A methodology for performing a depth estimation procedure with defocused images under extreme lighting conditions includes a camera device with a sensor for capturing blur images of a photographic target under extreme lighting conditions. The extreme lighting conditions may include over-exposed conditions and/or under-exposed conditions. The camera device also includes a depth generator that performs the depth estimation procedure by utilizing the captured blur images. The depth estimation procedure includes a clipped-pixel substitution procedure to compensate for the extreme lighting conditions.