I'm a photographer who wants to get good quality images when they have to be shot with a mobile phone (maybe because it's the only camera I have with me at the time). The camera isn't the most important thing I consider when selecting a phone, but it's still important.
Megapixels are not that important to me - even if I was to display my images on a 1000 x 1000 display screen, that image would have only 1000 x 1000 = 1000000 pixels..... 1 megapixels. Unless I want to print or crop my photos, I might as well use a 1 megapixel camera. Bottom line for me, 4 or 5 megapixels is more than I need.
The quality of an image depends on many more things, the quality of the lens, the camera sensor, the ability of the camera-phone to focus properly, the software that determines the camera settings (ISO speed, shutter speed, f/stop), and the software that processes the image that has been captured, creating the image file that gets stored on the phone. (I realize a lot of the above is not too important to most people - they just want to capture a snapshot, possibly apply filters to the photo to give it a different look, and send it to friends or social networking sites. Fortunately, there are lots of "apps" that do this very nicely.) What I'm concerned with, is the quality of the captured image, not how it might be modifed.
My question here, is to ask what is the best way to do threethings:
First, to take control of the camera, and adjust the settings manually (ISO speed, shutter speed, lens aperture, focusing distance).
Second, to save the image to a file as an un-compressed file, even if this makes the file size very large, and
If possible, to save the image data, in "raw" format, so that all the information from the camera sensor is saved in a file.
It is unlikely that a mobile phone can process an image as well as a dedicated computer. Anyone who has ever worked with "raw" images knows how much hidden detail is included in those files, much of which is lost as soon as the files are saved as "jpg" images. I'd like to be able to do that, but maybe it's too much to ask for - for that to happen, the camera would need to save the "raw" file, and the camera manufacturer would need to release the information on how a computer program could "read" that data.
I've been doing some of the above, using the app "Camera FV-5". On my HTC One Google Edition, it seems to help get images that might be as good as what the phone hardware allows. What I would really like though, is a way to capture ALL the data from the camera sensor as a photo is taken, transfer it to my computer, and use a program such as Lightroom or Photoshop to transform that "raw" data into the best image possible from the captured data. I know this isn't possible using the standard camera functions, but I was thinking that maybe I could somehow get the camera data by using some "development" features.
Any suggestions?
Related
I DL'd the Camera v2.7 installer from one of the threads here. I love how this app handles indoor pictures, even if the display still doesn't look as if it's doing anything.
I would like to change the Camera shortcut in the Programs directory and Start Menu to point to this new application instead (It is also stored in \Windows). Aside from installing Resco File Explorer, is there any other way to do this?
Also: Just in case, where are the registry settings for this camera app? Does it use the same ones the old camera app uses?
Try Total Commander maybe it can do it for you. Or copy the shortcuts to your PC & change them there, don't forget to copy them back
Not sure whether the same reg.keys/values are used.
M
Thanks.
Total Commander works. I'll keep it around. ^_^
Copying the shortcut to WinDOS doesn't work (XP Professional); the path is greyed out when the link is on the phone, and if you take it out to your desktop, Windows won't recognize it as a valid link.
PS: The new camera performs better if there's a source of light _in front of_ it. Without one it's as bad as the old. Taking a pic of my PC monitor works wonders, but attempting to take a pic of the corridor with the monitor behind me produces grainy results (evening time 6pm).
Can't complain, tho. At least the pic of my monitor isn't grainy anymore. Next camera version should be perfect, I hope. <_<
I got the same 2.7 version with my 1.13WWE rom & it's performing nice in good light conditions. Other conditions are not to discuss :-(. I'm trying to get the 3.0 version working, but the fellow with this version isn't capable of dumoing the cab, not to speak of finding all related reg.keys. Too bad.
Btw I moved the camera & album apps to my internal storage & changed links, reg etc. Works OK & saves a lot of RAM.
M
[Edit]
Forgot to mention that updating the values (brightness, contrast etc) in HKLM\HTC\Camera\AppDefSettings\General
Will change the default camera settings, so you don't have to change them after switching from 'night' to 'daylight' etc.
I have checked the forums for an answer to this problem but couldn't find one.
I recently purchased a Vario II on t-mobile. I think its a cracking gadget, but I've always been a big picture sender, and I have a niggle - on its highest quality picture settings the vario II produces pictures larger than 300k. When I try to send them I get a message that it can't send pictures over 300k - annoying, but usually countered by the fact that every normal handset I've had shrinks pictures to the requisite size before sending.
