Low light camera issues ??

[jhildy73]

Ok so I know this phone has a nice camera but has anyone had issues with taking shots say at night outside?? Me and the wife were at the park and behind us the city skyline...we wanted some shots and every picture came out extremely blurry...do yall have certain settings for which there is limited light outside???

 

[Guytronic]

I use one of these for night shots:
Arkon Mobile Grip 2 Universal Smartphone Flexible Mini Tripod Mount - Windows Phone Photography - Windows Central Shop

Lightweight, easy to carry...

 

[libra89]

Microsoft Camera has a night mode setting that can help a bit.

Aside from that, you can play with the ISO, brightness, exposure and shutter speed too. A great tip was shared here (along with some night pictures in here as well): http://forums.windowscentral.com/lu...-videos-taken-my-lumia-640-a.html#post3141563
Also, even though this thread is for the XL, you can still apply some tips shared in this thread: http://forums.windowscentral.com/lu...-images-low-light-auto-mode-lumia-640-xl.html

 

[Guytronic]

From what I've seen is that the subject matter at night will need some light on it for the focus to take hold.
With the fixed f2.2 at 28mm the camera has a wide view so if the target isn't lit well it may work best to get close for handheld shots.
I find things like park benches, walls with a straight edge, the "Y" of a tree or any stable surface works to help steady the camera in low light.
Also play with the exposure value slider in Lumia camera this can overexpose for a desired effect.

Things like city skylines over water always look striking at night because of the amount of light.
If you look at most night shots that are handheld the best ones are sufficiently lit.

A pocket tripod is still most handy for the artful photog using a phone camera in my opinion...
Good luck there!

 

[hamka787]

If you want quick snap handheld at night try to use the built in Microsoft Camera and select Night Scene mode. I think it gives better result than LC5 left in auto. LC5 tends to choose higher ISO number if left in auto for night shot. **But LC5 should give better results if you care to set those dials manually.

 

[jhildy73]

Ok thank you guys !

 

[voidcomp]

If you want quick snap handheld at night try to use the built in Microsoft Camera and select Night Scene mode.

Where's this night scene mode for the 640? The provided default camera app is called Lumia Camera. Running 8.1.

 

[libra89]

Where's this night scene mode for the 640? The provided default camera app is called Lumia Camera. Running 8.1.

You have to go to settings and change the default camera to Microsoft Camera in order to see it. It can only be accessed through the action center

 

[jhildy73]

Ah that was the info I needed...thank u

Ok I still can't find.the night mode .

 

[voidcomp]

Ah that was the info I needed...thank u

Not exactly the most intuitive way of discovering the phone has a 2nd camera app lol. Wonder if there's other default options for other applications, and how many just use the Lumia Cam app not knowing any better.

 

[hamka787]

hey guys, I am worried. What will happen to Lumia Camera in W10?

 

[xandros9]

hey guys, I am worried. What will happen to Lumia Camera in W10?

it's fate has already been established. it will be replaced by/become the new default Windows Camera, which seems based upon LC5.

 

[hamka787]

just recently I downloaded LC4 and compared it against LC5 with my Lumia640 in lowlight conditions. It surprised me that LC4 actually performs better than LC5 in ISOs ranging from 200 to 800.

If LC5 is going to be retained as Windows Camera & LC4 is going to be discontinued then I will be very sad. I am not really impressed with LC5. The only thing I like about it is its quick start which is extremely useful.

If you guys havent download LC4, well give it a try and make comparisons. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[hamka787]

shot of a box with printed paper under my desk, both auto & both are at ISO1600

Lumia Camera 5 (ISO1600)


Lumia Camera 4 (ISO1600)

 

[hamka787]

Both LC4 & LC5 on pro settings, ISO manually selected at 800

LC4


LC5

 

[hamka787]

Both LC4 & LC5 in pro mode, ISO set to 400

LC4


LC5

 

[james42519]

i can't find microsoft camera on the phone at all. it is not listed in apps and don't see where you could even find it.

 

[libra89]

i can't find microsoft camera on the phone at all. it is not listed in apps and don't see where you could even find it.

Microsoft Camera is built into the phone so it doesn't have an app. You can only access it from the action center/notifications at the top. It's that button called camera

 

[colinkiama]

i can't find microsoft camera on the phone at all. it is not listed in apps and don't see where you could even find it.

Just in case you don't know its called 'camera' in the apps list.

 

[Guytronic]

Just in case you don't know its called 'camera' in the apps list.

It's not included under the apps list on the Lumia 640.
The early L535's under Denim and 8.2 were the same way.