Pics taken with your Hero

[jonnythan]

Ah, here's an interesting thread about it:

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread...&highlight=iso

"I did some looking around and I followed the steps using the 800 ISO along with some brightness modifications and so forth. It seems however when I take pictures, I notice this static rain effect."

Another user responded "I have it too in low light."

I think that's where all the "static rain" can be traced to - ISO 800, whether it's in auto mode in relatively low light or the user manually set the camera to ISO 800.

The lesson here is not to force your camera into ISO 800 unless you're OK with excessive noise, and excessive noise is a by-product of taking pictures in low light.

I should also note that of the four forums I visit, this is the only one where I have seen anyone complain about noise in images, and it's only about 3 people, one of which explicitly said he forced the camera to ISO 800, another of which initially said he gets it in low light and now says it's all the time.

Of course, that same user also said that every Hero has the problem and that he hasn't heard a single Hero owner say that his camera is unaffected by the "static" that happens even "in bright light," despite the fact that in the above-linked thread another user says right there that his works great in good lighting.


My entire reason for posting this is to combat misinformation. This is how rumors and urban legends start, and I hate that sort of stuff. I appreciate truth and reality. If there's an actual issue with the camera always generating noise, I'd honestly love to hear about it - but everything I'm seeing on this "issue" points to the fact that, yes, the camera is noisy at ISO 800. But that's completely to be expected. There are enough real issues with this phone that we don't need to spend time complaining about non-issues.

Even the iPhone has this exact same "issue".

[thacounty]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

Ah, here's an interesting thread about it:

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread...&highlight=iso

"I did some looking around and I followed the steps using the 800 ISO along with some brightness modifications and so forth. It seems however when I take pictures, I notice this static rain effect."

Another user responded "I have it too in low light."

I think that's where all the "static rain" can be traced to - ISO 800, whether it's in auto mode in relatively low light or the user manually set the camera to ISO 800.

The lesson here is not to force your camera into ISO 800 unless you're OK with excessive noise, and excessive noise is a by-product of taking pictures in low light.

I should also note that of the four forums I visit, this is the only one where I have seen anyone complain about noise in images, and it's only about 3 people, one of which explicitly said he forced the camera to ISO 800, another of which initially said he gets it in low light and now says it's all the time.

Of course, that same user also said that every Hero has the problem and that he hasn't heard a single Hero owner say that his camera is unaffected by the "static" that happens even "in bright light," despite the fact that in the above-linked thread another user says right there that his works great in good lighting.


My entire reason for posting this is to combat misinformation. This is how rumors and urban legends start, and I hate that sort of stuff. I appreciate truth and reality. If there's an actual issue with the camera always generating noise, I'd honestly love to hear about it - but everything I'm seeing on this "issue" points to the fact that, yes, the camera is noisy at ISO 800. But that's completely to be expected. There are enough real issues with this phone that we don't need to spend time complaining about non-issues.

Even the iPhone has this exact same "issue".

Ok. Some people can't be reasoned with...

Yes, I have forced my cam to ISO 800, if I don't I get blurry crap pictures.

That was me. I notice it in low light, not as much in bright lighting. Let me explain this clearly - I am going to take pictures inside. This "inside" I speak of has plenty of light for my other camera, and all other phones I have had before. I think you may be missing that this is the SAME inside.

So, you are saying I either get static problems or I get blurry pictures? Great. I'm not OK with either.

Since you said this is the only thread, I had a go at Google, Here's one, Oh, This reviewer was unhappy with his blurry pics, this guy took some pics, but they came out blurry too, oh and his one indoors had static. And yes I did put my cam on ISO8 800, but I do not want blurry pics! That is what fixed my problem with blurry pics.

So if I notice something in low light, then realize that it happens all the time, I am not allowed to bring that information forward? I can only say that it happens in low light because that's what I initially said? So if you said you really liked the touch pro you had to stick with that? I imagine that wouldn't be the case, since most people grew to hate their touch pro. I realized that I get it in some pics, the light matters not. I will not address that again.

I have showed a pic where my other camera wouldn't have noise and mine did. So... I fail to see your point. No one has said they don't have the problem. Since someone else started that first thread it seems like I may not be the only one though, it also had replies where people agreed. I asked a question before about the branding because I want one that works and if its only me then I will be switching phones. That's why I said everyone has it.

What misinformation? You can clearly see the static in my photo. Urban legends are fun, but I am not trying to pass off a fake bigfoot or something, I am showing people pics. In fact I didn't even say anything about it except that it needs to be addressed. So the reality is that my perception is off? I see the static, am I the only one?! So again, I can either have blurry pics or noisy ones? That is a problem my friend. What time are we wasting? I'm glad this issue doesn't affect you, but I feel like I have an issue, I want good pics.

Not everyone who buys this phone understands ISO, I know I don't. I also didn't use white balance until someone showed me how much it would help. This phone should take good pics. It has a better camera than the iPhone, I can't understand why that phone was brought up, thats a different cam, phone, and OS completely.

[jonnythan]

So it happens all the time? I have yet to see a single good-light picture that has "static rain." I've seen a few low-light pictures with this effect, but not a single good-light one.

And please stop calling it "static." It's sensor noise, or just noise.

