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Hi, just recieved my GSM developer edition Moto X yesterday and I've been having trouble with severe artifacts in low light photos. Is this amount of banding/lines normal for the moto x? I'm wondering if it's a sensor issue and it's worth trying to exchange my phone. I have not noticed this level of artifacts in any low light sample photos.
Even if I cover the camera sensor it shows red lines where it should be black. See the samples below.
It's most noticeable in low light but the lines seem to be always present. In the camera app the lines shimmer on the screen and flicker from red/purple to blue in dark areas. I tried the camera FX app with anti-flicker set to 60hz but it didn't make much of a difference.
I have rooted the phone but would that cause this? Thanks for any advice!
I think it is normal, otherwise all three moto x's I have used have been defective. I hope to see a software fix for this.
Maybe different versions have slightly different internals. I have the Rogers version and mine doesn't have those lines /bands.
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone...
kj2112 said:
Maybe different versions have slightly different internals. I have the Rogers version and mine doesn't have those lines /bands.
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone...
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I am willing to bet that you just haven't noticed them yet. Try it on a low contrast object like a light colored counter, under fluorescent lighting.
These are the types of situations where it is most easily reproduced.
It only happens on the front camera for me.
I think it's related to certain fluorescent lighting. I've been testing the camera around work today under various lighting conditions and the lines are nowhere near as severe around LED and HID lamps. CFL bulbs, seem to cause the line artifacts the most while standard tube fluorescent lights don't seem to have as much of an effect. I'll play around with it some more.
The camera appears to have a very slow refresh rate, as a result you can see it beating with the 60hz from certain light sources. Every Rogers Moto X I have seen does it so I am sure it's a problem with all Moto X's. Could be a hardware limitation, if it can however be fixed in software I hope Motorola is working in a fix.
Steve-x said:
The camera appears to have a very slow refresh rate, as a result you can see it beating with the 60hz from certain light sources. Every Rogers Moto X I have seen does it so I am sure it's a problem with all Moto X's. Could be a hardware limitation, if it can however be fixed in software I hope Motorola is working in a fix.
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I believe that it's software as I have seen the same banding in my Nexus 4, but only with some settings applied with FV5 (not the stock camera app).
The HTC one had a similar issue and it seems that using HDR fixed it. Could someone with the Moto x try using HDR in the same lighting conditions and see whether or not it still bands?
I've tried using hdr and photos were still terrible.
I'm using camera zoom fx And with it I'm not having stripes. The problem is it only takes 5 mp photos and obviously loosing the twist to activate the camera thing.
Please, report this issue on Motorola's website. We have to make pressure in order to have a fix.
Sent from my XT1058 using xda app-developers app
I played around with a couple of moto X's on display at best buy and compared the camera live view side by side to mine. Neither of the display models, both AT&T branded, had the banding/lines flashing across the screen problem while my phone, a dev edition, did display the banding issue. I didn't think to check what version the display models were running but mine does it on both 4.2.2 and 4.4.
Frustrating... I'm going to contact motorola support about a replacement. I can't get a single decent photo out of mine. Also any video I take is covered in dancing red/blue lines.
Edit: Also HDR mode makes the problem worse if anything, hard to tell.
sethes302 said:
I played around with a couple of moto X's on display at best buy and compared the camera live view side by side to mine. Neither of the display models, both AT&T branded, had the banding/lines flashing across the screen problem while my phone, a dev edition, did display the banding issue. Frustrating... going to contact motorola support about a replacement. I can't get a single decent photo out of mine. Also any video I take is covered in dancing red/blue lines.
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Interesting, I played with two at the local Verizon store and they both did it.
Just saying... These are phone cameras.... If guys need to take real low light pics with no flash... Perhaps you need a real camera?
Every pic I've taken... Outdoors, inside day time... No flash... And inside night or day with flash... And haven't seen anything wrong. The pics all blow my S2 camera away.
I understand being more picky about pic quality than maybe I am.... But that's what real cameras are for. Phone cameras suck even compared to the cheapest real cameras.
just saying. Maybe my phone doesn't have the issue... Or at least I haven't done any pic taking in the right conditions yet.
But to say the moto x camera is crap.... Is ridiculous. It's just fine..... For a phone.
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone...
kj2112 said:
Just saying... These are phone cameras.... If guys need to take real low light pics with no flash... Perhaps you need a real camera?
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I am aware it's just a phone camera however I do not expect there to be lines all over the images. In live view on the camera of your Moto X does the image flash between red and purple hues a lot? I'm trying to determine if mine has a defect. Any pictures I take, especially in dark conditions, have these lines all over them as in the example below. Do you see similar from your Moto X?
