[Q] 3rd party camera apps vs. stock - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

What's your experience on 3rd party camera apps such as Snap Camera, A better camera, Camera Zoom FX etc. in comparison to stock google cam app? Do they perform any better in point-and-shoot scenarios? Some of these apps recently got support for camera2 API on Nexus 5. Does that actually change anything except RAW support and 4k video recording?

I use "A Better Camera", and shoot in "Super" mode. I took several pictures with the google camera in various levels of light, on normal and HDR, and took the same with A Better Camera using normal, HDR, and Super. Super looks hands down the best. When zooming the pictures in all of the way, you can easily see that A Better Camera's pictures taken as Super contain the most detail and most accurate colors. A Better Camera's HDR also beats the stock camera HDR in detail. For low light A Better Camera destroys the Google Camera.
Edit: Also, A Better Camera focuses better than the stock camera, and doesn't need to refocus every several seconds.
I do not use any post processing.

DeathKoil said:
I use "A Better Camera", and shoot in "Super" mode. I took several pictures with the google camera in various levels of light, on normal and HDR, and took the same with A Better Camera using normal, HDR, and Super. Super looks hands down the best. When zooming the pictures in all of the way, you can easily see that A Better Camera's pictures taken as Super contain the most detail and most accurate colors. A Better Camera's HDR also beats the stock camera HDR in detail. For low light A Better Camera destroys the Google Camera.
Edit: Also, A Better Camera focuses better than the stock camera, and doesn't need to refocus every several seconds.
I do not use any post processing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just have it a shot and your right!! Thanks for the suggestion!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

I installed it and it certainly takes a better picture, but I cannot find any "super" setting.
Where is the super setting?

You need premium

Also, do I need premium for it to zoom? I can't get it to zoom like the regular camera does.

You shouldn't need premium for the Super setting. Tap the circle at bottom right to get shooting mode settings, and Super should be the tile in the middle. For zoom, swipe down from the top to get the settings menu, tap More settings (at bottom), tap Viewfinder settings, tap More, and make sure Show zoom control is checked. Then, when you go back to the main (picture-taking) screen, swipe from left to right to bring the zoom slider out.

Thank you for the clear explanations.
I found the zoom control hidden on left. I had been trying to zoom using 2 finger stretch like in other apps but didn't work here.
But super is not there. I purchased the app but as you see in the screenshot there is no super.....

Odd... yours has Night where mine has Super (2nd screenshot). Super was there for me in the free version too.

Well, at least I'm not going blind.
I have the latest version. Just purchased it.

I thought I edited my post to say I'd figured it out, but something didn't save... anyway, if you are running Lollipop, pull down your settings menu, tap More settings, tap General Settings, tap More, then make sure Use Camera2 Interface is checked. Then you will have the Super option available. (If you're still running KitKat, that won't work since KK doesn't use the Camera2 interface.)

Thank you.
I'm still on kitkat. So no super mode. ?

Related

What is the Best Camera App?

Like the title insists, what is the best camera application? ie, good focus, decent zoom, silent, many effects...
Snap Photo Pro, but not yet available for the N1.
I really like Camera Zoom FX. Recently updated for N1. Lots of effects, shutter sound can be disabled, easy to use, and add-on packages are all free.
Camera Zoom FX is the king right now for the Nexus One, since it is the only big name camera app out for the Nexus One right now. A memember in another thread said Snap Photo Pro wouldn't be coming to the Nexus One according to an email response he got back from the dev. of Snap Photo Pro. Something about being rather pissed google isn't sticking to their word on Android OS's being universal, including hardware to an extent(ie, you make a camera app for 2.0 it will work on any 2.0 phone, this it seems is not true).
+1 for Camera ZOOM Fx - had this for ever and it keeps getting better!
Does Camera zoom FX allow you to focus first, then snap? It kind of annoys me the way the standard camera waits for focus before snapping.
3Shirts said:
Does Camera zoom FX allow you to focus first, then snap? It kind of annoys me the way the standard camera waits for focus before snapping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you hold the camera button on the screen of the built-in camera app, it will focus first and then take the shot after you let go.
it's great

Custom picture settings

I'm a big picture guy and wanted to know if any of you guys have adjusted any of the settings and have noticed better picture quality. I must say taking off auto-focus does help with the blurryness a little as stated in a previous post but just wanted to know what differences have you made/seen...
I currently have most things set to default.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
Set it to highest resolution.
You will probably have to go to another app to really get good pictures. The stock app compresses them down too much. Hopefully, they will improve it in later updates. There is no excuse for not having more features like Camera 360 - the camera can do much better.
Ditto for the "720p" video. Did some side-by-side with a still camera that has a 720p mode - night and day difference in quality. Again, hope/wonder if this can also be upgraded with only software.
Switch to standard photo size by switching off widescreen mode. All widescreen does is lop off pixels from the top and bottom of your photos. If you really wanted that, just do it yourself in a photo editor. You are not using the full resolution of your camera in widescreen mode, and 16:9 photos are non-standard when it comes to printing either 4x6 or 5x7 photos.

