How to make 8MP photos with Superior Auto in Xperia Z1?

[dantheman]

Hi all

I bought the Xperia Z1 mainly for the camera, but I am not satisfied with the results. In articles like the one linked here, it states that "Sony has wisely set the Z1 to take 8-megapixel oversampled photos by default".

http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/30/4784014/sony-xperia-z1-review

Though,in superior auto my Z1 takes photos with 5248 x 3936 = 21 MP!  Could that be a reason for the poor image quality and how could I in that case change this setting without going to manual mode (there I already changed it).

Thanks in advance for your support!

Dan.

[Rickard]

That sounds very strange. The superior auto mode can't take pictures at that resolution. Are you sure that the camera is set to "Superior auto"? Start the camera, tap the icon at the lower right and then select "Superior auto".

If that doesn't help, try clearing data for "Camera" under Settings -> Apps -> All and then restart the phone and see if it helps.

[dantheman]

Yes, I am sure that Superior Auto is chosen (yellow symbol with i, camera and +).

I tried now twice cleared the data and cache in the Camera app and restarted the phone, but still the same thing. In Manual mode I can set the resolution to 8 MP and it works, but in Superior Auto it only takes 20 MP photos (and not very good quality). Version of the Camera app is 1.0.0.

There area also the Apps:

- Camera common

- Camera extension

- Cameras

Shall I clear the data and cache for those apps as well and restart the phone?

[Rickard]

Try clearing data/cache for those apps as well and then restart the phone. If that doesn't help i would recommend that you try making a repair of the phones software using a computer. See this page for software: http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/software/phones/xperia-z1/

[dantheman]

Hi again

I have now first tried clearing the data/cache, but no change. The I repaired the phone (loosing all settings done), but it is still the same. The pictures made with "Superior auto" are of 21MP and around 7MB big.

I also found a colleague that got her phone at the same time and for her it is the same, i.e. the pictures made with "Superior Auto" are of 21MP and around 7MB big. She had though thought that this is how it was supposed to be.

So the question remains. Do I need to send the phone for "repair" or is this acutally the way it should be?

Are there no other users on this forum that could clarify this?

The way I do it:

1. Start the carmera app.

2. Choose "Superior auto" if not already done

3. Take the picture

4. Open the picture with "Albums"

5. "Options" -> "Details"

6. States"Width: 5248" and "Height: 3936" (i.e. 21MP)

Is this correct or not?

Thankful for any answers!

Dan

[Rickard]

That's not the correct resolution when using superior auto. The picture should be 3840x2160. To take a 21MP picture using Z1 you need to use manual mode so something very strange is going on here.

Could you please send me a PM with the following information (also about your friends phone if that's possible):

Name:
Phone nr:
E-mail:
Country:
Operator:
IMEI nr:
Build number:

[dantheman]

Hi Rickard

The data for my phone was sent to you in a message yesterday. 

I have also checked with a second colleague that got the phone with at the same time (around 2 weeks ago), and she has the same thing. All picutures in auto mode taken are 21MP and around 7MB big. So we are now at least 3 with the same symptome and I know noone else with such a phone. Phones are delivered from Swisscom in Switzerland.

How is this working for the rest of you in the forum? Do you get 21MP (7MB) photos from the Xperia Z1 in Superior Auto mode, or 8MP (2MB) photos as actually should be the case?

Dan

[Rickard]

We have found the cause of this issue. It has to do with the software but only in phones from this operator. It will be fixed in an upcoming update for the phone.

[dantheman]

When will the update be released? Any plans?

[Rickard · Accepted solution]

As i understand it this will be fixed in the update to Android 4.4 but i don't have any information yet on when that update will be released.