Specifically, it is most reproducible in artificial light with lots of white or, in general, low contrast subjects (a piece of paper, a counter, top of a washing machine). I have not been able, under any circumstances, to reproduce it in natural light or DC light sources (no flicker).
I spent an hour this morning with a tier 2 moto tech to try and get him to reproduce it. He couldn't, and I have a theory as to why, but won't be able to test it until nightfall. Stay tuned... I WILL pin this down and then we can start a discussion in Moto's forums and try and get their attention.
Having the same issue. The excuse that this is a "camera phone" is ridiculous. I've had plenty of other "camera phones" that work without issue.
The lines are clearly visible in the attached pic. I have to wait a few seconds for the lines to go away to snap a picture.
This phone may be going back.
Solutions Etcetera said:
Specifically, it is most reproducible in artificial light with lots of white or, in general, low contrast subjects (a piece of paper, a counter, top of a washing machine). I have not been able, under any circumstances, to reproduce it in natural light or DC light sources (no flicker).
I spent an hour this morning with a tier 2 moto tech to try and get him to reproduce it. He couldn't, and I have a theory as to why, but won't be able to test it until nightfall. Stay tuned... I WILL pin this down and then we can start a discussion in Moto's forums and try and get their attention.
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That second pic I posted in the post above with red lines on the bottom was taken in my car at night with only DC light sources around. I've got a few video clip with those lines dancing all over the place under different lighting conditions, I'll post them when I can.
I believe there are two separate issues on my Moto X. One being the alternating orange/blue lines that show up under fluorescent lighting which most Moto X's seem to have a problem with and the second being these noise lines throughout the entire image under any lighting condition besides outdoor sunlight that seems to be a less common issue.
Interested to find out what your testing uncovers.
sethes302 said:
I am aware it's just a phone camera however I do not expect there to be lines all over the images. In live view on the camera of your Moto X does the image flash between red and purple hues a lot? I'm trying to determine if mine has a defect. Any pictures I take, especially in dark conditions, have these lines all over them as in the example below. Do you see similar from your Moto X?
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Tonight after work I'll try the same. No flash right? Near dark?
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone...
kj2112 said:
Tonight after work I'll try the same. No flash right? Near dark?
Sent from my Moto X cell phone telephone...
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Flash or no flash, easiest to see the lines in the poor lighting but they show up around the short edges of medium lit shots and also show up in video. They disappear in sunlit photos. I'm going to take a video of the liveview on my Moto X to better illustrate what I'm seeing. I'll post better examples when I get home. Interested to see what your photos look like.
I'm on the phone with tech support. They had me download another camera app (Camera MX), it exhibit the exact same issues
They want to do an exchange.
Hello everybody,
I'm going to buy a Moto X because I really like it, but I noticed that it has two problems.
1. The camera quality is good (if it could be improved, it'll be better), but in low light the video has a bad focus but above all a low frame rate.
2. The audio recorded has a nice quality; however, with loud volumes like concert or wind, it has distorsion.
Are these problems solvable in some ways or is the Moto X hardware limitated?
Thanks. Bye!
I guess we'll have to live with this camera. (Indoor mode is not great).
And audio I'm not sure!
Sent from my XT1052 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Okay; I'm waiting for other replies before deciding to buy a Nokia Lumia...
Lumia? It's just a camera with calling feature
Sent from my XT1052 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I know, but I need a good camera with good audio quality.
Moto X isn't bad at all, but I can't buy it if I couldn't solve that problems!
Andrea45 said:
Hello everybody,
I'm going to buy a Moto X because I really like it, but I noticed that it has two problems.
1. The camera quality is good (if it could be improved, it'll be better), but in low light the video has a bad focus but above all a low frame rate.
2. The audio recorded has a nice quality; however, with loud volumes like concert or wind, it has distorsion.
Are these problems solvable in some ways or is the Moto X hardware limitated?
Thanks. Bye!
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Click to collapse
Are you in a hurry to buy a phone? If not, I'd suggest waiting it out until the X+1 comes out later this summer/early fall. From what I've read, it sounds like a beast of a phone. If it lives up to the hype, I'll be getting one when my contract expires in November. Otherwise, you really can't go wrong with the usability of the X. The camera could use improving, but don't let that sway you from buying this device. I had my reservations about it as well when I first got mine, but I have no regrets.
Yes, I need a phone now!
