Surface Duo camera experience

[browryan]

Well I've had my duo for a few days now and I knew the camera experience wasn't going to be that great but OMG it's terrible!

 

[brau0303]

Are you able to share some details of the issues are having possibly an example. I imagine anyone considering getting one would be interested and those that already have one may want to compare to their experiences.

Cheers,
BR

 

[Hazuos]

While it is fair to say that the camera is bad, it is very capable in certain situations. Like other cameras and because of the software aspect, it takes time to handle a camera. I haven't spent enough time to know yet, but I will share my experience as I am taking more photos.
What is tricky for me is getting use to the front facing camera. It is very often bugy when flipping the phone to take non selfie photos. Sometime it will mirror the scene you want to shoot.. . A way to avoid bugs is to flip the phone before launching the photo app.
It is true it takes a lot of effort to make it work. I think it is because there are a lot of things that are now possible. This not a dual screen phone that is trying to do the same things as single screen phones. It's trying to do more and it is only with time that this will be smooth and right.

 

[browryan]

Well, to explain a couple examples... One, I took a couple photos then tried to share them in an email. They pulled up fne in my photos app but in the email they were upside down. My second issue is with portrait mode. On my oneplus I would use portrait mode to take photos of objects to add a little depth of field effect. When I tried to do this on the surface it is essentially nonexistent.

 

[alodar101]

While it is fair to say that the camera is bad, it is very capable in certain situations. Like other cameras and because of the software aspect, it takes time to handle a camera. I haven't spent enough time to know yet, but I will share my experience as I am taking more photos.
What is tricky for me is getting use to the front facing camera. It is very often bugy when flipping the phone to take non selfie photos. Sometime it will mirror the scene you want to shoot.. . A way to avoid bugs is to flip the phone before launching the photo app.
It is true it takes a lot of effort to make it work. I think it is because there are a lot of things that are now possible. This not a dual screen phone that is trying to do the same things as single screen phones. It's trying to do more and it is only with time that this will be smooth and right.

Personally I feel the way you ended this post is the way you dorks have started it. We 'knew' going in, the basic specs told us, this was not a high end camera. 'Knowing' this high end comparisons are wasteful. Perhaps statements like, this is what it will do. Or, this is what to expect.

I'm not a picture taker, so the camera is fine for me. Additionally, the Duo and the one + are not considered competitors. One+ owners will almost never even consider the Duo.

How about more 'what it will do'. Info, and less 'it won't put ears on my Portrait' info.

We knew what it wouldn't do before hand. How about we find out what it will do

 

[brau0303]

I think some folks may have expectations that do not really align with what the Duo is intended to do. It's a Mobile computing device that happens to make phone calls and has a camera that is really intended/optimized for things like collaboration tools and their like, that It can take normal photos is a secondary benefit. There are some great discussions with Panos Panay and they do a deep dive into the why on many of the design decisions on the Duo and the overall thinking behind the device. Lew from UBT has a great one.

Based on some other discussions I have seen the Camera implementation in the Duo follows a set of core standards that should make it fairly easy for software improvements to support a better general camera experience. Hopefully we will see some ports/apps that can provide better performance. (Sorry, hit post and didn't realize I left that out.)

Cheers,
BR

 

[browryan]

So now we've resorted to name calling. Both of my concerns (and others in this post) are related to software which, from what I recall, should be Microsoft's strong point.

 

[Hazuos]

alodar101,

I don't understand what you are trying to say. I wrote more or less exactly the same. And I am not comparing it with anything in particular.

That doesn't mean we can't talk about what this specific camera with its duo unique for factor can do. And this can do things differently so it is an interesting discussion to have.

While taking a photo with an I pad or a surface or a laptop seems absolutely non sense, it can be useful sometime for productivity. In the case of the duo, since you can fold it you can, more comfortably, take photos.

Personally I need to take photos for my work and it matters for productivity that I find a way to make it look good. I am happy so far and I use apps to edit photos when needed.

Let's not make it seem like there only one way to describe the duo or to be productive. Panos, in the discussion says it's a device that people make their own. Especially since it's new and can already do much more.

 

[alodar101]

NO...I think we should talk about it. And, You can talk about it anyway you wish. I just expressed an opinion, like you, that knowing what we know...what we knew going in, the better conversion is ...this is what it can do....and not so much as leading with ...this is horrible this sucks and camera sucks. Thats all... I'd love to see a camera post...this is what the camera does do well.

Its like the posts about the specs...6gb ram...and every time any issue comes up...the response is ...only 6gb of ram. I get really curious if those people even have the device.

So, if you thought I was attacking you, then my bad for not being as clear as I asked others to be. I'd just love a Heres for the Camera can do post...not it sucks post.

sorry.

alodar101,

I don't understand what you are trying to say. I wrote more or less exactly the same. And I am not comparing it with anything in particular.

That doesn't mean we can't talk about what this specific camera with its duo unique for factor can do. And this can do things differently so it is an interesting discussion to have.

While taking a photo with an I pad or a surface or a laptop seems absolutely non sense, it can be useful sometime for productivity. In the case of the duo, since you can fold it you can, more comfortably, take photos.

Personally I need to take photos for my work and it matters for productivity that I find a way to make it look good. I am happy so far and I use apps to edit photos when needed.

Let's not make it seem like there only one way to describe the duo or to be productive. Panos, in the discussion says it's a device that people make their own. Especially since it's new and can already do much more.

 

[SnakePlisskin]

I guess I prepared for the worst because to me it is better than I expected. It's still not amazing at all but I knew that going in. Not a photophile for phones. As long as I can capture a memory I am happy. I don't show off my pics to people or do social media with pictures.

If I can scan documents and take pictures when I want to remember something I am happy. Surface Duo does this.