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

[the_purpleangel]

I expect because the thread is 'Assumed Answered' I don't know how to change that but the 'answer' really doesn't fix the problem.

I am also too late to return my phone though if it's a hardware problem I would say it's sufficient enough for a product recall. It's pretty appauling.

[#3]

I can not re-open it - I will try again if not I will create a new one as link it across

[#4]

Please post in the new thread:

http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/35812

[Markus1]

First of all, sorry for not posting for a while. I wasn't receiving any notifications from this thread. That's sorted now though so when someone posts in this thread, I will get an email letting me know.

Those of you who have this focusing issue - have you updated to the .73 software or are you running .67?

If you have this issue I want you to post the following so we can try to get a grip on this problem.

- Phone model: Xperia S

- Software build number: (Settings > About phone)

- If running 6.0.A.3.73 - Have you tried to repair the software in PC Companion?

- SI number: (Behind back cover, SI XXXX-XXXX)

- Have you tried other camera apps? Any differences?

- Have you had the phone examined/repaired at a service center?

Post this and I will see what I can get out of it.

What do you think about this forum? Let us know by doing this short survey.

[the_purpleangel]

Software: 6.0.A.3.67

SI:1257-3114

Tried multiple apps, all have the same problem.

Phone was new of 22nd March but not had it examined.

[#7]

Software: 6.0.A.3.67 (but I did try to update it two weeks ago and it came back to this version)

SI 1257-3113

OH and mine now has developed the Yellow screen problem (HEAP OF RUBBISH!)

Not took to repair centre -- why should I - its BRAND NEW - got it on release day. White Model

[#8]

lodevole SONY-problema messa a fuoco non risolto

ho riscontrato lo stesso problema di messa a fuoco del XPERIA S acquistato in svizzera ..mandato il telefono in assitenza ..ritornato come prima con lo stesso identico problema PERCHE' NON E' STATO RISOLTO IL PROBLEMA ?

addendo con fiducia una slouzione ...

[pixate]

- Phone model: Xperia S

- Software build number: 6.0.A.3.67

- SI number: SI 1257-3114

- Have you tried other camera apps? Not tried any others. Not sure what camera apps should offer better results?

- Have you had the phone examined/repaired at a service center? Not yet. Trying to gauge if the problem is software resolvable or hardware first. Not sure if there is a service centre near, and could do without sending the phone off if can be avoided.

[Markus1]

Thank you all for posting this valuable feedback.

I've created an internal escalation on the matter. Please keep posting though as it's very helpful getting this info.

What do you think about this forum? Let us know by doing this short survey.

[Xad]

The issue is most obvious in the Auto/Default settings which makes the "Fast photo capture" feature useless as the photos tend to come out rubbish in various scenarios. In the Fast capture mode (phone screen locked, hold button down to take photo), you have no choice but to use the default auto settings.

The camera seems to really struggle to focus. Most obvious scenario is the one i mentioned in this thread where i was in a restaurant in the evening and my Xperia S was struggling to take a decent photo, constantly giving out blurry results and struggling to focus even when i turned the flash on, while another person who was with me was taking photos super fast with their Iphone 4s and they all turned out great; default settings, no struggling to focus and no embarrassingly blurry photos. To add insult to injury, the iphone can take photos instantly also without having to unlock the phone as it's got a convenient photo button on the screenlock window.

It also struggled to focus when i was in a very well lit hall where a wedding ceremony was taking place, tried to capture a video and the camera was out of focus and would not focus, so gave up and put the phone away and haven't been confident to use it again around people as it has done nothing but embarrass me after i give everyone the sales pitch on how great the camera's supposed to be.

I know it has nothing to do with the location or lighting of the settings as people with Iphones and normal cameras capture their photos/vids fine yet the Xperia S struggles like it's drunk and can't focus.

Also, where is the best place to request basic features? Email, web, etc? Minor things like when you're using the phone and you press the camera button it should go into the camera app immediately, but it doesn't instead you have to hold on to it like you have to when the phones screen locked (when it's screen locked it makes sense that you have to hold the camera button, but not when you're using the phone anyway).