S24 Ultra - Loss of detail when using 50 MP camera

[MausC]

Phone: Samsung S24 Ultra

Photos: The following images were taking using the 5x Zoom lens at 12 MP and at 50 MP.

Settings 

Camera Application: Image optimisation is set to 'minimum' & scene optimiser is off.

Gallery Application:  super HDR is also off. 

Following raising the issue with Samsung I was told there is no issue with "incredible S24 Ultra" as:

1. the camera test on *#0*# was fine 

2. I cleared the camera app cache

3. Performed a soft reset 

4. Ensured phone was running latest software

5. And finally after persisting with questions... Performed a factory reset

All leads to the same result as seen below. 

Issue 

Aside from the noticble colour shift that occurs when using the 50MP camera.

counter intuitively, when using the 50 MP camera, there is a complete loss of detail within the photos I take. 

This can be observed below with some test shots I took just now.

 

 

When zooming in on the resulting image, there is a complete loss of detail in the 50MP photo as seen with the barcode below.

 

Is this a common issue?

Or is my phone faulty? 

[andynolan]

I've had this problem and messaged samsung. They just suggest setting image optimisation to max. I've said it before, it's like the phone wants to take a 💩 picture and show you how good it is by attempting to make it better.

[MausC]

So it isn't just my phone being a dud... this is astounding if it's true all S24 series has the same problem.

It is clearly able to focus better as seen on the 12 MP photo. The way it is currently there is absolutely no point in using the 50MP or 200MP sensor as it results in a colour shift, less detail and inability to focus correctly.

[Reylob]

Hi @MausC 

Yes, the camera has some weird behaviour when changing the sensor and Zoom levels. There are several post about these issues.

One thing that I recommend is to take the picture out the phone and see it with another device. The Gallery App can create some weird effects as well. This will not solve the problem, but it is a good way to see if all the issues are on the photos or the Gallery is adding to them.

There is no doubt that the stock camera app needs some optimisations. Fortunately, we might not need to wait too long for it. The next firmware update seems to bring updates for the camera.

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s24-series/camera-update-s24-ultra/m-p/9461903

April will usher in a major camera update involving white balance and telephoto image quality.

[MausC]

Thanks for the update @Reylob, i will have my fingers crossed that this will hopefully resolve the issue. 

https://www.sammyfans.com/2024/03/19/samsungs-galaxy-s24-will-get-april-2024-smr-update-next-week/am...

Apparently the update relates to exposure at certain zoom levels. I'm hoping it contains some more fixes also.

I'm fed up with Samsung support responding that my "Brilliant", "Incredible", "Amazing S24 Ultra" is working as expected. I had hoped they would've been able to provide the update information you linked. 

[K Dimov]

I can tell you right away that this so-called "update" will suk major ar[you_know_the_rest]. It will be the same as the previous one where those same "Tech sites" reported utter ******** about camera fixes.

As far as Samsung support goes - those are simple peons, they know nothing. But they can do a good job of annoying you to hell and back.

[Rameespmna]

Comparing to the 12MP, the shot on 50 MP and 200MP doesn't look good at quality in case of the details. When enlarging the Pic took on 200MP, it's look like oil painted.

[SmartphoneRAW]

Check if this is really 50MP and taken from the 5x cam, there is a issue where it is not using this camera when "adaptive pixel" is turned off.

Also if this is lowlight near ISO 3200 the highres mode will lose its advantage and will have less details as 12MP.

[MausC]

Thank you for this, I wish Samsung support would've mentioned this after hours of talking with them.

I'm not sure why 12MP with adaptive pixel off is fine, yet 50MP with adaptive pixel off is terrible quality but anyway... It didn't solve the obvious colour  shift, but photos are no longer having the complete loss of detail at 50MP as before. 

 

 

 

[TheDenny]

From this discussion is the consensus to use 12mp until camera is fixed?