This being a pocket pc I would assume it would hardly be processor-hungry if the app just shrunk pictures down a bit for me (when necessary).
Sure I could knock my quality settings down a bit - but what about when I want to send bluetoothed/copied photos from other sources (such as my digital camera)?
I used to do this regularly on my old sony ericsson.
I love my Vario, but this annoys me, and if I can help it I'd rather not have to shrink all my bloody pictures down with a third-party photo editing app before sending them. It seems like a crazy oversight on the part of the manufacturer!
I sincerely hope that I've simply overlooked something, but if not does anyone know where I can get a patch/alternative mms sending application for my vario?
it would be very much appreciated!
Hmm.. I'm not sure about you.. but if you go to your messaging application (the default one), bottom right `Menu`->`MMS Configuration` at the `Preference` Tab, at the bottom of the page, you see the 'Photo Resolution`. Try lowering that.
I'm using Charmer, but ought to be the same since it is WM5.
I only wish that would work - That's the retrieval resolution, though I have tried it.
Seems ridiculous that you can automatically alter the resolution of photos that you receive, but not ones you send!
PLEASE please please someone must know!
From messaging; Menu -> Tools -> Options -> MMS -> Scroll down to Photo Resolution" and change it to a smaller size. Just tested it and it worked for outgoing on my TyTN Rom!
Phil
I have tried that - on all resolutions, though in fairness not with an original image from the camera, this is a 700k image from a Nokia phone. No matter what resolution I change to it still gives me the error message!
Anyone got any idea what it could be?
I don't see why it would matter that the photo is off a different camera. the principal of shrinking a jpeg is still the same surely.
I have a T-Mobile Vario II. It has had no modifications done to it at all
Hmm... that is weird. Probably the 'shrinking' feature uses some of the JPG header to determine its size and such (e.g. dumb programmer who uses weird ways of doing things).
Anyway, if you have spaces left around your phone, there are some software that is able to resize photos available for WM5 (or at least WCE200x). For your case, you may want to resize it manually before sending.. I guess.
Like when viewing this,
http://i.imgur.com/ex6Zu.jpg
It looks fine until I try to zoom in to read the text. It's been like this since my G1. Is there a fix?
Just thought ide back him up i tried this, with the same image but a different host, and i had the same experience, text wasnt as crisp as when viewed on my computer screen
does it make a difference when using wifi on your phone to load that image? just wondering if its some proxy from your carrier downsizing the image. happens sometimes.
So I got a semi answer for this..it either has to do with the vm heap size and the limits imposed by android for each app to use a limited amount of ram. uncompressed that png exceeded 32mb and threats why it's blurry.
I also read it may have to do with android using opengl es that limits the bits used to show as it renders the pics as textures....but this is more applied to cool iris 3d gallery..not sure if this applies to the browser
New in 2.3.3 So this probably fixes it..the firefox app already loaded the image part by part and did not have the blurry issue..it's just that firefox is so slow to boot up...
Graphics
A new BitmapRegionDecoder class lets applications decode a rectangle region from an image. The API is particularly useful when an original image is large and and the application only need parts of the image.
A new inPreferQualityOverSpeed field in BitmapFactory.Options allows applications to use a more accurate but slightly slower IDCT method in JPEG decode. This in turn improves the quality of the reconstructed image.
Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum. I decided to register here after I completed my android project.
I created a program that can detect movements and save pictures of the moving objects. Phone has to remain static in order to work properly. The program also features separate address book. Address book keeps phone numbers for SMS notification. In order to activate that you have to create a new contact then long press the item in the list. The program creates folder on memory card where it saves the pictures. The speed is very high on Galaxy S. You can throw something fast and phone still snaps the flying object if it passes by the camera.
The program has many settings that can dramatically alter the performance. Settings have to be adjusted in accordance with the lighting conditions.
I tested app only on 2.2 Vibrant. I am really curious to see how it works on other 2.2 devices.
ARMv7 processor is a must!!
Please give me some feedback!
App is called Motion Recorder
this sounds like a great app. gonna try it now on my incredible.
My app MobileWebCam also does this (simpler detection algorithm I suppose) and can automatically save, upload the pictures or send email:
Development Thread is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=950933
Are you interested in sharing your motion detection code? Possibly we could combine functionality of both apps?
dirtsky, If you have any questions or if you find any bugs please write in this thread.
