1. chmaro's Avatar
    Don't know if it is just me but I find when taking pictures inside with artificial light (Light bulbs) the picture quality isn't as great. I get some blue/grey static in the pictures/video.

    Though when taking them in daylight the picture quality is superb?

    Anyone else notice this? Could just be something I'm doing.
    04-27-11 10:43 AM
  2. Zizzzzy's Avatar
    I have also noticed that while the video recording is amazing, that pictures are very grainy.
    04-27-11 10:51 AM
  3. Blacklac's Avatar
    I noticed this too and decided to test this verse my Storm 2 (also 5MP). The Storm has the same grain and artifacts in not so well lit pictures and the Playbook actually has slightly sharper pictures. Not sure if that's the difference between "Auto Focus" and the PB's "Image Stabilization" or what.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    04-27-11 10:56 AM
  4. blackcaneaddict's Avatar
    I have a screen guard covering half of my front cam and i cant even tell its there!
    04-27-11 11:03 AM
  5. iN8ter's Avatar
    It just depends on what camera they use. My Vibrant takes somewhat grainy video compared to my HD7, but the pictures in well lit areas are better. The HD7 takes great 720p video, but the pictures can sometimes not be as good, but it does have a dual LED flash so it wins at night over the Vibrant.

    It just depends on what camera (the actual component, not the megapixels, etc.) the device has.

    That's why old Nokia phones can still rival high MP cameras in newer phones. They use better cameras in their devices.

    Image Stabalization is most useful for shooting video. It can get rid of some of the (often involuntary :P ) movement of the camera lens when held in your hands while shooting the video. The Playbook does not have click to focus or a two stage camera shutter button (what WP7 devices have) to focus before shooting the picture?
    04-27-11 11:03 AM
  6. kstock's Avatar
    N8ter is on the right track.

    All cameras will take their best pictures with a relatively precise amount of light reaching the sensors ("film"). The number of megapixels a digital camera has is actually much less important than many people think, since all it means is that your final image can be "blown up" larger before becoming pixelated. Ultimately though, if the sensors are capturing a poor image, all you're going to have is a poor image that you can turn into a poster.

    High end compact cameras and dslr's have larger lenses (more surface area, ability to let in more light in low-light conditions), and a wide range of controls for the iso (film speed), shutter speed (how quickly the camera takes the picture) and aperture (how much light the lens allows through at any given moment).

    These controls allow you to get to that "butter zone" where the camera is going to produce a really great crisp picture under a greater variety of lighting conditions.

    The fact is, that no matter how many megapixels you pack into a phone/tablet camera, they lack these controls altogether, or severely limit them. And they have a tiny lens (picture the surface area of a dslr's lens compared to the pinhole lens on a phone/tablet). Thus, that range of lighting conditions under which you can take a great picture is severely reduced. While it may seem bright inside, in reality normal indoor lighting provides far less ambient light for the camera to work with than being outdoors on a reasonably brightish day. If you've ever had your portrait taken at an indoor studio you'll know how bright their specialised lights are compared to regular indoor lights. They need those very bright lights to make up for being indoors.

    Too little light = darker and/or grainier image. Too much light = colours being washed out and/or lens flare.

    Hope that explains it for you! (Also, make sure to clean your lens regularly so you're not taking pictures through a film of dust!)
    04-27-11 02:08 PM
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