Camera problem: red/blue/purple noise in low light photos - One (M7) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello everybody!
I am now a proud owner of an HTC One and I absolutely love it.
Its an SH35BW903846 and, build quality wise, its almost perfect - 99% perfect. No gaps, no dents, not dead pixels, no light bleed and not even the pop/crackle. It's running the 1.29.401.16 software.
The only problem I have (I don't know yet if it is a problem), is with the camera in night time and very low light scenes.
My problem is that in night shots and very low light scenes, the camera turns the black into blue (or red in very very dark scenes). For example, I included some photos, on a dark street with only a few light posts it turns black areas into blurry blue. Yes, it lets in more light (and more natural looking light) than my old One X, but the black areas are blue.
Not to mention, some times it has trouble focusing so a few of the shots I attached were taken after 2-3 tries.
Even more, in very very dark scenarios - see the last picture - it turns the blackness into red.
Now, my questions:
Is this normal?
Has anyone else had this problem (is it a problem)?
Can someone post a night time picture taken with their one in similar scenario and without the "blue"?
I am a bit worried because if it is a flaw than i would have to return my almost perfect One... :crying:
If the information below or this thread have helped you in any way, hit the thanks button
UPDATED 13th of November: I took my phone into service again. This time they didn't replace my whole phone, but they did replace the camera module. They put in a camera from SHARP, sensor date 14 october 2013. The first tests I've done indicate that they've finally found a way/a sensor/a manufacturer to make the damned camera perform in low light like it supposed to... See a photo comparison of the new camera here.
UPDATED 14th of October: A comparison test after getting the 4.3 and Sense 5.5 Update: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46781359&postcount=3099
UPDATED (2nd of October) - If you have the same problem, please fill in this Google form made by @gogogaga7 so we can have a centralized data base with information about the units that are flawed. The form is here: http://goo.gl/HmRJqC
UPDATED (5th of July) - I just got a replacement for my faulty unit and I just posted comparison photos in this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=43265994&postcount=89
Advice: If your camera gives you similar results with blue/red/purple noise in low-light photos -> take it back to HTC or an operator or repair service for a replacement!
UPDATED with Poll (13th of August) - Seeing how many replies and page views this thread has gathered during these couple of months, how many of you said they experience this problem and how HTC has not publicly recognized it (either as software or hardware fault), I added a Poll to see indeed how many of us are having this problem. Please vote!
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@VictorCozmei
Heya buddy! Yes this is the same as mine! I have been trying to create a discussion of this eversince and also found some users here with the same or worst than ours issue.
Apparently reducing the ISO solves the issue.
Anyways do you have access to other HTC One devices? Like demo on stores or relatives owning one? You could try by covering the camera lense with your hand. If it turns bright red then we must assume it's a normal behaviour of the camera. I can't really tell but I think this is happening because of the very aggressive sensitivity of light on our phones. I compared it with my previous phone and an ISO 100 on HTC One is equally similar to the ISO 400 of my previous phone.
Anyways if we can gather much feedback from users maybe we would know if this is a defect indeed(software/hardware) or just normal.
Also this should not be Chromatic aberration or at least similar to thos of the iphone 5 purple haze as it's like the opposite. CA and iphone purple haze is due to high contrast whilst ours is happening on low contrast areas.

^^^ @Riyal
Thanks for the reply. I thought for surely my post would go unnoticed and I'll be left alone with this potential problem even if there are loads of HTC One owners on the forum who can give a helping hand but just don't bother...
I don't have immediate access to another HTC One, but I will be following your advice and I will surely test them that way... Again, I sure hope this isn't a flaw in my phone. I would hate to take it back because it is so perfect in every other way :crying:
Just hope somebody else could join in the discussion and share their experience...

I notice a couple of interesting things when trying stuff out after reading your post:
If it's very dark (probably darker than what it was when you took the example pictures) the screen could be blue, red, or purple (a mix of blue and red noise upon closer inspection) depending on how much light I allowed back in.
If it's completely dark (put it down on a table), the screen is always red. This is actually pretty common among many sensors though.
Taking pictures with it at night in my living room with the tv on, the pictures are usually orange.
So it seems to me to be a property of the camera even when the camera is otherwise fine as I have noticed no other issues with mine. Thinking back to my old iPhone, I remember the pictures being blue just like your examples when it was dark. Maybe further evidence of it being normal?
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

@Xerro-Five
Do you also experience the same issue as ours? I believe it's a miscalibration. Or probably an issue with image sense chipset of HTC. Did any of you guys already tried directly ask HTC about this issue?
Anyways could I ask you guys the build number of your phones?
@VictorCozmei
Considering that this phone should boast low light capabilities I think this is not a normal behavior. What we should do is ask directly HTC if this is solved through software or hardware. As far as I know not all people here experience this issue else we could seen alot more posts about this.
Xerro-Five said:
I notice a couple of interesting things when trying stuff out after reading your post:
If it's very dark (probably darker than what it was when you took the example pictures) the screen could be blue, red, or purple (a mix of blue and red noise upon closer inspection) depending on how much light I allowed back in.
If it's completely dark (put it down on a table), the screen is always red. This is actually pretty common among many sensors though.
Taking pictures with it at night in my living room with the tv on, the pictures are usually orange.
So it seems to me to be a property of the camera even when the camera is otherwise fine as I have noticed no other issues with mine. Thinking back to my old iPhone, I remember the pictures being blue just like your examples when it was dark. Maybe further evidence of it being normal?
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Riyal said:
@Xerro-Five
Do you also experience the same issue as ours? I believe it's a miscalibration. Or probably an issue with image sense chipset of HTC. Did any of you guys already tried directly ask HTC about this issue?
Anyways could I ask you guys the build number of your phones?
@VictorCozmei
Considering that this phone should boast low light capabilities I think this is not a normal behavior. What we should do is ask directly HTC if this is solved through software or hardware. As far as I know not all people here experience this issue else we could seen alot more posts about this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yeah, that's what I was getting at lol. Even right now for example it's dark and the blacks can turn blue and/or red. Again I don't think this is a problem but rather a normal behavior of image sensors (at least in my experience) so I haven't made any complaints or inquiries.
HT349W
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

