[philpeeps]

The fact that they have identical camera modules doesn't necessarily mean that they will perform in exactly the same way under two completely different operating systems. Just saying.. general info.

Ain't THAT the truth. The Dell Venue Pro and the iPhone 4 have the same camera and the DVP had the worst smartphone camera image quality I have ever seen.

[Reeves]

The fact that they have identical camera modules doesn't necessarily mean that they will perform in exactly the same way under two completely different operating systems. Just saying.. general info.

True, but if anything, Android 4.x seems to be far more mature in terms of default camera software, and HTC loaded even more options in their latest version of Sense. Their camera "add-ons" for Windows Phone are prettttttty sparse in comparison.

[lordofthereef]

True, but if anything, Android 4.x seems to be far more mature in terms of default camera software, and HTC loaded even more options in their latest version of Sense. Their camera "add-ons" for Windows Phone are prettttttty sparse in comparison.

I think the average user could care less about camera options. They want to just take a picture and have it come out looking good. If that is not the case, they dismiss the camera as "sucky". And that's fair enough. While I consider myself more knowledgable than most, I often don't want to screw with my filters, lenses, etc. I want to pull the camera out of my pocket, snap a few pics, and put it away. That, IMO, is what a phone camera is all about. Give us sharp pics in the daytime and you have a winner here Nokia!

[joeynox]

I have to agree with the OP . I came over from an iPhone and my wife has the iPhone 5. My pictures lack alot of sharpness/detail compared to my 3gs,4s,and her iPhone 5. Its really no contest. I understand some people have said its a phone bug because during live view its sharp but once the shutter takes over it softens buy what if its not? What if the screen is just sharper than the image quality if the sensor? The camera and GPS were my main reason for getting the phone and both are bad. In comparison to other flag ships. I called Nokia today about it and was told by a rep and then a Lumia "specialist" its a phone issue and I would have to send the phone in to get checked out.
I've read that you have to make the camera work for you to get it great pictures but you should have to. It should just work. The sg3, iPhone,one x just work. Point and shoot . That's how all camera phones should be

[Shap2012]

I called too originally to see if there was an update coming out and they said basically, thats the way it is and I can return it if I felt it was a bad unit. Don't even get me started on nokia drive. ugh

[Shap2012]

very interestings. Note the screen shot image size is much smaller and my hand did move while snapping the screenshot.

Taken by holding shutter half-way and then doing a screen snapshot BEFORE shooting pic.
wp_ss_20121126_0005.jpg

Taken using close-up settings, and touch-to-snap
WP_20121126_012.jpg

[iamtim]

I had a 920 for a week or so, and now I have an 820. I have absolutely nothing concrete to base this on, but I think the pictures from the 820 I have are better than the 920 I had.

...

That said, there are TONS of options in both devices cameras, none of which I even think about modding. Like the user above said, I just want to pull my phone out, snap a few shots, and put it away. I can say that in both cases I've turned off the focus assist light. I can also say that trying to take pics on either phone using the side-button is an exercise in futility. Tapping the screen generates much more in-focus pics. :)

[iamtim]

I called too originally to see if there was an update coming out and they said basically, thats the way it is and I can return it if I felt it was a bad unit.

Generally, manufacturers won't confirm an update is coming until it's ready to be pushed out to the actual devices.

[socialcarpet]

i was very disappointed with the lumia 900 camera when it first came out. Alot hype but that's it. Nokia is full of hype.
Sent from my pm23300 using board express

sent from my htc 8x

[socialcarpet]

I called too originally to see if there was an update coming out and they said basically, thats the way it is and I can return it if I felt it was a bad unit. Don't even get me started on nokia drive. ugh

Nokia Drive+ BETA you mean?

The beta software? What's wrong? Is it acting like beta software?

[lordofthereef]

Nokia Drive+ BETA you mean?

The beta software? What's wrong? Is it acting like beta software?

Ugh... don't get me started. Siri was the same way. People were apologizing for Apple a year into its release. Some people still are. Nokia also blatently removed bing maps from our phones, which has been shown in many cases to preform better than Nokia maps. They decided to ship the phone with beta software installed. I am not going to be apologizing for them any more than I ever did with Apple.

[cardinalryan]

I can assure you that if you aren't getting good pictures with the L920, it's either user error or you were unlucky and got a defective device. Someone mentioned that they thought the 8X took better pics than the L920...hmmm. Well, maybe to their eyes, but I can tell you, as a professional photographer that neither are going to deliver the results some people expect, but the L920 has a vastly better camera than the 8X. The HTC 8X produces washed out images and is quite unimpressive, in my opinion.

[GSOgymrat]

Maybe part of some people's disappointment stems from expectations. I expected the 920's camera to be on the general same level as the iPhone and other camera phones and it has met that expectation. When people post or send photos from their iPhone they usually look like they came from a camera phone. When I look at comparison photos from Verge, Cnet, etc comparing iPhone, Galaxy, HTC, etc they all look about the same general quality. The 920 meets my expectation. That said, I have not thoroughly played with my 920's camera but I have noticed that on automatic setting I get varied results. Some pictures look good and some are poorly focused even when I am taking the photos a few seconds apart. All the 920 pictures look soft. The video however has exceeded my expectations. I didn't choose the 920 because of it's camera. I wanted a Windows phone and the HTC only has 16GB memory, which is a deal breaker.

