Related
I have both devices currently and from my very brief short time with the P20 pro , the pictures taken with it don't even come close to the quality you can get from the Pixel 2 XL.
Please tell me its just a case of faulty software, else I think I may be taking this phone back sadly.
Problems so far
Images lack any real detail and are very soft
HDR mode still hidden
Night Mode whilst great is still a 4 sec picture.. (but still soft ) - (The advantage you get from those 4 secs does not seem worth it from my quick test - but i'll keep testing)
Camera UI is rubbish... (subjective i know)
But it will be interesting to know if anyone else as similar experiences , as most reviewers online appear to suggest that this is the best camera phone ever!
Can't say my photos come out soft, mine are pretty close to what I see with my eyes. Not as sharp as some cameras that seem to over sharpen via post processing. More natural images than most cams I have used.
With the P20 Pro you do have to fiddle a bit in different situations, it's definitely not as versatile as the pixel if you just want to point and shoot. Some of my pics come out better when I bump up the megapixels. Some need nightmode or for me to disable the AI.
You can adjust pretty much everything. You don't need to always take 4 second night shots, you can adjust the time for the situation. Sometimes a second is enough.
The UI is a bit of a pain I agree, although I did expect that with the sheer amount of options provided. There is a lot going on. I'm having great success in Pro mode in my limited testing so far. It is a bit or a learning curve with the P20 Pro compared to other phones though for sure.
---------- Post added at 10:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 AM ----------
I forgot to add that the front camera is a different story, not that I take many selfies but...damn. Beauty mode seems to be undefeatable. Even when turned off I come out looking like a Ken doll. They really need to provide some kind of fix for that. The camera itself is capable of better pics, looks like they gimped the software.
I emailed them about it, because as it is, it's not that useful.
What i can say from my experience using several huawei phone is that, ever since P9,
The phone built with a photographer user (not really common point and shoot user) in mind,
Manual or semi auto setting always work best in various condition. Especially if the user understand well the corelation between apperture size, speed and ISO sensitivity and how it affect the picture quality/result.
That being said, someone who come from pixel 2 (i own pixel 2 xl myself as well) might find that the camera app UI and the auto mode is not as easy/versatile to use compare to google one. But the potential is definitely there.
Honestly, when using huawei camera, i mostly shoot in RAW and do the post processing later on myself. Auto mode is good enough for daily usage like shooting food or friend for instagram use. But the true power is in manual mode. Thats where all those leica software engineer chime in.
Thanks guys
Can you give me some examples of your images after post-processing ?
I'm more than happy to use pro mode (I also had a V30) , but even in pro the images just don't look right at all.
Also it was mentioned that the colours are more true to life but again i'm not seeing this when compared to the pixel (I took a very quick random picture of a orange t-shirt and it came out yellow on the p20 pro... )
Horses for courses. If you only want to point n shoot then Pixel or S9, if you're more into photography than that then easily the P20 Pro over anything else on the market right now. DxO ratings have always correlated poorly to actual general use, I thought everyone had worked that out by now.
Highspeed123 said:
Can't say my photos come out soft, mine are pretty close to what I see with my eyes. Not as sharp as some cameras that seem to over sharpen via post processing. More natural images than most cams I have used.
With the P20 Pro you do have to fiddle a bit in different situations, it's definitely not as versatile as the pixel if you just want to point and shoot. Some of my pics come out better when I bump up the megapixels. Some need nightmode or for me to disable the AI.
You can adjust pretty much everything. You don't need to always take 4 second night shots, you can adjust the time for the situation. Sometimes a second is enough.
The UI is a bit of a pain I agree, although I did expect that with the sheer amount of options provided. There is a lot going on. I'm having great success in Pro mode in my limited testing so far. It is a bit or a learning curve with the P20 Pro compared to other phones though for sure.
---------- Post added at 10:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 AM ----------
I forgot to add that the front camera is a different story, not that I take many selfies but...damn. Beauty mode seems to be undefeatable. Even when turned off I come out looking like a Ken doll. They really need to provide some kind of fix for that. The camera itself is capable of better pics, looks like they gimped the software.
I emailed them about it, because as it is, it's not that useful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please share some of the settings that helped you? I for one am not able to find the setting to disable the AI [Edit - Did you mean the Master AI setting? It seems to only affect the Photo mode]
Not a point an shoot quite yet
I would say the Samsung Note 8 or S8/9 are easier to use but the colours on the P20 Pro seem more realistic once you have disabled AI.