Xerro-Five said:
Well yeah, that's what I was getting at lol. Even right now for example it's dark and the blacks can turn blue and/or red. Again I don't think this is a problem but rather a normal behavior of image sensors (at least in my experience) so I haven't made any complaints or inquiries.
HT349W
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Xerro-Five
Check this post I made yesterday...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=42413954&postcount=6926
Some users doesn't have that annoying red/blue tint on their devices even when covered.
Here's mine
And here's from another user

@Riyal
Mine doesn't get red when i cover the camera with my hand and take a picture (or if i put it on the table with the camera down). Its black, but at night time and in extremely very low light it goes to red... If it finds a little more light than the black areas get blue, blueish or purple... And it gets very hard to focus for a proper shot, even if i point it towards a light source like a lamp post.
I took a photo with my hand fully covering the camera and it turned out black. I compared it to the one posted on the other thread by the other user, the one who uploaded his black photo for you so you could see the exif data.
Compared, mine was taken with ISO 400, the other user's photo was ISO 2000 ... Mine had thew birghtness -2.163531, his was -4.48546
What does yours say?

Mine is also saying 2000 ISO and brightness(based on properties detail on windows 7) 4.28472
This only mean 1 thing... Our phone's sensor is either uncalibrated or is just way too aggressive in collecting light.
I can only recreate a pitch black result by covering the camera if my I manually set my ISO to 400 or 200. Setting it to 800, 1600 or Auto shows up the reddish tint.
I already contacted HTC about this and sent a sample screenshot. Now let's see what they can tell.
@Professional photographers
What do you think this is? color temperature issue? Gain issue? I can modify these values in the kernel if someone can confirm me what might be the real issue is.
VictorCozmei said:
@Riyal
Mine doesn't get red when i cover the camera with my hand and take a picture (or if i put it on the table with the camera down). Its black, but at night time and in extremely very low light it goes to red... If it finds a little more light than the black areas get blue, blueish or purple... And it gets very hard to focus for a proper shot, even if i point it towards a light source like a lamp post.
I took a photo with my hand fully covering the camera and it turned out black. I compared it to the one posted on the other thread by the other user, the one who uploaded his black photo for you so you could see the exif data.
Compared, mine was taken with ISO 400, the other user's photo was ISO 2000 ... Mine had thew birghtness -2.163531, his was -4.48546
What does yours say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

@Riyal
I tried again to take some shots with my hand closely covering the camera.... One picture was purple, the other one was red... In both ISO was 2000...
-4.4 in brightness

VictorCozmei said:
@Riyal
I tried again to take some shots with my hand closely covering the camera.... One picture was purple, the other one was red... In both ISO was 2000...
-4.4 in brightness
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I guess all I could say is.... Welcome to the club! lol! Now with so many users having this issue I don't know if it's indeed an issue or not. Is this the downside of having 300% more light in a low pixel resolution camera?
---------- Post added at 04:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:26 PM ----------
By the way I'm gonna go to our local telecom provider later since they have display units of HTC One here. I'll take a look and see if it also has the issue. Last time I checked it was a May build so it's a new batch.
*Hope it gets the same result to ease my mind*
I'm really gonna fret out if it's a hardware issue as I have to ship the device back to europe from asia just to get it fixed/replaced >.<

Riyal said:
Well I guess all I could say is.... Welcome to the club! lol! Now with so many users having this issue I don't know if it's indeed an issue or not. Is this the downside of having 300% more light in a low pixel resolution camera?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm looking at the anandtech review and I don't see this problem in their night shots... For example, this picture ( http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/gadgets/HTC/HTCOne/cameracomp/bench-HTC One.jpg ) was taken on full auto and it returned an ISO of 531 1/15s and all that was supposed to be black was black...
If I try something like that... I'll most certainly get an 1/7s and an ISO-2000...

VictorCozmei said:
I'm looking at the anandtech review and I don't see this problem in their night shots... For example, this picture ( http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/gadgets/HTC/HTCOne/cameracomp/bench-HTC One.jpg ) was taken on full auto and it returned an ISO of 531 1/15s and all that was supposed to be black was black...
If I try something like that... I'll most certainly get an 1/7s and an ISO-2000...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so... Look at the light in the area it's way to evenly spread out for yours to become reddish believe me I have tried it. For the photo to become reddish you basically need to have a very limited light source(candle in a completely dark room) for the sides to become reddish.

