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

[#2]

Please keep this on subject - ask other questions on other posts.

I have sold mine - but if Uliwooly wants evidence of a good camera phone V the xperia, I can upload pub photos (again) from the xperia and some pub photos from my N8. Every single N8 image is in focus, clear, correct colours and low noise. Very happy to show these photos but this does not provide any help to the thousands of users who are having problems - at 96,000 hits on 25/06 this post is not just causing one or two people problems, this is causing a MAJOR problem to a lot of users.

I can understand Uliwooly's attempt to try and offer advice on getting the best from a fautly product, but in reality, this is not good enough.

For those of you unhappy with the limited (or non existent response from Sony), return the phone.

If you are from the UK you are protected under the Trade Descriptions Action 1968 which states

"Each product sold must be as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose. "As described" refers to any advert or verbal description made by the trader. "Satisfactory quality" covers minor and cosmetic defects as well as substantial deficiencies and means that products must last a reasonable time but does not give any rights if a fault was obvious or pointed out at the point of sale. "Fit for purpose" covers not only the obvious purpose of an item but also any purpose determined at the point of sale as a result of queries by the customer and assurances given by the trader."

If you are unhappy, in the UK, take it up with your provider (quoting the above) or trading standards (via your local authority) then if you fancy contact BBC watchdog http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/

I have had many Sony Phones, Arc, Arc S, K750, K850i (which I still use as its better than the Xperia), and really like the interface on the Xperia range. But they promised and advertised a product which never misses a picture, doesnt matter if this is hardware or software, the fact is they are selling a product which is NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

[Torek_Oshin]

I wish I lived in UK.

[Torek_Oshin]

Ya, I'd installed the app (Illumination Bar Notification) long ago before you told me. It works, thanks to the app developer that saves and makes this phone look a little more functional.

I'm sorry if that's a little out of topic; but look how not serious Sony is in giving us, the loyal customers, the best we deserve that they even ignored that simplest thing which is supposed to be in the stock. No wonder if the camera with Exmor R blah blah blah fails to show its fangs let alone satisfy me as mentioned in the Trade Descriptions Action 1968 because it is just a market gimmick (sorry if it hurts, but it's the fact that I feel).

Can anybody suggest me in what part did Sony take seriously on this phone?

[the_purpleangel]

Is returning the phone even an option? I'm on a 2 year contract from Tesco Mobile, I wouldn't know how to return the phone under trade descriptions and get my money back?

I have however submitted a story to watchdog, thanks for the link batman. (y)

[luis_DR]

I wish i lived in UK too. i am faraway, in Dominican Republic. there's no sony center nor sony store here. all i can do is keep the phone or try to sell to someone, but that's gonna be hard when they see the camera performance. lol. another thing is that they have posted SI number and when you try to get the update via wifi, pc companion or SUS they be telling that you have the latest software.

[#7]

Wish I was in UK.. I am ready to take a loss and sell my phone, yesterday I did go to the mall and check if some vendor ready to buy my used phone even at half price.. you know they said Xperia S has no buyer so they don't want to buy even at half price

when I tried to provide some black & white feedback with unbiased views my posts were deleted, they can't provide solution, if someone tries to provide feedback they delete the posts way to go Sony..

[Uliwooly]

@msiddhpura you need to read the Forum Guidelines, plus I thought you already said you were buying an HTC or Samsung I don't see why you keep trolling the forum with rude comments (not all of them but you do have them) you have to stop it.

[#9]

I'm pretty sure that Sony had known long before the launch that Xperia S has hardware problem in terms of low-light shoot and difficult to focus that's why they never ever mention the image quality taken on their advertisement. They did boast the screen quality and fast capture from stand-by mode but never said anything about the quality (they just take advantage of our high expectation for 12 MP that we thought cud be better than Satio-12MP or at least similar). Red-eye problem is completely hardware since the led is too small with flash-at-one-point that no matter what you do red-eye is there. Finally, Xperia S is a great camera phone for WELL-LIT CLOSE-UP ONLY . YES....ONLY FOR WELL-LIT CLOSE-UP. If you really want to have a best image ever taken with camera phone, buy NOKIA PUREVIEW 808.

[#10]

@uliwooly, I have ready so many user comments in past few days, I don't see any single of mine is rude, I guess you have some personal problem with me. I have seen other user's comments with "Stupid" " Fools" "Shame" etc they dont get any warnings.... please read few other threads...

Tell me which of my comment you think is rude..

2ndly I still own Xperia S, as per previous comment I did go to sell and buy HTC but no one is ready to buy Xperia S so I am now stuck with this, I can't afford two different phones with high price tag...this makes me unhappy but still Xperia S customer.

Rather than askingm me to stop commenting which I believe is true thats why it is hurting you so much to classify my honest comments as Rude etc...

I guess what everyone needs here (I have read more than 100s of comments in past few days) is better suport from sony, no one is pointing any fingers at you, yo are trying to help but by giving un-authorized way like flashing different region firmware, but atleast you are trying to help...

[Uliwooly]

I partially agree, so far no phone can get close to the Nokia N8 but it doesn't perform well on low light settings. the nokia 808 pureview it sounds really good but you are assuming that because it has 41mp camera it will deliver really good pictures, pixel count it's not the whole equation, I don't quite know what you meant by well lit close up, I've posted close up and panoramic low lit pictures and if they were panoramic I was attacked bc they were panoramic, when I posted of a restaurant it didn't matter, all in all it's a phone not a camera, the sensor does its job, don't expect DSLR or point and shoot quality the sensor it's quite small, if this is your first high end smartphone borrow another high end smartphone and compare them but make sure that you use the same settings (this goes for all) this phone (xperia s) it's far from perfect, it has it's flaws on it's camera like other phones, some users might disagree and claiming that other brands have better quality, in this that and that, but yet they still bought this phone, if it was so bad I don't see why spending hard earn money on a phone that you already know it's not what you like, again play with the camera settings until you find the correct settings that work for you, that's the point of a camera, you don't just use auto mode, you change the settings, scene, etc, also lenses, filters etc.

I know I'm going to get a lot of fire for this but this is my opinion

I hope I don't get taken out of context, but just to make sure

1) this phone it's not perfect

2) the camera should be improved, but I know there's only so much a sensor this size can do

3) if you do borrow another phone make sure that you transfer the pictures to the same computer so you can put them side to side with the same settings, scene, etc.

4) if you said that you are selling the phone and you still troll the thread that's fine, as long as you are nice to each other, you are not disrespectful, no personal attacks