iPhone 6s vs iPhone SE iSight camera comparison

In theory, photos taken with an iPhone SE or an iPhone 6s should generally look the same, but we wanted to briefly pit both devices head-to-head just to make sure. Both phones sport the exact same iSight camera specs, although the iPhone 6s does have a camera bump where the iPhone SE does not. In this post we showcase several photos and a couple of videos from both the iPhone 6s and the iPhone SE.

I've only been able to use the iPhone SE for the last several hours, but as expected, its iSight camera is very much like the iSight camera in the iPhone 6s. Both shooters feature a 12-megapixel sensor with an ƒ/2.2 aperture, and both cameras are capable of shooting UHD 4K video.

The main difference that you'll find between these two cameras is form factor. If you have big hands, then you might find it easier to acquire a steadier shot on the larger iPhone 6s. I found myself struggling a bit to keep the iPhone SE steady because there wasn't as much surface area to hold on to. This is important to note since neither device features optical image stabilization.

As was brought out in our top iPhone SE features post, the real difference between these two devices when it comes to camera quality is with the front-facing FaceTime camera. The iPhone SE retains the iPhone 5s' old 1.2-megapixel shooter with an ƒ/2.4 aperture. This results in noticeably worse selfie photos than the iPhone 6s. If you don't shoot a lot of selfies, that shouldn't be an issue, but it's worth noting.

Brief video comparison

Below is a brief 4K video showing the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s. Both phones do an outstanding job at shooting 4K video.

iPhone SE iSight camera gallery iPhone 6s iSight camera gallery

The iPhone SE, with its $399 entry-level price point, is an impressive little device that's able to hang with the iPhone 6s in a lot of areas. Most notably, as the photos and videos demonstrate above, the iSight camera quality between the two devices is virtually the same.

If you're still using an iPhone 5s, and have been waiting for a new smartphone that retains the same form factor, then the iPhone SE is a worthy upgrade that includes a great camera.

Source: iPhone 6s vs iPhone SE iSight camera comparison

Get a Lytro Light Field camera for $49.97

CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.

A few years back, the media went ga-ga over the Lytro Light Field Camera, which promised to revolutionize photography as we know it.

Didn't happen. Although CNET had some good things to say, reviews were mixed across the board -- and potential buyers balked at the $400 price tag.

The Lytro camera.

Lytro

Ah, but how about $50? Yugster has the Lytro Light Field Camera (8GB) for just $49.97, plus $5 for shipping, and they're going fast: Of the four colors available, two show just a handful left. Consequently, I was hesitant to even share this deal, as I fear they'll all be sold out soon -- but I also wanted to gauge reader interest for the next time they come around.

I'm no photography expert, so I'm going to let CNET's Joshua Goldman do the heavy lifting:

"Instead of relying on the standard sensor found in other digital imaging devices and cameras, Lytro outfits this camera with an array of microlenses that allow it to capture the color, intensity, and vector direction of rays of light. Called light-field photography, the technology allows the camera to shoot instantly without the need to focus first.

"When you press the shutter release, the camera collects light from all directions. Next, the camera's software compiles what 's basically a 3D map of the captured image. Once you post the photo, anyone with the URL can refocus the image by clicking on a new area of focus.

"The technology is amazing, without question."

Sounds pretty cool, no? Unfortunately, the camera still suffers from limited, non-expandable storage and a proprietary file format.

But at this price, I think you can forgive a lot. Photographers who routinely pull out different cameras and/or lenses depending on the situation might be very glad to have one of these in their bag of gear.

I'm going to wrap it up there so I can get this published quickly, in hopes that anyone who wants a $50 Lytro can get a $50 Lytro.

Your thoughts?

Bonus deal: Time for sweet rerun! Zoho is once again offering a free five-user business license for its Zoho Vault password-management service, which is valued at up $420 (depending on which version you choose). Just sign up for an account, then fill out this online form. Use cod e ZV-AC-2016 on that form to get your free license, which expires after one year.

Source: Get a Lytro Light Field camera for $49.97

Galaxy S7 Camera Review!

Source: Galaxy S7 Camera Review!

New Smaller iPhone SE has latest Chip and Camera

When Apple introduced its 9.7-inch iPad Pro at its event in Cupertino today, it also nixed the iPad Air from its lineup.

Apple has announced the iPhone SE, a more powerful 4-inch handset with similar specs to the iPhone 6.

Apple iPhone SE specifications, features: The new iPhone features a 4-inch Retina Display, and is powered by a A9 processor paired with M9 co-processor. It also supports the live photos to which we are already acquainted with in the iPhone 6s series.

After Apple announced that it would launch the new iPhone SE in India early April, Redington and Beetel Teletech - Apple's distributors in India - in seperate press notes revealed the India launch date for the new iPhone.

"Everyone who wants a smaller phone is going to love iPhone SE".

What does iPhone SE stand for?

Other features bundled with the iPhone SE includes faster wireless technology, a 12-megapixel rear iSight camera capable of recording 4K video - four times the quality of 1080p High Definition.

With the launch of the iPhone 6S, the company made significant improvements to the device's fingerprint scanner, which was touted to be faster, more accurate, and error-free. The company will begin taking pre-orders for them from this Thursday, March 24. A new iteration, the iPhone SE, has been added to the lineup.

It will be available in Silver, Gray, Gold, Rose Gold colours variants. As for pricing? The iPhone SE will start at $399 for the 16GB model and go up to $499 for the 64GB version.

As was recently discovered, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro also features a slightly underclocked A9X processor, another factor that will impact its performance compared to the larger tablet.

Source: New Smaller iPhone SE has latest Chip and Camera

Camera comparison: Lenovo K5 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 vs Coolpad Note 3

Gone are the days when it was hard to buy a decent phone in under Rs 10,000. Currently, the market is flooded with options and each one claims to be one up from the other. However, if you desire a new smartphone in this price bracket that has an outstanding camera, then it can be a little tricky. As you might be aware that looking merely at the 'Megapixel' counts may not guarantee the best pictures, especially when it comes to selfies and the low light shots. Others factors such as aperture value, camera interface, post processing, etc. also needs to be evaluated.

Having said that, we pitted three popular smartphones in the sub Rs 10,000 category and compared them on the basis of camera, its features/effects and the real-life performance. Here is our report card:

Camera Specifications

Lenovo K5 Plus

The recently launched Lenovo K5 Plus comes packed with a 13MP Auto Focus rear camera, which utlises a 5 piece lens system. The camera has OV13850 sensor that offers a maximum aperture of F2.2. It can record videos in 1080p format and is paired up with a single LED flash.

Coolpad Note 3

Coolpad Note 3 features a 13MP rear camera with a single LED flash light. The camera offers the same F2.0 aperture and can record videos in 1080p format.

Redmi Note 3

Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi Note 3 with a 16MP CMOS sensor that offers an aperture of F2.0. The sensor can record 1080p videos with the stock camera app and can even shoot 4k videos with the help of third party applications. And unlike Lenovo K5 Plus and Coolpad Note 3, the rear shooter is paired up with a dual-tone LED flash.

(Note: The lower number means a better maximum aperture, so F2.0 is actually better than the F2.2)

Camera app interface

Among the three smartphones, Lenovo K5 Plus has the most user friendly camera application. The user interface is quite minimal and easy to understand. You can easily shift to videos with a single tap and access all th e settings, effects and modes with on-screen controls without making any struggle.

Next is the Coolpad Note 3, which has the similar kind of user interface. All the controls and settings are provided on the screen and can be accessed with one tap.

The camera interface of the Redmi Note 3 is like most of the previous Xiaomi devices, which utlises swipes to display the effects, settings and other controls. The main screen only gives you the options of the flash light, a switch to shift to the front camera and the video option. This can be tricky for the first time Xiaomi users as they have to understand how the camera interface works.

Features/Effects

While the camera interface on Redmi Note 3 is not very user friendly, it wins when it comes to the number of features it offers to experiment with the photography. The camera interface provides a number of modes- Fish eye, Beautify, Tilt shift, Timer and others. You also get a manual mode, which allows you to twea k ISO and white balance. Besides, you can select a number of filters to give an artistic look to your images and can also shoot time-lapse and slow motion videos. And as we mentioned earlier, Redmi Note 3 can also shoot 4K videos via the third party applications.

Next is the Coolpad Note 3, which also offers a number of features and effects to users. The Pro mode allows you to change ISO, Focus and white balance. Besides, you can take a smile shot, HDR, low-light shot, panorama, face beauty and even use gestures to click images. Besides, the video mode allows you to shoot slow motion, delay video and even with face beauty mode turned on, which is not a common feature in the smartphones.