+1 on the above stated issues. When I cover the lens, the image turns red because iso shoots up. However when I manually set the iso lower (say 100), then the image is just plain black.
I honestly do not think this is a defect of some kind but rather normal behaviour with high iso settings. But when someone can take a pitch black picture with the lens covered on iso 2000 than we will have a problem

Riyal said:
I don't think so... Look at the light in the area it's way to evenly spread out for yours to become reddish believe me I have tried it. For the photo to become reddish you basically need to have a very limited light source(candle in a completely dark room) for the sides to become reddish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried taking photos in similar scenarios like the one on the anadtech site and my result was a photo with blue and purple-ish noise instead of the black that appears in their photos. All on auto on my device -> ISO 2000, 1/7s, blue instead of black areas

I was thinking the same as you before someone gave me this pitch black result.
Floris2310 said:
+1 on the above stated issues. When I cover the lens, the image turns red because iso shoots up. However when I manually set the iso lower (say 100), then the image is just plain black.
I honestly do not think this is a defect of some kind but rather normal behaviour with high iso settings. But when someone can take a pitch black picture with the lens covered on iso 2000 than we will have a problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
VictorCozmei said:
I've tried taking photos in similar scenarios like the one on the anadtech site and my result was a photo with blue and purple-ish noise instead of the black that appears in their photos. All on auto on my device -> ISO 2000, 1/7s, blue instead of black areas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure I could get exactly the same results with my phone. Even just a single street light is enough to remove the reddish tint on the camera. However what I find odd is flourescent lights can't remove it.

@VictorCozmei @Floris2310 @Xerro-Five
Confirmed! We have a weird sensor on our devices. I manage to play with another HTC One in a store here in our place and it's indeed having perfect pitch black images

damn, bad news then. Probably a stupid question but did you check the ISO settings on the device?
There are two possible scenarios here:
1) We have a sensor which is acting weird/broken
2) There is something wrong with the ISO selection and it typically takes an ISO to high which causes the red image
I think (read: hope) the second option is more likely and the good news is that this would probably be a software rather than hardware issue.
Anyway, thanks @Riyal for checking this!

@Riyal
This is horrible :crying: @#$%!
If this is truly confirmed and there are a number of One's out there with broken sensors, than I think this thread should be renamed so that all users know about this problem. Maybe some of them, looking to buy the One, can do the camera test before purchasing a faulty unit!
I just got my One and I'm falling in love with it and now I have to take it back and be without it... More over, the great HTC-partner service we have here doesn't not know the meaning of the word "replacement" and they will most surely try to open and fix it (oh the horror!!) ...

VictorCozmei said:
@Riyal
This is horrible :crying: @#$%!
If this is truly confirmed and there are a number of One's out there with broken sensors, than I think this thread should be renamed so that all users know about this problem. Maybe some of them, looking to buy the One, can do the camera test before purchasing a faulty unit!
I just got my One and I'm falling in love with it and now I have to take it back and be without it... More over, the great HTC-partner service we have here doesn't not know the meaning of the word "replacement" and they will most surely try to open and fix it (oh the horror!!) ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would wait a little longer before returning the device. The 4.2.2 update is just around the corner and I have read somewhere that there are some camera improvements. Perhaps the issue is fixed with the update. If it's a software problem that is.

Related

Did my new Galaxy S come with a dodgy Camera?