If you like to work in Pro mode and use the manual focus you can get some very good results on the P20 Pro but everything set to auto and its random whether the shot works out or not.
In particular for close ups manual focus is infinitely more effective than trying to wait for the auto focus which sometimes fails completely.
If you use the P20 Pro like you would a camera the depth of abilities are way up there but AI doesn't quite work well enough yet to provide reliable results.
Remember DX0 is only about sensors not ease of use or UI etc its just about sensor performance.
My 2p worth..
After more playing around with the p20 pro i've come to the conclusion that its not for me.
I'm more of a point and shoot guy and the p20 pro is too random with its pictures to really be a good point and shoot.
I'm going to stick with the pixel 2 xl, and would advise anyone looking for a simple point and shoot camera to look elsewhere.
P.S Surely the LG V30's manual mode is superior to the p20 pro if you want to play with manual settings?
Tiger33 said:
After more playing around with the p20 pro i've come to the conclusion that its not for me.
I'm more of a point and shoot guy and the p20 pro is too random with its pictures to really be a good point and shoot.
I'm going to stick with the pixel 2 xl, and would advise anyone looking for a simple point and shoot camera to look elsewhere.
P.S Surely the LG V30's manual mode is superior to the p20 pro if you want to play with manual settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would agree with you, if you simply need a point and shoot camera. Pixel 2 XL wil do better for you
P20 Pro, just like the "Pro" moniker it bring along, will suit a seasoned photographer more.
As for manual mode conparison between LG v30 and P20, i would say, no. LG is nowhere close to huawei manual/pro mode. But again, that is a subjectivity. Someone who were common with a DSLR / Mirrorless camera manual set up, will appreciate huawei software more. Since it resemble their old "real" camera gear more. DxO is quite an oldtimer in photography area, and what they did with their test, is what normally a photographer will do as well. Unfortunately, thats not always the case with the rest of mobile phone user. Thats why the result is oftenly unrelateable.
Btw, before you actually ditch your P20 pro, can you give it one more chance, but this time,
Try to shoot everything using night mode (even in daylight). I think you will find the result totally different with your previous experience.
Thats all i can suggest for now. If you wonder, why nigh mode ?? Maybe this video can help you get a better idea :
Tiger33 said:
P.S Surely the LG V30's manual mode is superior to the p20 pro if you want to play with manual settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the number of settings and the options given to the photographer are nearly as good with LG. Huawei are in a class of their own in that regard, at the moment. UI can definitely be improved a bit though.
Also, the V30 uses a tiny 1/2.9" sensor, like the iPhones.
Right, I've created a very quick group in flickr with some pictures taken with both p20 pro and pixel 2 xl.
would love to get your opinions.
In all cases i'm just using Auto with no AI for the P20 Pro,
https://www.flickr.com/groups/[email protected]/
Again in my eye the pixel 2 xl is 'alot' better than the P20 Pro ( bad photographer? = me )
So yes i just pointed, focused and shot the picture.
Just using auto and no AI for the pictures too.
let me know if you think i should adjust settings and i'll continue making adjustments.
I have a few more days with phone before making final decision.
I've added another 3 pictures to the group
https://www.flickr.com/groups/[email protected]/
1 taken with pixel 2 xl
1 taken with p20 pro auto
1 taken with p20 pro night mode (as suggested earlier)
Night mode just appears to oversharpen the image badly IMO?? , whilst auto is too soft
Picture 7 - P20 Pro - Night Mode
Picture 7 - P20 Pro - Auto
picture 7 - Pixel 2 XL
Looks to me very close although I think the P20 shots on Auto are a slightly over exposed but have less noise and the Pixel shots are better exposed but have more noise.
I would say the P20 will be better for night shots if you are happy waiting 6 seconds for a shot, but the Pixel 2 XL will take better auto day time shots.
Tiger33 said:
Right, I've created a very quick group in flickr with some pictures taken with both p20 pro and pixel 2 xl.
would love to get your opinions.
In all cases i'm just using Auto with no AI for the P20 Pro,
https://www.flickr.com/groups/[email protected]/
Again in my eye the pixel 2 xl is 'alot' better than the P20 Pro ( bad photographer? = me )
So yes i just pointed, focused and shot the picture.
Just using auto and no AI for the pictures too.
let me know if you think i should adjust settings and i'll continue making adjustments.
I have a few more days with phone before making final decision.
