the time to explain!

 

[Mike Dee]

Like I said for photos to work you need light. Sometimes flash is essential. As a photographer the minute the sunsets or I'm indoors a flash goes on camera. Sure a better flash but still.

Flashes are appropriate in certain circumstances not all.

 

[heatherburks]

Excellent write up! Thanks for taking the time to explain!

You're welcome

 

[heatherburks]

Flashes are appropriate in certain circumstances not all.

Exactly what I said sometimes flash is essential. This is a $1000 phone that does way more than just a camera. For a great camera set up a camera is $3500, flash $500, lens $2000, that's a lot more than this phone. I even need flash with it a lot. You can't say a camera is bad just because it sometimes needs flash. Sure they can improve the flash more but it does pretty well. I have looked at the indoor photos extensively it usually has to take on low shutter speed, you have to be still or even my expensive camera will blur. It's not a bad camera, it's a bad lighting situation.

 

[Mike Dee]

Exactly what I said sometimes flash is essential. This is a $1000 phone that does way more than just a camera. For a great camera set up a camera is $3500, flash $500, lens $2000, that's a lot more than this phone. I even need flash with it a lot. You can't say a camera is bad just because it sometimes needs flash. Sure they can improve the flash more but it does pretty well. I have looked at the indoor photos extensively it usually has to take on low shutter speed, you have to be still or even my expensive camera will blur. It's not a bad camera, it's a bad lighting situation.

I never said this was a bad camera, maybe someone else did. I get great results with both the S10 and the Pixel 3XL. I have stopped using the flash in my most cases on smart phones unless absolutely necessary because smart phone flashes yield horrible results based on my experience. If I really need some quality shots then I break out my pro equipment.

 

[heatherburks]

I never said this was a bad camera, maybe someone else did. I get great results with both the S10 and the Pixel 3XL. I have stopped using the flash in my most cases on smart phones unless absolutely necessary because smart phone flashes yield horrible results based on my experience. If I really need some quality shots then I break out my pro equipment.

That was just the original question. Yes they are both really good. I just prefer the s10. Have you tried this flash? It's much improved and more towards the iPhone flash, which actually has an amazing flash.

 

[mustang7757]

Like I said for photos to work you need light. Sometimes flash is essential. As a photographer the minute the sunsets or I'm indoors a flash goes on camera. Sure a better flash but still.

I'll have to experiment with leaving it on on auto flash , I never use flash had great results in low lit pictures but curious to see how flash will be.

 

[heatherburks]

I'll have to experiment with leaving it on on auto flash , I never use flash had great results in low lit pictures but curious to see how flash will be.

I don't use it all the time but it's very helpful sometimes!

 

[mustang7757]

I don't use it all the time but it's very helpful sometimes!

Gotcha ...give it a try though and experiment .

 

[Mike Dee]

That was just the original question. Yes they are both really good. I just prefer the s10. Have you tried this flash? It's much improved and more towards the iPhone flash, which actually has an amazing flash.

Honestly, I haven't found a need for the flash on the S10 other than trying it out to guage results. Unfortunately the subject matter I have available is limited because I'm recuperating from a recent hip replacement and photos of me and my 4 walls aren't that interesting except for experimenting. I'm familiar with the iPhone flash but again I'm just not a fan.

 

[EricMartinSoCal]

It will solve issues but the average person wants to point and shoot. Great if you can set it up in advance of what you are going to shot.

One thing I like about Pro mode is that if take a low light shot I can adjust it to look more natural. In auto, slightly dark shots come out too bright.

Understood. But again. I only adjusted some basic color and contrast option which are saved and then it is just point and shoot. These two photos are just point and shoot in Pro-Mode with the pre-set contrast, color tone and highlights set. I think Samsung could do wonders for the camera if they simply made some small adjustments to the standard photo mode.

 

[libra89]

I don't use it all the time but it's very helpful sometimes!

Thank you so much for your input on this! It's really helpful. I'll also take the time to consider auto flash as well.