I just bought a new, sealed unit a few days ago. The last remaining stock left over in Aus. As soon as I turned on the camera I quickly realised something was a bit off.
I know they never had amazing camera quality to begin with, but mine is, a lot messier, than what I have seen in other units up until now.
My friend also has a I9000, and I used his a few times but mind you only checked out the camera for a total of 10-15 seconds (which is what persuaded me the galaxy S had a good camera), but that was enough for me to immediately spot a significant difference in mine. I then did a thorough test between mine and his and confirmed this. I also looked at some phones in stores.
Is this common of the newer model/last remaining stock?
Or should I try get it replaced for another one?
It seems about 30-40% worse in general.
I made sure to first reset and then check all camera settings.
The results seem consistent.
Here is my phone and my friends. Both taken at exactly the same moment, settings, etc side by side.
Mine
His
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Mine
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
His
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Mine
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
His
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Running 2.2 On Voda firmware. All stock.
Anyway I spoke to the retailer where I signed up to a contract from and they said, the camera looks fine to me. He took a few photos and said it was all in order.
It seems they would only consider replacing it is if the camera doesn't work at all?
Isn't there a level of quality control?
The retailer said if we send it of for repairs they will just inspect it, say its fine and return the same one to you again, just in worse condition.
I haven't even used the phone since I got it 5 days ago, as a major reason to get it was a decent camera. At the moment its worse/the same as all my old 1.3-5mp phones from 5 years ago.
Any ideas? Does it qualify for warranty/another unit?
by seeing the images, i feel the resolution setting for your cam is to blame. go to settings and check whether its full (2560*1920)
Looks like it's on one of the mode settings.
I suspect low quality camera sensor. Hmmm big diference... i'll check mine tonight, you make me curious.
kkagarwal said:
by seeing the images, i feel the resolution setting for your cam is to blame. go to settings and check whether its full (2560*1920)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the post he states that they used identical settings and each pic has it's resolution on it, they are all the same resolution.
There's definitely a big difference in quality though, the lighting is way different in the two phones. Never seen that big a difference before on the 3 phones I've used.
Yes its definitely identical settings guys.
The lighting differences seem like the software is trying to make up for the fact the camera is delivering a poor image, and turns up the iso and changes color balance etc.
I actually first posted this on android forums before I took any action, before I knew of this forum, but they don't seem that keen on hardware as here.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s/333683-did-my-new-galaxy-s-come-dodgy-camera.html
You can look at that link for a better sized comparison. The pics on there arranged nicer.
Anyway I called up samsung, told them of my issue.
They basically said I should contact the nearest service center. They said its Fonebiz in Rockdale on the Princess HWY. Pretty close to me.
When the lady on the phone found out its only a few days old and I am not using it because of the issue, she said if its under 20 days I can contact the place where I bought it from and get another one on the spot.
Well as I said the guy at the shop completely missed the point, tested out the camera in a few shots and started comparing it to other brands of phones.
He said any difference I notice could be because of different camera batches which is of course true, but I still think the difference is too big, especially since a better camera was one of the biggest reasons for me to upgrade phones. Not to mention you have to compare Galaxy S vs Galaxy S, as I did.
Do you guys have any recommendations/contacts etc? I think I will just walk into Fonebiz and see what they say, but I don't know if I want a refurbished unit to replace essentially a new phone.
I think that the "good" phone was aimed more at the light source hence the slight changes in exposure etc etc.
I would not judge a phone camera in a dim room anyway, but i would not change it just yet.
Come on its a phone the camera's are either poor or really poor at best.
Filename: i20110511214043.jpg
Size: 1517Kb
Resolution: 2560 x 1920
Camera used: SAMSUNG GT-I9000
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
Focal length: 3.8 mm
Aperture: f/2.6
Date/Time: 2011-05-11 21:40:42
Exposure time: 1/17
Lens F-Number: f/2.6
ISO: 200
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering mode: Center-weighted average
Exposure: Program AE
Jpeg Quality: JPEG (old-style)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Filename: a20110511214044.jpg
Size: 1409Kb
Resolution: 2560 x 1920
Camera used: SAMSUNG GT-I9000
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
Focal length: 3.5 mm
Aperture: f/2.6
Date/Time: 2011-05-11 21:40:43
Exposure time: 1/9
Lens F-Number: f/2.6
ISO: 160
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering mode: Center-weighted average
Exposure: Program AE
Jpeg Quality: JPEG (old-style)
I had problems with my camera. Its focus was bad. I found it much better if you tap the area of the photo you wish to focus on and only when it goes green take the shot.
Why don't you take both off auto, and set them both to the same iso settings and check the difference then. This would give a better indication of software vs hardware.
Yes, te same ****y quality i have on my sgs.
Iso auto (400)
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Iso 100
I notice autofocus seems got impoved in gingerbread.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Galaxy camera
There must be differences then.
Mine at ISO 400, standard scene, using stock camera (JVH ginga), handheld, with auto contrast ON and image stabilisation OFF.
640x480 attached
Full res here: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mc1d5_bicjU0fhJaNZJehAaai0htwUKheDFpOU8DCYE?feat=directlink
Oh - there is a difference! The focal length varies - 3.5mm and 3.8mm. They must be different lens/sensor units!
Anyone with 3.8mm... bad news... but 3.5mm might be better??
Ok, so I had a chance to set the settings all to manual as was suggested.
To cut it short, regardless of the settings, when they are the matched and the phones are put side by side to take the same shot, his one captures more light and less noise. I guess they go hand in hand.
So a scene that looks completely dark on my camera(i.e black, no detail coming through), will be actually be clearly visible but with a lot of noise on his one.
A scene that looks barely visible on mine, will be fairly visible with a lot less noise on his one.
A scene that looks fully well lit with little noise on his one, will look like its a little dark on mine with a little noise.
I think you get the point. I guess what the software was doing in mine on auto is to compensate for the lack of light being captured, it turns the iso up, this introducing even more noise and off color etc.
One last thing, which I am curious to find more info about
It say on the back of my phone, MADE IN VIETNAM, and on his one MADE IN KOREA.
I had no idea they switched manufacture plants like that, nor had I come across any info on the sgs about that.
True story.
so It looks like I probably won't/cant be bothered to try exchange the phone, even though it is still within 14 days of purchase...sigh
The new one could be the same, and I may get one without a bootloader, and my current one has one etc. Heck I may even get a refurb.
this is such a good topic for me....
i have the same problem as you i did not compare with other sgs phone but i have never managed to get nice pictures indoors with this camera....
only if there is ALLOT of light the pics turn out ok nothing outstanding.
i played with all possible settings and yet nothing looks good.
i hate to admit it and sad too but the sgs camera is very ****ty imo...
its always more yellow and the colors turn out bad
also when i picture indoor with a little light in the room and night scene the pics are too dark.
this camera is a joke sadly
mine is made in Korea... so useless
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
awojtas said:
Oh - there is a difference! The focal length varies - 3.5mm and 3.8mm. They must be different lens/sensor units!
Anyone with 3.8mm... bad news... but 3.5mm might be better??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine's 3.5, my pics are fine, but I mostly use it outdoors, lots of natural light.
DMD9 said:
Mine's 3.5, my pics are fine, but I mostly use it outdoors, lots of natural light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you take an indoors photo sometime and post it here? Try set it to ISO400, as that's what most of the pics here seem to be, so we can compare. As long it's indoor, ISO400, and you don't shake the camera we should get a basic idea of quality.
So... Korea (3.5mm focal length) = good
Vietnam (3.8mm focal length) = you're screwed
If the angle of view is the same, theoretically, the Vietnam ones have a bigger sensor (same megapixels, but bigger sensor area), which normally means better image.
But in this case the lens might be really rubbish.
Mine is Vietnam 3.8mm too and pretty poor in dim light.
awojtas said:
Could you take an indoors photo sometime and post it here? Try set it to ISO400, as that's what most of the pics here seem to be, so we can compare. As long it's indoor, ISO400, and you don't shake the camera we should get a basic idea of quality.
So... Korea (3.5mm focal length) = good
Vietnam (3.8mm focal length) = you're screwed
If the angle of view is the same, theoretically, the Vietnam ones have a bigger sensor (same megapixels, but bigger sensor area), which normally means better image.
But in this case the lens might be really rubbish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do, I'll try to have a pic up tommorrow
as I said, mine is made in korea with 3.8mm so the country doesn't count.