HTC Sense 3.0 Camera

I was testing out the HDR options for this and they do not seem to do much at all. There is a difference, but it is VERY minor. I took a shot without HDR, one with HDR, and then one using the free HDR app, and the HDR app simply blew the HTC HDR mode completely out of the water...
Has anyone else had any experience with this? Is there something I may be missing?
HDR always seemed like something better left to photo editing software to me (like photoshop). Phone camera filters always seem kind of lackluster, but then again, none of us are taking professional shots with a cell camera I assume
On topic though, I wouldn't doubt it being better. Sense stuff isn't exactly always perfection as far as software quality and HDR was probably just an afterthought tied into the camera so they could tick off a notch somewhere on some sheet for features.
Absolutely the same as my experience. I used HDR Camera from the market before this (free), and I really loved its results. When I installed the 3.0 Sense camera and saw the HDR setting, I was happy until I tried it. My theory is that it is NOT taking multiple pictures, but only doing an image adjustment --->> NOT the same thing. HDR Camera doesn't have the issues that some of you described. You do not have to be rock steady and my phone is plenty fast enough to take the three photos within about a second. The image settings are also adjustable (color, etc.).
On the other hand, the panorama mode in the Sense camera is Awesome!
yareally said:
HDR always seemed like something better left to photo editing software to me (like photoshop). Phone camera filters always seem kind of lackluster, but then again, none of us are taking professional shots with a cell camera I assume
On topic though, I wouldn't doubt it being better. Sense stuff isn't exactly always perfection as far as software quality and HDR was probably just an afterthought tied into the camera so they could tick off a notch somewhere on some sheet for features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Software cannot do what HDR does. HDR takes 2 pictures, adjusting the gain on the sensor between low and high. It combines the best of both images to gain detail in low light areas and avoid over exposure in high light areas. Software will not work after the fact because the extra information gained from low/high gain is not present. Unfortunately the HDR option is poorly implemented by HTC. If you try HDR on the Iphone, you can see a drastic difference.
Actually, I use Pro HDR on my Evo, and it takes fantastic pictures in true HDR. It is a touch slower than a pro camera, but it does actually meter the scene and adjust the camera's aperture accordingly. It then allows for adjustments between the composite image and allows for saving the final as well as the source images, meaning you can do further editing elsewhere. Outside of some cropping, I haven't had problems.
With that said, I would be curious to know what the deal is with Sense. What's interesting is if you put it in HDR mode, it shows the little icon in the top right with multiple images...like whoever designed it at least understood how true HDR *should* operate. Then, if you push and release it instead of the regular shutter button, it beeps and you hear the lens go, and the image focuses itself. So...idk. I don't see a noticeable effect in the regular images at all...