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Click to collapse
iI've checked your album,
and i would agree that the roof top auto result from P20 Pro is lPretty bad. Sky was overblown. And pedestrian area is not looks that good as well. But for the night mode shoot, i wont say that as an oversharpen image though. The detail on trhe brick is quite good, sky is not clipping, and in overall, it has less noise compared to the pixel 2XL.
same case with ST. Pancras shot, i would say that in term of detail and noise level, P20 pro has an advantage here. You can check the detail on the top decoration, as well as near the ceiling. While Pixel 2 XL already abit of smudgy because of the noise, P20 result still showing the fine detail. So am not sure what you mean by "soft". (check my attachment to understand which area am talking about)
what confused me is the dinning room shot. I check the ISO and Shutter Speed of both shot. And in both shoot, Pixel 2 using faster shutter speed and lower ISO, yet the result is much darker in P20 Pro shot. This doesn't really go well with a photography theory, LoL. Slower speed and higher ISO should always resulting abrighter image. Yet the P20 Pro image is so bad at retaining the dark area.
May i know some details from you :
1. How do you point your focus/metering ? Do you always focus on same area/spot when shooting using the two phones ?
2. What resolution did you use on P20 Pro ? 40MP or 10MP ? 40MP use full resolution, but will deject the post processing, causing softer & darker image, but good for self post editing. But will looks bad if you plan to use the picture directly. In contrary, 10MP will use the post processing engine more, resulting in more pleasant picture for mobile use.
Sorry i left the attachment
otonieru said:
iI've checked your album,
and i would agree that the roof top auto result from P20 Pro is lPretty bad. Sky was overblown. And pedestrian area is not looks that good as well. But for the night mode shoot, i wont say that as an oversharpen image though. The detail on trhe brick is quite good, sky is not clipping, and in overall, it has less noise compared to the pixel 2XL.
same case with ST. Pancras shot, i would say that in term of detail and noise level, P20 pro has an advantage here. You can check the detail on the top decoration, as well as near the ceiling. While Pixel 2 XL already abit of smudgy because of the noise, P20 result still showing the fine detail. So am not sure what you mean by "soft". (check my attachment to understand which area am talking about)
what confused me is the dinning room shot. I check the ISO and Shutter Speed of both shot. And in both shoot, Pixel 2 using faster shutter speed and lower ISO, yet the result is much darker in P20 Pro shot. This doesn't really go well with a photography theory, LoL. Slower speed and higher ISO should always resulting abrighter image. Yet the P20 Pro image is so bad at retaining the dark area.
May i know some details from you :
1. How do you point your focus/metering ? Do you always focus on same area/spot when shooting using the two phones ?
2. What resolution did you use on P20 Pro ? 40MP or 10MP ? 40MP use full resolution, but will deject the post processing, causing softer & darker image, but good for self post editing. But will looks bad if you plan to use the picture directly. In contrary, 10MP will use the post processing engine more, resulting in more pleasant picture for mobile use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep that is what was so frustrating, I noticed the night shot of St pancras Hotel sign and could see it looked do much better yet that was the only example
All other pictures the pixel looked better
I'm using 10MP and I'm focusing on the same area with both phones
otonieru said:
Sorry i left the attachment
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Click to collapse
Which images are taken with which phone?
scook94 said:
Which images are taken with which phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Warmer tone is P20 Pro
otonieru said:
Warmer tone is P20 Pro
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Click to collapse
Images 2&4? They certainly seem the superior pictures.
So far I'm not too wowed by the camera either :/
Hoping to learn to use it properly because some sample shots I've seen look amazing but I can't seem to get anything like that.
Hello everyone,
I am really frustrated with this devices ability to take any other photo outside landscapes, stones and any other stationary thing.
The camera start slow, takes photos really slowly and there is absolutely no focus. The memories of going to the pool... Ruined. Selfies... Ruined. Photos of my dog... Ruined. It is REALLY annoying.
I have the L29 C432 (Germany) with EMUI 8.1.0.161. 4D focus is activated (but I don't think it is working), Master Ai makes things worse because it takes a second to determine the scene (and switches to portrait when exactly when I want to snap the photo).
Will updating to EMUI 9 help? Should I root and flash AOSP???
I have the unlock code, but didn't use it until now.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I have the same German version, though I have updated to Pie. I say updated and not upgraded.
The camera to horrible for moving object. 4D focus does nothing to help. You may try changing to the low resolution. I honest do not know why this phone gets good reviews from the camera. My iphone 6 took better photos. My 20015 motorola X pure took better photos. Then Nexus 6P took much better photos.
