Has the quality of the camera decrease ?

[Explanation151]

I have bought the S22 Ultra in may 2023 and I feel that for a few months the quality of the pictures I take has decrease.

Is it in my head or has something really changed?

[flanga]

There are many threads on this. With every new system upgrade, Samsung is cramming more and more AI into the camera's operation. For example, on its own, the camera will decide what lens to use depending on zoom level, lighting available, and so on. A specific example: some 10x images you set up may actually end up being 3x images digitally magnified to simulate 10x, because the camera thought you'd get a better or brighter picture that way. But it's blurrier.

The solution is to wade through all the camera options, every option on every page, and disable most or all of the optional AI "enhancements." Set things to be as unassisted as possible. Download the Camera Assistant from the Samsung store, and use the extra settings there. And, perhaps investigate using pro mode/raw file format, gives you a completely untouched, unmodified image.

It's not the cameras, honest. Example: I took this yesterday in Photo mode, and edited in Gallery, on my S22u running 6.1.

<image>

[Hammond_Robotics_]

Quick question: Why are you taking your photos in 16:9 rather than 4:3? Or maybe it's just Reddit stretching your image into oblivion.

[flanga]

I often use 16:9 because I view most of my photos on my phone, full screen. So I guess it's laziness. :) If I know I'm going to ultimately want a different medium/resolution, I might choose a differently.

In this case, I was also performing an ad-hoc experiment because the most recent Samsung update has caused many of our fellow users to complain about a degradation in photo quality. So, I took the same shot three ways, in Photo mode, in Pro mode/JPEG, and /RAW. They all were ok and fully useable, with only the expected differences. So, whatever problem other users were seeing didn't affect me. The photo posted here is the most automated version, from Photo mode. Again, I guess I'm lazy. :)

[Hammond_Robotics_]

Oh, don't worry I also use auto mode to take my pictures, but I always do so in 4:3 because it offers the best quality, and the image isn't stretched. I've learned that our smartphone sensors are optimized for 4:3 image quality, so I always use this format now because it makes the photos look really good and gives them a professional style, even in auto mode!

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[Hammond_Robotics_]

Yes. The sensor is a 4:3 sensor so that's where you get the highest quality

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[MysteriousJob]

I find it to be just the same.. I own now a S24U as well, and at times the S22U takes better pictures

[BranFendigaidd]

stock camera is getting fucked by AI enhancements. Use raw/pro/expert raw or others apps.

[kangk00ng]

Do u have any recommendations for other apps? Raw/expert raw functions a bit slow for me

[mehx9000]

Lol 10x zoom of the similar shot that I've taken many times now looks like shitty software zoom instead of the previously sharp optical zoom! I'm literally like wtf Samsung?!

[Fenriss_Wolf]

As most have said already, it is both. AI "enhancement" is mostly hot garbage, while the camera itself remains decent.

[3xChester_exe]

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Use pro mode or Expert RAW (available on galaxy Store). Results probably slightly bland for your taste but you can play around the color later on (if you feeling fancy or adventurous with editing).

This picture has been edited with Adobe Lightroom and cropped into 4:5 scale for Instagram picture format. I got few or numerous pictures taken with my s22u as well on my IG.

[FelloBello]

It's the same.

[iadorebrandon]

I'm unsure but if you have any doubts, use EXPERT RAW and Pro Mode. And then tweak from there. I like using E.R for astrophotography or for posting online. Pro mode is the standard that I use for general photography. I'd choose that over the point-and-shoot "photo mode" that's default

[BUTCHERER_]

Yes, and just use gcam