You don't need to understand ISO, but you should understand that low-light pictures (or any pictures you take where you've set the ISO to 800 manually) will be noisy, just as they are with any other camera.

You claim that every picture you take has "static rain." OK, show it to me.

BTW, I brought up the iPhone because the iPhone has a better camera than the Hero and it still displays noise in low light conditions. Even high-end point and shoot cameras like the Canon G-series cameras have noise problems at ISO 800 and 1600. There's a lot more to camera quality than megapixels. More megapixels is often a bad thing, actually, since each individual pixel must be smaller and therefore gather less light and produce more noise.

Basically I'm telling you that noise in pictures is common and expected when taking pictures at high ISO settings. You claim that you get excessive noise in all lighting conditions and at all ISO settings. You need to demonstrate that, as you haven't yet.

[thacounty]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

So it happens all the time? I have yet to see a single good-light picture that has "static rain." I've seen a few low-light pictures with this effect, but not a single good-light one.

And please stop calling it "static." It's sensor noise, or just noise.

You don't need to understand ISO, but you should understand that low-light pictures (or any pictures you take where you've set the ISO to 800 manually) will be noisy, just as they are with any other camera.

You claim that every picture you take has "static rain." OK, show it to me.

BTW, I brought up the iPhone because the iPhone has a better camera than the Hero and it still displays noise in low light conditions. There's a lot more to camera quality than megapixels. More megapixels is often a bad thing, actually, since each individual pixel must be smaller and therefore gather less light and produce more noise.

What is wrong with the pic that you got this whole thing started on?! It was good lighting. Had static.
This was with daylight coming in the room, and that's what you wanted to see.

I don't care what you call it honestly if you can fix it. I will call it turd if you want. I want it to not happen!

So what do I need to put my camera on? Hold on... ISO 200 white balance set. Daylight coming in the room...


I gave you examples. What was wrong with my first example though? You have not addressed that. It was good lighting.

I don't think the iPhone matters though. If I can find pics from my Treo Pro that had a crap camera I would, but I have no idea what I did with them. Anyway, they didn't have this problem at all. I actually did know that megapixels don't matter, unless you are stretching the pic, but that is about all I know. Thanks for the explanation because I didn't know that more megapixels caused more noise err... static. Either way. If you have some settings that will work in low light I would love to have them. Maybe less MP pics because they wouldn't be able to gather the light?

[jonnythan]

I must be missing something, because I see virtually no noise whatsoever in that image.

Camera phones are the worst possible way to take low-light pictures - they have the smallest sensors, smallest apertures, and worst optics. Low-light photography is incredibly difficult hardware-wise. Many people spend $500 on those big bulky 15x-zoom cameras and are still frustrated when they can't take a decent picture inside. These people don't usually notice how bad it is because their cameras have flashes - but if they try to turn the flash off and get a decent picture, they are generally always disappointed by blurry pictures and noise.

DSLRs tend to take better inside pictures, but the main reason is that they have huge sensors that can be cranked to ISO 1600 or higher with relatively little noise.

All that said, there's not much you can do to take better indoor pictures. You're pretty much stuck with blurry images, noise, or both. That applies equally well to the Hero and iPhone (again, I mention the iPhone because it has what is probably the best phone camera out there). It also applies to digital cameras, but their saving grace is that they usually have a bright flash.

[thacounty]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

I must be missing something, because I see virtually no noise whatsoever in that image.

Camera phones are the worst possible way to take low-light pictures - they have the smallest sensors, smallest apertures, and worst optics. Low-light photography is incredibly difficult hardware-wise. Many people spend $500 on those big bulky 15x-zoom cameras and are still frustrated when they can't take a decent picture inside. These people don't usually notice how bad it is because their cameras have flashes - but if they try to turn the flash off and get a decent picture, they are generally always disappointed by blurry pictures and noise.

DSLRs tend to take better inside pictures, but the main reason is that they have huge sensors that can be cranked to ISO 1600 or higher with relatively little noise.

All that said, there's not much you can do to take better indoor pictures. You're pretty much stuck with blurry images, noise, or both. That applies equally well to the Hero and iPhone (again, I mention the iPhone because it has what is probably the best phone camera out there). It also applies to digital cameras, but their saving grace is that they usually have a bright flash.

That was probably the best indoor pic I have ever had from this phone. It gets better and worse I'm not kidding haha.

Ok. Well like I said I have no clue about cams, but I do know that my Treo Pro didn't have the noise, that's why I have tried to take this issue up with HTC.

[athlet1c]

Actually my TP took better low light pics than my Hero. Maybe becuase we were able to go into the registry and tweak the settings but they do appear to have lesser noise. the rest of the other stuff well who knows. I guess if we had an Led light or some sort it would help out . So ill carry a lighter around

[thacounty]

Actually my TP took better low light pics than my Hero. Maybe becuase we were able to go into the registry and tweak the settings but they do appear to have lesser noise. the rest of the other stuff well who knows. I guess if we had an Led light or some sort it would help out . So ill carry a lighter around

Yea I agree.

I'd love 2 have a light on it! lighters a good idea, u can hand it 2 people in the pic and say hold this haha.



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[athlet1c]

lol . yes indeed

[THunDA]

found this doing yard work today.. cant remember the last time I used my camera..lol