Talking about the Lenovo K5 Plus, the smartphone stands close to Coolpad Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 in terms of camera effects and settings. The scene mode has a good number of modes to select from, such as action, night, party, sunset, portrait and others. You can tweak ISO ratings, change white balance and customise contrast, saturation, sharpness and exposure as per your preference. Besides, HDR, panorama and a number of effects are available to give your images an artistic effect.

What we could not find in K5 Plus is the slow motion and time-lapse mode, which are available in other two smartphones. This can be a deal breaker for some users willing to experiment with different video shooting modes.

The real-life performance

Coming on to the real-life camera performance of the three smartphone, we kept the settings to maximum and took the same shot with the three handsets. The lighting conditions and the subjects are also the same so that the level of detailing and the colour reproduction can be easily compared.

Coolpad Note 3

Lenovo K5 Plus

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

The first image is a macro shot taken by the three smartphones. The smartphones were quick enough to lock the subject but Redmi Note 3 takes the cake among the three when it comes to the time taken by the sensor to capture a shot. And this not only goes with the macro imaging, Redmi Note 3 is also the fastest while taking portrait or landscape shots of distant objects. The camera offers an aperture of F2.0 (bigger than the K5 Plus) and is the fastest among the three in capturing an image. The bigger aperture results in more light for the sensor and thus gives the camera an ability to capture more details without losing the quality of the image in a shorter time period.

Talking about the colour reproduction, the images captured by the Redmi Note 3 are on a warmer side and looks more saturated when compared with the pictures taken from Lenovo K5 Plus and Coolpad Note 3. You can notice the yellow colour, which looks quite saturated n Redmi Note 3 and Coolpad Note 3, and more natural on the K5 Plus.

Coolpad Note 3

Lenovo K5 Plus

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

Next image is an HDR shot. Surprisingly the image captured by Lenovo K5 Plus here looks on a warmer side and the sensor is not able to capture the details of the farther objects. The sky looks rather dull and noisy in the background, which is not the case with the Redmi Note 3 and Coolpad Note 3. The other two smartphones display more natural colours and have a more pronounced HDR effect. Another thing we noticed is the post processing of the images by the three smartphones. The camera on the Lenovo K5 Plus feels a bit sluggish in post processing. There's a lag after it takes a shot, save it and get r eady for the action. This amplifies while you take HDR shots, but that's understandable as even the high-end flagships take their sweet time to process such images. However this lag is not so evident in other two smartphones and both are comparatively faster than the Lenovo K5 Plus in capturing HDR shots.

(Note: Maximum aperture determines the speed of the lens)

Coolpad Note 3

Lenovo K5 Plus

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

In normal mode, Redmi Mote 3 is able to capture the best pictures among the three handsets. The images comes out to be bright, colours look natural and detailing is also on the higher side. The landscape shots taken by Redmi Note 3 really look amazing on the 1080p display of the smartphone. Lenovo K5 Plus is also a dece nt shooter when it comes to portrait and landscape imaging in normal mode as the colour reproduction looks quite balanced, however it loses marks in terms of detailing when you zoom-in the images to the maximum. Coolpad Note 3 is better in such aspect but overall has a warmer tone to the images.

The performance in the low-light is somewhat similar by the three smartphones. The best among the three is the Redmi Note 3, which manages to capture more detailing and less noise when lighting is on a lower side.

At the end, we can say that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is the smartphone with the best imaging performance in the sub Rs 10,000 price category.

Source: Camera comparison: Lenovo K5 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 vs Coolpad Note 3

The Inquirer: Cameras or Camera Phones?

Question: Do you prefer compact cameras or smartphone cameras?

Camera:  Excellent image quality, zoom, lens versatility, portrait, scaling, colour, black and white, film, negative, big, and portable.

Phone camera: Convenience, quality pictures, zoom, portrait, recording, scaling, colour, black and white, lightweight, and portable.

I'm not an expert, however, there are many pros and cons to using a compact camera or smartphone camera. Despite the constant influx of new smartphone models, cameras are still popular. With a some cameras, there is more equipment to carry, however, it enables you to develop great photos with full manual control. Artful camera skills even look good on your resume. Perhaps you could set up your own business – the possibilities are almost endless.

Nonetheless, a camera phone is not the same as a traditional camera. You can still have great images with aid of smartphone apps to enhance the photos. You can even create amazing slideshows and a camera phone is easy to carry. If you see beautiful flowers or freshly served food, your phone is there to snap those moments! The convenience is unparalleled. Although my passion for photography has only recently flourished, I want to take a closer look and hear opinions from people around the world to discuss their interesting views.

Image: Zeendo

Is there still a place in your pocket for cameras? Here are some opinions from people around the world. 

"Phone camera, it's a lot faster to grab hold of and take the picture straight away. Phone camera now are very clear and good quality. A picture needs to be taken quickly. Your phone camera is always carried with you but you don't always carry a camera. It take a little while to turn on and set up."

Annie Van

"Photography is not always about the camera equipment but rather the experience that is portrayed through the image's framing. Both a DSLR and a camera phone is a real camera and useful for various situations. I always try to make the most of what ever camera is at hand to snapshot the occasion."

Roydon Ng

"When I go on vacation I prefer my actual camera because they're better quality than my phones. Plus I like the experience of a traditional camera and then editing the pictures as opposed to just taking them on my phone and instagramming it."

Meher Masalawala

"Phone camera, as I will always have it on me and the best camera is the one you have with you. Obviously a DSLR is a better camera but if I'm out and about and if i see something cool I want to take a pic of,  I probably won't have my DSLR with me."

Sam Tam

Image from imgfave

Source: The Inquirer: Cameras or Camera Phones?

Smaller phones aren't for everyone, and that isn't a surprise

AC readers think bigger is better, and we're not surprised.

In last week's poll we asked if you care about smaller phones. Apple has announced the new 4-inch iPhone SE which kickstarted the conversation, but we really wanted to know is whether size is important to you. Pretty much everyone has an opinion, whether it's in favor of small phones, or defending your large phone's size.

With a serious lead, "No, I love giant phones" came rolling into first place with 42 percent of the vote. "Yes, I need one in my life" trailed behind at 32 percent to come in second place. "Performance is all I care about" wasn't too far behind with 19 percent of the vote, putting it solidly into third place. Last, but not least, with just 7 percent of the vote was "Size is irrelevant".

Do you love your giant phone, or do you wish you had something a bit smaller? Sound off in the comments and let us know about it.

Source: Smaller phones aren't for everyone, and that isn't a surprise

Android cameras to be able to search what they see, according to rumor

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Right now, you can download Google Goggles from the Google Play marketplace to check out some fancy image searching tech. The application uses your phone's camera to scan pictures from products and words in order to return relevant search results.

The functionality of the Google Goggles app may soon find its way to native Android cameras. Slash Gear has it from a source that Google is actually looking to bring Google Goggles' fancy search feature to the Android camera app.

Their source also shared news that the new Android camera app would offer an even cooler feature. Users will be able to use their touchscreen to outline the regions of what the camera sees for specific searching. Here's the image Slash Gear's anonymous source produced to describe this feature.

This a pretty neat feature that could provide a fresh bit of usability to the Android experience. Of course, you'll need to get over the paranoia that Google's keeping data about your life based on what's in the pics you snap.

If you don't mind all that, this seems pretty sweet.

Source: Android cameras to be able to search what they see, according to rumor

New Smaller iPhone SE has latest Chip and Camera

This is Apple's most powerful iPad but we imagine that the 12.9-inch display can be a bit too big for some users, so we can only imagine many users were chuffed when Apple launched the 9.7-inch iPad Pro yesterday.

On Monday, Apple introduced iPhone SE, which the company calls the most powerful phone with a four-inch display.

The new iPhone SE boasts a smaller, 4-inch screen, a 12-megapixel camera and a faster processor.

The iPad Pro comes out into the markets with a 9.7 inched screen, and one of the most appealing aspects about it is the processor.

The new phone is strikingly similar to the two-and-half-year-old iPhone 5S in terms of looks and will be replacing the latter which now retails at around Rs 18,500 in India.

Apple will be taking orders Thursday for the new phone, with deliveries set for March 31, in the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, with more markets to come online in April. It'll now start at $299, which is down from $349. Graphics are also a concern with the new iPad Pro because the processing speed is slower, and it may certainly affect the graphics.

