1. Focus Control Challenges Autofocus often struggles to lock precisely on stars or distant objects in low-light conditions, especially below 5× zoom when using the main 200MP wide sensor. There is no fine-tuning or lockable manual focus option per lens/sensor, making consistent focus difficult during astrophotography.
2. UI Brightness Impact on Night Vision Bright gray borders and UI elements around the photo frame disrupt night-adapted vision, making it harder to shoot in true darkness. Bright yellow messages such as “Hold the camera steady” appear during Astro mode—even though the mode assumes tripod use—causing unnecessary distraction and eye strain.
3. Astro Stacking and Star Streak/Feedback Issues During long-exposure astro stacking, the software can produce minor star streaking or smearing, even when the device is completely stabilized. The final image sometimes shows uneven stacking feedback, where alignment appears slightly off or overly smoothed, reducing detail in star fields.
Suggestions
1 Add fine-tunable, lockable manual focus controls for each lens (wide, ultra-wide, telephoto) to allow astrophotographers to set and maintain precise focus in all camera modes.
2 Introduce a true low-brightness or “Night UI” mode that dims, darkens, or color-shifts interface elements, borders, overlays, and status messages to preserve night vision during low-light shooting.
Provide an option to disable redundant alerts, such as the “Hold the camera steady” message in Astro mode, to reduce visual distractions.
3 Provide options to refine astro stacking behavior, including: A toggle for “Precision Star Alignment” to minimize streaking during long stacks.
An optional “Low-Smoothing Mode” to preserve fine star detail without aggressive blending.
A brief alignment preview or feedback indicator so users can confirm the stack is tracking correctly before the capture finishes.
Comment
Implementing these improvements would significantly enhance the S25 Ultra’s night and astrophotography capabilities. Many users—myself included—find the current focus limitations and bright UI elements interfere with achieving the camera’s full potential in low-light scenarios. Addressing these issues would be greatly appreciated by the community of serious photographers.