[Q] Camera not that good?

So compared to my old galaxy skyrocket which has the same camera as the galaxy s2/galaxy s3
the htc one seems like a big step down
htc one: http://i.imgur.com/OgOrVYN.jpg?1
galaxy skyrocket: http://i.imgur.com/DEChRVh.jpg?1
why is it so much worse?
I have tried messing with the exposure levels and it still looks bad
any ideas?
jigglywiggly said:
So compared to my old galaxy skyrocket which has the same camera as the galaxy s2/galaxy s3
the htc one seems like a big step down
htc one: http://i.imgur.com/OgOrVYN.jpg?1
galaxy skyrocket: http://i.imgur.com/DEChRVh.jpg?1
why is it so much worse?
I have tried messing with the exposure levels and it still looks bad
any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has to do with the metering. One is affected because your screen is on in one of the photos and not in the other, so the exposure is affected.
You can Google metering in photography, it can help. Because when you tap to focus...
Ok try this. Go outside and find a tree on a sunny day. Focus on the darkest part of the tree and snap one. Then focus on the sky and snap one. Compare both.
I do believe that's the difference.
Sent from my HTC One
Often I find I have to set focus on a different area than I intended in order to achieve best results. I took a picture yesterday in the garden and it was blue skies and very sunny which meant I had to focus on the sky in order to darken the image, if I'd focused somewhere that was darker or actually where I'd wanted to focus, it would have being overexposed and just look washed out.
When you learn about the camera and how to take pictures with it you really can take some very good shots. Personally though I don't think the low light is all it's cracked up to be, looks as bad as it has on any phone tbh but then I rarely take pictures at night, only dirty ones of my wench and young girls through windows
This pic I think shows somewhat how good the camera can be, boring subject matter lol but I wanted to test the Macro mode ...
AllAboutTheCore said:
Often I find I have to set focus on a different area than I intended in order to achieve best results. I took a picture yesterday in the garden and it was blue skies and very sunny which meant I had to focus on the sky in order to darken the image, if I'd focused somewhere that was darker or actually where I'd wanted to focus, it would have being overexposed and just look washed out.
When you learn about the camera and how to take pictures with it you really can take some very good shots. Personally though I don't think the low light is all it's cracked up to be, looks as bad as it has on any phone tbh but then I rarely take pictures at night, only dirty ones of my wench and young girls through windows
This pic I think shows somewhat how good the camera can be, boring subject matter lol but I wanted to test the Macro mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea the camera is incredible, by far the best I've ever used on a phone. The thing is, if you havent noticed, this phones camera was kinda marketed to be a night life phone. The low light pics at a club or restaurant
But larger pixels means even better st capturing light in regular light, which u noticed makes a huge difference. Especially the added sharpness, exceptionnal. And the macro you took could even be better, you have to spend some time focussing it, I have a dslr, same thing.
Keep trying different types of shots, explore with the metering and white balance... You'll be surprised! You'll be a pro in no time!
Sent from my HTC One

[Q] Photos are 'dirty' with yellow/brown bars.

My Z is a few months old now, and has been functioning fine so far. Now and then though, the camera goes completely nuts- by taking photos with yellowish/brownish bars across it. The bars are visible on screen too. I can't figure out what's causing this (I've wiped the back panel), but it seems like it only happens for indoor shots, especially when the subject of the photo is close to the camera (about 20cm away).
Is this something to worry about? Are there many other users with the same problem, and should I send it in for servicing/ to get a replacement unit? It's still under warranty.
I'm on build 101.1.A.1.253, running stock 4.1.2, for what it's worth.
Get it replaced.
From me to you.
XperienceD said:
Get it replaced.
From me to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if they provide replacements under warranty here, actually... did you have the same problem?
aprilius20 said:
did you have the same problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but if my pictures were coming out like that as well as my display looking like it too whilst using the camera, it would be going back.
XperienceD said:
No, but if my pictures were coming out like that as well as my display looking like it too whilst using the camera, it would be going back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah same here, it seems more the logical. The shop you bought it can't call that a good picture.
I done some research on this
this is under fluorescent lighting @ ISO 1600
This is under fluorescent lighting @ ISO100 (still a little brownish)
This is under fluorescent lighting @ ISO 400? With HDR ON
This is under sunlight @ ISO 1600 With HDR ON
I have tested also on ther condition, did not upload it/ deleted
but i can sort of deduce this
1. The brown bars are caused by the fluorescent lighting that have a frequency clash with the camera refresh rate.
2. The problem seems minimize at ISO100, appears slightly @ ISO200 but worsen once over ISO400
3. The pictures above is taken at close range ~ 8cm away with the phone place on an elevated box.
4. with fluorescent lighting, the HDR ON affect on as low as ISO100, and causes the ghost/double image and really tits up on higher ISO. This issue lessen with natural sunlight where the image maintain crisp until ISO 1600.
5. I cannot use the self timer as the flash light for the timer sometimes f-up the focus (this is a real f-up)
6. There are still other modes i have yet to test out such as burst etc
XperienceD said:
No, but if my pictures were coming out like that as well as my display looking like it too whilst using the camera, it would be going back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Logical enough for me
mcchin said:
I done some research on this
1. The brown bars are caused by the fluorescent lighting that have a frequency clash with the camera refresh rate.
6. There are still other modes i have yet to test out such as burst etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't bother testing as much as you did, but all that does seem to make sense! Did some searching and it seems like some Sony cameras have this problem (point and shoot, or DSLR, I can't remember). It is an indoor only thing like you said, under fluorescent lighting.
Wonder if this qualifies as a bug or a hardware limitation...

