[Q] MotoX Camera Focus Issues

Anyone else have issues with the camera's ability to focus? I'm not talking about some of the other issues regarding low light performance, or color casts, just straight up is the picture in focus. Since getting the phone a couple months ago I hadn't taken many pics at all and they were always under low light and of stuff I just wanted to remember vs taking a picture to look at so I didn't pay any attention to the quality as most were deleted soon after.

This past weekend I was outside and noticed I could not get an in focus picture no matter what. Daytime outdoor lighting was plenty good to get a high enough shutter speed to avoid blur and I don't have shaky hands. I took a few pics to compare it with a Samsung Galaxy S2 (wife's phone). All pics were taken around the same time, the lens was definately clean and I used the same app on both phones for two of the pics. I took an extra with the stock camera app on the moto x as well. If you check out the set you can easily see the blurring on the windows on the houses across the street. And the close garden fence you can't even see the chicken wire which is totally sharp in the GS2 pic.

Pics are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40202720@N04/sets/72157641535964283

It looks like I may have a hardware issue. Before I try to send it back anything else to try? Its running 4.4.2 now after starting with 4.2.2, OTA almost right out of the box to 4.4 and recently to 4.4.2. Its the XT1053, GSM Dev Edition. I'm definitely out of the return period since it was bought end of November (at full price too) so it would have to be a warranty repair I'm guessing. Is it possible to get a replacement sent in advance or is the only option to send it in, wait, and be without my phone for probably 2+ weeks?

My hands were not shaking for any of the shots and I did use manual focus.

I added 2 more shots today.

One is a building by my work. The lighting was quite bright and thus the shutter speed was over 1/4000 a second. At that level the effect of minor shaking would be greatly diminished. I can usually hold a camera steady enough to avoid blur down to about 1/40 a second if I am careful so I know its not me.

By comparision I took another shot tonight, inside with much lower light conditions. Its a battery in my hand taken while I hold the phone with the other hand. Shutter speed 1/60 a second and the shot is clear. This shows I can indeed hold it steady enough so hand shake isn't a factor. It also shows that my camera is good with macro shots. but not much else.

I looked around for the reviews I used before purchase and have this one: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7235/moto-x-review/10

The shots shown there from the MotoX show it is capable of focusing fine, at distance, compared with other phones. It may have other issues with odd colors and patterns, but the focus is solid enough.

Based on the review shots and the shots I've posted I do not think the Moto X is simply incapable of focusing as clearly it was able to focus for the review. It looks like my phone may have a defective camera module or somehow be stuck in some kind of macro mode.

Anyone know if I can get an advance replacement or something vs just sending it back and waiting?

In case anyone wonders what happened when I finally did try to get help from Moto the experience is not pleasant. I did wait a bit(still well within warranty and I don't want to be without my phone). I called them on 4/5. 2 calls later, one email though their website and a live chat tonight and I still have not gotten the promised email with return instructions and shipping label.

So, at least if you have a Dev Edition it seems Moto may be unable or unwilling to help you in any reasonable time.

I'll update this when the saga concludes. One initially happy customer getting decidedly less happy.