S21 Bad Camera Quality

[Diminee]

Just recently got the S21 and I'm so disappointed with the camera. The photos it takes are grainy, blurry, low quality and look like something a phone in 2008 would've taken. My S8 took much better quality photos, even in poor lighting. Wish I could just get another S8 at this point.

Please compare the photos of my cat on the S21 vs S8. The S8 took those photos when its back casing was falling off, yet they still look a million times better than from my brand new phone.

My last issue is I often take photos of book text and documents, and the S21 camera blurs nearly the entire text! I have tried going into settings and turning scene optimiser on and off but nothing is working. I'm at the end of my rope here.

 S21

S8

 S21's attempt at book text... 

[Lamyae]

Dear community,

I am also very disappointed with the S21 5G  I bought in March 2021. In the beginning, the camera was outstanding;however, after the last update, it got awful... even my old S7 is able to provide better pictures.  Very very unhappy with S21 5G! 

[annaamarieexx]

Im not sure if I agree but I will say I never take a photo Unless it or PRO.
The first 2 photo's are from my S20 +, the second
from My S2+

[Members_ZB83NpP]

I totally agree with you....PUGS1957 is totally condescending.  I have the same problem, and I'm a pretty good photographer.  My S10 takes much better photos on anything over 3X zoom.  I have tried everything.  It's a fault of the manufacture or software.  It takes good photos up to 3X, but anything over that is blurry, out of focus.  Samsung needs to admit there is a problem.  I am really really pissed off about this.

[Members_ZB83NpP]

I totally agree.  I would like a refund, but I bought it online in the US and live in Portugal.  I will try to sell it and get something else.

[Rohan83]

Bit late for this, but as I received my S21 Ultra today, that was supposed to replace my iphone 12 pro, let me tell you: it simply does.

I am completely disappointed with the horrible camera quality compared to the iphone 12 pro and also a Galaxy Note 10. Sorry, but MY S21 at least is nowhere near it. I would absolute second OP, that in comparison the pictures look like taken on an older phone.

[pansyninja]

You're completely right - I AM a professional photographer and videographer, I know how all the settings work, I even tried Pro mode today to get a photo I wanted to take to look better, and it was like the camera was incapable of capturing what I was going for. This person gave you completely useless non-answers, and I found your post helpful.

[UserNamesRDumb]

This phone takes TRASH pictures! There's ALWAYS some kind of doubling happening. A single point in the middle is in focus and everything else has this awful doubling EXACTLY like OPs examples!

I'm using default settings with a perfectly cleaned lens and excellent conditions. I've replaced this phone for exactly this reason thinking one of the lens' must be damaged and this new one is EXACTLY the same!

I think there's something wrong with (I'm speculating and terminology is probably incorrect) the interpolation between the images the multiple lens' are taking. It's meant to post-process it to remove the image doubling but just isn't or is ***** it up somehow.

[UserNamesRDumb]

But OP took the original pictures. How can you say he had correct technique with a different phone but shortcomings with his technique now? nonsense.

[Pugs1957]

40 years of photography and my eyes tell me. Don't tell me you don't understand how light affects depth of field either?

[Devilwarier9]

No fix yet, eh? I got a Galaxy S21 for Christmas and the photos are *****. Anything with even the tiniest bit of motion is a smudgy mess while my Pixel 1 is crisp and clean. Most of my photos are of my toddler or cats, so capturing detail in motion is extremely important to me. Will unfortunately probably be returning, much to my disappointment.