Camera - xperia s - focusing problems and poor images

[#1]

Firstly this phone is fantastic and I have already conmverted several friends from apple to sony.

Last night I though I would really test it out - went out with a few mates, each with different phones and every time the Nokia N8 took better pictures.

Honestly - my xperia took ages to focus and 5 out of 9 shots were very very poor. In direct comparision the N8 - once he had it set up, took photos faster and each one was in focus - non of this waiting while it figures out what its doing,.

In day light - mine wins no problem - in pubs and low light areas I found this phone to have major problems with focus, and tiime delay in pressing and actual capture of images --- dont get me wrong - I can take it out of my pocket - press the button and hey presto - a photo very very quick --but what is the point when its not in focus and then I have to try again, then again, by which time, my mates are laughing as they have unlocked their phone, aimed and took a good photo.

SONY -- please look into this --  is this my handset or systemic?

Looking at the response this is systemic - if this is a software issue then please sort it, if hardware - recall and replace.

For those of you with the problem - the best photos I can get are to disable face detection, scenes to OFF,,focus mode - have it on touch or infinity, metering centre. At least on these settings I get more than 1 out of 10 photos which I can use.

THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE!!! SONY PLEASE RESPOND!

Message was edited by: batman1056

[Markus1]

Some images clearly have some focusing issues.

Are you holding the camera still when shooting the photos? (I assume you are but I have to ask.)

As I posted previously, a software update may or may not solve this. You can either choose to wait for the new update or contact a service center straight away to have the phone examined. The pictures are of course mean to be better than some of these you've uploaded.

Btw, always nice to see football fans around here. I'm in no way a NUFC fan though.

[#3]

Yes - holding it still, the problems with focusing is more evident in very low light areas e.g. pubs and clubs - the pictures at St James were used because I have noticed in areas with large contrasting areas of black and white it struggles too.

I dont follow football much, but I work around St James so thought it would test the phone.

The three photos above are all poor, and to be honest - it didnt really fully lock and focus (which is what I experience all the time).

Where can I take it to get looked at? Only had it a few weeks.

[Markus1]

Call och chat with the UK support, they know the locations of all the service centers.

http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/support/contact-us/

Let me know what you come up with.

[#5]

Hi Sony,

The main problem with Xperia S camera is when you shoot an object 2-5 meters away from you or when you shoot panorama, the quality is really terrible. If you shoot a close object, and you take it using CameraZoom Fx macro focus, the image quality is good. The package would've been so much perfect if it had Xenon-Flash with Carl-zeiss....

From the camera's architecture and built, SE K630i is the best I think. To me, the only reason to buy Sony's phone is its good quality of Camera and Megabass technology of which the latter is unrivalled. While software-wise Sony is always left behind, say 6 month to a year. Satio could've been a great challenge to N8 if it had been packed with android.

Now....if SonyMobile is not serious in their camera and not to mention dropping the Megabass technology, just wait...SonyMobile will fade away.....

The top feature should be Camera, for you to capture thousands of precious moments with your family and beloved. Second is Music quality to chill you out and refresh, don't need any yoga anymore. I'm surprised when Sony delete their Megabass. Third, pack the phone with at least the updated sotware in the market. The rest...will not be that important...

Cheers from Batam, Indonesia

[#6]

Thanks for that conformation.

If you search Google for xperia S camera problems - this is the no1 post - so Sony really need to get their fingers out and fix this problem.

Yes it would have been nice to have a better flash - really dont understand why they don’t use the xenon - well I do - it uses more power - but if the user is going to have a better experience then put it in, it’s one of the biggest complaints on phones and biggest compliment for the Nokia (your right if Nokia had brought out an android version a lot of people would have bought one). As for the Carl-Zeiss lens - thats Nokia only. The Lens on the xperia is good, potentially excellent, it’s the software that is letting this phone down, fix the focus lock.

The high ISO settings (which are automatic) are because you installed a rather pathetic flash, which in low lighting results in a lot of grain and poor image.

Sony can fix some of the problems on the xperia s camera, a firmware update might resolve the focus sync and lock problem and might improve the image stability issues. BUT I think photos in low light in large areas are always going to be a disappointment.

If this cannot be fixed – I think my phone will be going on ebay and this will be the last sony phone I will buy – I will go back to my K750/K850i until Nokia bring out a good phone.

[#7]

im having exactly the same problem with taking pictures, it was highly embarrasing as told everyone i had this new cool sony phone , and tried to take some pics when we where all out, and it was a joke hardly any turned out in focus at all, and getting very fustrated with it now.

[Xad]

I have to agree about the camera problem; it exists. The camera struggles to focus and ends up spending too much time trying to slowly focus, going in and out and struggling to lock on to a focus.

It was slightly embarassing recently when i told everyone how amazing the phones camera's supposed to be, 12mp and all, and then photos turned out rubbish, blurry, out of focus even with the flash on! (in a restaurant in the evening...even tried using on screen button). Another person i was with had an iPhone 4S and their photos turned out amazing! The iPhone 4S took photos instantly without any struggle to focus and the lighting with the iPhone's flash was even really impressive.

Please fix the problem, the phone's camera software (hopefully not a hardware problem!!) clearly has a problem with focussing, it's most noticable at slightly darker/dark surroundings....even when the flash is on; although obviously happens in other lighting conditions also as already mentioned.

The camera even struggles to focus on some video recordings; one video clip i tried to record at a wedding recently during a key moment and the footage came out blurry. The subjects where even spotlit with professional lights as there were professional camera men there yet the camera struggled to focus while everyone around me was taking great photos and vids with older phones/digi cams.

Please fix this problem; it's shocking how poor/slow the camera focus is; even worse is how good the iPhone 4s camera is compared to my Xperia S, taking photos instantly like it's no big deal! And unfortunately the Xperia S Flash also seems to be weaker than the iPhone 4s; but sadly being that that's a physical issue, i guess nothing can be done about that.

[Lilies]

I've had some issues with the camera too like the resst.

When I really noticed it was while filming, though. Without moving the camera it kept getting out of focus and the subject wasn't really moving a lot at all.

Sometimes it works just fine but sometimes the focus just goes haywire.

[#10]

im getting emails from people with the same problem, this clearly needs to be sorted out sony and quick, i can return my phone in the next 5 days and happily will if i dont get a response. the sad thing is i love the phone but crap 12mp camera is a no no .

[#11]

its embarrising now , cant even take basic pics without it going wrong !!!!!!