The camera itself (hardware) is fine, it's the camera app's inability to decently measure correct exposure that is the problem.
Fortunately there are lots of manual options in the menu including the ability to manually set exposure compensation. Use that and you'll get much better night photos.
Most of your claims in your prior "N9's camera is poor compared to N900's" thread didn't smell right.
And Damien Dining was in agreement (tweeted him)....
I suspect you're coming from an un-solid (technically) place again...
But I'll wait for commentary from others who own both, & can weigh-in.
The camera itself (hardware) is fine, it's the camera app's inability to decently measure correct exposure that is the problem.
Fortunately there are lots of manual options in the menu including the ability to manually set exposure compensation. Use that and you'll get much better night photos.
Fantastic picture! Would you mind sharing what settings you were using for that picture (ISO, white balance, compensation, etc.)? I've been struggling to optimize the N9 for shots like that, and a little help would be useful.
Fantastic picture! Would you mind sharing what settings you were using for that picture (ISO, white balance, compensation, etc.)? I've been struggling to optimize the N9 for shots like that, and a little help would be useful.
Thanks!
This seems to be the settings he may have used...
Scene: Automatic
Flash: Off
White Balance: Automatic
Exposure Compensation: 0.7 (maybe up to 1.3)
Color Filter: Vivid
Light sensitivity: ISO 800
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: High 7Mpx
Looking at the Data on the File:
Scene: Auto
Flash: Off
White Balance: Auto
Exposure Compensation: -1
Color Filter: Auto
Light sensitivity: ISO 174 so auto
This seems to be the settings he may have used...
Scene: Automatic
Flash: Off
White Balance: Automatic
Exposure Compensation: 0.7 (maybe up to 1.3)
Color Filter: Vivid
Light sensitivity: ISO 800
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: High 7Mpx
Looking at the Data on the File:
Scene: Auto
Flash: Off
White Balance: Auto
Exposure Compensation: -1
Color Filter: Auto
Light sensitivity: ISO 174 so auto
That's helpful - appreciate it. Of course, based on my fledgling photography experience, it seems a great deal of how well the exposure turns out is based on where exactly you choose your focus/exposure point. With the N9, it seems that these are one and the same point (which, for general purposes, is somewhat reasonable).
I have found two ways to get better night pictures.
The first one is to limit max light sensitivity (ISO) to 100 or 200. This eliminates most of the grain/noise, but sometimes leaves you with pictures that are too dark. I think there may be some shutter length limit in play.
The second one, and IMHO the better one is to set negative exposure compensation which basically tells the camera to make darker pictures.
Keep the camera in auto-everything by tapping "auto", then disable flash and tap the exposure compensation setting. Slide it to -1. Then aim your phone and take a look, everything should be noticeably darker. If your light source is still overpowering everything, add more negative exposure compensation by moving the slider left (-2 is max). If the scene is to dark, slide it more to the right. Once you're happy with the result, close the menu and take a picture.
If you're not sure, take multiple pictures, you can later review them and figure out what works and what doesn't.