I wasn't overly impressed with the S4's optics, and really saw the N3 as Samsungs chance to get it right. But clearly, it's a miss. Really disappointing for a phone with this much gravitas.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Galaxy Note 3
- Thread starter The Game 161
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
so...clearly you are not a fan.....so how do you know they did not get it right?
I'll have to wait until I get mine. Just starting to have letdowns based on reviews already posted showing how poorly it handles indoor shots.
That's a shame. The picture quality of the phone's camera is pretty darn important to me.
^^ I'm right there. All the flash and sizzle doesn't mean much to me if the basics of the camera are sub-optimized. They threw in craptons of gimmicky filters and special effects but couldn't even get low light mode working, when low light/indoor shots likely represent the overwhelming majority of snapshots for the average user?
I guess all flagships have their Achilles heel issues, but for such a large phone they have no excuse to not give us the best in class.
I guess all flagships have their Achilles heel issues, but for such a large phone they have no excuse to not give us the best in class.
Thanks
I'm doing a lovely mountain climb about an hour from my home tomorrow, and if the weather is up to it there should be some stunning landscape photos for the S4 photo thread/page
----------
I haven't had any problems taking some stunning photos with the S4.
Last edited:
Nice, but all outdoors. Even this could get good pics outdoors.
And seriously, the default aperture in your first pic is horrid. Foreground is too dark, and background is blown out. Can't see any detail in the shadows. The HTC or LG or even Apple 4S looks much better.
And seriously, the default aperture in your first pic is horrid. Foreground is too dark, and background is blown out. Can't see any detail in the shadows. The HTC or LG or even Apple 4S looks much better.
Yes - my photos are only as good as gummy bear disposable
The HTC One doesn't look better, I took enough photos on the HTC One to know and the evidence is in plentiful supply on the HTC One thread.
As for the first shot, It was also shot in the start of sunset / twilight with the sun low hence its dark, add the fact I was focusing on the clouds & sky principally.
If the S4 isn't good enough a camera, then only the Lumia 1020 may offer you the results your seeking.
But it does appear you just want to bash for the sake of bashing here. You haven't actually contributed any source or proof for your assertions.
Also these pics are uploaded via tapatalk so do NOT represent the full uncompressed quality.
But to say the S4 is simply a poor camera is fallacious and not true.
Last edited:
There's a mall kiosk here in Houston selling an unlocked UK version of the Galaxy Note 3, and wanted $1200 for it!!! I wasn't planning on purchasing the device from them anyway, but that's an insane mark up! It was very thin, and light though! Can't wait to get mine come Tuesday!
And again, all outdoor shots, and from an S4, not a Note 3.
My assertions that the N3 takes poor shots indoors and with indoor lighting are substantiated by several reviews and examples already posted on the web. I posted my proof via a link earlier.
Yours are from an entirely different phone and all outdoor lighting shots. Not even close to the topic at hand.
My assertions that the N3 takes poor shots indoors and with indoor lighting are substantiated by several reviews and examples already posted on the web. I posted my proof via a link earlier.
Yours are from an entirely different phone and all outdoor lighting shots. Not even close to the topic at hand.
Looks like you should've gone with HTC, LG, or Apple or stick with them if you're currently using one of their devices. The main selling point for the Note 3 is its screen, s-pen, and features. If you're main priority was lowlight camera conditions, maybe you should've been looking at a lumia.
I've been happy with my Note 2 camera and can't wait to try out the camera on the Note 3.
Thus far the reviews have stated that the Note 2 camera quality surpasses the Note 3, at least for indoor/low-light shots.
Here's another one from CNET:
"The camera performance, like the Galaxy S4, was average. You'll get great shots in areas with bright sunlight, but shooting in low-light conditions will result in grainy and smudged pictures. Turning on the image stabilization feature resulted in a washed-out low-light shot, but images definitely looked much better with less grain when this setting is turned on."
http://asia.cnet.com/product/samsung-galaxy-note-3-46730602.htm
Here's another one from CNET:
"The camera performance, like the Galaxy S4, was average. You'll get great shots in areas with bright sunlight, but shooting in low-light conditions will result in grainy and smudged pictures. Turning on the image stabilization feature resulted in a washed-out low-light shot, but images definitely looked much better with less grain when this setting is turned on."
http://asia.cnet.com/product/samsung-galaxy-note-3-46730602.htm
Last edited:
I wouldn't say those are stunning pictures. They don't look nice to me. They look blurry and have no detail.
