Poor quality photos

[rob1234]

Can anyone please explain why I am getting such poor quality photos with my A33:

- The photos are often blurred when not using a flash.

- I have to take 48mp photos to get anywhere decent scenery photos, then reduce them in size (for storage); whereas I could take amazing scenery photos with my old A5, with only 12mp. 

- Taking 12mp photos results in the photos looking like a plastic wrap-type filter has been added on Photoshop, that's why I have to use 48mp.

- Taking photos of black pets, for example, results in either loss of their features without using a flash, or using a flash and their fur showing as brown. I know black animals are hard to photograph, but a friend has an ancient phone and hers rakes amazing photos of black animals. 

- Some photos have lots of artifacts when I zoom in.

The list could go on. I know it's only a phone camera, so I'm not expecting the quality of a traditional camera, but I am really disappointed in the photos, compared to the ones I took with my A5. I wouldn't have bought the A33 had I known about the photo quality. 

Thank you for any advice you can give me. 

[Kev55]

I would think it's definitely a faulty camera Rob, even the very cheapest of phones should take a quality picture these days.

[Carlvig]

There are a few things you can try.
Make sure your firmware is up to date aswell as the camera app itself.
Also toggle auto focus on/off in camera settings, to see if that changes anyything.
Make sure there are no smudges on your camera lense.
Try using third party camera apps from playstore just to see if there is a significant difference.
Then lastly, a hard factory reset often fixes problems, especially with certain custom settings conflicting with new updates, remember to back up your data..
Hope this helps..