The phone supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi calling and runs on the newly-launched iOS version 9.3. It actually takes balls to make the decision to just offer it up again as new device.

The new iPad Pro has a 12 MP rear-facing camera and a 5 MP front-facing camera, which are both much better than the 8 MP rear-facing camera and 1.2 MP front-facing camera of the iPad Air 2.

Finally, according to Bell internal documents we received, the carrier will sell the iPhone SE for a bit higher off contract at $589.99 for the 16GB and $729.99 for the 64GB version. You'll be able to get it in Apple's usual silver, space gray, gold, and rose gold (for the first time) color options.

Bomb blast in Pakistan park kills 60, wounds 300Sunday's bombing struck in the Punjab province where the prime minister was born and now serves as Sharif's political base. According to initial reports, the explosion, struck the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park located on the western side of Lahore.

Source: New Smaller iPhone SE has latest Chip and Camera

Which camera is in the iPhone SE?

The rhetoric continued Monday as Apple announced a new 4-inch-display iPhone, called the SE, aimed at consumers whose small hands, tight pockets or thin pocketbooks couldn't handle the big-screened iPhones unveiled a year ago. iPhone SE starts at $399, making it the most affordable iPhone ever by $150.

The question in assessing any device's worth always has to be who is it for?

But the Cupertino company doesn't feel as edgy as in bygone years. The launch price of iPhone 5c was Rs. 41,900 in India for the 16GB model, and the 16GB iPhone SE is priced at Rs. 39,000, so there isn't much of a difference there.

Unfortunately, while the rhetoric around privacy might have been big, most of the new technology Cook had to show off was small. Moreover some experts are saying that the battery of iPhone SE is working better than iPhone 6S.

One development that could help accelerate the move toward flexibility is the shift, illustrated by the new embedded Apple SIM, toward replacing the physical chip with software. You can't connect your larger monitor without spending more money, can't use a mouse, and can't log in to your own personalized experience. Like the iPhone SE, it looks a lot like an earlier model. Apple claims there's now more than 5000 apps available for the Apple TV. A benchmark result has revealed that the iPhone SE is packing 2GB of RAM underneath, which hasn't been confirmed by Apple. The iPhone 6 has an 8-megapixel camera and can shoot 43-megapixel panoramas and HD video. However for the first time since its launch in 2007, Apple projects sales of iPhone to decline in the current quarter. The subsidy model hid away the real cost of the phone, but with the instalment model, that's no longer the case. You can use it for data transfer, or to power your mobile devices.

The iPhone SE, equipped with a four-inch screen, is essentially a smaller version of the iPhone 6S.

China, Apple's second-biggest market, and India, one of fastest-growing major markets in the world, are both seen as key for Apple, which expects overall iPhone sales to contract. In one regard, it's clearly meant to be the successor to the 18-month-old iPad Air 2 - it's the same size and weight and keeps the tablet's classic and most popular screen size.

There's no 3D Touch, although it's very hard to get worked up about that omission. Users can also access Siri without touching the phone.

The iPhone SE has a front-facing camera with a resolution of just 1.2 megapixels.

The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in silver, space gray, gold and rose gold metallic finish. What investors got instead was the iPhone 5c.

"Nobody is unhappy with the Apple event process; they are straightforward and consistent", said Kent, who now runs Silicon Valley tech event consulting firm PKCreative.

You can take good selfies with the iPhone SE but if your last name is Kardashian this might not be the phone for you.

Source: Which camera is in the iPhone SE?

How Good Is The Samsung Galaxy S7's Camera

26 Mar 2016 12:59 PM EST

Ask todays millennial whats the most important feature on their smart phone and the answer will likely be all about the camera. Being part of the "selfie generation" means taking photos obsessively, in a 24hour period, so before ever purchasing a new phone, folks want to know just how good the camera quality is. Enter the Galaxy S7 Edge the newest phone from Samsung, touting itself as arguably the market's best camera. The camera has 12 megapixels with optical image stabilization, and 5 megapixels on the front.

Source: How Good Is The Samsung Galaxy S7's Camera

Which camera is in the iPhone SE?

Apple Inc. on Monday unveiled a new smartphone and a new tablet both having smaller screens in its efforts to retool its product lineup of iPhones and iPads.

Apple is also releasing a new operating system upgrade, IOS 9.3.

The smartphone is a mix between the iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 generations of devices with size and design of iPhone 5S and the specs and capabilities of the iPhone 6S.

"This will appeal to more people who otherwise couldn't afford their flagship phone". The phone comes with a 64-bit A9 processor and embedded motion co-processor, offering the same processing performance as the iPhone 6s.

"They put all the internal capabilities of the current success in it, bigger phone into a smaller phone, and they cut the price".

Apple's online storefront was taken offline Wednesday in preparation for processing pre-orders for its new iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 at midnight Pacific Time Thursday. The new iPhone SE is proof of that.

NFC is on board so you can use the iPhone SE with Apple Pay for contactless payments and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor adds security to your mobile information and Apple account.

The new iPhone SE that Apple has just released looks mostly the same as the iPhone 5 handset that has been released back in 2012. That includes a 12-megapixel iSight camera which can shoot 4K video. USA customers can also get the new iPhone for 24 monthly payments starting at US$17 at Apple's retail stores.

The A9X processor isn't the only trade-off buyers have to consider between the two models. However, the 2GB of RAM for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is less than the 4GB available in the 12.9-inch version. For the new iPad Pro, the base price for a 32 GB model is much higher at $599, taking into account all the better features and specifications it has over the iPad Air 2.

Source: Which camera is in the iPhone SE?

Cellphone camera captures ugly exchange between Lyft driver, passenger

SALT LAKE CITY — A Lyft ride ended early for a Utah resident headed to a Bernie Sanders event in Salt Lake City last week. Samuel Grenny said that's because the eight-minute ride was filled with racist rants by his driver.

It was all captured on Grenny's girlfriend's cellphone camera. In the video, the following conversation is heard:

Driver: "You better watch your mouth!"

Grenny: "Dude, you are the one that seriously … you told me in a cab that I'm paying for that Muslims are pieces of (expletive)."

Driver: "Muslims are pieces of (expletive)."

Grenny said it all started when their casual conversation turned to politics.

"He asked me opinions on Donald Trump. I guess, in hindsight, no one should do (that) if they don't want to hear the possible slew of answers that could follow," he said.

As the conversation got ugly, Greeny said the driver at one point talked about his support for creating a Muslim database in the U.S. Grenny said he immediately shut the driver down with his opposing views.

"He snapped and … proceeded to explain to me that Muslims are terrorists," Grenny said.

In the video, you can hear both men arguing about this subject:

Grenny: "Are you serious?"

Driver: "Why don't you pull your head out of your (expletive)."

Grenny: "Why don't you pick up a freaking book? Man, you are literally what is wrong with this country."

Lyft sent KSL News this statement about the incident: "Lyft is committed to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment, and discrimination and racism are not tolerated. This driver's access to Lyft has been permanently removed."

Grenny and his girlfriend were dropped off six blocks away from their destination.

When Lyft found out about the incident, Grenny was sent an apology from the company and a full refund for the ride he'll never forget.

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Source: Cellphone camera captures ugly exchange between Lyft driver, passenger

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) Camera Review: In-depth testing with photo and video samples

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 camera review: We test the improved 13-megapixel rear camera on Samsung's new Galaxy A3, as well as the 5-megapixel selfie camera. Here's our full A3 camera review with photo and video samples.

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 camera app review

The new 2016 version of the Galaxy A3 uses the same Samsung camera app as last year's Galaxy S6 and it's a decent interface, although not the most streamlined we've seen.

On the right edge you get a virtual shutter button (which can be replaced with the volume down key if you prefer) as well as a separate video button to start recording a movie. There's a toggle that switches between the 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facer, as well as a Modes button (check out our 'Galaxy A3 camera special modes' section below for more info) and fast access to your photo gallery.

On the left edge there's a row of settings that can be hidden and called up with a quick tap. This includes a filter feature, toggles for the flash and timer and a shortcut to the resolution settings.

You can quick-launch the camera app with a double-press of the Galaxy A3's Home key and then snap away instantly, giving a gap of less than two seconds between raising the phone and shooting a photo. The A3's lens is just as fast at focusing as the S6's 16-megapixel camera, so you can rapid-shoot no problem.

Read next: Galaxy A3 unboxing and what's the difference vs Galaxy A3 2015?