The program is little hard to use so feel free to ask.
_miha_, Mine detects motion by analyzing color. What about yours?
How do you send e-mail without the annoying pop up?
theandre said:
_miha_, Mine detects motion by analyzing color. What about yours?
How do you send e-mail without the annoying pop up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My motion detection is three steps: Image is converted to grey, then I max every pixel with the ones around to remove the flickering pixels (especially needed for night/low contrast situations) and calc the difference between the last and this new pixels. Some magic value (which should better be configurable later decides about the motion. Problem is this is very slow (should use the ndk but only began working with it recently) so I have to scale down the image before which is bad for small/distant moving objects.
Email: Is not sent with Android/Intent. I use JavaMail. I had some difficulties with the libs but got it working somehow (and even more difficulties with proguard which I needed because file size is getting too large without using it).
_miha_, did you test my app? How does it stack up against yours in terms of performance?
I cant seem to find where the images are being saved on my SDcard. Epic 4G Froyo ec05 midNight Rom
I looked for the folder "Motion Recorder" and i dont see it. and theres nothing in the Gallery
zman519, since your device is basically Galaxy S type it will save in internal memory(aka 14 GB "SD card").
Please let me know if you find the folder there.
I have total 105 installs out which 35 are active. Is it considered as bad result?
UPDATE: 59 active installs out of 109 which makes it >50%. Is it good?
theandre said:
zman519, since your device is basically Galaxy S type it will save in internal memory(aka 14 GB "SD card").
Please let me know if you find the folder there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Epic does not have an internal sdcard. That must be the problem. I looked around with root explorer and did not see the folder.
Sent from the Drivers Seat of my Suby txting and Driving doing 100MPH+ in a school zone! Ha.
zman519, thank you for feedback, I will fix that and let you know once the update is ready. It should not take more than half an hour.
Question to developers:
My program saves pictures to the following path:
String path = "/sdcard/Motion Recorder/TakenOn" +...
Why does it not automatically save to external sd card in the case when there is no internal sd?
UPDATE. I figured out myself. Working on update that allows user to choose between internal and external memory.
Hello dev,
I tried it on my DHD - it crashes and don't save settings.
I just updated to v0.42 which adds support for the external storage. Just go to settings and tap the checkbox. Unfortunately I have not tested the new feature on the actual hardware because I do not have one at the moment. So please, those of you who can test it please let me know if it does not work.
drast-x, Thank you for the feedback. Please give me some more details. When does it crash? After you hit the start? When you hit the start do you get the preview from the camera? Unfortunately settings do not save after the exit except contacts...
Did it happen on:Jun 11, 2011 9:32:07 PM ? I ask you this because Developer console shows me one crash that occurred at that time:
java.lang.RuntimeException: Fail to connect to camera service
at android.hardware.Camera.native_setup(Native Method)
at android.hardware.Camera.<init>(Camera.java:294)
at android.hardware.Camera.open(Camera.java:271)
Does saving pictures work on any of the phones except Epic 4g?
Thank you
I updated to v0.45
Now settings will save. Motion Recorder 0.45
Many thanks to the user of my app who sent this feedback:
"force close when start button clicked in nexus".
It turns out Nexus One (or S?) does not support either VGA or QVGA preview frames. So I had to fix this issue by requesting the supported resolutions. Very surprised by this issue. I expected that Android OS would figure this out on its own...
Thus new version 0.45.5 is supposed to fix the issue. I do not have Nexus One so I am not 100% about the fix. Those of you who are reading this and have Nexus One, please try new version!
Thank you!
Have you tried first reducing your image resolution to something ridiculously small like 32x32 and apply a DCT to keep only the low frequencies?
This might offer much better performance.
You can perform very good
_miha_ said:
My motion detection is three steps: Image is converted to grey, then I max every pixel with the ones around to remove the flickering pixels (especially needed for night/low contrast situations) and calc the difference between the last and this new pixels. Some magic value (which should better be configurable later decides about the motion. Problem is this is very slow (should use the ndk but only began working with it recently) so I have to scale down the image before which is bad for small/distant moving objects.
Email: Is not sent with Android/Intent. I use JavaMail. I had some difficulties with the libs but got it working somehow (and even more difficulties with proguard which I needed because file size is getting too large without using it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone else have an issue when they press the photo preview in the camera app where it stays pixilated for a while, the screen goes black, then I crashes back to the camera?
