Pink camera??

[Cmass]

Help! Check your cameras against a white object and let me know what you see.

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One of the major reasons I bought this phone was for the camera. Since I haven't sold me Dare yet - as I am still in "trial mode" with this Omnia - I did a side by side comparison.

Result: In normal light, the 3MP Dare took superior photographs to the 5MP Omnia. Where the Omnia did better was in strange or difficult lighting. This is because it is more adjustable so you can compensate. For me, overall, adjustability MAY give the Omnia a bit of an edge. But not by much at all.

One thing is certain: The extra 2MPs have no affect on quality whatsoever. I switched between 3 and 5 on the Omnia and found no difference in real life - and no resolution difference between the two phones. I think you would only tell if you blew the picture up to poster size....and even then....

However, there was one thing I noted that was a serious flaw in the Omnia and that is the presence of an redish-pink glow toward the center of the picture. I started noticing it when the camera was pointed at the white kitchen sink. I then photographed various lighter colored objects and it showed up quite clearly when I put them up on screen. I could not manipulate the photos enough in Photoshop to completely remove this aberation. I tried every single setting on the phone with no luck removing it. The strange thing is that I also saw it on the Dare camera....but barely noticeable and only under certain circumstance. It never interfered with the photos the way the Omnia did.

I'm wondering if this is a defect in this camera.

Could you folks check your cameras and let me know what you see when you point them at a white object? Try under a variety of conditions including kitchen light at night pointing at the sink like I did and then try brighter light and a variety of other conditions.
If this is a defect, I need to know so I can trade it in before puting more time into this particular phone. If it is just the way this phone is, then I need to know so I can decide right away if I want to stay with an Omnia or go back to the (stable, safe) Dare.

Thanks!

- Chris

[Cmass]

Here is a completely unedited picture of the sink using the Omnia. Obviously, this is completely unacceptable:


No setting got rid of it.

[jmhirshorn]

My camera doesn't have this anomaly. I would suggest taking the camera back to Verizon and having them swap it out. Just to be sure, is your camera lens clean?

[syrguy1969]

I don't have that either, I would get that switched out if you decide to keep the Omnia as well!

[Cmass]

Originally Posted by jmhirshorn

My camera doesn't have this anomaly. I would suggest taking the camera back to Verizon and having them swap it out. Just to be sure, is your camera lens clean?

Yes, lens is clean. It is a weird effect.....

Did you guys try it under the same conditions?

[Cmass]

Originally Posted by jmhirshorn

My camera doesn't have this anomaly. I would suggest taking the camera back to Verizon and having them swap it out. Just to be sure, is your camera lens clean?

They didn't allow it.
Yes, camera is spotless

[syrguy1969]

Call Customer Service and let them have it!! I would use every trick in the book...you ARE the customer after all!!! Threaten to leave VZW, return the Omnia for another device (if your still under the 30 day trial), or even to do an insurance exchange (you lose $50 in the deak that way though).

Another alternative is to threaten to call Samsung directly....there is supposed to be a year warrenty from them...isn't there? I don't think VZW would want people calling them (Samsung CS) over their own CS dept. (doesn't look good)!!!!

[Cmass]

Originally Posted by syrguy1969

Call Customer Service and let them have it!! I would use every trick in the book...you ARE the customer after all!!! Threaten to leave VZW, return the Omnia for another device (if your still under the 30 day trial), or even to do an insurance exchange (you lose $50 in the deak that way though).

Another alternative is to threaten to call Samsung directly....there is supposed to be a year warrenty from them...isn't there? I don't think VZW would want people calling them (Samsung CS) over their own CS dept. (doesn't look good)!!!!

The store techs - although nice compared to the store manager (they are independent contractors) did not know what the issue was. They saw it, but simply had no suggestions.
The Verizon "help" line was even worse. They know very little about the phone or its camera and are woefully inadequate dealing with in-depth technical issues.
Thus far the only option presented to me was to swap the phone for another Omnia - by paying $35. But based upon what I am seeing of the phones in the store, that would not be improve the situation. There a problem with those phones as well.
I was going to call Samsung but could find no support phone number listed on the website - only an Email submission form which I did fill out including picture attachments of the problem.
I also wrote a lengthy review of the phone on the Samsung website and included pictures there as well.

It would be very helpful if others tried to duplicate what I am seeing. If it is a problem with ALL Omnias, I have one hell of a lot more say in what they ultimately do for me (replace the CCD) than if I am a lone wolf they write off as a whiney customer.

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Try this:
1) Find something that is bright white - preferably a bit shiny - a sink, refrigerator, a wall etc..
2) Shine a light on it. Try an incandescent light or a florescent or natural light. The color varied a bit with those different sources but never disappeared when I tried them.
3) When you bring up your camera it should go to default settings. Nonetheless, the vast majority won't matter much - except perhaps for Saturation which can make the pic go from black and white to super duper pink. Just leave all at the "0" settings.
4) Go into "White Balance" settings in the tools menu and select various settings including tungsten, florescent etc.. and then
5) Point the camera directly at the white surface from 1-3 feet away and see what you get.

- Chris

[iceman5100]

Mine does not do that....my pics come out to be looking like 5mp......

Hmmmmm...did you drop it or leave it in an abnormal temperature?

[Cmass]

Originally Posted by iceman5100

Mine does not do that....my pics come out to be looking like 5mp......
Hmmmmm...did you drop it or leave it in an abnormal temperature?

It has primarily resided on a warm, dry desk top as I have been spending days trying to get it set up properly. My Dare, on the other hand, has been dropped in the snow and was used extensively at the ocean taking rather violent storm pictures.

Did you try a picture under the same conditions I described? I need to rule out that this is a general Omnia problem.

Thanks!

- Chris