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 camera performance review

The A3's camera holds up well against similarly-priced rivals such as the Wileyfox Storm and OnePlus 2. Photos are packed with detail and boast realistic colours and the lens only struggled with high-contrast situations, at which point you'll need to switch into the HDR camera mode. It's a shame that HDR isn't a simple toggle on the main screen, but hey ho. At least the HDR mode helps to prevent over-saturation in bright spots, while adding detail to darker areas.

Low-light environments are also a struggle until you turn on the single LED flash. This does a decent job of lighting up your subject, although occasionally focusing takes a couple of (slightly blinding) seconds.

That front-facing 5-megapixel camera has much the same strengths and weaknesses, again capturing plenty of detail but really struggling in low light. And this time there's no S7-style illumination feature, which flashes the screen white to light up your mug.

Check out our photo gallery below to see the results.

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 camera photo samples Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 camera special modes

Samsung's selection of bonus camera modes is thanfully quite slim, so the menu isn't cluttered with all kinds of crap that you'll most likely never use (like the Galaxy S7's, for instance).

The Pro mode will be of interest to anyone who knows their ISO from their white balance. The Galaxy A3's Auto mode does a strong job under most conditions, but the Pro mode definitely helps when the ambient lighting is a little tricky. You can also get some quite artistic shots by messing around with the various levels.

Panorama mode is good for capturing landscapes and HDR mode we've already covered above. The Night mode and Continuous Shot are pretty much pointless however, as the Auto mode is more than sufficient thanks to its fast focus and flash.

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 video performance review

The Galaxy A3's 13-megapixel camera can shoot up to 1080p Full HD video, and it does a decent job of it too. Videos are just as detailed as photos and there's reasonable image stabilisation to cut down on judder when you're moving about. The focus occasionally slips up during motion, but for the most part keeps your scene looking nice and crisp.

Check out our Galaxy A3 video sample below.

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 camera video sample

Check back soon for our full in-depth Galaxy A3 2016 review.

Source: Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) Camera Review: In-depth testing with photo and video samples

IPhone SE Is Small Yet Powerful With 12 Megapixel Camera

Dawson said in a blog post that he sees "significant pent-up demand within Apple's base of iPhone owners who want a smaller iPhone with up-to-date specs and newer features".

The iPhone SE has an A9 chip for the same speed and responsiveness as found in the iPhone6s.

The iPhone SE comes with the same design as that of the iPhone 5S.

An ultimate "PC replacement", iPad Pro can shoot 4K video, has a 5MP FaceTime camera and retina flash, The Verge reported.

In contrast, there are still a lot of people who buy the iPhone 5S, or even the 4S, in markets like India because it is more affordable.

Apple said that if the government was successful in getting into the phone, which might involve taking advantage of previously undiscovered vulnerabilities, it hoped officials would share information on how they did so.

You can also use the phone to buy things like candy bars, coffee and gas using Apple Pay. It has all the features that 6s and 6s Plus boast of except for the 3D Touch.

It also features a new technology called "True Tone Display", which measures the color temperature of ambient light and adjusts the display to match.

The company has stuck to the classic volume buttons and vibration key on the left-hand side, and the power key remains on the top, contrary to earlier predictions.

The new iPad Pro will be available in four colours - space grey, silver, gold, and rose gold - and three size capacties, ranging from 32GB on up to 256GB. Connectivity options include 4G LTE support, VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, and on the software front, it runs on iOS 9.3.

It's a development that could bring an abrupt end to the high-stakes legal showdown between the government and Apple. The iPad Air will now sell for $399, a $100 price cut.

Also unveiled at the event was a new iPad Pro that moves smaller - a 9.7-inch (24.6-centimetre) display compared with the 12.9-inch (32.8-centimetre) model on the original business-geared tablet.

The optical image stabilisation (OIS) on the iPhone 6s Plus paired with a 12 MP iSight camera makes it the best iPhone for recording videos and clicking pictures. The display resolution on this device is 2048x15356p. The device is extremely light at just 450 grams. But shipments of hybrids like the Surface and iPad Pro are growing, IDC said.

The other big announcement was a little more expected, but nonetheless just as exciting to see. A number of new "nylon-woven watch bands were also introduced for the company's smartwatch".

CareKit will enable developers to build iPhone apps that will help people actively manage their own medical conditions, says Apple. And we know that it is a deeply personal device. However, it would seem unlikely to charge more than necessary in the emerging Indian market which is supposed to a target along with China for the lower priced iPhone.

Before the launch at Apple's leafy Cupertino, California headquarters, Chief Executive Tim Cook defended the company's refusal to comply with a US court order to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters in a December attack in San Bernardino, California.

The iPhone SE is Apple's second attempt at reaching out to a lower price-point.

McNally Running For Speaker Of The SenateHe played a key role in helping to uncover political corruption in Tennessee during the Operation Rocky Top investigation. It was followed by a standing ovation from his fellow Republican Senators who choose the position of Lt.

Source: IPhone SE Is Small Yet Powerful With 12 Megapixel Camera

Vivo Y31L with 5MP front camera and 4G LTE support launched in India at Rs. 9,450

Vivo has added yet another smartphone in its Y series, named as the Vivo Y31L. The device is priced at Rs. 9,450 and will be up for sale in White and Black color options through online and offline all over India, by the end of March.

In terms of specifications, the Vivo Y31L bears a 4.7-inch qHD display with a resolution of 960 x 540. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage (expandable up to 128GB via microSD card). The device runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with Funtouch OS 2.1 skinned on top, and sports an 8-megapixel primary camera with LED flash along with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and MicroUSB 2.0. The smartphone is backed by a 2,200mAh of battery, measures 137.24 x 68.76 x 8.39 mm, and weighs 133 grams.

Furthermore, the device comes equipped with features such as Smart Wake, which enables users to open Facebook by simply drawing an F on the dark screen. Users can input various other initials of apps to open them in a likewise manner.

Commenting on the launch, Alex Feng, CEO of Vivo India said,"We are pleased to announce the launch of Y31L, another brilliant addition to Vivo's smart phone portfolio in the affordable segment. Y31L is a stellar example of our endeavor to set benchmarks in the industry by offering products with magnificent features at attractive prices. This gives our valued customers new ways to capture and relive unforgettable moments."

4.7-inch qHD display with a resolution of 960 x 540

Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM

16GB internal storage expandable up to 128GB via microSD card

Android 5.1 Lollipop with Funtouch OS 2.1 skinned on top

8MP rear camera with LED Flash, and 5MP front-facing camera

dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and MicroUSB 2.0

Measures 137.24 x 68.76 x 8.39 mm, and Weighs 133 grams

2200mAh battery

Story first published on: March 24, 2016 at 7:33 pm

Vivo, Vivo Y31L

Source: Vivo Y31L with 5MP front camera and 4G LTE support launched in India at Rs. 9,450

Maybe It's Time To Stop Letting DxOMark Decide Whose Smartphone Camera Is "Best" (Opinion)

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has the best mobile camera according to image and video quality testing firm DxO Labs, with an overall score of 88 points out of 100. It received a 90 in exposure and contrast, an 83 in color, a 94 in autofocus, 91 in texture, 89 in noise, 79 in artifacts, and 86 in flash. This all sounds very official. And we see DxO scores increasingly-cited and posted as news around the internet because of that absolute, highly-comparable set of values they provide (Android Police has posted such stories - you'll get no argument from me). We did not, however, post an item about DxO's leaderboard-topping score for the S7.

In fact, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge do have very good cameras. Some of the best (perhaps the best) on any mobile phone out there. I was thoroughly pleased with the vast majority of images the devices captured. Some of the shots really were, at least to my untrained eye, stunning.

And DxO agrees - this is a very good mobile imaging system (again, the best). What, then, is the source of the headline for this editorial post, if we are in general agreement? Quite simply: that DxO has an open conflict of interest (they certainly don't hide it) in judging such things given their financial interest in the whole ordeal, and should probably not be blindly trusted as a source of objective performance data on smartphone cameras.

DxO Labs is first and foremost a consultancy. Their business model is based upon being paid to conduct analysis and optimization of imaging system performance by the companies that make those systems. DxO is not an independent journalistic entity or trade organization - it is a for-profit software consultancy for camera makers. Their product is called DxO Analyzer, and licensees of this suite can opt to purchase "installation, training and consulting services."