If Moto X's video with low light and audio recording at a concert or disco could be improved, I'll buy it surely.
most def get the moto x u won't be disappointed the camera isn't that bad n u can install different camera apps to adjust setting also I find the audio on this phone to be great compared to other android other than HTC one'
Sent from my XT1053 using XDA Free mobile app
Andrea45 said:
Yes, I need a phone now!
If Moto X's video with low light and audio recording at a concert or disco could be improved, I'll buy it surely.
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It sounds to me like you need a new camera more so than a new phone... Lol.
Uhm... yeah... plus or minus... lol
But I use phone for call, browse, music and camera... Call, browse and music are common in all smartphones, camera not. I like Moto X camera, but it has the two issues I wrote, so I'd like to know if they are hardware limits or software solvable limits.
Andrea45 said:
Uhm... yeah... plus or minus... lol
But I use phone for call, browse, music and camera... Call, browse and music are common in all smartphones, camera not. I like Moto X camera, but it has the two issues I wrote, so I'd like to know if they are hardware limits or software solvable limits.
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Nah I totally hear ya I was just picking on you. Not everyone carries around a DSLR for the hell of it, most people just have their phone. With the advancements Moto has made with the camera software, I honestly think the hardware is in the right place. From what I understand 4.4.4 is supposed to bring even better camera improvements over 4.4.2. Just pull the trigger and get one!
Yeah, but I tried a Moto X; in disco the audio is crappy (so at a concert I think it'll be even worse), and if there isn't a lot of light, the frame rate slows (for example, at night in a road or in a house with low lights).
4.4.4 solves this problems? If not, are they solvable with mod, tweaks, etc.?
Andrea45 said:
Yeah, but I tried a Moto X; in disco the audio is crappy (so at a concert I think it'll be even worse), and if there isn't a lot of light, the frame rate slows (for example, at night in a road or in a house with low lights).
4.4.4 solves this problems? If not, are they solvable with mod, tweaks, etc.?
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No mod or tweaks can help it. If camera is a priority for you then you might wanna stay away from Moto X. Also 4.4.4 might bring some colour accuracy, but there will not be any significant changes. Go for XZ1C, again, if camera is the priority. The main problem with X's camera is it's inconsistency, you need to depend on your luck with it. Also there is slight purple hazing on low light shots, the sensor is far from being good, along with the optics.
Then buy a nice camera. Phones are phones with cheap cameras thrown in for kicks and giggles. ?
KJ said:
Then buy a nice camera. Phones are phones with cheap cameras thrown in for kicks and giggles. ?
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Is this meant for me?
devilsdouble said:
Is this meant for me?
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Nope. Anyone.
Every phone "camera" is terrible compared to even my $99 Kodak camera. Which is tiny and quite easy to carry around....especially if I know I'm gonna want to take pics where I'm going.
Phones are nice for those "crap...I don't have my camera" moments....but they are just never going to replace an actual camera...not if you want consistently decent pics. Yet people seem to expect phones to make "better" cameras all the time. Or are disappointed by the "cameras" their new phone has. Phone cameras will never be great.....not when the "real estate" for camera hardware is miniscule compared to an actual camera.
Just my 2 cents.
Opinions will vary, and to each their own. ?
---------- Post added at 08:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 PM ----------
BTW....if phone cameras were sold separately... With no phone, they'd be worth about $25. That should put the phone camera quality discussions in perspective.
Any news or other comments? Are there some camera or audio recording improvements for this phone?
Are camera's problems like low frame-rate and bad focus in low light and audio distorsion with high volume like concerts solvable in some way?
With it looking like the nexus 6 will perhaps be a bigger moto x, can anyone tell me what the camera is in medium light?
My note 3 takes really poor pictures and lags taking shots indoors unless in bright sunlight. Most of the time I get a blurr where my son has moved before its taken the shot.
I'm considering ditching samsung as the note 4 sounds to be just the same.
Any info much appreciated
With normal shots it gets grainy in places with shadows in any lighting situation. In low light situation it is very grainy, in fact the Moto G 2014 take less grainy pictures in low light. This is also software things related to post processing technology, not so much the hardware.
In order to get great pictures with this phone and prevent grains, I use HDR mode, which will significantly improve the details in the shadows and also significantly reduce grains.
Unfortunately the camera is still not good, particularly in low light situations. My old S4 and even an iPhone 5S have way better cameras...
I've been disappointed in the camera and feel like it's performing worse than my old phone (Moto X 2013). I've tried different settings without success, but I haven't tried a different app. What I've read says it uses the same sensor as the G3, which does quite well with pictures, so I'm guessing it's either the optics or software. If it's the latter, then it could improve.