Is my camera broken, or I need to play with settings?

Hi all,
I have bought the phone yesterday, stock, unlocked latest software.
Look at those pictures, especially white birds... Ridiculous, even some white tint over seagulls, zero details on white feathers.
No sun, normal Irish day..
Please comment... Stock camera settings.
http://db.tt/BnlPNQqy
http://db.tt/PTM8fnBE
are you on 1.29?
the photo`s are overexposed, the one sets the exposure on what it is focusing on, so i would have though it focused on the dark water and raised the exposure, that`s is why the white birds are overexposed, if you focused on a white bird, the one would reduce the exposure, and give more detail on the birds.
You know you can touch the screen to focus, but there is a setting in the menu to take a photo automatically when you click on an area of the screen.
I wish there was an total area exposure mode instead of the focus spot one.
John.
that ^
I'm not an expert but, I think you just need to focus manually (press on the screen to focus as Tinderbox said) to avoid an overexposed picture...
valdigre said:
Hi all,
I have bought the phone yesterday, stock, unlocked latest software.
Look at those pictures, especially white birds... Ridiculous, even some white tint over seagulls, zero details on white feathers.
No sun, normal Irish day..
Please comment... Stock camera settings.
http://db.tt/BnlPNQqy
http://db.tt/PTM8fnBE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's called metering. When you tap on the water to focus (dark), the camera turns the light up so that the water is clearly visible and perfectly exposed. But since you're making dark brighter, the brights will naturally be even brighter. You want the feathers to show detail, you tap on them and it adjusts the light so that they are darker and you can see detail at the expense of even darker water.
Your best bet in these kind of high contrast situations is to use HDR mode. It takes 1 under-exposed image (dark) and 1 slightly over-exposed image (bright) and merges the 2 together. Dark areas will be brighter and bright areas will be darker, giving the image a little fake look, but evenly exposed throughout.
On dSLRs, HDR actually takes THREE images to combine (sometimes even 5). This gives the processor more choices to pick and choose the best parts of each image to merge to a final picture.
SLver said:
that ^
I'm not an expert but, I think you just need to focus manually (press on the screen to focus as Tinderbox said) to avoid an overexposed picture...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your replies, guys.
I don't remember now, what I have been focusing on - was it the swans/seagulls or dark water, pavement. I think I tried both, focusing on different areas of the screen and the result was the same.
Same goes for videos, birds are overblown and shine like some white lanterns...
My firmware is 1.29.401.16
yeah do some metering and try different types of shots,
valdigre said:
Thanks for your replies, guys.
I don't remember now, what I have been focusing on - was it the swans/seagulls or dark water, pavement. I think I tried both, focusing on different areas of the screen and the result was the same.
Same goes for videos, birds are overblown and shine like some white lanterns...
My firmware is 1.29.401.16
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just some samples to explain my previous post. First pic is me focusing on the wall, which is dark. The wall is now not but my lightsource is completely blown out.
As one pic shows me focusing on the light. Since it's bright, the camera has to darken the whole scene so I can actually see the object I focused on, turning the rest of the scene dark.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Guys, I know what you all mean, I know how to make pictures, good ones. It is the first phone I have that in auto mode makes such a scrappy photos...
Look at those:
http://db.tt/zBmK28lA
http://db.tt/KlhAMEKs
Those are pathetic details on whites, I was focusing on white feathers and still terrible. I even lowered exposure but this is not ideal as well. Hdr photos are the same for whites, still overblown...
Camera fault?
It's just the camera. I tested it against an s4 and an Xperia z. Indoor shots were way better on the one than either of them but both beat out the one hands down when it came to outdoor shots. I have tried everything and can't get a really good outdoor shot. I would like to see the result of someone porting the Xperia z camera app to our device but I don't know if it is possible.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
valdigre said:
Guys, I know what you all mean, I know how to make pictures, good ones. It is the first phone I have that in auto mode makes such a scrappy photos...
Look at those:
http://db.tt/zBmK28lA
http://db.tt/KlhAMEKs
Those are pathetic details on whites, I was focusing on white feathers and still terrible. I even lowered exposure but this is not ideal as well. Hdr photos are the same for whites, still overblown...
Camera fault?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those first picture is terrible...
Could you post more pictures because that kind of terrible picture i have never had with the htc one...
So we can see if its realy broken
valdigre said:
Guys, I know what you all mean, I know how to make pictures, good ones. It is the first phone I have that in auto mode makes such a scrappy photos...
Look at those:
http://db.tt/zBmK28lA
http://db.tt/KlhAMEKs
Those are pathetic details on whites, I was focusing on white feathers and still terrible. I even lowered exposure but this is not ideal as well. Hdr photos are the same for whites, still overblown...
Camera fault?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks just like what ArmedandDangerous explained. In the first picture you seem to be focused on the water and the second it looks like you're focused on the birds.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
SkizzMcNizz said:
It looks just like what ArmedandDangerous explained. In the first picture you seem to be focused on the water and the second it looks like you're focused on the birds.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey guys,
The problem is, that some extra white/bright objects are too small for the camera to catch focus for and adjust the settings.
I played with settings a bit over the weekend and the camera focuses OK on brighter objects, as long as they are big enough...
A bit of a shame, nor my Lumia 920, nor even galaxy S2 has problems like this... I guess, I can live with it, though