Literally the ONLY thing this phone is good at is very low light. That's it. The rest is crap, especially for what this phone costs.
remusgod86 said:
Hello everyone,
I am really frustrated with this devices ability to take any other photo outside landscapes, stones and any other stationary thing.
The camera start slow, takes photos really slowly and there is absolutely no focus. The memories of going to the pool... Ruined. Selfies... Ruined. Photos of my dog... Ruined. It is REALLY annoying.
I have the L29 C432 (Germany) with EMUI 8.1.0.161. 4D focus is activated (but I don't think it is working), Master Ai makes things worse because it takes a second to determine the scene (and switches to portrait when exactly when I want to snap the photo).
Will updating to EMUI 9 help? Should I root and flash AOSP???
I have the unlock code, but didn't use it until now.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this is the main problem with this camera, using pro settings helps, but if have to set every time the speed and iso you will loose the moment...
Like you've said, pro mode is only for "arranged" photoshooting. Is the Google camera app, in its current state a good alternative? Will an AOSP firmware make a difference (because it should be lighter and faster)?
@remusgod86
Use Pro Mode next time and manual exposure time, 1/500 or shorter = 1/640 and other setting on "auto".
Settings of my sample - exposure time = 1/1000 - other = Auto
starbase64 said:
@remusgod86
Use Pro Mode next time and manual exposure time, 1/500 or shorter = 1/640 and other setting on "auto".
Settings of my sample - exposure time = 1/1000 - other = Auto
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
like he said, in that case, he would lose the moment.
Also, IMO that photo looks horrible. So un-sharp it looks like it was taken through a water lens. I think my old motorola razr got more detail than that.
or buy a "camera"...
settings: ISO200 1/200 f10
The "camera" can take pictures with the flash in completely dark conditions.
a flash will freeze everything!
Handy vs DSLR in der Nacht - just for fun by Maik Reifschneider, auf Flickr
@starbase64 thanks for the exposure tip. I'll try it.
Regarding the "camera" advice, I will suppose that you mean a handheld or a dslr. I don't want dslr level photos. What I want, is to take USABLE photos with "the world's best smartphone camera". Which was more than possible with my 3 year old Galaxy S6 Edge+.
@remusgod86
the simplest way is go back to galaxy s6 EDGE+
remusgod86 said:
Hello everyone,
I am really frustrated with this devices ability to take any other photo outside landscapes, stones and any other stationary thing.
The camera start slow, takes photos really slowly and there is absolutely no focus. The memories of going to the pool... Ruined. Selfies... Ruined. Photos of my dog... Ruined. It is REALLY annoying.
I have the L29 C432 (Germany) with EMUI 8.1.0.161. 4D focus is activated (but I don't think it is working), Master Ai makes things worse because it takes a second to determine the scene (and switches to portrait when exactly when I want to snap the photo).
Will updating to EMUI 9 help? Should I root and flash AOSP???
I have the unlock code, but didn't use it until now.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The camera issue is known since the .156 firmware which is broke the camera. Since then no 4D predictive focus, night mode is worst, overall picture quality in photo mode bad. I'm in the same boat as you, I have got 4 updates but the camera issue is still not fixed! I'm also really upset.
My negative feelings regarding this device seem to have brought it to its doom. My wife dropped it on tile flooring and the display cracked in the worst way possible. Just ordered a Poco F1 (on which I will install the Google Camera App) to use until next year (after CES).
I am still really disappointed with Huawei and I feel that it is becoming the "new Samsung", in regards to the business model. It is sad, because in my eyes, they make the best hardware (the Mate series of phones and laptops) on the market, but their slow, bloated and buggy software/-updates make them noncompetitive.
I thank you for your advice and wish you all good luck.
PS- maybe we'll see each other on the Poco forums
Hi Guys,
I'm interested in the P20 Pro for its camera tech. Most pics I take will be of family kids and pets etc so lots of movement unfortunately. I'm worried about the comments above. Is this everybody's experience with lots of motion blur or is it maybe restricted to certain handsets?
Thanks
breenod said:
Hi Guys,
I'm interested in the P20 Pro for its camera tech. Most pics I take will be of family kids and pets etc so lots of movement unfortunately. I'm worried about the comments above. Is this everybody's experience with lots of motion blur or is it maybe restricted to certain handsets?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got no issues what so ever.