Sent from my XT1096 using XDA Premium HD app
I wish they would have included OIS, if I rest the phone on something and hold it completely still I can get pretty decent shots
After repeated attempts, including stabilizing with a rail, this was the best picture I could get in an outdoor setting in overcast daylight. The others were blurrier and noisier. This one is still pretty bad (zoom in to see how bad). Hopefully they'll update the camera software and improve things.
Sent from my XT1096 using XDA Premium HD app
I don't have the phone, I should not comment, but I have seen at least 100 samples from different sources, anyone can if wants, and to my eyes the camera might be slightly better in capturing details under bright light, but it is significantly worse in low light when compared with previous generation's X. Yes, it's normal, as the previous OMV sensor was meant to capture more light, but this Sony one doesn't, but that can't be a reason to not match G3's or S4's IQ while they all have the same sensor! Okay, not same IQ, but at least this sensor should give those phones some minimum competition right? But nah, it doesn't! I literally have no idea what and how Motorola messed up with the sensor! Also notice that the camera is still inconsistent. One shot looks pretty fine, and the other looks awful! Exposure too is all over the place!
In simple words, in 2014, this picture quality is not acceptable. And I am extremely sad and disappointed with that.
Lipito said:
Unfortunately the camera is still not good, particularly in low light situations. My old S4 and even an iPhone 5S have way better cameras...
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I agree. Motorola still hasn't "caught up" to the competition when it comes to cameras. The S4 takes far better pictures. If MOTOROLA is producing the Nexus 6 then that also gives me pause, despite the beefy specs.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
UPDATE: Found a fix and hope it works for you guys too!
Forced 90hz is the way to go! Pixel 4 FTW!
1. Forced 90hz - ON
2. Ambient eq - ON/OFF (I have it ON but I heard some people turned it OFF and it fixed the black crush/purple hue. I tried it and it didn't fix anything for me
3. Always on display - MUST BE ON (I had this OFF before to save battery. This must be turned back on. I can replicate this every time, turn it off and the crushed black/purple hue appear, turn it on and the problem goes away.
Enjoy your P4 on 90hz always guys!
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I had my P4XL on forced 90hz the whole day. When night came my brightness was at around 30% and I noticed something was wrong with the screen. The default grey wallpaper was severely crushed, it looked more black than grey; youtube videos looked awful in darker scenes; my astro shots looked off, there was no transition in the night sky, it went from brighter areas to sudden pitch black.
I took out my P3XL to compare and it was significantly better! I knew this couldn't be right so I thought maybe I should try turning off the forced 90hz on my P4XL. Once it was off, the black crush was gone!
Is this meant to happen? Does higher refresh rates relate to brightness or has Google done something with it?
Here is a link to photos I took - P3XL VS P4XL forced 90hz (ON) & P3XL VS P4XL forced 90hz (OFF)
ttps://imgur.com/a/mS7yZ5o (i'm a junior member and can't post links, please add 'h' to the front)
I tried to replicate the problem on my pixel 4 xl and didn't have the same issue
I have this exact same issue and it has to do with the refresh rate being forced to 90hz as you said. My guess is if they are Samsung panels this would be their first 90hz panel and the P4 very well could be the guinea pig to see if they can create a solid 90hz panel? Then sadly they failed to deliver a solid product and it was already too late into production and all the panels have been made. Google then was aware of the issue with the panels and locked the higher refresh rate to the brightness levels. Google probably expected that the masses wouldn't dive into developer settings and force 90hz on. They probably also didn't expect many people to complain about 90hz barely kicking in unless you were running at a higher brightness % either. So I'm guessing their software update will lower the required brightness to trigger 90hz with Smooth Display activated and possibly increase the overall brightness of the display. The display is locked around 4xx nits while it's confirmed with auto brightness off that it can achieve over 600 + when playing HDR content. So it's probably just a first batch woes for Samsung and we got stuck with it unfortunately.
zetsumeikuro said:
I have this exact same issue and it has to do with the refresh rate being forced to 90hz as you said. My guess is if they are Samsung panels this would be their first 90hz panel and the P4 very well could be the guinea pig to see if they can create a solid 90hz panel? Then sadly they failed to deliver a solid product and it was already too late into production and all the panels have been made. Google then was aware of the issue with the panels and locked the higher refresh rate to the brightness levels. Google probably expected that the masses wouldn't dive into developer settings and force 90hz on. They probably also didn't expect many people to complain about 90hz barely kicking in unless you were running at a higher brightness % either. So I'm guessing their software update will lower the required brightness to trigger 90hz with Smooth Display activated and possibly increase the overall brightness of the display. The display is locked around 4xx nits while it's confirmed with auto brightness off that it can achieve over 600 + when playing HDR content. So it's probably just a first batch woes for Samsung and we got stuck with it unfortunately.
