Camera questions (upgrading from Z5) - Sony Xperia XZ Premium Questions & Answers

I have a few questions as I am considering upgrading from Z5 to XZ Premium.
1. Is 4K mode still distinct from other video modes? I recall reading somewhere that the XZ1 has 4k mode part of the canera app now but not sure if it was XZ1 or XZP. Also, are you able to tap and lock focus in 4K or any other mode? On the Z5, I can't tap-focus in 4K mode
2. Can video white balance be made constant? I've seen many videos of the XZ Premium and XZ1 where the white balance shifts in tone when the camera pans in different lighting conditions. The Z5 has this same problem and you can only adjust the colour tint but it will still automatically shift around. This is extremely annoying of you want to take serious video since white balance should not be set "auto", and other Android smartphones are able to have a constant white balance seting. I am only able to change video white balance in the 4K app. If not, is there a third-party app that is able to do this?
3. How reliable is the predictive burst capture of the XZP? Is there times when it does not trigger properly? From what I've read there's still no real burst mode on the XZP but hopefully Android Oreo will bring the XZ1's new burst function to the XZP. However I'm not banking on it because of how Sony treated the Z5 series (practically no updates to the camera despite software updates to 6.0, 7.0, 7.1 etc.)
4. Does touch capture focus on the tapped spot before it captures the image? After updating to 7.0 on the Z5 they made it so that touch capture just triggers the middle part of the image to be focused!

predictive capture is close to worthless on the xz p since its auto only. I can rarely get it to trigger when I want (trying to take pictures of kids).
4k mode is separate from the standard video mode on it.
Touch capture is focusing and then taking a photo where it is touched.
will have to look into the white balance

Are you able to touch focus or manual focus in video? It is frustrating that the camera hunts focus when filming something like fireworks, when other cameras have manual focus for video.

in 1080p it appears to track focus on what you tap, in 4k it is doing nothing when tapping.

well that's really disappointing. Did you take a look at the white balance settings for video yet?

There is no white balance settings in 1080p video, only in 4K.

Mine is doing great specially in capturing moving subjects no blur at all.
Sent from my G8142 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Mangtas_666 said:
Mine is doing great specially in capturing moving subjects no blur at all.
Sent from my G8142 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
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got some tips? getting my kids to be not blurry is def hit or miss. predictive captures almost never goes off.

admad said:
There is no white balance settings in 1080p video, only in 4K.
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Click to collapse
thanks, now that's really disappointing. For the XZ1 they are merging the 4K modes but I'm concerned that means they will take away white balance altogether. Is there any third-party app that allows for manual white balance of video?

Related

[Q] No continuous autofocus in camcorder mode?

Reviews of the Sensation seem to imply that there is no continuous autofocus in camcorder mode... can someone with the phone confirm that?
would be a real shame!
From this spec comparison between SE Neo and HTC Sensation, it says:
"There are some attractive features which the Neo has and the Sensation doesn’t, notably video calling, continuous autofocus, video light and smile detection, but overall we feel the HTC is better equipped with its dual LED flash, image stabilisation and higher quality video capture."
Yeah, I've read that too.. but would be good if someone with a Sensation in hand could confirm it.
Having 1080p recording without the continuous autofocus is a joke.
This video shows autofocus and zoom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_DKoCL-DQg&feature=player_embedded
(notes say it was made with a prelim version, so final may vary)
The user guide for the sensation does mention in page 69 that after starting recording:
6. You can freely zoom in or out while recording video.
7. You can change focus to a different subject or area by just tapping it on the
Viewfinder screen.
Which implies that you can zoom while recording & that Focus does change.
omar302 said:
The user guide for the sensation does mention in page 69 that after starting recording:
6. You can freely zoom in or out while recording video.
7. You can change focus to a different subject or area by just tapping it on the
Viewfinder screen.
Which implies that you can zoom while recording & that Focus does change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone confirm?
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk
Here's a posted video. Looks to me like everything is kept in focus at varying distances.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U70LGfTlsq4
Without the phone I can't confirm, but I've seen several vids and none show signs of losing focus when the distance to objects varies.
Look at this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZDcpggOHRc&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP9E838D931C71486D
After watching this video, we can conclude that the HTC Sensation's camera does sport continuous autofocus and/or tap-to-focus.
I guess it would be a whole lot easier if someone in possession of a HTC Sensation could've posted in this thread.
It's tap to focus. You tap the object on the screen that you want to focus on and it then focuses on that object for you.
Have tested it, but haven't uploaded it.
Some of the 1080p videos that I've taken with my Sensation have involved lots of panning around and objects sometimes being a lot closer than others, and when playing the video back on my PC screen everything is always sharply in focus.
"Tap to focus" is like a manual override of autofocus. For example: If the camera has focused on somebody in the foreground, but you actually want the background to be in focus, or vice versa.
I jsut had a play around with it on my Sensation. While panning around with the viewfinder it does auto focus. While actually recording video it does not, but refocuses if you touch the screen. I'll get a video done showing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JjH6Uln1Xo
Youtube really kills the framerate... anywhere else I could upload that would be better? As you can see, it does not automatically refocus. When you do touch the screen it refocuses quickly though.
Edit: This should do - Dropbox link to video file
Lazzzara said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JjH6Uln1Xo
Youtube really kills the framerate... anywhere else I could upload that would be better? As you can see, it does not automatically refocus. When you do touch the screen it refocuses quickly though.
Edit: This should do - Dropbox link to video file
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Click to collapse
It's goooood! Youtube really makes the videos look like sh*t...