yellow photos

Hello!
When there is a yellow warm street lighting at night, the camera makes very yellow images, for example - the sidewalk color is grey but on the phone screen and on the photo taken the images are super yellow. My phone camera on standard colors, i tried to take photos on auto mode and on night mode- results are same. Can you please confirm if your phone does the same?
tainka said:
Hello!
When there is a yellow warm street lighting at night, the camera makes very yellow images, for example - the sidewalk color is grey but on the phone screen and on the photo taken the images are super yellow. My phone camera on standard colors, i tried to take photos on auto mode and on night mode- results are same. Can you please confirm if your phone does the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can confirm, some night shots with yellow lightning makes not good pictures. overall im little disapointed to this p30 pro camera.. i had mi9 before this and im thinking back to that.
Vihru said:
i can confirm, some night shots with yellow lightning makes not good pictures. overall im little disapointed to this p30 pro camera.. i had mi9 before this and im thinking back to that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The camera is great except this condition when the lighting is yellow. I tried on pro with 2800 white balance - it is the lowest, but it is still yellow.
Confirm. Also, in the room when illuminated by fluorescent lights, the colors also go crazy.
Those types of light sources are challenging to measure the correct white balance of because their frequency updates vary a lot. Most of them will look yellow because that's the colour they emit at night. It's not really a bug but a choice each developer makes how they will meter those types of light sources. You can easily compensate for the default measurement by shooting in Pro mode and setting your own white balance value or even your own Kelvin value.
/ Magnus
Magnus3D said:
Those types of light sources are challenging to measure the correct white balance of because their frequency updates vary a lot. Most of them will look yellow because that's the colour they emit at night. It's not really a bug but a choice each developer makes how they will meter those types of light sources. You can easily compensate for the default measurement by shooting in Pro mode and setting your own white balance value or even your own Kelvin value.
/ Magnus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ו tried it. The lowest is 2800. It is still very yellow.
on p30 the same problem with street lighting
For me white is white
White even if the corridor light on the right is a little yellowish with human eyes
I am making war to this phone for this ****ty yellowish tint on every photos made after sunset with street light, or even inside home with some light. I regret to not buy OnePlus again...
Taking same shot with OnePlus 3t (3yo phone) give the right color output. I can't believe that Huawei are not able to adjust and calibrate this sensor in a better way. Camera phone? Absolutely not... Not to mention the photo quality of wide angle when light isn't perfect, noise everywhere.
I hope will get better with Emui 10/Android 10
Sometimes it doesn't even get better with editing. It's ridiculous, I'm very disappointed.if you are lucky you can recover 70% of the shot losing times with editing... When I pass to OnePlus 3t (even if it's not a camera phone) I almost stop using Photoshop, now... I'm using too much.
Honestly I really don't understand why 97% of reviews doesn't analyze and report this problem.
Very very strange or maybe you are having a hardware issue.
See what I took in out of the pocket conditions.
P30 series using RYYB sensor in main camera for collect 40% more light while other phone+camera using RGGB (basic primary colours).
so yeah, It's best for low light but you got yellow tint +warm color(red orange yellow) shift instead. I saw Huawei try to fixed it since 9.1.0.12x by software process but they can't
btw, They try again on Mate30 by put +UWA(RGGB) same pixel size at main cam(RYYB) (for color comparable on something? i'm not sure) while P30 main cam had different pixel size to UWA. but Mate30 can't take macro picture cause that bigger pixel.
look at this video for color shift problem
like China flag, flower, whatever that have red-orange-yellow color
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZUCTRDuMEA
or this at 1.21 . Red color's chair turn into orange
+creepy penguin artifact at 8.13
https://youtu.be/Plst3HLrs4Y?t=81
chrisftlse said:
Very very strange or maybe you are having a hardware issue.
See what I took in out of the pocket conditions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not always, but I notice that raising iso get worse. Honestly I think that software can help, expecially with AI.
I don't know the condition of the photos you posted but it's good
Just for saying, the 16:9 shot is made by OnePlus 3t gcam Nightsight (3yo phone), the 4:3 is made by P30 Pro.
Yellow tint corrected by post-editing, but just look at the shot, I really like more the OnePlus with gcam... A 700€ flagship camera phone wanted by older (not camera phone) phone? Disappointed...
Leoxur said:
Just for saying, the 16:9 shot is made by OnePlus 3t gcam Nightsight (3yo phone), the 4:3 is made by P30 Pro.
Yellow tint corrected by post-editing, but just look at the shot, I really like more the OnePlus with gcam... A 700€ flagship camera phone wanted by older (not camera phone) phone? Disappointed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK, if you take photos with some warm light (yellow, red..) as a background light (dominant light), the overall result will be turned into yellow tone photos. When I looked at your photos, I saw that the buildings, streets, in where you are living, are always covered by a warm color. That's why the algorithms of P30 pro will cause this issue. This is also an explanation for the photos a guy posted above without any problems.
