As a lot of you know, I'm very dissatisfied with the nexus camera. I've bashed it a lot. Sure, there are times when you can get a decent shot, but it seems like it's very hard with this camera.
I believe the issue is with the zero shutter lag and stock camera app. You see, when you focus on the subject, THE TINIEST MOVEMENT before snapping the picture will cause the subject to come out of focus and make the image look like total crap. This was never present on previous smartphones I've owned; I could always focus, and it would keep the focus before taking the pic even if I moved the phone a little. Not with the nexus, nope.
The result of this problem is out of focus pictures, which in turn (somehow) makes the colors look washed out, which in turn makes the result piss you off. I don't know exactly what it is, but I've narrowed it down to that. It's just very touchy and very hard to keep anything in focus.
And no...I'm not talking about a slower shutter speed where movement DURING the picture will cause a blurry photo. Even with fast shutter speeds, the slightest movement with this camera before or during the shot will cause out of focus subjects.
Now, what I've found is not something that will completely make the nexus seem like a point and shoot camera, but something that will make you feel a little less frustrated. Keep in mind, this is NOT my app, and I am not advertising it for any other reason than it works. I used to be the type of person that hated camera apps besides stock, but nope, not after using the nexus. It's almost needed.
Now here's the thing with this app. You open it (it opens as quick as stock BTW), don't even mess with any of the special effects or anything (unless you want to of course). Just use it as a stock replacement. Now here's the good part....
Once you have the app open, all you do is tap anywhere on the screen and it will focus in on where you tapped and automatically take the picture. What does this mean? No having to tap to focus and THEN move over and his the shutter button like on stock. This reduces the amount of movement after focusing and before the picture is taken.
Now, if you don't want to tap to focus, simply hit the shutter button and it will do an auto focus on the entire picture and then automatically take the picture! No need to press and hold to focus, and then release to take the picture like the stock app. Again, this basically reduces the amount of movement and gets rid of a step, which in turn equals clearer pictures.
On top of that, this app seems to keep it's focus better than the stock app. If you happen to move the phone just after you focus and right before it takes the picture, it does a better job of keeping focus. With the stock app, any movement and your picture is screwed.
In conclusion, this isn't a fix to the sensor (which is considered low quality by some). It just makes your picture taking on the nexus much more easier and enjoyable. Sorry for the long post, but this app has made the camera experience a lot better.
Here is an example I took. My phone was held in the exact same spot for both photos. Touch to focus what used directly on the water bottle label. Notice how the picture from the stock app is blurry (and the kleenex box), and notice how the image from the other app is sharp (even look at the difference on the kleenex box). Open up both pictures, and then keep switching between them and you will see what I mean.
Differences might look minor to some, but the small differences really change the entire quality of the photo. It's a huge difference overall.
Stock app:
http://i.imgur.com/c5FGZ.jpg
Other app:
http://i.imgur.com/CBigb.jpg
Name of app? Camera Zoom FX ($2.99 from the market, worth every penny)
No need to change anything in the app settings, everything comes on auto. I don't even use any of the special effects or anything in the app; I just use it as a replacement for stock.
I hope this post has helped some of you.
Agreed. Also camera 360 (free at the moment on the market) does the same.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
klobkelosh said:
Agreed. Also camera 360 (free at the moment on the market) does the same.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, no. Camera zoom FX is far far superior and I still get blurry photos with 360. It's also not as easy to use as zoom fx.
brian85 said:
Stock app:
http://i.imgur.com/c5FGZ.jpg
Other app:
http://i.imgur.com/CBigb.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock app picture is not sharp (camera shake).
i believe there is a software issue as well. i remember someone did an EXIF on some of their GNexus and the ISO was at like 1/6000 or something lol. ideally on my dslr i try to go for ISO 80.
I bought Camera Zoom FX when google had that 10 cent deal a few weeks back.
I will have to download and try it. To be honest I never even used it before just bought 90% of apps in case i ever needed it
Valynor said:
Stock app picture is not sharp (camera shake).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my point. You have to be extremely careful and put in a lot of effort to get an in focus picture in the stock app.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
tannor said:
I bought Camera Zoom FX when google had that 10 cent deal a few weeks back.
I will have to download and try it. To be honest I never even used it before just bought 90% of apps in case i ever needed it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Danger it. I knew I should have gotten it.