Really love this camera.
breenod said:
Hi Guys,
I'm interested in the P20 Pro for its camera tech. Most pics I take will be of family kids and pets etc so lots of movement unfortunately. I'm worried about the comments above. Is this everybody's experience with lots of motion blur or is it maybe restricted to certain handsets?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's more like the camera app is broken for certain firmware versions. Most of the people reported the issue starting with version 156. For me, I'm still with version 155 and the camera is awesome. Best phone camera I've ever use. That's it. Comparing to my DSLR, the AI photo editing is a little bit overdone. Maybe it's just my taste, but comparing with other phones, this is the best for now. Maybe Mate20 Pro could be better but I haven't try it out yet.
breenod said:
Hi Guys,
I'm interested in the P20 Pro for its camera tech. Most pics I take will be of family kids and pets etc so lots of movement unfortunately. I'm worried about the comments above. Is this everybody's experience with lots of motion blur or is it maybe restricted to certain handsets?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honesty, you would be nuts to buy this phone. I was also nuts and definitely regret buying. I "try" to use it a lot to capture moments from my 2 month old baby. So.. he barely moves at all, yet that tiny amount of moment is too much for this horrid phone.
If you hold perfectly still, you "might" be able to get an ok image.
Each update makes the camera even worse. Huawei also offers basically zero tech support to solve any issues. DO NOT DO IT!!!!
Just buy a pixel 3 XL. It's cheaper (marginally), the camera app is massively better AND you will actually get real software updates as soon as they come out.
Not to mention, you get unlimited photo storage at full resolution.
I have been searching for someone to trade a pixel for this crap box, but as you can imagine... no takers so far.
If anyone tells you the camera on the P20 Pro is amazing then, frankly, they're talking rubbish. The sensor is big, it has optical zoom and the Night Mode sometimes produces some nice results. That's about it.
If you want a phone with a good camera and you're *not* the sort of person who sees a phone as a pro photographer tinkering tool (that you'll only ever use in Pro mode and only ever shoot in raw with) then, honestly, there are so many phones that are better than the P20 Pro at capturing fleeting moments. I have a P20 Pro, a 10S Max and a Pixel 2 and both of those latter two phones are so much better at capturing spontaneous, clean shots in auto mode that I often don't even bother using the P20 Pro for its camera at all when I'm out and about. Huawei's image processing is smeary and destructive and the camera is frankly incapable of capturing human beings doing anything with any semblance of movement in anything but ideal light.
Most of the "see, it *is* good" photos people upload to demonstrate the camera's qualities are in beautiful warm light with stunning vistas or architecture that even a potato could do a good job with.
I've bought enough phones this year to be comfident about what 'good' or 'bad' is within the current flasghip phone space and if any phone reaffirms my belief that DxOmark are completely full of sh*t then it's this phone.
I think all the free devices Huawei hand out to social media influencers is having a 'Kool Aid effect' on consumers to be honest. The sulky comments these Huawei flat-earthers often spout along the lines of 'well go back to your old phone then' - as if only positive comments need apply - reinforce my belief that people are suffering a zombie effect driven by either marketing or cost-justification.
What I will say is that I really like the overall hardware on the P20 Pro, and that's the only reason I keep hold of it. Would I buy a Mate 20 Pro for its photography process based on the views of the 'reviewers' so far? HELL NO.
starbase64 said:
or buy a "camera"...
settings: ISO200 1/200 f10
The "camera" can take pictures with the flash in completely dark conditions.
a flash will freeze everything!
Handy vs DSLR in der Nacht - just for fun by Maik Reifschneider, auf Flickr
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In automatic mode, ever moving fire.
Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk
Hello everyone, I'm here to ask you if you have had experience with astrophotography and S10, more specifically capturing pictures of night sky, or even Milky Way. My first experience of astrophotography and smartphone was with Galaxy S7, I could take nice photos of stars (Milky way was impossible to shoot). I have tried with S10 and same settings in Pro Mode (10 seconds exposition, more or less same ISO and White Balance), but the result has not been the same, pictures are even worse (more noise, stars not clear as in S7's pictures). I'm glad to know if you have more experience with this, because after Pixel 4 and P30 Pro I asked myself if S10 can take the same pictures. For example, GCam's new version has an own function for astrophotography, it would be nice if even S10 can have his version through porting.