I'm not too impressed by the quality of the 13 megapixel cameras found on today's top smartphones. My SGS3 takes better pictures for my taste.
....and here's a comparison of the flagship models. Outdoor shots, the N3 is ok. But highest honors go to the Apple 5S and the LG G2.
Samsung could have, should have, done better with the Note 3.
http://asia.cnet.com/smartphone-camera-shootout-apple-iphone-5s-vs-htc-one-vs-lg-g2-vs-samsung-galaxy-note-3-vs-sony-xperia-z1-62222509.htm
Samsung could have, should have, done better with the Note 3.
http://asia.cnet.com/smartphone-camera-shootout-apple-iphone-5s-vs-htc-one-vs-lg-g2-vs-samsung-galaxy-note-3-vs-sony-xperia-z1-62222509.htm
I bet if there was camera + for android then the Samsung's would fare better. Photography is the one element that is lagging ios
While you are right, most people aren't hiking to the seashore and twiddling with settings to take pics and upload for reviews. We have our phone with us 24/7. And for a phone the size of the Note 3, we likely will have it sitting out more often than not. Grabbing a quick snap of the kids playing in the family room, some buds sharing a drink at the bar or even just a snap of a conference room whiteboard sketch.....these are all indoor/low-light snapshots. Ordinary, everyday life shots meant for sharing.
And when Samsungs flagship model can't even accomplish more than dark, grainy, muddy snaps in everyday situations....they look bad and they make My pictures look bad.
Just very disappointed. I've waited months for this thing.
----------
When MRU posts low light/indoor pics with a Note 3, your comment will have relevance. Then I'll bother addressing your request.
Sold my S4 for the iPhone 5s last week. At an outdoor pool party today, I got the chance to shoot with both at the same time as my friend gave me her S4 to take pics and video of her around the pool. I got to look at pics and videos from both side by side. The 5s was consistently better in all aspects. Focus speed, accuracy, color reproduction, sharpness and contrast. Video wasnt even close. The S4 video stutters when panning unless you do it VERY slowly and its just washed out looking in the details. The one great thing about the S4 is all the manual control options you get. As a pro photographer for 9 years now, I reall enjoyed that on my S4. However, the auto modes on the 5s are so good, manual controls are really not needed. Just my 2 cents.
Is this what they call, beating around the bush?
----------
Awesome review just in a few hours ago from my favorite tech reviewer of all time, DetroitBORG. Enjoy!
YouTube: video
Thanks for the link.
Sadly, that is TAPATALK HD at fault, it resizes and compresses images automatically, you have no controls. I'll repost the later from my Mac in their full resolution and you will be able to see them as they actually are
they are very sharp and clear normally.Awesome review just in a few hours ago from my favorite tech reviewer of all time, DetroitBORG. Enjoy!
YouTube: video
Seeing as how this was the one phone I was thinking might take me back to Android again, I am disappointed. There were several times the phone lagged rather badly, which is unacceptable when it has a QUAD core processor and 3GB of RAM. S voice is still awful. It still doesnt seem to work very well at all and the voice is so robotic and creepy. Makes Siri look amazing. The pen is still a big gimmick. Whos going to take out the pen, open the window and handwrite someones name, number or email? Its also not very accurate rendering handwriting to text either as it got several things wrong and his writing wasnt that bad.
Overall, its a big let down. Many people give Apple grief over releasing a phone with a small screen increase and a new processor. Samsung has done the same thing here, I dont see much innovation. At least Apple re-worked their entire OS and gave it a complete overhaul. Something Samsung REALLY needs to do with Touchwiz, its long overdue. Oh well, I'll see what happens with the Note 4.
Really? I think overall it's great. Your ramblings seemed like mere nit-pickings, essentially a glass-is-half-full mentality. The Note 3 is much improved over the Note 2 in many aspects, but if you're not impressed by it, there's nothing any of us here can do to convince you.
"At least Apple re-worked their entire OS and gave it a complete overhaul"? Yeah, after 6 years of the same stale looking icons, they finally replaced it with some new designs and funky animation, but all the default apps still does the same stuff - nothing is changed much. You consider that as innovation? Copied mulitasking from Windows Phone, control center from Android, and that's innovation?
Go ahead and ask how many people used their Note 2 stylus when they used their phone.
Here you go. Untouched photos from the camera. click to open / enlarge.
now I have to go... some of us have got mountains to literally climb
now I have to go... some of us have got mountains to literally climb