NOTE 2 Camera Problem: Dark Pictures

**_Cathy_** · May 31st, 2014 04:34 PM

My camera takes really dark photos. I noticed this recently. I thought it was only because the place was not well lit. Last night we were taking pictures in a well lit area and it still appeared as though we were somewhere dark! I asked my friend to take the exact photos and upon comparison theirs appear the same and normal while mine was dark! I reset the camera settings to default but that did not fix it. I tried no flash, with flash and auto flash but it did not make any difference.

What could be wrong?

**car_bore** · May 31st, 2014 06:08 PM

Err tried adjusting the screen brightness?

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**Monseratto** · May 31st, 2014 06:37 PM

Increase the ISO settings to 400-600...

**_Cathy_** · May 31st, 2014 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by car_bore

Err tried adjusting the screen brightness?

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It's not my screen that's the problem. It's really the pictures.

In the picture below, notice that the background is dark. This place is very well lit (daylight lighting) but the pic looks as if we were some place with dim lighting.

I was just taking different shots and this one looked decent but still a little dark:

**_Cathy_** · May 31st, 2014 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Monseratto

Increase the ISO settings to 400-600...

Thanks. I will try that. What is ISO?

I am just wondering what happened to the camera in my phone? I never tinkered with the settings and now I am getting dark pictures.

**remzam** · May 31st, 2014 08:37 PM

Many cameras including phone cameras usually have an exposure compensation setting. Check if your setting is dead spot on the center scale and not on the negative/minus side. If it's on the minus side, all your photos will be underexposed therefore, dark generally.

**_Cathy_** · May 31st, 2014 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by remzam

Many cameras including phone cameras usually have an exposure compensation setting. Check if your setting is dead spot on the center scale and not on the negative/minus side. If it's on the minus side, all your photos will be underexposed therefore, dark generally.

Where do I check this exposure setting?

**Monseratto** · May 31st, 2014 11:29 PM

Hmm... Try looking for the settings in the camera menu. Either try adjusting the ISO or turn on the smart stabilization. Not sure though cuz I'm using a note 3...:\

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**car_bore** · June 1st, 2014 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by _Cathy_

Where do I check this exposure setting?

Its this one, try finding it on the camera settings menu. Its from a different phone though but looks similar to your note 2.

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**donbuggy** · June 1st, 2014 10:20 PM

Top picture: My guess is the white dishes in the foreground affected the camera's exposure. The camera compensated by making the people darker.

Bottom picture: The white dishes are still there but not much, so the people look lighter. There's a bright light in the background by the curtains though.

Try these:
1) Do not include white objects in the picture. Separate the shots for people and the dishes.

2) I don't know about cameras in phones, but in normal cameras you can chose which area where the camera sets its exposure to (such as the subject's face).

3) Hold the phone/camera closer to your subject and use the fill-in flash. Not too close because the flash might white-out the image.