Poor Astrophotography
lorenzo122 said:
Hello everyone, I'm here to ask you if you have had experience with astrophotography and S10, more specifically capturing pictures of night sky, or even Milky Way. My first experience of astrophotography and smartphone was with Galaxy S7, I could take nice photos of stars (Milky way was impossible to shoot). I have tried with S10 and same settings in Pro Mode (10 seconds exposition, more or less same ISO and White Balance), but the result has not been the same, pictures are even worse (more noise, stars not clear as in S7's pictures). I'm glad to know if you have more experience with this, because after Pixel 4 and P30 Pro I asked myself if S10 can take the same pictures. For example, GCam's new version has an own function for astrophotography, it would be nice if even S10 can have his version through porting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Galaxy Note 10 plus, and likewise, I too have been deeply disappointed with the astrophotography results. My settings were essentially identical to yours using 'Pro' mode, and I believe the camera technology in our two phones is exactly the same. Even the raw pictures displayed terrible artifacts. I'm not sure if 'banding' or 'contouring' would correctly describe what I saw, but the sky was broken up into sections that looked something like a jigsaw puzzle put together.
Eric
Calm down guys, i understand your dissapointment, but this astrophotography trend started way after the s10 family came to the market... Anyway, it's more of a "software trick" than anything related to hardware itself, so we can almost certanly expect Sammy will add that feature via software update. I believe it will come with android 10. Why you may ask, well because they already added 30s exposure time in android10 beta... So it's not farfetched to believe some kind of astrophotography mode is coming. But take notice, even on other phones that do support it, you apsolutely need a tripod or some kind of stative, the phone has to be very still to enable astrophotography...
Yup very disappointing ive also tried it even with TRIPOD! the stars become blurry (pro mode 10 sec) so sad.. maybe they will fix it sometime.. (google pixel is good, P30 is over saturation- still look good and alot better then S10, some will like it over the pixel)
Like i said, we will most probbably get the astrophotography mode, it's just a matter of time, but i see no reason why you can't capture great pictures of the night sky with pro mode. Especially if you know the right settings and have a tripod. I took some amazing pics way back with my old S7, now with S10 they come out even better... Btw, you can't capture the Milky Way unless you are in complete darkness and away from any light pollution...
I didn't have the time to test the new pro mode (30sec exposure) in android10 beta, but i will soon. If you want i can send you links so you can see some of my photos for yourself.
I'm calm...
Thank you for your input, and fear not I was not hyperventilating. I shoot astrophotography from time to time with my Nikon DSLR's and occasionally linking that up with my Meade ETX-125 telescope.
So I have a solid foundation and understanding of the hardware requirements to properly shoot the night sky. I have also enjoyed using my Galaxy Note 10 plus with the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal along with the excellent Filmic Pro software (app).
Would not have purchased that additional equipment had I not been extremely impressed with the optics of the camera technology in these phones both in terms of video and still photography. I never thought smartphones would be competitive with prosumer camera technology but under certain circumstances no question we have reached that point. It is with those higher expectations, that led me to be surprised when the quality took a nosedive when attempting to shoot long exposure night photography. I always attempt to shoot with the longest exposure and the lowest ISO to minimize noise.
But the final results were still riddled with noise and artifacts, even the raw output. I'm not upset by this, in fact as recently as a year ago I would not have even thought of attempting this with a smartphone. So I just chalk it up to reaching the limitations of where things are at this moment. I will be interested to explore the Android update to which you referred and maybe that will greatly improve things. Under normal circumstances, I'm still amazed at the capabilities are these cameras.
dryslot said:
Thank you for your input, and fear not I was not hyperventilating. I shoot astrophotography from time to time with my Nikon DSLR's and occasionally linking that up with my Meade ETX-125 telescope.
So I have a solid foundation and understanding of the hardware requirements to properly shoot the night sky. I have also enjoyed using my Galaxy Note 10 plus with the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal along with the excellent Filmic Pro software (app).
Would not have purchased that additional equipment had I not been extremely impressed with the optics of the camera technology in these phones both in terms of video and still photography. I never thought smartphones would be competitive with prosumer camera technology but under certain circumstances no question we have reached that point. It is with those higher expectations, that led me to be surprised when the quality took a nosedive when attempting to shoot long exposure night photography. I always attempt to shoot with the longest exposure and the lowest ISO to minimize noise.
But the final results were still riddled with noise and artifacts, even the raw output. I'm not upset by this, in fact as recently as a year ago I would not have even thought of attempting this with a smartphone. So I just chalk it up to reaching the limitations of where things are at this moment. I will be interested to explore the Android update to which you referred and maybe that will greatly improve things. Under normal circumstances, I'm still amazed at the capabilities are these cameras.