This is not to say DxO has any sinister motive. It is to say, though, that DxO's own profitability - nay, its continued existence - is inextricably tied to a model that requires it to convince camera makers that its services and software are necessary for maximizing camera and imaging performance and, in doing so, trusting that DxO understands and objectively assesses what makes a superior imaging system. Except, we can probably assume that isn't really the only thing that drives camera makers to use DxO's services.

The more DxOMark scores are cited in popular media, the more pressure there is upon smartphone and other camera makers to submit devices not only to DxOMark's testing, but to purchase their consultancy and other services to maximize their end score to beat competitors. It almost goes without saying, but DxO makes no promises that the cameras it judges have not been tuned to maximize their scores under DxO's benchmarking tools by DxO themselves. Products that have received versus not received consultancy and tuning from DxO Labs are not identified, and so it is impossible to know which camera has likely been tuned to maximize its score under the test conditions versus which tends to do well without having specifically been adapted to DxO's parameters.

This also gives DxO Labs the power to silently "shame" the companies that choose not to license its software or services. Perhaps some phones never get the benefit of a test at all, given that they are not licensees or do not directly submit their devices to DxO. Perhaps others would not have received such excellent scores without the assistance of DxO themselves in maximizing their performance under the test conditions and values DxO design, implement, and weigh. We do not know that they abuse this power, simply that the power exists, and that the capacity for abuse is clearly present.

Do the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have great cameras? Absolutely. Maybe even the best of any smartphone to date. And I am not saying there is anything about DxO Labs which should give you reason to dislike them. I am saying that giving DxO awardees headlines for winning tests that DxO writes, evaluates, and offers paid "tutoring" for is something that we should take more seriously going forward, and that we should not to be afraid to question a test whose parameters are not openly published or freely available.

Source: Maybe It's Time To Stop Letting DxOMark Decide Whose Smartphone Camera Is "Best" (Opinion)

Apple adds a 12 MP camera to its new, small iPhone SE

The new iPhone SE has a 4-inch screen the same size as models Apple released more than two years ago, but with the same advanced features of its current devices. According to The Verge, Apple going cheaper indicates Apple mission to push into the fast growing markets of India and China.

"iPhone SE is an exciting new idea - we started with a beloved, iconic design and reinvented it from the inside out", said Phil Schiller, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

The 16GB iPhone SE is priced at $399 in the US.

Apple on Monday unveiled an affordable iPhone with a four-inch screen at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Apple's new iPhone 5SE will be available in 100 countries including India by the end of May and will go on full sale on March 31. The camera supports live photos and 4K video recording as well like iPhone 6s and 6s plus cameras.

The device comes in four colours: space grey, gold, rose gold and silver.

Dom Waghorn, customer experience director, at digital agency Syzygy, said: "This launch looks to be about volume rather than innovation".

In fact, Apple calls it "the most powerful 4-inch phone ever", which is a bit like Sony's Z range being branded "the best camera in a waterproof phone". However, the innards of iPhone SE are much closer to that of an iPhone 6S.

Apple is targeting its new iPad Pro as "The ultimate PC replacement".

Apple has just unveiled the new and smaller iPad Pro, which measures 9.7 inches, compared to 12.9 inches of the first edition that was released in 2015. The biggest changes are new security features and a "Night Shift" mode, which makes light from the screen redder in the evening, as blue light is thought to disrupt sleep patterns.

Accessories for the iPad Air 2 were made available, but only through third-party companies.

Source: Apple adds a 12 MP camera to its new, small iPhone SE

Windows 10 Mobile Camera App Updated; Performance Improved, Bug Fixed

The camera contributes to making phones a good device. The better the camera, the better the phone! With the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft is aiming towards completely giving up the old and bringing in the new. To meet this purpose, Lumia cameras were replaced by Windows 10 camera app. And now to enhance the user experience, Microsoft has now updated this new app.

As we know, crashing is a common Windows 10 problem; whether it's high-end Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 or desktops and mobile phones. The latest update aims at "bug fixes and reliability improvements" and "user experience improvements," which should solve the camera crash issues. The Windows 10 mobile camera app has not worked on pausing video recording or manual controls to force Rich Capture HDR. This app is also available for PCs and tablet, but for now, the update has come only to phones.

About the Windows 10 camera app, Microsoft said, "The redesigned Camera app is faster and simpler than ever. Just point and shoot to take great pictures automatically. The same great camera experience is available across Windows 10 PCs, tablets, and phones."

Listed below are the some of the things you should know about the app (as given on Microsoft's camera app page on the Store):

Requires hardware camera button

Available on HTC One M8

Available on Lumia 63X Series

Available on Lumia 640, 640XL, 830

Available on Lumia Icon, 930, 1520

Available on Lumia 950 and 950XL

Here are some of the key features of Windows 10 mobile camera app:

Self-timer

Video stabilization for flawless videos

Rich capture

Add movement to still pictures

Slow motion video recording

Let you shoot like a professional by letting you adjust ISO, exposure, etc

Frames available

Burst mode available

Allows you to save images from video with the help of 4K video capture

Do you use windows 10 mobile camera app? Let us know in the comments below. How do you like it?

Also Read: Windows 10 Mobile Release: OS Rolling Out On Windows Phones Now!

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Tags:Microsoft LumiaMicrosoft Windows 10Windows 10 camera appWindows 10 camera app features

Source: Windows 10 Mobile Camera App Updated; Performance Improved, Bug Fixed

Colorado Springs health club worker used cell phone camera to spy on woman in shower, lawsuit alleges

A worker at a posh health club in northeast Colorado Springs used a cell phone camera to spy on a pregnant woman as she showered in a private stall, a lawsuit alleges.

Kristen Roth, 22, of Colorado Springs, said in an 11-page complaint filed in 4th Judicial District Court in Colorado Springs on Friday that operators of Life Time Fitness, 4410 Royal Pine Drive, failed to contact police after the employee acknowledged in front of co-workers that he had video recorded the woman.

The employee's "matter of fact" and "pathetic" response to the allegations - that he was only looking at the woman's feet - was documented by Roth's husband, Richard Gallion, who turned on his own cell phone recorder while confronting the man, the suit alleges.

"The husband says something along the lines of, 'Did I walk into the family locker room and see you videotaping my wife naked in the shower?'" said Phil Winegar, the couple's attorney. "He goes, 'Indeed,' and then they start quibbling over the position of the phone."

Related:

Colorado Springs man pleads guilty to secretly filming 12-year-old at grocery store

According to complaint, the employee had knelt down and placed his cell phone at or under a 1- to 3-inch gap at the bottom of the shower door.

The alleged peeping occurred sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. Dec. 27 at the 24-hour facility.

The woman had just finished a swim in the health club pool and was showering in a mixed-sex dressing room with private booths for changing and showering. The complaint says Gallion entered the dressing room to check on his wife and caught the employee "red-handed."

After lodging a complaint, the couple left the facility expecting that police would be called, but they later learned the employee was dismissed and allowed to leave with his phone, Winegar said.

"Once that phone went out the door, I think there's a pretty reasonable assumption that this guy isn't preserving that video waiting for the police show up," he said.

Asked why his client did not herself approach police, Winegar said she was "embarrassed" and "humiliated" and only wanted to leave. The couple exercise at night because of Gallion's work schedule.

A message left for Miklos Horvath, senior general manager of the local facility, went unreturned Monday. A receptionist at Life Time Fitness's corporate headquarters referred The Gazette to the company's legal department, which had not responded as of 5 p.m. Monday.

Based in Minneapolis, Life Time Fitness operates more than 120 health clubs across the country, touting top-of-the-line equipment and facilities, including locker rooms "richly appointed with cherrywood and limestone with granite counters," according to its website.

The roughly 180,000-square-foot, $27 million "healthy lifestyle resort" near Briargate Parkway and Powers Boulevard opened in 2011, becoming the second megagym in the area after Villa Sport, which offers similar services.

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Contact Lance Benzel: 636-0366

Twitter: @lancebenzel

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©2016 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Topics: t000002488,t000002458,t000190288,t000210238,t000210176,t000002827,t000412858,t000002872,g000224461,g000065596,g000362661,g000066164

Source: Colorado Springs health club worker used cell phone camera to spy on woman in shower, lawsuit alleges

Phone Comparisons: Moto G vs ZenFone 2 vs Sony Xperia Z5 Compact vs HTC One A9 vs Apple iPhone SE

IntroductionToday, Apple introduced the long-rumored Apple iPhone SE for $399 with 16GB of storage and $499 with 64GB of storage.  The design is rather a hybrid – it has the iPhone 6S specifications (for the most part) with the size of the iPhone5S and Apple is calling it "the most powerful 4-inch smartphone ever."  This is quite typical, as with every device Apple makes it claims it is the "most powerful" device around.  We decided to compare the new iPhone SE with a few Android devices near the same specifications and with smaller displays – for the most part.  We took the Motorola Moto G, the Asus ZenFone 2 Deluxe, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact and the HTC One A9 and compared them to the Apple iPhone SE.  Let's take a brief look at just how these devices are similar and different from one another.

