I purchased this device in October 2020 at the height of the pandemic here in Canada and had not really been out much/taking pictures of anything because everything was closed. Now that we are able to gather again and go out, I have noticed some serious deficiencies with the camera on my Note 20 Ultra. I have read extensively on these forums and other places that would indicate that there are some serious issues with the camera causing blurriness, even on "AUTO" mode.
Below is a standard picture I took from inside a coffee shop with normal lighting in what I would call a completely average photo-taking scenario and it is barely discernable. The settings are all on default. It seems to clear up when you either zoom out to 0.5x or zoom in to 1.5x, but for a flagship that runs north of $2,000 CAD (512 GB) to be unable to take a clear picture without coaxing is really not acceptable at all.
This past week, also, my screen went black for no reason (phone was still on - sounds were still coming through) and it had to be replaced as part of a warranty service that wiped everything and had me without a phone for a week.
There is no way that this camera behaviour is normal, right? It seems that many people have this issue too, though. Is there any recourse for those of us outside of the return period, but still within the warranty period? I will be travelling next month and would like have the ability to have someone take a picture for me without having to give them an explanation of how to get it into focus.
Major disappointment. My S8+ and Note 9 were both cheaper and better in every way.
Hello:
I was standing completely stationary in a reasonably well lit room at approx. 3m from the subject. Nothing in that photo is discernable and this is the case with more then 3/4 of the photos I snap on the fly. Even just a general picture of a building from across the street is completely blurry. I have never encountered a device, let alone one that is supposed to be a flagship, have difficulties taking a picture without coaxing and zooming in or out to even get moderate focus.
If I had wanted that level of engagement in the photo taking process, I'd use my DSLR.
This larger image sensor you speak of which is supposed to allow me to take clearer, better pictures even in dark places is also a total botch job. Here is a picture I just took outside (approx. 10:30 PM) with some street lights - one on night mode, one on auto. Also blurry.
Good thing I am not relying on this camera to take a picture of a car fleeing the scene of a crime - nothing would be visible.
I can say without a doubt that previous devices have not had this issue and that images taken in low light are clearer in ever way.
Just to make sure, I can also confirm that there are no screen protectors or plastic on the lens. This camera is a disaster and I'd like someone to at least admit that it's problematic and offer some semblance of recourse or solutions for us.
I am obviously not the only person experiencing this. Please see just a couple Reddit threads with this complaint:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Note20/comments/iq6l2c/note_20_ultra_camera_blurry_photos/
https://www.reddit.com/r/samsung/comments/imsflv/whats_wrong_with_my_note_20_ultra_camera_its_so/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyNote20/comments/imvzqa/anyone_else_feel_like_the_note_20_ultra_takes/
https://www.reddit.com/r/samsunggalaxy/comments/ifinef/note_20_ultra_camera_focuses_dead_center_and/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyNote20Ultra/comments/jddg9l/camera_blurry_no_matter_what_i_do/
https://www.reddit.com/r/samsung/comments/jasroq/samsung_galaxy_note_20_ultra_blurry_picture/
This is not normal. With a phone camera, I should be able to whip it out and point and shoot at whatever I am trying to reasonably capture, be it the scenery, a document I am trying to save or picture of someone.
If 3/4 of the pictures are going to come out looking like they have been deliberately obscured to protect the identities of the subjects like they're in the Witness Protection Program, what's the point of having it to begin with?
Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining - this thing is screwed up, the company knows they screwed up, we (the users) definitely know they screwed up, just admit it, fix it, and make this up to the customers who have paid a pretty penny to have a "flagship".
I will note that the explanation provided is incredible too. In the face of damning evidence (i.e. an entire gallery of blurry photos that even an entry level smart phone from 6 years ago could capture reasonably clearly), we are told to accept that not only is there nothing wrong, but in fact, the technical capability of this camera is so high that we actually can't even handle how good it is!
What planet am I living on?!
Recall this thing and give everyone their money back along with a used S10+ or something that can take a picture clearly when standing completely still in broad daylight.