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I read somewhere that LG made the screens for the phones.
cpatrick08 said:
I read somewhere that LG made the screens for the phones.
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I really hope not
cpatrick08 said:
I read somewhere that LG made the screens for the phones.
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The teardown from iFixit indicates that Samsung has manufactured the displays.
I noticed the same issue. White 4xl, I forced the 90hz and sometimes when I unlocked the phone at night low brightness the screen looks watched out, blacks look gray but then I locked the phone and open it again and I get the issue op is talking about. Very crushed blacks and colors are way off. I also have on the night light as well. I will test more today.
zetsumeikuro said:
The teardown from iFixit indicates that Samsung has manufactured the displays.
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Ok
cpatrick08 said:
I read somewhere that LG made the screens for the phones.
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It was about the smaller Pixel 4:
https://www.droid-life.com/2019/10/24/pixel-4-lg-display/
zetsumeikuro said:
I have this exact same issue and it has to do with the refresh rate being forced to 90hz as you said. My guess is if they are Samsung panels this would be their first 90hz panel and the P4 very well could be the guinea pig to see if they can create a solid 90hz panel? Then sadly they failed to deliver a solid product and it was already too late into production and all the panels have been made.
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Didn't Samsung make the panels for the 90h display for OnePlus 7 Pro? If so, they've been out for about six months and they are excellent panels!
rajeshr said:
Didn't Samsung make the panels for the 90h display for OnePlus 7 Pro? If so, they've been out for about six months and they are excellent panels!
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That was my thoughts, and yes they are Samsung ones. Barely any complaints about the OnePlus 7 pro. Flooding in for the pixel 4 already
Some people in reddit have had success turning off Always On Display, yes, not Ambient Display but AOD.
It makes no sense but it worked for them.
m+a+r+k said:
Some people in reddit have had success turning off Always On Display, yes, not Ambient Display but AOD.
It makes no sense but it worked for them.
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If you have forced 90hz you actually want to have AOD on and that will get rid of the purple/green tint for certain colors at lower brightness.
I've noticed banding on bright photos this evening. The bizarre thing is that it affects both 48MP and normal photos; so two different cameras. Both in the Xiaomi camera app and other apps. I think it may just be the fact that I'm pointing it at a TV... but what was alarming is that the banding was essentially like an overlay; not moving as I panned the phone.
Is this hardware related or software related or normal?
Those lines are Very normal, when capturing screens.
Sent from my Redmi K20 Pro using Tapatalk
droident said:
Is this hardware related or software related or normal?
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Normal. It's TV screen display limitations.
droident said:
I've noticed banding on bright photos this evening. The bizarre thing is that it affects both 48MP and normal photos; so two different cameras. Both in the Xiaomi camera app and other apps. I think it may just be the fact that I'm pointing it at a TV... but what was alarming is that the banding was essentially like an overlay; not moving as I panned the phone.
Is this hardware related or software related or normal?
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Same on my 9T Pro. I have a 5 years old Galaxy Note 5 and I compared them same time with the same objects and while nothing is seen in Note 5, Xiaomi suffered. But if you're using default miui cam, switching antibanding to auto helps a bit.
tunado said:
Same on my 9T Pro. I have a 5 years old Galaxy Note 5 and I compared them same time with the same objects and while nothing is seen in Note 5, Xiaomi suffered. But if you're using default miui cam, switching antibanding to auto helps a bit.
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What threw me was that the banding acted like the origin was the sensor. Seemingly, it didn't move with panning the device. Weirder still is that pointing the sensor away from the TV still elicited some minor banding; almost vertical portions of the sensor had gone screwy.
Since I couldn't reproduce it once I'd gone into another room nor on another bright white LED screen I deduced that it must be the flat-screen in question - it's a plasma screen. And for whatever reason, whilst the banding looks normal in a still, the behavior was odd enough to give me the heebies that something was seriously wrong with the phone's cameras. I'm gonna take a wild guess and say plasma screens and camera sensors don't mix well. I generally find plasma panels a little flickery to the naked eye to begin with.
The fact that both camera modules behaved identically gives me some peace of mind. Didn't have much luck with the antibanding. I think the plasma refresh is just that implicative.