Specifications

DisplaysTaking a quick look at the displays, we see that Moto G comes in at 5-inches, the ZenFone 2 comes in at 5.5-inches, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact splits the ruler at 4.6-inches and the HTC One A9 comes in at 5-inches.  The Moto G, Sony Xperia Z5 Compact and the new iPhone SE all come with an HD display, while the ZenFone 2 and One A9 sport a Full HD display.  All displays use the IPS LCD technology except the One A9 that uses AMOLED technology.  The Android smartphone manufacturers have gotten away from a mini or compact size with most displays considered small at 5-inches, although the Z5 Compact – a true 'mini' – breaks that barrier with 4.6-inches.  The new iPhone SE comes in at a small 4-inches – a size that Apple believes will sell well with their customers – after all, they bought 30 million 4-inch phones back in 2015.  According to Tim Cook, many of their customers have asked for it and he thinks it will sell well…although it might be more the $399 p rice tag than the size of its display.

Processors

The processors vary quite a bit across the brands and models – The Moto G uses a Snapdragon 410 Quad-Core, ZenFone selected the Intel Atom Quad-Core for their ZenFone 2, the Xperia Z5 Compact uses the powerhouse Snapdragon 810 Octa-Core, the HTC One A9 uses a Snapdragon 617 Quad-Core.  The new iPhone SE uses Apple's A9 Dual-Core processor, the same one as in the iPhone 6S.

Memory

The amount of RAM and storage memory also varies greatly and all of these smartphones have room for storage memory expansion except the iPhone SE – with it, you have a choice of 16GB or 64GB and that is all.  As far as RAM goes, the Moto G has 1GB, the ZenFone 2 has 4GB, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact packs 2GB and the One A9 has a 2GB or 3GB model depending on the storage you select.  The iPhone SE follows the Moto G and comes with only 1GB of RAM.  As far as storage goes, the Moto G has 8GB, the ZenFone 2 has a choice of 64GB or 128GB, the Xperia Z5 Compact has 32GB and the One A9 has a choice of 16GB or 32GB.  Expansion on the Moto G is 32GB, 128GB on the ZenFone 2, and 200GB on either the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact or the HTC One A9.  As mentioned earlier, the iPhone SE, as with other Apple devices, offers no expandable storage…it is either 16GB or 64GB, period.

Cameras

Except for the 23MP main camera found on the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, the remaining cameras are close in size.  The Moto G, ZenFone 2, and the HTC One A9 use a 13MP lens and the iPhone SE uses the same 12MP iSight camera found on the iPhone 6S, which means it is a very good camera.  The number of megapixels is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to how good your photo will turn out.  In a smartphone, the software plays a very important part in the sharpness and amount of graininess/noise.  Apertures, the speed of the autofocus and the speed of the shutter all have their hands in the outcome.

Battery

The batteries all vary in size and all five of these devices have non-removable batteries.  The Moto G has a 2470mAh size battery, the ZenFone 2 has a 3000mAh battery, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact has a 2700mAh battery, the One A9 has only a 2150mAh and the iPhone SE squeezes in only a 1642mAh battery.  As with the camera, just because a battery is larger, does not necessarily mean it will last longer – the power management functions have a lot to do with battery performance.  Sony is excellent at squeezing out every drop of juice, something that Apple has never been accused of.

Summary

If there is truly a huge market for 4-inch smartphones these days, then Apple may have a real hit on their hands at $399 and $499, especially when it has many components of the more expensive iPhone 6S. The new iPhone SE will be available in gold and rose colors along with the traditional light and dark grays.  Pre-orders will begin on March 24 with availability on March 31.  Once it hits the US, it will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of May.

Source: Phone Comparisons: Moto G vs ZenFone 2 vs Sony Xperia Z5 Compact vs HTC One A9 vs Apple iPhone SE

How to Troubleshoot Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge “Warning: Camera failed” error

Some Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (#Samsung #GalaxyS7Edge #S7Edge) owners have encountered the error "Warning: Camera failed" when trying to launch the stock camera app to take pictures or record videos. The error pops up as soon as the app opens leaving the owners without options but to close the app.

Some say the occurrence was sporadic while others say the error comes up every single time the camera is opened. Sporadic or not, I am sure you don't want this problem to continue as you won't know if it occurs the time you want to snap something important.

Among the most common symptoms of this problem are the following:

The error message "Warning: Camera failed" pops up as soon as camera opens

Camera app freezes and the error pops up after a few seconds

The app just closes by itself without popping up the error message

Error pops up when you open the app but the camera works the next time you open it

Rear camera works fine but error pops up when switching to front camera

This problem is actually not exclusive to the S7 Edge as this has been happening since the development of Android. It can be a firmware issue or a serious hardware problem affecting the camera sensor itself. Based on cases we've encountered before, here's the list of the possible causes of this problem:

The stock camera app crashes preventing the camera sensor from operating

The camera sensor itself is defective and needs replacement

The Gallery freezes and crashes affecting the camera app

The firmware is corrupt or files needed to operate the camera are missing

The phone suffered liquid or physical damage that affected the camera

Some caches and/or data got corrupted for some reason

Smart Stay is interfering with the camera's operation

Now that I presented the common symptoms and possible causes of this problem, here's a couple of concerns sent by our readers who just got the new Galaxy S7 Edge:

"Hi droid guys! I need your phone. My Galaxy S7 Edge is still 4 days old and I'm actually enjoying this new beast until I opened the camera. Yes, I just opened the camera after 3 days of learning its new features. I don't usually take so many pictures and the camera didn't interest me at all, however, I am worried because it gives me the error "Warning: Camera failed" when I opened it up for the first time. I closed it and opened it again and the error was gone. Tries several times to open it and snap photos here and there but the it didn't return. Today, I opened it and the error was there again, closed it, no error, closed it and opened it again and there was the error. Apparently, the problem error doesn't occur every time but I just want to know if there's a way to fix it or should I have it replaced? Thanks for the help." — Joseph

"My name is Sarah and my phone is the new S7 Edge I bought about a week ago. There is an error that shows up telling me that the camera failed whenever I try to take pictures. This just occurred recently because I was able to take a lot of pictures since I got it. I don't understand why it has to occur but if you know how to fix it and save me from driving 20 miles to the store to have it replaced, then I would surely appreciate it. Thank you!"

Before going any further, if you have other concerns with your new phone, visit our troubleshooting guide as we list down every problem we address each week. Try to find issues that are similar to yours and use the solutions we provided. You may also contact us directly by completing this questionnaire. Make sure to provide all relevant information about your problem.

I understand how frustrating this problem could be to some owners considering the phone is brand new and a premium device (with premium price) at that. This troubleshooting guide only exists for owners who are willing to take some time tinkering their devices in a bid to fix it and save them from driving miles and miles to the store and spending hours of waiting until the tech finally fixes the device. Let's try to perform a thorough troubleshooting by starting from very simple procedures.

Step 1: Restart the camera app and/or restart the phone

This is just a temporary fix but if you're in a hurry to snap some pictures, try opening the camera app again after the error popped up. If you're still getting the same error, then try to reboot the phone and then try again.

There are times when the app or the hardware glitches causing the former to crash and return an error. A simple reboot will refresh the phone's memory and may fix the problem.

Step 2: Clear the cache and data of the Camera or Gallery

Both the camera and the gallery apps are connected and run simultaneously. When the camera takes pictures, the gallery will be the one to sort them, crop thumbnails, etc. There are times when the Gallery freezes and hangs after taking pictures, which may lead to the camera crashing either by giving out an error or by simply force-closing the app without warning.

So, if the error message pops up after taking pictures or even just viewing them through the camera, try clearing the cache and the data of the Gallery app first and see what happens. Don't worry, your photos and videos are stored somewhere else and will not be deleted.

From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon.

Find and tap on Settings.

Touch Applications and then Application manager.

Swipe to ALL tab.

Find and touch the Gallery (Camera) app.

Touch the Force Close button first.

Then, tap Storage.

