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Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

New Member
ad2107
Posts: 3

Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

Hi All,

 

I'm on my second white 920, returned the first due to battery issues.  I've started playing with the camera and noticed that it does not take low light photos well.  I tried taking photos in a dark room, using default settings and Focus Assist Light on and the end result is dark photo with barely anything visible (see attached).  

 

Is anyone else having this problem with the camera sensor in low or almost no light situations?  I've seen it demoed on youtube a few times where people take photos in very low or almost no light situations and they've gotten pretty good results.  But for me, I'm not getting anything visible in my photos.  

 

I hope I don't have to go back and return this one too... this is just becoming a hassle.

 

Thanks.

 

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Mobile Guru
matthew_maude
Posts: 1,826

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

if you've seen video's in very low light giving successful shots they're probably fake in some way, you do need a reasonable amount of light even a DSLR will struggle with minimum light and similar exposure settings.

a good way to check the camera's performance is to take a photo in a room lit by a lamp, take it alongside a standard camera phone and you should see a huge difference... make sure neither have flash so you can see how much more light it lets in

©2012 DJ Matt

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New Member
ad2107
Posts: 3

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

Thanks for the reply Matthew.  The result that I'm trying to replicate can be found in this video (heads up, this guy is a bit over the top and vulgar... but he shows what can be done with the 920):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtCgFW39BL8

 

If you watch it, you'll notice his room is pretty much dark.  When he takes a shot with the 920, focus assist light is on and the end result shows a ton of detail, almost as if there was a strong light source.

 

In my experience, I tried doing the same thing, except I even have a dim light source coming from my other room.
 

However, after I take the shot, with focus assist on, i'm getting really dark photos with barely any detail.  It feels like the focus assist light isn't working properly or perhaps my camera sensor is defective.  You'll see another screen shot that I've posted below.

 

Have you tried doing the same thing with your 920?

 

 

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Mobile Guru
matthew_maude
Posts: 1,826

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

Looking at that second picture, it should be better than that with that amount of light...
have you adjusted the exposure settings? Try resetting the camera to default if you've made any changes and see of it improves.

you should get better results than the image you posted and it shouldn't need the focus assist either. 😊

©2012 DJ Matt

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Mobile Guru
rayhipkiss
Posts: 3,295

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

There was a similar thread started a while back and I posted two photos showing the 920's low light capabilities compared to my N8. It's important to put the 920 into night mode and disable flash for best results.

 

http://discussions.nokia.com/t5/Nokia-Lumia/Lumia-920-quot-Unbeatable-low-light-performance-quot-is-...

 

Ray.

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New Member
ad2107
Posts: 3

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

Thanks again for the replies.

 

I did try various settings - default, night mode, lower ISO, focus assist on and off. The results are pretty much the same as the attached photos. Its surprising since I figured focus assist should help a lot, but didn't. Looks like I'll have to bring this one back and exchange it as well :/..

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Registered Member
ericamao
Posts: 1

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

same here. I tried everything. I decide to take my phone to ATT shop.....

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New Member
abduz
Posts: 4

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

I bought mine yesterday while in Dubai.

 

The camera was working like a charm, I even took a few pics in complete darkness and they came out absolutely beautiful.  Today I left Dubai, I was showing off my 920 and when I got to the low-light camera, it was very normal and now I was  testing it at home, even if I have a small lamp on, it gives photos that even my Lumia 800 can produce better night shots.  Pics in complete darkness like last night simply give me complete darkness photos.

Earlier I did change the ISO and Exposure settings, but I did reset the camera.  The problem is, I can't just fly back to Dubai to give back my phone.  What am I supposed to do?

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New Member
abduz
Posts: 4

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

Ok I take back my post, didn't realize default setting was Flash on Auto!  So inthat case the camera still does a wonderful job.  Without flash I guess needs some surrounding lights.  I guess many of us were simply expecting the camera to take pics without flash?  If I'm mistaken that the camera doesnt need flash in complete darkness, then please sort out my mistake otherwise, I'm still in love with this phone!

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Registered Member
turboslow
Posts: 1

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

I'm having the exact same issue. I tried all the possible modes and I still haven't had the results I seen on the internet. So I'll be returning my phone. Hopefully my next one won't have this issue.

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Advisor
joeynox
Posts: 10

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

mine is the same way. after you snap  the picture does your screen turn white for a split second?

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Counsellor
VoodooKing
Posts: 47

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

You'll have to set it manually to Night Mode in the settings to get the same result as the video. Sometimes the phone is not able to detect that it should use Night Mode when set to auto.
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Counsellor
VoodooKing
Posts: 47

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

Oh and you must have a small light source as well, that video didn't show one but I suspect it was the hallway lights.
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New Member
abduz
Posts: 4

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

I've taken some amazing shots in the dark with flash off but it does need a little bit of light source.

The light sources i've had were streetlights/lamp/club lights...the results were clear bright and colorful.

Really love this phone and the camera is truly briliant
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New Member
abduz
Posts: 4

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

I forgot to mention, i never use nightmode. How can I add attachments so i can show you some of the shots I've taken?
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Registered Member
Raghav013
Posts: 2

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

If you're in very low low light..... try with these settings.... with your post i saw u set ISO to low... it should not be...

 

ISO : 800

Mode : Night

Exposure : 2/3

 

And click with camera button focus and then snap.. you'll see the difference.

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Registered Member
Raghav013
Posts: 2

Re: Lumia 920 Camera Low Light Shots

This was taken in night 4 am.... with settings i mentioned...

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