P/S: Did the latest update (emui 10) fix this problem?
Leoxur said:
Sometimes it doesn't even get better with editing. It's ridiculous, I'm very disappointed.if you are lucky you can recover 70% of the shot losing times with editing... When I pass to OnePlus 3t (even if it's not a camera phone) I almost stop using Photoshop, now... I'm using too much.
Honestly I really don't understand why 97% of reviews doesn't analyze and report this problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wouldn't call this an issue at all.. this could be fixed by an software update, since its the hardware in the phone, a different sensor which captures way more yellow details than other phones, but thats a good thing, because yellow emits way more light, and thats why the p30 pro is able to produce soo good low light shots!
i don't mind lowering the yellow saturation through lightroom, because the cam simply gives you beautiful shots with good detail, even more than you see through your regular eyes at night. Go buy another phone of you are more happy with the shots they produce instead of sh**storming about the camera
Regards
lemonade747 said:
AFAIK, if you take photos with some warm light (yellow, red..) as a background light (dominant light), the overall result will be turned into yellow tone photos. When I looked at your photos, I saw that the buildings, streets, in where you are living, are always covered by a warm color. That's why the algorithms of P30 pro will cause this issue. This is also an explanation for the photos a guy posted above without any problems.
P/S: Did the latest update (emui 10) fix this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know but a 1000€ cameraphone can't do this. Yes the problem Is still here.
---------- Post added at 09:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:56 PM ----------
OldDroid said:
i wouldn't call this an issue at all.. this could be fixed by an software update, since its the hardware in the phone, a different sensor which captures way more yellow details than other phones, but thats a good thing, because yellow emits way more light, and thats why the p30 pro is able to produce soo good low light shots!
i don't mind lowering the yellow saturation through lightroom, because the cam simply gives you beautiful shots with good detail, even more than you see through your regular eyes at night. Go buy another phone of you are more happy with the shots they produce instead of sh**storming about the camera
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that Is what I thinks so, that Is why I'm mad ti Huawei. I can't belive that with lightroom in postproduction on JPEG file you can almost fix the Yellow tint, and the software Is not able ti do It himself, expecially with all the hype on AI. Is this AI so stupid?
Terminator Will kill me first ahahahaha
OldDroid said:
i wouldn't call this an issue at all.. this could be fixed by an software update, since its the hardware in the phone, a different sensor which captures way more yellow details than other phones, but thats a good thing, because yellow emits way more light, and thats why the p30 pro is able to produce soo good low light shots!
i don't mind lowering the yellow saturation through lightroom, because the cam simply gives you beautiful shots with good detail, even more than you see through your regular eyes at night. Go buy another phone of you are more happy with the shots they produce instead of sh**storming about the camera
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am now reading the second part of the message that I miss. Dear fanboy, if you are happy to have spent 1000€ for a smartphone sold as a cameraphone that has serious difficulties in the color management good for you. Sincerely coming from oneplus 3t (an old phone and never been a cameraphone) I am disappointed in some conditions since the 3t with gcam is better. Look at the mate 30 pro, same sensor way better job... I repeat if you are happy to often have a yellow tint and have to manually retouch the photos, be happy and be the champion of Huawei justice elsewhere. I can't afford to buy another phone 3 months after buying this since it has already lost € 250 from the amount I paid for it. Greetings and happy new year.
Leoxur said:
I am now reading the second part of the message that I miss. Dear fanboy, if you are happy to have spent 1000€ for a smartphone sold as a cameraphone that has serious difficulties in the color management good for you. Sincerely coming from oneplus 3t (an old phone and never been a cameraphone) I am disappointed in some conditions since the 3t with gcam is better. Look at the mate 30 pro, same sensor way better job... I repeat if you are happy to often have a yellow tint and have to manually retouch the photos, be happy and be the champion of Huawei justice elsewhere. I can't afford to buy another phone 3 months after buying this since it has already lost € 250 from the amount I paid for it. Greetings and happy new year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear oneplus fanboy,
i don't actually carey since i have my own opinion, all op phones are struggeling to achieve any kind of similar zoom, picture quality and night pictures. If you are not happy about the yellow tint, fine, i can live with that little postprocessing "problem". Go rage about that elsewhere, i'm more than happy what the phone offers, and that matters - i had multiple phones, from oneplus to samsung, no way i go back. I'm glad to say i spend 700€ for my P30 Pro, and i do not regret a single thing - if you however feel it was a mistake, then be happy with your Oneplus 3T and stop whining about your "loss"
Regards

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