camera works but has bad sepia color

Question

Camera has very bad quality during zoom and other apps

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Answer 1

Hello Wendy Summers, welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

The sepia/brown tint is almost always a white balance issue. To fix this, you need to check if your camera has manufacturer software. Many webcams (Logitech, Microsoft, etc.) have their own software with white balance/color correction controls. Download from the manufacturer's website and look for the setting in that app. This is the same if it's a built-in laptop camera as well. Look in the OEM software (Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, etc.)

If you can't find camera software or the settings don't help, try adjusting your lighting—sepia tint often gets worse with warm/yellow lighting. Use natural daylight or cooler LED lighting instead, and avoid mixing light sources.

Also update your camera drivers: Device Manager > Cameras > right-click your camera > Update driver.

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Answer 2

If your camera is displaying a bad sepia color and has poor quality during zoom and other applications, it may be due to issues with the camera's image processing settings. Here are some potential causes and solutions:

1. White Balance Issues: The sepia tone could be a result of incorrect white balancing. Adjusting the white balance settings in your camera or application may help correct the color.
2. Image Signal Processing: Problems with the image signal processing can lead to color inaccuracies. Tuning the image signal processing settings may improve color quality.
3. Gamma Settings: If the gamma settings are not properly configured, images can appear overly saturated or under-saturated. Adjusting gamma processing might resolve the color issues.
4. Lighting Conditions: Ensure that you are using the camera in appropriate lighting conditions. Poor lighting can affect the camera's performance and color accuracy.
5. Camera Software Updates: Check if there are any updates available for your camera drivers or the application you are using, as updates can fix bugs and improve performance.

If these adjustments do not resolve the issue, consider checking for hardware problems with the camera itself.

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References:

• Camera Sensor Quality Test - Evaluate Color Accuracy at 640x480 and 80 lux
• Troubleshooting Device.Streaming Testing