Tap Clear cache and then Clear data, Delete.

If the problem remained after that, then repeat the process but this time, clear the cache and the data of the camera app.

Step 3: Turn off or disable the Smart Stay feature

The Smart Stay feature in Galaxy S7 Edge uses the front camera in detecting the owner's face once enabled. There have already been a lot of reports in the past complaining about this very same issue that is caused by this feature.

Smart Stay is a really good service but for some reason, Samsung may have overlooked some things causing the feature to interfere with the Camera's normal operation. If you're not using it or if having a working camera is more important than this, then you should disable it.

From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon.

Find and tap on Settings.

Tap Display.

Touch Smart Stay.

Touch the toggle switch to turn it Off.

Reboot your phone.

It should work now if Smart Stay was causing the problem.

Step 4: Try clearing the system cache

Minor firmware and hardware glitches are often caused by corrupt caches. Since we really can pinpoint which file got corrupted (but even if we can we still don't have access to it), it's always easier to just delete all the system caches and let the phone create newer files. With that, you need to wipe the cache partition:

Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.

When the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.

When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.

Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight 'wipe cache partition.'

Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.

Now highlight the option 'Yes' using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.

Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight 'Reboot system now' and press the Power key.

The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

Step 5: Clear all data by doing the master reset

This is your last resort if wiping the cache partition failed. If you're familiar with factory reset, then this procedure is the same and aside from that, it reformats both the data and cache partitions. But just before you do it, make sure you backup all your data as they'll all be deleted. Then, remove your Google account and disengage the screen locks to make sure the Anti-theft feature is turned off. Once you've done all of those things, follow these step:

Step 1: Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

Step 2: Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.

NOTE: It doesn't matter how long you press and hold the Home and Volume Up keys, it won't affect the phone but by the time you press and hold the Power key, that's when the phone starts to respond.

Step 3: When the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.

Step 4: When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.

NOTE: The "Installing system update" message may show on the screen for several seconds before displaying the Android system recovery menu. This is just the first phase of the entire process.

Step 5: Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight 'wipe data / factory reset.'

Step 6: Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.

Step 7: Now highlight the option 'Yes — delete all user data' using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.

Step 8: Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight 'Reboot system now' and press the Power key.

Step 9: The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

Lastly, if the problem wasn't fixed by the master reset, there's a chance that the problem is with the camera sensor itself. Since you are still within the replacement period, take time to visit the store as soon as possible so you can have the unit replaced with a brand new one.

I hope that this troubleshooting guide helps.

We are always willing to hear from you so don't hesitate to contact us using this form. If you're contacting us because of a problem, we may take time researching on it, so please bear with us. Rest assured we read each problem we receive and research on them.

Source: How to Troubleshoot Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge "Warning: Camera failed" error

Smart phone cameras aid infrastructural data collecton

Due to weather, usage, and vandalism, road infrastructure is constantly in a state of flux. It is important that municipalities properly inspect roads in order to ensure the safety of those who use them.

Currently, the standard method of reporting infrastructure damage is from citizen or inspector reports, or from specialized vehicles with sensors, which are expensive.

Christoph Mertz, principal project scientist at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, is researching how smartphones can be used to give municipalities a more efficient and cost-effective way to inspect road infrastructure.

"It is essential to get eyes on every road, during every year in order to stay ahead of what could become costly repairs," said Jason A. Dailey, director of public works for Cranberry Township, in a university press release.

"Expensive services are available that have on-board tools and sensors, but these are typically out of the price range of the average community."Mertz's research is comprised of two steps: images are collected, and the data is examined to identify areas of infrastructure that need the most repair. The system uses computer vision algorithms to analyze and categorize high-resolution images of a road.

"Data collection and analysis could take a matter of days, where it would otherwise take months or even years," Mertz said in a university press release. Mertz's vision is to put smart cameras on garbage trucks, which go through neighborhoods once a week and would provide infrastructure data often enough that problems could be spotted and addressed quickly.

The data from the smart camera is uploaded via Wi-Fi to Mertz's computers, where he analyzes the photos for cracks in the infrastructure. All the photos are uploaded to software containing a map of Pittsburgh and are categorized by the urgency of the problem. For example, a red image indicates there are many cracks in the road, while a green image could indicate a road that was recently paved. The team can also detect winter road conditions along with cracks.

In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Mertz placed the cameras on snowplows, and the team was able to determine the percentage of the road that was visible, covered in slush, or covered in snow. They can also detect the state of traffic signs, and have begun to examine street lamps and land markings.

"Mertz had demonstrated a viable advancement that may bring inspection technology into the everyday operations," Dailey said, "making it not only affordable, but practical."

Carnegie Mellon's Traffic21 Institute, a multidisciplinary research effort that is a part of Metro21, is one of the organizations funding this smart transportation project.

According to their website, the goal is "to design, test, deploy and evaluate information and communications technology based solutions to address the problems facing the transportation system of the Pittsburgh region and the nation."

"The work of Mertz is an ideal example of Traffic21's vision of research, development and deployment," Stan Caldwell, executive director of Traffic21 and Technologies for Safe and Efficient Transportation (T-SET), a National University Transportation Center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, said in a university press release. "The exciting stage is deploying the technology in the field, making our region a smart transportation living lab."

Mertz's technology has been deployed with the City of Pittsburgh, Marshall Township, Cranberry Township, and with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Source: Smart phone cameras aid infrastructural data collecton

New Leaked Images Confirm iPhone 7 Plus Dual-Lens Camera Module

Apple is expected to unveil a smaller iPhone SE next Monday together with an even smaller version of the iPad Pro released last year.

As this news takes shape, another rumor has started developing with respect to the next iPhone flagship, which, if all goes well, will be called iPhone 7. Recent years have seen Cupertino release the flagship model alongside an even larger device dubbed the "Plus" version. It started with iPhone 6 Plus and a year later the iPhone 6S Plus followed.

There have been very subtle differences between the standard iPhone and the Plus model. However, latest reports have been suggesting that Apple wants to differentiate these devices even more. The latest speculations are only but backing the idea of having an iPhone 7 Plus model that is equipped with a dual-lens camera system. Multiple images are doing rounds online showing that this could indeed be coming to the next iPhone phablet.

Latest reports coming from Taiwan indicate that Apple is truly working on a dual-image camera module that might be installed in the larger iPhone 7 Plus smartphone. The leaked images actually match earlier renders that had been shared on a Chinese website back in January this year. The same has also been spotted on Chinese social networking platform Weibo, an indicator that the said dual-lens camera could really be coming to the next iPhone 7 Plus as rumored earlier.

Interestingly, all leaked images on different platforms are almost the same in resemblance. You'll notice a dual-lens setup where a narrow lens appears in the larger left enclosure and on the right enclosure there is a wider lens. In addition, there are twin cables that let the camera attach to the iPhone 7 Plus' logic board.

At the moment, we cannot confirm that the leaked component is really meant for the upcoming iPhone 7 Plus. However, more curiosity is drawn by the fact that the component has a familiar part number – 821 – which Apple has used before. Rumors have been rife that Apple is secretly working on a new dual-lens camera system and running tests of modules from different OEMs. Now that the latest reports point towards the same dual-lens camera module, there are chances that Apple might actually unveil an iPhone 7 Plus that features a dual camera, something similar to what LG did with the LG G5.

Apple might launch two variants of the iPhone 7 Plus

As rumors of Apple looking for further ways to differentiate the iPhone 7 and the larger iPhone 7 Plus keep surfacing, there is also word that Cupertino might come in with two variants of the larger smartphone.

If this remains to be true, we might see one iPhone 7 Plus with a single camera module and another variant with the dual-lens camera module. This cannot be proved in any way as it could well be a prototyping phase for the upcoming device, which could mean only two variants of the flagship as released. However, don't expect the dual camera system to feature on the 4.7-inch iPhone 7.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will likely be launched in September this year.

Source: New Leaked Images Confirm iPhone 7 Plus Dual-Lens Camera Module

Camera Shootout: The iPhone 6S Plus vs. the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

TH Swiss has announced a new line of lenses called Irix. The first lens in the family is the Irix 15mm f/2.4, a "photographer's dream" lens that was "built by engineers and perfected by designers.

Here's something lighthearted that may put a smile on your face. A designer named James Fridman is amassing quite a following online by fulfilling people's Photoshop requests... way too literally.

For me photography is not portraying what exists, but portraying what exist in me.