Just did the same test.. The OP is 100% right. The camera zoom fx shot IS better...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
GinoSylum said:
Just did the same test.. The OP is 100% right. The camera zoom fx shot IS better...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. There are times when the difference won't be much noticeable (depends on how careful you were with the stock app), but overall camera fx with so much better.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
flipping back and forth, initially you seem to be right, the stock app water bottle is blurrier. but, watch the wall in the background...its sharper in the stock app than the 'other app'. this would show stock app not picking the correct focus distance...stock focused farther behind the bottle (i'm sure you tapped to select the bottle for focus), other app properly focused on the bottle.
could be software or calibration
cancerouspete said:
flipping back and forth, initially you seem to be right, the stock app water bottle is blurrier. but, watch the wall in the background...its sharper in the stock app than the 'other app'. this would show stock app not picking the correct focus distance...stock focused farther behind the bottle (i'm sure you tapped to select the bottle for focus), other app properly focused on the bottle.
could be software or calibration
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point. I tapped on both apps directly on the water bottle label.
Camera zoom fx focuses on what it should, while the stock app doesn't.
klobkelosh said:
Agreed. Also camera 360 (free at the moment on the market) does the same.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Camera 360 asks for too many permissions for a simple camera app. Fortunately, I managed to pick up Camera Zoom FX for $0.10 during the 10 day sale last month.
j.go said:
Camera 360 asks for too many permissions for a simple camera app. Fortunately, I managed to pick up Camera Zoom FX for $0.10 during the 10 day sale last month.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
360 does indeed do that, plus it doesn't even work nearly as good as zoom fx. I'd even say 360 isn't an improvement over stock.
zoom fx opens just as fast as stock, yet performs better.
brian85 said:
360 does indeed do that, plus it doesn't even work nearly as good as zoom fx. I'd even say 360 isn't an improvement over stock.
zoom fx opens just as fast as stock, yet performs better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never really got to try camera 360. As soon as I saw the permission requests, I cancelled the download.
I agree that zoom FX does takes better pictures, but only because it gives you time to steady your hand/the phone AFTER you tap on the screen. As you said in your original post, zero shutter lag is to blame. It takes pictures way TOO fast. Google should add delay settings that you can choose from such as 0(default)/.5s/1s/1.5s before taking the shot. Sure it defeats the purpose of zero shutter lag, but it at least gives us a choice which is what android is all about.
I bought Camera Zoom FX during the Market $0.10 sale. But haven't used it since I upgraded from my Desire to the Galaxy Nexus.
After reading this, I may have to start using it on a regular basis now. So thanks brian85!
IMO I just don't like the fact that I tap the screen to take the picture. I love the fast response, but since touch screen offers no real tactile feedback, its hard to get a "click" feel like you would with a regular camera. I had D1 Droid before this, and its camera is crap in general, bad quality and focus...etc. But it had a dedicated shutter button. Even though its just a switch, a physical button on the periphery is easier to let me hold the camera steady and shoot the picture. I wish there are some mod or in custom ROM that let you map one of the physical button(power, or one of the volumes) to act as the shutter release in the camera app....
You guys do know you can hold the shutter button in the stock camera app to focus and let go to take the picture, right?
spitefulcheerio said:
You guys do know you can hold the shutter button in the stock camera app to focus and let go to take the picture, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/thread
(10char)
spitefulcheerio said:
You guys do know you can hold the shutter button in the stock camera app to focus and let go to take the picture, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I described that in my OP. It's still terrible compared to camera zoom fx.
Related
hello i've been testing the camera for the nexus and i just cant get fine pictures with it, i dont understand because the video is amanzingly good but the pictures suck, is there an app that resolves this?
You may have problems with focus. By default, on 'quick snaps', the camera seems to just focus to infinity. My recommendation is to hold down the 'shutter' for a bit so that it can pre-focus (turn green) and then it will take a picture. Exposure and focus are much better then.
Thx men
Sent from mthxy Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
nycebo said:
You may have problems with focus. By default, on 'quick snaps', the camera seems to just focus to infinity. My recommendation is to hold down the 'shutter' for a bit so that it can pre-focus (turn green) and then it will take a picture. Exposure and focus are much better then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gotta thank you for this, i had no idea that holding down the shutter button caused it to focus.
@neok44, anytime. I'll admit that the sensor on the SGN isn't as good as the iPhone4s but the SGN takes better pictures than my DX (8mp) did. If you don't mind using a camera app until the newer ICS release is out, I really like using Vignette also. Of course, it takes pictures at a much slower clip than the native camera...which is generally what I use unless I'm trying to be 'artistic'.
I really like using a modded version of miui camera version 17. Search xda for it, look for the "fixed 2"version by mongoose helix. Takes nice pics, auto focuses ok, quick.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Ive been trying to find a "perfect" camera app for my DInc2 with a few key features.
*hardware volume button shutter option
*touch screen focus
*adjustable ISO
*clicking thumbnail goes to HTC Gallery app
Didn't think that would be so hard, right? But it always seemed that they came close, but were always missing one feature or another.