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Click to collapse
Nice to know you're calm , it was nothing more than a figure of speech - i bet you already knew that
Anyway, i wrongly asumed i was dealing with a rookie but it's nice to see you know a great deal about night photography... As i sad, i really doubt Pixel has better optics or camera hardware in general in comparison to a Galaxy S10/N10, it all comes down to software as we all know. IMO, Google has mastered night photos and now astrophotography mainly because of their Ai software/hardware technology and ofcourse the sheer experience. They are after all "in the forefront of AI"... Also, i believe Samsung could do something similar if they wanted, it all depends on the market and popularity of that specific feature. They don't lack the funds as they invest billions in R&D. Ofcourse i could be wrong, this is just my opinion.
Which lens/sensor are you using for this? Telephoto lens/sensor is weaker in low light situations (smaller sensor, smaller aperture).
I have also an S7 Edge and the night mode of the S10 is indeed comparable (identical sensor?). But that's only the normal wide sensor/lens!
Specs S10 main:
12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm, Super Steady video
Specs S7 main:
12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
LOL, I would bet money that the average buyer of the S10 even knows or cares what astrophotography is. If it's that important to someone then I'd suggest researching phones and buying one that does this rather than being disappointed in something the phone wasn't designed for. Hell, that Samsung engineer sitting in that little cubicle in Seoul, South Korea probably doesn't give a rat's a** whether that phone will take pictures of the stars or not.
What about Gcam mod, that has built in astrophotography which I think works only on Android 10 for some version of Gcam.
Hmm... quality improved
So after I ran across this thread, I went out again last night for kicks, and the artifacts were greatly reduced. Still noisy/grainy, but to be expected from almost any camera not carefully configured for these challenging circumstances. I'm wondering if one of the several OS updates I've had since the first attempt two months ago contributed?
To Kemby13: Of course, no problem, your posts were great and helpful. I couldn't resist a little tongue-in-cheek myself.
To Sonic 67: Great tips and worth double-checking that.
To Tel 864: I'm rather certain you would win that bet. For my part, just interesting to push the limits on the latest tech. And I like knowing if I'm ever in a pinch if it's even worth the trouble pulling it out of my pocket.
To Ndaoud360: Reading up on that now, thank you very much!
How exactly do you get stars in focus? Also, no matter what I have tried there is no way around getting the exposure to go over 10s!
Could you please share your method for astro on s10? I have the snapdragon version as well. Thanks.
everybodylovesfebs said:
How exactly do you get stars in focus? Also, no matter what I have tried there is no way around getting the exposure to go over 10s!
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You don't need to, or the sky will "move". The trick is using a telescope or even a binocular to gather more light. Use higher ISO if needed.
https://www.amazon.com/binoculars-camera-adapter/s?k=binoculars+camera+adapter
Specs
Hello everyone , i have s10 and i am really interested in astrophotography. I a very hyped for new update(one ui2.0) because in leaks there is astrophotography mode. So before this software is launched, please guys can you suggest what settings should i use to record night sky??
Thank you in advance
I think the problem is on optical stabilizer itself. Even on dslr cam you need to turn off oss when using a tripod. thats why we get blurry pic on s10 -10s shutter. I can take a better night sky pic using vivo v17 pro. Coz the software of the phone give us a real Pro mode. I cant wait a long 30s shutter and more serious pro mode of samsung update in a future for our s10 family.
Hello guys so I want to buy a new phone in this price category , p30 pro is well know for it's best camera performance out there since it came out but after seeing a lot of reviews I found a lot of complain about the colors of the main cam being a little yellowish , is it true ? also being compared to other phones like the s10 plus and oneplus 7 pro , they both beat this phone , coming to the last section which is software upgrade , I'm alittle hesitant about emui updates and the developing section of this phone has no roms even rooting seems a challenge but for the other two devices is too easy , what is your advice guys ?
Hello,
I'll try to give my opinion regarding photography.
For me this phone is not really a point and shoot device. Colors are not always realistic (dull when using the telephoto lens, too bright when using the main lens, especially when using IA), pictures are often oversharpened ...
However when you take full advantage of the hardware capabilities, I don't think the P30 Pro has an equivalent (except, maybe, for the Mate 30 Pro). This phone is extremely versatile : the wide angle lens allows you to take some sick macro pictures. The main sensor is a beast in astrophotography. The telephoto lens (125mm) opens up a new field of possibilites for smartphone photography. I even took some pretty nice shots underwater.