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...

does video capturing support HDR??

I was just browsing through GSM arena and found the XZP so I decided to give it a glance and I saw under video it states that there is HDR support.
I cant seem to find how to enable that option in my camera video settings I dont know what does GSM arena mean by HDR under video features...
does any one care to share a possible explanation?
thanks
madshark2009 said:
I was just browsing through GSM arena and found the XZP so I decided to give it a glance and I saw under video it states that there is HDR support.
I cant seem to find how to enable that option in my camera video settings I dont know what does GSM arena mean by HDR under video features...
does any one care to share a possible explanation?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is NO HRD video capturing on XZP, I used this phone for a year now!
duongcuong96 said:
There is NO HRD video capturing on XZP, I used this phone for a year now!
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https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz_premium-8593.php
see in main camera section, in video features it states HDR, what does that mean?
I see you can only enable it in the manual mode
madshark2009 said:
see in main camera section, in video features it states HDR, what does that mean?
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Click to collapse
that info is totally wrong, you can only enable HDR in photo mode
The video recording is HDR, but not 10bit HDR as the XZ2
There is 2 types of HDR:
The "old" HDR, wich was made to record video in backlight conditions, being able to record with diferent exposition values avoiding white sky and dark subjects, the same as you know as HDR in photos, so the video is recorded in traditional 8bit colour range but with backlight correction
The "new" HDR, wich in addition to the old HDR also brings the 10bit recording, wich is able to improve colour and the brightness values without "burning" the image (when you take a picture and the sky looks white because it was too bright)
The old HDR was introduced by the Xperia Z, years ago, since then most smartphones record HDR video (actually HDR video was introduced before HDR photos in smartphones due for HDR photos you need multiple photos, and video is multiple images so it can make HDR easier)
You can check the HDR video was introduced with Xperia Z here:
So all Xperias since then record HDR video, when you see the Backlight icon when recording you know the phone is recording in backlight situation and uses HDR to improve the image, but its not the HDR10 or 10bit of the Xperia XZ2
If you want to know if the Xperia XZ premium could record in 10bit the answer is probably since the XZ2 uses de same camera sensor, but since is the XZ2 reason to exist, I dont think Sony will bring to XZ Premium, but who knows, actually they bring the 3D mode from XZ1 so...
On my Xperia Z2 I am able to capture video recordings at 4K HDR. Something that the XZ2 can do but not our beloved XZ Premium. They have ideas to make the mod for our device and detail the real capabilities of the camera. Just not sure when that will happen but it sounds like a possibility. Because of this mod I feel at times my Z2 takes better photos and videos than my XZ Premium.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony-themes-apps/mod-cyberian-camera-t3267271
Capabilities of this mod with XZ Premium:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/cr...mes-apps/mod-cyberian-camera-t3267271/page477
Kilek_360 said:
The video recording is HDR, but not 10bit HDR as the XZ2
There is 2 types of HDR:
The "old" HDR, wich was made to record video in backlight conditions, being able to record with diferent exposition values avoiding white sky and dark subjects, the same as you know as HDR in photos, so the video is recorded in traditional 8bit colour range but with backlight correction
The "new" HDR, wich in addition to the old HDR also brings the 10bit recording, wich is able to improve colour and the brightness values without "burning" the image (when you take a picture and the sky looks white because it was too bright)
The old HDR was introduced by the Xperia Z, years ago, since then most smartphones record HDR video (actually HDR video was introduced before HDR photos in smartphones due for HDR photos you need multiple photos, and video is multiple images so it can make HDR easier)
You can check the HDR video was introduced with Xperia Z here:
So all Xperias since then record HDR video, when you see the Backlight icon when recording you know the phone is recording in backlight situation and uses HDR to improve the image, but its not the HDR10 or 10bit of the Xperia XZ2
If you want to know if the Xperia XZ premium could record in 10bit the answer is probably since the XZ2 uses de same camera sensor, but since is the XZ2 reason to exist, I dont think Sony will bring to XZ Premium, but who knows, actually they bring the 3D mode from XZ1 so...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my xz premium with pie update does not support the "old" hdr in video (it only support for hdr in photo) or am i missing something ?
amanieux said:
my xz premium with pie update does not support the "old" hdr in video (it only support for hdr in photo) or am i missing something ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When recording in 1080/30 with automatic mode sometimes it shows a "backlight" icon or "Backlight portrait", then is using HDR to correct the backlight over the subject

why cant we record HDR videos?