Want to see how two of the best smartphone cameras on the market stack up? The Verge posted this 9-minute camera shootout video pitting the iPhone 6S Plus camera against the new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge's camera.

In 1976, Walt Disney World opened River Country, its first water park. In 2001, the park closed its doors. Since then, it has been left to deteriorate, and nature has begun to take the park back.

Here's the proper way to respond whenever you're asked what your photo resolutions are for 2012. (via What the Duck) …

Since launching the MagBeam via a Kickstarter campaign two weeks ago, MagMod has raised nearly $200,000 for the flash extender and gobo. But at least one notable photographer has an issue with how the product is being marketed: David Hobby calls one of MagMod's claims "100% bulls**t."

Want the look of an 8mm film camera but the convenience of digital? Instead of using a filter app and your phone camera, you can hack together your own digital 8mm camera using Raspberry Pi.

Want to see the face of the tiny insects that live in your home? For his project "Suburban Symbiosis: Insectum domesticus," photographer Daniel Kariko shot close-up portraits of common household insects. The images are gorgeous... and terrifying.

Many of the short documentary films about artisan makers these days follow the same recipe -- things like slow, dramatic music, close-up shots with a super shallow depth of field, and more. Photographer Patrick Kehoe decided to parody that style.

Big Apple. 3 A.M. The day is Saturday and my phone alarm is screaming. It's vibrating furiously and crawling away from the table, trying it's very best to drop to the floor and escape my desperate attempt to shut it. It's time to wake up and head out to shoot sunrise.

Mastering composition is the best way to get more keepers in your street photography. That makes sense, right? If you know how to make a visually pleasing image, then you can discipline yourself to capture the remarkable photos that tell a story.

An annual photo contest in Japan is apologizing and canceling this year's event after selecting a photo of a man on a dead whale as the grand prize winner. That photo sparked an strong outcry from the public.

Getting a baby panda to stay still for your camera can be hard work. Here's an adorable 1-minute video showing how one tiny giant panda cub that just wouldn't work with a photographer/videographer during a shoot -- it just kept chasing the photographer and grabbing onto his legs.

Here's one of those bizarre things you'll find on the Internet: the YouTube channel Hydraulic Press Channel posted this 2-minute video showing an already-broken Nikon P300 compact camera getting flattened by a hydraulic press.

The backlash has begun. A day after Instagram announced that its feed will soon be ordered by a Facebook-style curation algorithm, over 100,000+ people have signed an online petition to "Keep Instagram Chronological."

Here's a fascinating 6-minute video that explores how Ansel Adams went from being a rather mediocre amateur photographer and into the legend we now know and revere.

Adobe Camera Raw is no longer the ugly duckling of the Adobe photo editing software family. Adobe just released version 9.5 of the RAW conversion software, and the update brings a new user interface that matches the look of Photoshop and Bridge.

The German light modifier company Sunbounce today announced a new product called the Tight-Fit Screen. It's a simple reflector surface that can be stretched over an existing 2-in-1 Sun-Mover reflector to provide a 3rd surface.

Here's Instagram's latest celebrity: Juji the giant dog. His owner Chris Cline is making waves by using Photoshop to turn him into a giant fluffy best friend.

Source: Camera Shootout: The iPhone 6S Plus vs. the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Galaxy S7 edge camera is best says DxOMark

Today DxOMark de-throned the topmost placed smartphone on their mobile smartphone camera ranking ladder. The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge now reigns supreme. Beating the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and the Sony Xperia Z5 both by a single ranking point, The Galaxy S7 edge has the highest-yet score on this mobile phone camera ranking chart. OF IMPORTANT NOTE: This by default also means the Galaxy S7 (non-edge) should be on top of this chart, as both the non-Edge and the Edge both use the same camera hardware, processor, and software inside.

Over the past several months it's become apparent that, now that many users trust DxOMark's ranking of all cameras on phones, the winner will matter. That said - the results are showing how extremely similar each of these top devices is to one another. The un-trained eye can scarcely tell the difference.

The only "cons" the ranking group gives to the Galaxy S7 Edge in their photography section is that "a warm/yellow cast is visible" when the device is "under a tungsten light source." They've suggested that "ringing is visible" and that "in very high dynamic scenes, brightest tone parts are clipped / lose detail."

Not too bad. Every one of their categories for ranking the Galaxy S7 Edge has the device scoring at least 79, with the highest rating (of a whopping 94) going to Autofocus - which is the perfect feature for the device to score highest in, of course.

As for video, DxOMark says that the S7 Edge does have jitter artifacts visible in low-light, that loss of detail is "noticeable" in low light, and that color shading is "slightly noticeable in all conditions, particularly in low light."

So don't go filming in the dark expecting the best possible results. It's not gonna happen. Everywhere else you're going to find some fantastic video going on.

Source: Galaxy S7 edge camera is best says DxOMark

10 tips on how to photograph Skyfire on your phone

1. Should I use HDR?

Your camera phone has a HDR (high dynamic range) setting, which if you haven't used it before is easy to set up and sometimes perfect for shooting fireworks. There are two schools of thought. "Must do" versus "must not" do. You be the judge, but read on, you can have both.

Enjoying the fireworks for skyfire celebrations over Lake Burley Griffin. Photo: Jay Cronan

HDR works this way, you keep your finger on the trigger capturing a number of exposures of the same image. Your phone will magically and automatically (using fancy software) combine them to make a single image. These different exposures may help you capture more than the usual amount of information in the form of light-trails and all the action that happens while you're holding the shutter open.

Turning HDR on is easy. Open your camera app and tap the "HDR" button and HDR will appear at the top of you iPhone controls.

In some cases HDR will cause an image to be a total mess because you're shooting a moving object. The results vary with the type of firework, and Skyfire promises a great variety. But your camera will keep both the HDR and normal version of photos if you set it up this way (Settings> Photos and camera> Keep normal photo) This is important, because sometimes if you move too much, or even hold the shutter down for too many exposures the plain everyday original may be better than the HDR burst.

2. Stand still

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If you don't have a tripod to keep your camera steady during shooting, lean up against a wall or a tree or sit cross-legged on the ground and pop your elbows on your knees, even try holding your breath while you shoot to prevent extra movement. The much maligned selfie-stick can also serve as a monopod that will stay your camera better than wobbly arms.

3. Lock it in

Skyfire fireworks display over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra on Saturday 15 March 2014. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Photo: Alex Ellinghausen.

Once you've found an exposure that works for you use the exposure lock function to keep right on using it. How? Quite easy. Tap on the screen in the region you want lock and hold down and after half a second you will see "AE/AF LOCK" in yellow at the top of your screen. You're locked in. This will stay that way until you either do it again somewhere else on the screen or turn your phone camera off, in which case you will have to re-set that function.

4. It's cheap to experiment

Skyfire erupts over a crowded Reconciliation Place in a truly awesome display.  Photo: Gary Schafer

I'll let you in on a secret, as professional photographers my team and I sometimes take hundreds of frames to get that that one special one we are happy to print. So go for broke, take loads and then have a big culI in your album later on.

5. Be "appy"

Photo gallery

"Skyfire as seen by Canberra Times photographers and readers."

Try a photography app to get the best out of the moment. There are slow shutter-cam apps for about a dollar that may help you produce something really special.

6. Avoid using your zoom

If you zoom in you will notice graininess and pixelation. You are smarter to physically move to a better vantage point.

7. Turn off your flash

It won't help, it'll only light up things close to you, which is ok if you have your kids in the foreground, but you will also find that the actual fireworks will be underexposed. If you want both in the one iPhone shot you are best to try and light the humans from another light source, preferably something behind you.

8. Don't just shoot the sky

You will love your shot even more if there is a line of silhouettes in the foreground or the Commonwealth Bridge of some of Lake Burley Griffin also in frame. The extra context will make your pic so much richer. Don't be afraid to flip your phone to portrait (vertical) mode rather than landscape (horizontal) - you may be surprised how much more you will fit into your foreground.

9. Don't forget to video

If your friends and family can't be there, export them with a short home-made video of the action, and don't forget to pan over the crowd too. The oohs and aahs of your kiddies add some special human context.

10. Send them in

Until May 31, The Canberra Times is running an Autumn photocomp with $1000 up for grabs. Your Skyfire pics (which are obviously shot during Autumn) could delight the judging panel and make you a pretty penny. Send them to: photocomp@canberratimes.com.au and check here for full terms and conditions.

Karleen Minney is The Canberra Times Photography Editor

Source: 10 tips on how to photograph Skyfire on your phone