n8 camera produces dull images and quality good

Interesting!  I have had some odd troubles with the camera, but general picture quality has not been one.  For example, I tried it in a number of situations including extreme low light and it worked very, very well.  (Note that I am a photography buff and have both a Nikon D2h and a D2x so quality matters to me).

Then I tried the camera with the flash on and I was appalled by the results.  The pictures were not just washed out and with very uneven lighting, they were completely unusable as pictures.  I went back to no flash and everything was well.  I finally decided that the flash was bad and that I would have to send the phone back.  Of course, you don't send a phone back before testing everything (to make sure you have told the manufacturer all that is wrong).  In doing so, I tried the camera in flash only mode (still bad) then went back to no flash.  Finally I put the flash in auto mode again and flash pictures came out very well.  I haven't had that sort of problem since.  Why?  Who knows!  However, given my experience, it might be worth trying all the modes etc. before deciding the camera is bad. 

I would also try downloading some of those pictures to your computer and look at them in a good editing program such as Photoshop.  You may be surprised by the result.

Regards,
            <TED>

I demoed the N8 in two diffent shops last weekend. When trying the camera in the first shop I was also disappointed with the image quality, but just before I returned the phone I noticed that the protective films were still on...
In the other shop the phone was without protective films and the photo I took of my son there was impressive! He was standing a few meter away from me, and when zooming into the image, single hairs on his head became clearly visible and focused! This was indoors in a shop!

Yeah, I just hold it carefully.  I've been amazed at how effective it is - and this is just in auto program mode!

<TED>

The picture quality is poor in my Phone also.
I too realized that protective covering is on it. With flash the pictures become dull. But without flash the pictures are bright & perfect.
I too think that protectve covering is creating the problem with flash.
I haven't removed my protective film b'coz i'm waiting  to get response from someone who has removed the protective film.
I request if someone has tried it then kindly post your response.

Interesting camera shoot-out between N8, Samsung Pixon 12 and a Sony DSC-HX5v Cyber-shot camera. 

http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n8_vs_samsung_pixon12_vs_sony_dsc_hx5v-review-519.php

I just have uploaded two different samples on flickr with and without the protective film.
You must want to see that

Shot with protective film applied on the camera.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/khurramar/5136388898/#in/set-72157625164123343/

Shot with the protective film removed from the camera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/khurramar/5135788491/#in/set-72157625164123343/

The stock settings on the N8 give a result that I call a "Nikon look" because it resembles the somewhat understated (natural?) image favored by Nikon. (You could also refer to it as a more "Agfalike" image for those who go back to film days.

The vivid settings on the N8 give a result that I call a "Canon look" because it resembles the greater than life images favored by Canon.  (You could also refer to it as a more "Kodaklike" image for those who go back to film days.

You can get either result on the N8 pretty easily.  (As a Nikon shooter, I am pretty happy with the stock soup.  By contrast, my wife is a Canon shooter - and she can just keep her hands off of my N8<g>!)

Regards,
              <TED>