hi, if a camera is capable of taking HDR photos, why cant it record HDR videos?
is it a software thing or hardware? can any one care to provide an answer?
thanks
the phone actually takes HDR video, but there is two tipes of HDR
Almost every phone can take hdr videos since it ws introduced by the first Xperia Z, even before HDR photos, since HDR photos needs to combine 2 or more pictures, and video is actually a combination of pictures, so HDR video was in smartphones before HDR photos
at that time, HDR was only about exposure values, in photoa still the same, in Xperia XZ Premium you can know when its using HDR video when the auto mode changes to "backgroung light" or something like that, wich means the phone is underexposing the background and overexposing the subject to avoid burned areas in background or dark subject, same as in HDR photos
But in video HDR means two things: more than one exposure value, the same as in photos, or 10 (or more) bit image
videos are usually taken at 8bit colour depth
the HDR10 videos, wich is the HDR you see in Xperia XZ2, captures video at 10bit colour depth, wich means a bit more colour and light range
So it has nothing to do the ability to capture HDR photos with HDR10 video, and the phone can take HDR video but not 10bit HDR video
Also there is no other phone wich can capture 10bit HDR video than Xperia XZ2 series, and almost every phone can capture standar HDR photos and video
Yes, no other phone that can do 4k hdr 10 bit, only sony ???
In fact, my phone can do either 4k 60fps, either 4k hdr 10:good:
Also, before I switched to another phone, I have compared it against xz2 premium and xz3 in photo quality and the results were: sony is garbage!
Didn't want to write this, as some moderator closed my thread "it s time for me to move on", but... but.. Stop this nonsense as sony is the only one...?
---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:16 PM ----------
P. S. These days I will upload some photos for comparison against xz premium... The results are night and day...
Kilek_360 said:
the phone actually takes HDR video, but there is two tipes of HDR
Almost every phone can take hdr videos since it ws introduced by the first Xperia Z, even before HDR photos, since HDR photos needs to combine 2 or more pictures, and video is actually a combination of pictures, so HDR video was in smartphones before HDR photos
at that time, HDR was only about exposure values, in photoa still the same, in Xperia XZ Premium you can know when its using HDR video when the auto mode changes to "backgroung light" or something like that, wich means the phone is underexposing the background and overexposing the subject to avoid burned areas in background or dark subject, same as in HDR photos
But in video HDR means two things: more than one exposure value, the same as in photos, or 10 (or more) bit image
videos are usually taken at 8bit colour depth
the HDR10 videos, wich is the HDR you see in Xperia XZ2, captures video at 10bit colour depth, wich means a bit more colour and light range
So it has nothing to do the ability to capture HDR photos with HDR10 video, and the phone can take HDR video but not 10bit HDR video
Also there is no other phone wich can capture 10bit HDR video than Xperia XZ2 series, and almost every phone can capture standar HDR photos and video
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Click to collapse
so youre saying that my phone captures HDR videos? like thats a normal thing, but the real HDR that im talking about isnt supported (HDR10)
madshark2009 said:
so youre saying that my phone captures HDR videos? like thats a normal thing, but the real HDR that im talking about isnt supported (HDR10)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it takes HDR video but the "old basic" HDR which takes different exposure values, not the 10bit HDR wich takes wide colour gamut
Kilek_360 said:
Yeah, it takes HDR video but the "old basic" HDR which takes different exposure values, not the 10bit HDR wich takes wide colour gamut
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool thanks for the explanation mate
Inerent said:
Yes, no other phone that can do 4k hdr 10 bit, only sony
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Click to collapse
You can record in 4kHDR, but can you view it in the phone itself in 4kHDR?

Open Camera now allows P20 PRO to record video using all lenses

Hi all, you might know this already but I just found out and it seems like absolutely great news for this phone. The latest Open Camera update allows you to record video using every camera on the phone. Even the monochrome one works. No need to have perfect lighting conditions in order for the camera to switch between main and telephoto. You now have a dedicated camera button which lets you select what lens to use. Did you get the chance to try it out? I didn't have any issues yet.
Link please
Here it is:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sourceforge.opencamera
Is the recording quality improved?
I'm not sure. You do have to option to record with maximum 80Mbps but I I find it hard to tell if that is any different from the 30Mbps standard rate. Video looks crisp and clear, colors are very good, especially if you lock the white balance.
Quality seems not as good.. Also can not use Camera API 2, for high res to get extra control in manual mode.
I'm not sure why you can't use camera2 api. For me it works and I can select iso and exposure during filming. I have a CLT L29.
boradu said:
I'm not sure why you can't use camera2 api. For me it works and I can select iso and exposure during filming. I have a CLT L29.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whats your max resolution for recording video using Camera2 API?
For the 40mp lens and the telephoto lens, I have 3840x2160. The monochrome camera however has a resolution of 3264x1840 for video.
Sorry for necropost, but anyone tried open camera for B&W photos? Does it allow exposure bracketing? Raw or at least png for file saving? I would like to try p20 pro just for that monochrome lens...
You can save RAW with the B&W camera but for some reason the pictures appear purple.

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