[joeynox]

i have 2 920s in cyan ant mt brother jsut got a white 920. all 3 take pictures that are no way near the quality of the pictures taken by the verge. Its not user error! its the cameras or wp8. its impossible for the majority of reviewers and users on various boards to be the problem. This is very disappointing. today photos taken with my 920 side by side a coworkers iphone 5 was quite embarrassing for me. i hyped this thing up so mcuh and then my phone produces soft photos.

[AngryNil]

I was very disappointed with the Lumia 900 camera when it first came out. Alot hype but that's it. Nokia is full of hype.
Sent from my PM23300 using Board Express

You mean, a totally different camera module on a different phone which subsequently got improved by a software update you didn't have since your experience with it was when it first came out?

Yeah, my HTC Touch had a crap-*** camera too. Your 8X must be absolutely crap since they are both HTCs.

[Gken]

I think the camera right now is amazing, took some absolutely stunning shots with it. I am an amateur photographer enthusiast and while it is good you still need to take some precautions on taking a photograph just like every other camera. You can't just point and shoot and expect greatness. I would however like less of the post processing that is being done with software, but I guess that is always a wish with photographers and wanting the RAW file rather than post-processing jibberjabber.

[misterRafter]

Funny thing is before releasing the L920 Nokia promised that the camera is going to be untouchable, great, blah blah and most people on this forum and on other forums were raving about how good its going to be. Now the phone has been released and it's proven to be a phone with an average camera that takes absolute shyt daylight pics and guess what the cover up is now "you shouldn't expect too much from the phone it's only a phone", "or there's an update coming"! FFS

When you spend a lot of money for a phone you would atleast expect the phone to perform to the standard it was advertised by the manufacturer.

Personally i like the phone but the camera is disappointing END OF. It's my second L920 due to the numerous other issues i had with my first device.

[cp2_4eva]

I have to admit, I am underwhelmed by the daytime photos taken by the 920 in comparison me and my wife's 8x, but dark settings the pics come out better and I bought it more for the video taking capability. Have you ever tried a video in comparison to any other phone? Quite impressive. The steadiness and the sound. They are great.

[Reeves]

I look at it this way:

I can easily put a 920 daytime pic in Nokia's Creative Studio and touch it up with a few taps (or even WP8's "Auto-Fix". They both do wonders).

If I want an iPhone 5 or Galaxy S 3 or HTC 8X to have amazing video with sterling sound or super-detailed low or medium light pics that somehow show more natural light in the room than my eyes even see.....there's no app for that.

If that's disappointing or sucky to you guys....I feel for ya.

[socialcarpet]

Ugh... don't get me started. Siri was the same way. People were apologizing for Apple a year into its release. Some people still are. Nokia also blatently removed bing maps from our phones, which has been shown in many cases to preform better than Nokia maps. They decided to ship the phone with beta software installed. I am not going to be apologizing for them any more than I ever did with Apple.

Beta Software Definition

[LongLeggs]

You want to take nice pics? Buy yourself a Nikon or Canon SLR. Nuff said.

Jessica

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

You want to take nice pics? Buy yourself a Nikon or Canon SLR. Nuff said.

Jessica

Agreed. I don't know how high people's expectations was/is but it's a phone first camera second.

[misterRafter]

Agreed. I don't know how high people's expectations was/is but it's a phone first camera second.

on Nokia's announcement it seemed like the L920 was a camera first then a phone. Anyways it's obvious the camera is shyt in daylight and i'd be surprised to see an update very soon.... oh well atleast Nokia confirmed it for me that they are FOS. End of

[cp2_4eva]

I have a nice Nikon D7000 at home, but it's not always handy so having a little bit of reassurance on a smartphone doesn't hurt. Like that time my daughter first started to chatter at 3 months old. Yeah, I take out my phone and hope I get a good video. Instead of running to my camera kit and recording the moment. Or when you are at a party and you don't have your DSLR...comes in handy. I loved my 8x, but the video taking capabilities of it don't match the 920 with the video stabilization. ESPECIALLY on the front facing camera. If you do mobile blogs then you would be annoyed to do it with an 8x. With a 920 it's not a problem. It all boils down to preference though. 8x is a great audio and camera for light situations. If you don't need maps and good video then you can live without the bulk of a 920.

[vlad0]

Ain't THAT the truth. The Dell Venue Pro and the iPhone 4 have the same camera and the DVP had the worst smartphone camera image quality I have ever seen.

I didn't know those had the same camera module.. Another example is The iphone 4s and the Xperia Arc from Sony.. both use the same Sony sensor, but iOS does a much better job, and despite the fact that its Sony's own sensor, the iphone 4s takes better photographs.

If I had to rank the OSs in terms of image processing based on current smartphones for sale: Symbian >>> iOS>Android>WP.. but the differences between android and WP are tiny so I don't know.

Also, I don't know if its a coincidence, but out of those 4 only Symbian is a real-time OS, the other 3 are based on monolithic kernels. And also.. I guess its a balance of the maker's understanding of the operating system vs. the available hardware .. so all of this is not really clear. Nokia had over 10 years of experience with Symbian based cameras.. no one else in the industry has had such a long time with any of the other OS. Maybe HTC with Windows CE.. but that was a long time ago..

So if we take that under account, Nokia are doing very well.. Not even one year with Windows NT and they produced the 920.. not bad at all. They know what they are doing, it... simply will take some time.