About the camera

[Daloch]

I just would like to know if someone has the same problem than me.

Sony talks a lot about the 13Mpx Exmor R camera in this phone, but I realize that the pictures that I take, even outside in a sunny day, has very very low quality.

I don't understand how a 13Mpx camera only gives a 3Mb picture (other phones with only 5Mpx camera, gives better quality, for example my old iphone 4). My pictures on the Xperia T has very low quality (even shooting at 13Mpx), a lot of noise and a very poor resolution. Hasn't the pictures a lot of JPG compression???

I wonder if it's just me or anybody else has the same problem.

I tried to search on the phone some option to increase the quality, but I am unable to find it.

Is there any patch from Sony to fix this problem?. I won't believe that this camera only may offer this poor pictures.

Thx.

[Daloch]

I agree with you 100%.

The saddest of all is that Sony it's doing nothing to fix it.

[slav_k]

Hi ,

i've read your post and totally agree with you. Sony could and should do better on their software side. As of hardware I have to disagree with you. I have come across of same issue: images were not as good as I expected and found a solution. To see how good sensor is try to use camera apps like Vignette, I have one set as default camera app. You'll be amazed what this phone is capable of. Vignette image file has at least twice more info then original Xperia app 5-9MB vs 2-3MB. Sony really need to pay more attention to their JPEG comressing algoritm (more compression leads to lower quality). The only downside of large file is, it takes longer to attach it to mail or sync it with the cloud.

Hope it helps. 

[sumo75]

Hi slav_k

So is there hope for the camera if sony do a software update?

Thanks.

[Daloch]

Hi slav_k

Thanks a lot for your advice, I will try. However, I'd like to explain you something about what you're saying.

Time ago, I tried an app called FV-5.

This app, takes pictures that are about 8 or 9Mpx, however, there is no difference between the poor quality pictures from the original app of Sony and the pictures that the app takes.

I think that the camera of the phone is set to take the lowest quality pictures (what in other good phone cameras is called as Low, Normal, Fine, Super Fine).

You can take the biggest pictures that an app may take, BUT if the resolution is set (by defalut, and with no option to change it) to the lowest quality, then there's nothing it can be done.

All is up to Sony and their developers... and as you can see, for now, they are doing NOTHING to change.

Yesterday, my brother got a pad. Not big deal, unknown company, older Android... it has a 6" screen, no bravia. It has a 5Mpx camera BUT with the quality option. In super-fine mode, I guarantee you that the pictures looks way better than this supposed 13Mpx camera that the T has.

It is not better when it comes to contrast/colour... but man, 5Mpx and takes pictures that are more than 3Mb in Superfine mode... (our phone in 13Mpx takes pictures that are 2Mb or even less)

VERY sad. If Sony would do their job well done (it is clear that for now, they don't give a s*hit), this camera would do much better than it does now.

[slav_k]

Hi Sumo75,

I really hope so, because X T camera has lot more potential then Sony allowed us to use.

Hope Sony will listen to everyone who mention high compression destroying stills taken by Xperia cameras and do something about it. Only then we can really judge how good or bad sensor is. By the way iPhone 5S rumoured to have 13MP sensor supplied by Sony, but it will be out not earlier then in the end of summer!

Please see Xperia T photographic test comparision with Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X+:

http://www.gsmarena.com/piccmp.php3?idType=3&idPhone1=4899&idPhone2=4976&idPhone3=4238

  From my own experience I found Xperia T camera producing:

1. White Balance and focusing is spot on

2. warm natural colours

3. not ovesaturated colours

4. good contrast

5. wide selection of manual adjastments takes it step closer to standalone camera than just phones point and shoot device

6. f/2.4 fast lens, with low chromatic aberration (distortion) and good optical resolution

  Disadvantages:

1. Strong compression resulting in appearance of JPEG artifacts. 13 MPixels file with at least Normal or Fine compression (Low, Normal, Fine, Super Fine) should be 4-5MB, NOT 2.5MB. Common Sony!!!! Do something

2. JPEG artifacts destroying detatails in shady areas, especially when Hi ISO noise comes out.

3. Highest ISOin Xperia camera is 800, Sony are you serious? Its your flagship phone!!!!!! iPhone 5 has highest ISO 3200 while still uses Sony sensor!

This what I can think of for the moment and if you use third party app that takes information directly from sensor, not uses image taken by Sony app then you should be able to tell difference between two.

Apps to try:

-Vignette (see settings first)

-Camera Zoom FX (in app settings->Save->change JPEG Qality to 100%)

-and plenty more, just read reviewes first

Hope it helps

[slav_k]

Hi Daloch,

completely agree with you.

Please see my post #84 in this discussion. I've tried to brake everything down and not to miss anything.

Best wishes

[slav_k]

Thanks for reply,

I've noticed focus haunting on camcorder too. It needs to be fixed. Hope they include it in Jelly Bean update.

Sony have already released Alpha version of JB, it's mean couple more weeks and we will get full fat JB update at last.

[Daloch]

Well, my last hope is that with JB, all the issues about the camera will be fixed.

But I am not really confident, as I asked here almost one moth ago, if they plan to fix something about this camera with JB...

As it cannot be any other way coming from Sony, I am still waiting for an answer.

You say a couple weeks... we will see... it is not even a beta or a RC, so...

[slav_k]

To be fair, I don't see any other phone on market that could replace my T. I really love sound quality, hardware combination, camera is good ( but not with sony camera app). I dont see point in 13MP, I think 8 or 10MP is max required for cameraphone, but I can live with 13MP chip, it's not that bad in the end.

lets just hope Sony will fix most of the issues in JB and not gonna bring new ones.

P.S. I also keeping my eye on Xperia Z, could be a winner, but only time will tell.

[Sac]

I have downloaded Vignette and instantly the pictures are improved, its the full version so im able to choose 13mpx and fine as the option. It has lots of adjustments you can do which will improve the colour and contrast.

I took 2 identical phots one using Sony inbuilt and one using vignette, the first thing i noticed was the file size size Sony 1.7mb, Vignette 7mb, the noise had gone and the colours seemed bsharper and brighter. Granted did not have time to look on laptop screen but its looking better.

Shame it takes a 3rd party app to show what the camera can do especially when you read the Sony page on the T and the HD camera how good it is.

Sony please learn from the 3rd party app builders and make adjustments to the software to give us the camera you promised not the one you delivered.

As we now know after only 3/4 months since its release we T owners no longer have the flagship model, so its clear Sony no longer care what we think.