After all this time, I'm still impressed by the picture quality when you shoot in RAW and take the time to edit the photo in Photoshop/Lightroom (for example in order to remove this yellow tint you mentioned).
Take this picture for example, 20s exposure, 1600 ISO : https://photos.app.goo.gl/j65xF33RTrDibgW36
That is a DSLR-like picture quality, and we're talking astrophotography ! Crazy for a phone.
So if you're really into photography and are not afraid of sacrificing a bit of time playing with manual settings, editing pictures ... then I would advise you to consider it as the best camera phone available to date. If not, it still is a good choice but the competition is harsh.
Can anyone tell me if the regular Main camera or Photo Pro in Auto Mode is BEST for getting the best quality shots on this phone?? I know Cinema Pro is basically the Manual Mode camera app on this phone, so disregarding that. But for getting the very best auto shots, which of those 2 is best?
I'm guessing no one can answer this until the phone is released, but if someone saw a review or can answer based on past experience, please feel free to reply as well!!
Thanks in advance!!
This new review by WIRED Magazine indicates that (see quote below) the Photo Pro app is superior to the default camera app on the 1 II, but I'd still like some confirmation that the Photo Pro app can work/act as a FULL auto camera app when set to Auto Mode.
A few of the inconsistencies I found in the default camera app, like frequently over-exposed photos, can be avoided by switching to Sony's Photography Pro app, which comes pre-installed on the phone. It offers far more granular controls than what you get on most other smartphones—even those with dedicated manual modes in the camera app. You'll find an interface that's very similar to the one on Sony's professional cameras, allowing you the option to set things like the shutter speed, ISO, focus area, auto or manual focus, auto-exposure lock, and continuous shooting mode.
Thanks!
I'm curious of this too. I know there'd be some people wondering why we'd be getting this phone to use auto, but there'll certainly be occasions where a quick auto-shot would be preferred rather than fiddling around with settings
cd993 said:
I'm curious of this too. I know there'd be some people wondering why we'd be getting this phone to use auto, but there'll certainly be occasions where a quick auto-shot would be preferred rather than fiddling around with settings
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Yeah. I used to not mind using Manual Mode (etc.) on past Xperia phones, but at this point, I don't wanna deal with it anymore. Just give me a STRONG Auto Mode that can compare with the Pixel line, and I MAY reconsider buying another Sony phone again.
I'm gonna pass on the Xperia 1 II though b/c 1) NO 5G bands in the U.S. (yet they're still selling it at the full $1200 price here..........NOT cool!) and 2) Still NO dedicated Face Unlock. More and more ppl are using this feature on other phones, so I think Sony needs to realize that and implement one ASAP. (And 3) A minor thing.......... but I keep seeing reviews sayin' the max brightness isn't very bright. Come on Sony! Quit holdin' back!!)
This is something that I would also really like to know. I am by no means anything more than a casual photographer and most pictures I take are of friends, family, me, my partner and our dog (aside from the occasional scenic photo on holiday).
To take a high quality portrait photo or selfie am I best off using the standard stock camera or should I be using the pro camera as my go-to?
Photo quality is not great. the 24 mm lens gives good results, comparable in both apps. the 70 mm lens gives comparable results in both apps but is pretty soft. On a white towel I got a bit of a white with yellowish spots. the 16 mm lens is a bit overprocessed in both apps, but the shots I took indoors at ISO 400 looked acceptable in the normal app and very bad in in the Pro app. No texture at all. I hope that future firmware upgrades will improve the quality, it's like 4 years back in time. The worked with the Alpha team.....seriously?
Sho-Bud said:
Photo quality is not great. the 24 mm lens gives good results, comparable in both apps. the 70 mm lens gives comparable results in both apps but is pretty soft. On a white towel I got a bit of a white with yellowish spots. the 16 mm lens is a bit overprocessed in both apps, but the shots I took indoors at ISO 400 looked acceptable in the normal app and very bad in in the Pro app. No texture at all. I hope that future firmware upgrades will improve the quality, it's like 4 years back in time. The worked with the Alpha team.....seriously?
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Well that is disappointing! The one or two reviews I've seen indicate that Photo Pro App can be used in Auto if you desire AND is superior to the stock camera app too.
What about just putting everything in Photo Pro app on auto and comparing it again to the stock app? Maybe that will improve the results of Photo Pro app?