I also have the same issue if it loads correctly but I then delete a photo. It hangs for a while and does nothing. Sometimes it deletes, sometimes it doesn't.
Whilst I do like Google Photos, it'd be nice to change the default app to open with.
Sent from my HTC U11 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
JonesWTF said:
Does anyone else have an issue when they press the photo preview in the camera app where it stays pixilated for a while, the screen goes black, then I crashes back to the camera?
I also have the same issue if it loads correctly but I then delete a photo. It hangs for a while and does nothing. Sometimes it deletes, sometimes it doesn't.
Whilst I do like Google Photos, it'd be nice to change the default app to open with.
Sent from my HTC U11 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and it's horrendous. If you save photos to microSD and the image happens to be HDR, it can take 10-20 seconds for the picture to properly load (and reload and flash, etc, until it's done loading) from the camera app using Photos (I think it's faster if images are saved internally, but I really prefer being able to transfer my photos from device to device on microSD, and I often don't have access to the cloud to view uploaded photos). I have no idea why Google Photos is so slow, because if you take the picture and immediately open ANY other 3rd-party gallery app, the image is instantly viewable at the same quality, so you can't blame microSD speed. I think this is Android's doing, though, since it was also this way on my HTC 10 since the Nougat update (before that update, you could set the default gallery app to something else, so I always used 3rd-party galleries and had the luxury of seeing my photos instantly). Now, after taking a picture, if I want to review, I close the camera app and open my own gallery app. It's annoying to add so many steps, but it's still infinitely faster than waiting for Google Photos to load. Personally, I absolutely despise Google Photos and think it's a prime example of trash programming, but Android (which is becoming more and more a closed system every day) has spoken, and we have to use it, moles and warts and all.
I know other ROMS have worked around Android forcing you to use Photos from the camera, but I prefer to stay on stock for stability. But if anyone knows where in the code this is kept, I'd love to tweak the system to enable a different default gallery app. I just don't know where it is.
itiskonrad said:
I know other ROMS have worked around Android forcing you to use Photos from the camera, but I prefer to stay on stock for stability. But if anyone knows where in the code this is kept, I'd love to tweak the system to enable a different default gallery app. I just don't know where it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want this to, would love to use my preferred gallery app. I tried removing google photos and use another gallery as default but then you can not view your photos from the camera app directly.
U have to be rooted so u can install gallery apk to system
itiskonrad said:
Yes, and it's horrendous. If you save photos to microSD and the image happens to be HDR, it can take 10-20 seconds for the picture to properly load (and reload and flash, etc, until it's done loading) from the camera app using Photos (I think it's faster if images are saved internally, but I really prefer being able to transfer my photos from device to device on microSD, and I often don't have access to the cloud to view uploaded photos). I have no idea why Google Photos is so slow, because if you take the picture and immediately open ANY other 3rd-party gallery app, the image is instantly viewable at the same quality, so you can't blame microSD speed. I think this is Android's doing, though, since it was also this way on my HTC 10 since the Nougat update (before that update, you could set the default gallery app to something else, so I always used 3rd-party galleries and had the luxury of seeing my photos instantly). Now, after taking a picture, if I want to review, I close the camera app and open my own gallery app. It's annoying to add so many steps, but it's still infinitely faster than waiting for Google Photos to load. Personally, I absolutely despise Google Photos and think it's a prime example of trash programming, but Android (which is becoming more and more a closed system every day) has spoken, and we have to use it, moles and warts and all.
I know other ROMS have worked around Android forcing you to use Photos from the camera, but I prefer to stay on stock for stability. But if anyone knows where in the code this is kept, I'd love to tweak the system to enable a different default gallery app. I just don't know where it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How fast is you micro SD card. Maybe is the speed of the card.
slyvester7 said:
How fast is you micro SD card. Maybe is the speed of the card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, other apps open the image instantaneously. Only Google Photos takes forever, so it's not the microSD speed.
I also save directly to the internal memory, so I can confirm, it's not an SD card issue.
Sent from my HTC U11 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
FYI this problem or bugg, is from the Google Photo software, it's not a hardware issue, because even on my Samsung phone it did exactly the same thing, that annoying lag is terrible when switching between Camera and Gallery in the Google Photo App.