[Q&A] Camera Mods and Ports on OxygenOS

For example, "ColorOS Camera for CM11s", "Another ColorOS Camera Port", and "CameraNext Modded."
The developers for these camera ports and mods are explicit about what they do and don't support.
None of them currently support OxygenOS. This bears repeating--"None of them currently support OxygenOS."
It is counter-productive and messy for users of OxygenOS to keep posting in the developer's threads about how their camera ports fall short of the expectations of those who are trying to plug the cameras into rom's for which they were not made.
Please come here and help each other, or be quiet, and leave the dev's alone.
If and when there is support for a camera on OxygenOS, the news will travel like lightning.
I have so far run some superficial tests with "ColorOS Camera for CM11s", and here are the results..., so you can know what to expect should you install it on OxygenOS.
You may add your observations to this thread as you wish.
So here's a list of what did and didn't work in OxygenOS.
What worked:
Normal worked just fine--all I did was leave settings on auto and pressed the shutter.
Burst worked, however each burst photo is only about 1/3 size of Normal photo in megabytes--this might be by design.
GIF worked.
Picture Plus worked.
Beautify worked.
HDR worked.
Colorful Filter worked.
Double Exposure worked.
What didn't work:
HDPicture did NOT work--it took only Normal sized shots at 13mp.
Super Macro did NOT work--it snapped a photo that turned out to be some sort of thumbnail.
Colorful Night snapped a photo, but terribly out of focus--tried several times..
Slow Shutter did NOT work.
Professional worked, but NOT using the timed shutter. I didn't try all the settings out.
RAW showed me the jpg, but I could not find the dng in OxygenOS native file manager app (Files), nor see it in Android Quickpic or in Windows.
Been testing out CameraNext Modded.
HDR worked.
Normal worked.
Macro worked however became difficult to focus when very close to subject, as I've not yet learned the proper place on the screen to tap to offset the parallax.
Variable shutter did not work.
That's as far as I got
Also, in the Normal settings, the only resolution options were 13mp and 10mp--don't remember if that's intentional.
COS12S CameraNext On OxygenOS:
Normal works, focus-Macro works.
Panorama makes a very tiny file, about 500kb.
Slo-mo 1080 @60fps worked. Grainy, but worked.
It might have been the medium light which was fine for 1080, or maybe that's just what happens.
No Slow Shutter available in Scene modes.
ColorOS Camera for CM11s/COS12 on OxygenOS
Video: 4K and 4K DCI recorded at 1920 x 1090. Slo-mo at 1280 x 738, and HDR at 1920 x 1090.
Thank you.
Darn I used HD more all the time.... hope they update it..i doubt it though...
time
tony1208 said:
Darn I used HD more all the time.... hope they update it..i doubt it though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, me too. Give it time.
P.S.--you are welcome to post your experiences with the different cameras here and help fill in the blanks.
10mp (16:9) doesn't work
1) I normally prefer taking pictures in wide resolution. I guess oxygenOs has removed the support for wide resolution at higher mp.
The setting 10mp (16:9) in the camera setting for Colour OS app doesn't take pictures in 10mp, but in a very small resolution. Only the 2mp (16:9) and 0.9 mp (16:9) settings work.
2) Beautify doesn't work on my phone.
Seriously hope someone fixes this.
Thanks
Clear data.
shekhar2989 said:
1) I normally prefer taking pictures in wide resolution. I guess oxygenOs has removed the support for wide resolution at higher mp.
The setting 10mp (16:9) in the camera setting for Colour OS app doesn't take pictures in 10mp, but in a very small resolution. Only the 2mp (16:9) and 0.9 mp (16:9) settings work.
2) Beautify doesn't work on my phone.
Seriously hope someone fixes this.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go System->Apps->the ColorOS camera app (might be called "Camera") and clear data.
Likewise for the plugins.
Try Beautify again.
ChronoSnap
Just now tested ChronoSnap on OxygenOS. Indeed, as the developer states, it seems to be a very simple and intuitive timelapse camera.
On OxygenOS though, it snaps only thumbnails.
@Android-Andi
This is information about SultanXDA's ROM regarding the camera.
SultanXDA ROM thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/onep...-12-1-t3120259
From the other thread I've learned to NOT flash another camera HAL, that ColorOS Camera has mirrored preview with selfies, and that ColorOS Camera will not show the 1080 selfie option.
Mirrored preview ColorOS Camera:
"sultanxda--Not a real bug. This is an issue with the ColorOS camera, not my HAL. The ColorOS cam was designed to be used by the CM/ColorOS camera libraries, and it's not a part of the actual ROM (it's an outside closed-source app), so I will make absolutely no effort to try and fix it."
1080 front camera ColorOS Camera:
"CameraNext and all other camera apps have the option, but ColorOS doesn't. Have you tried scrolling up in the video size list?"
Also, someone reported a bug switching from camera to pano or sphere:
"macimeister--Photosphere and Panorama mode in google camera app does not work. It is expected to improve this?
sultanxda--Just tested it, and this bug only happens when switching directly from camcorder mode to photosphere. Switching from camera mode to photosphere is fine.
There seem to be other bugs with Google Camera as well. I'll look into fixing them."
Since sultanxda states that many of the ColorOS camera features are closed-source, I gotta figure that for the most part, ColorOS and Another ColorOS will not be fully implemented.
Otherwise, seems to be fine camera-wise.

Take better low pictures using google camera and HDR mode

Hi Guys,
I wanted to let you all know that I happened to install Google camera as I was not particularly impressed with the noisy low light photos of the stock camera app.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the results using the google camera after enabling the HDR mode ,the low lights are vastly better than the stock camera in HDR mode, also photos in HDR mode with the google camera are saved much faster than the stock camera in the HDR mode.
Please note that google camera doesn’t show up for me in play store ,so I have side loaded 3.1.025 version .it’s not all rosy though, as the video mode is not working for me and there are occasional FC’s while the pic has been clicked and if you press the home button.
But despite all these, I honestly can’t go back to the stock camera for low light photos,I would suggest you all give it a try and let me know your thoughts.
Cheers.
Attaching some low light picture taken using the google camera.dont have the stock app photos side by side for comparison.sorry.
I have found low light with stock RAW very good as you can control noise levels and lights, even the simple gallery app DNG post treatment make very good results
vegetaleb said:
I have found low light with stock RAW very good as you can control noise levels and lights, even the simple gallery app DNG post treatment make very good results
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the Tip mate ,would try it out.I am inclined towards google camera because without any post processing the images have lesser noise compared to the stock camera.I would try to post some better pics,I will admit the ones I have put dont make a strong case for themselves because I was just trying them out
Cheers.

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