So, after many rounds of both paid and free apps I finally found Ucam
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ucamera.ucam&hl=en
Has all the above features, plus more. It also has a stunner of a built in editing package, with tons of presets and discrete controls for brightness, saturation, contrast,etc., *BUT* it downsamples the image to like 1280x800 or something and I can't figure out how to make not do that.
But that's just gravy, considering it already fulfilled my wish list, so hopefully they will fix the resolution problem with the editor. Nice GUI too. And it makes animated GIFs, amongst other oddities. Did I mention the incredible sharing setup?
Plus, its FREE.
They also just came out with a tablet version.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ucamera.ucamtablet
Forums are here but a lot is in Chinese
http://forum.u-camera.com/
I may be late to the party and everyone is already using this, but I think it's worth sharing
I'm using nitsuj's TSMBullet and it has a great camera! The touch to focus, thumbnail brings to gallery, and it has manual, panorama, hdr, and burst mode. There isn't a volume shutter however. One of the best camera's i've used
mushypizza said:
I'm using nitsuj's TSMBullet and it has a great camera! The touch to focus, thumbnail brings to gallery, and it has manual, panorama, hdr, and burst mode. There isn't a volume shutter however. One of the best camera's i've used
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree. The bullet camera is very sharp.
Sent from my ADR6350 using xda premium
This app is awesome! Thanks for the tip.
Btw, to change the image size. Be in camera mode and scroll through the menu at the top of the screen, you should see a square with some sizes in it, press it and select the size you want
Sent from my Incredible 2 running Zeus 1.3
What ROM?
Anyone know if this works with the CM9 Kang ROM by areovan? This CM9 ROM is almost perfect. Only 2 issues that I'm running into:
1. Must run "su; killall drmserver" in the terminal after reboot in order to get Google Play to download/update apps
2. Flash on any camera app that I've tried (stock, angel, zoom FX) doesn't work.
I don't really care if the FFC or camcorder works, mainly need a camera app with flash as I travel a lot (business) and love to take pics at a moments notice with my phone.
Any ideas?
I've tried a ton of camera apps and this is by far my favorite after just a few hours of use. Thanks for the tip!
ecatsab said:
2. Flash on any camera app that I've tried (stock, angel, zoom FX) doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can turn on the torch before taking the picture and that should help.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA
they just updated the app to 1.1.7 today, and it fixed a couple of repeatable crashes I was having and had reported...these guys are super responsive! They also said they would consider an option to not downrez the image in editing mode since many smartphones are powerful enough to edit a 8mp image (slowly) these days
This is a great camera app. Thanks for the heads up. Does it take the full 8mp wide pics like sense roms do? It looks like the pic fills the entire screen.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA
Hello Hello Hi and Hello Again! :victory:
I've been trying for a while to take photos with my Google Galaxy Nexus but there's no way to keep the focus zone while i'm shoting. Each time i touch the screen to shot the photo, the phone loses the focus zone. Is there any way to fix this?
Have you tried other focus settings? Continuous focus stinks. Try using infinity
What other focus settings? I don't see any in the Camera app.
pfmiller said:
What other focus settings? I don't see any in the Camera app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be on stock ROM.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Yup, it's a big oversight in the stock camera app. I don't understand how it's not there since it was in older versions.
Try an app called Camera Zoom FX (it was previously on Google's 10 cent deal). The program allows you to touch the screen where you want the camera to focus, and it'll automatically take a shot once it's achieved focus. The big glaring weakness of Camera Zoom FX, in my opinion, is the fact that you can't adjust the exposure. (that is, you need to be able to meter the light on a different part of the scene than you're focusing).
Honestly, it's not hard. To me, the two biggest requirements:
1. Touch to focus and shoot
2. An option to measure light from a different source (e.g. take a photo of someone in front of a window; you want to meter their face and not the window's light)
Just looking for a replacement camera app with better overall performance
- as a bonus, an app that can take advantage of photosphere? Looks like 360panarama doesn't work on the N4. Also, ability to upload to google maps is a nice bonus to handle sharing photosphere without google+?
I'm gonna guess I am at Google's mercy with all things photosphere though.
I'm looking for one with a self timer. Don't care about photosphere...
fx camera.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
galaxys said:
I'm looking for one with a self timer. Don't care about photosphere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=slide.cameraZoom&feature=related_apps#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwOSwic2xpZGUuY2FtZXJhWm9vbSJd
ijustzeke said:
fx camera.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this one seems to be all about filters... does it have good actual camera functions and controls = better than the native cam?
Camera fv5, many manual controls
Motorola stock camera app from this ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2069139... very great with timer and a lot of options
shahabk818 said:
Motorola stock camera app from this ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2069139... very great with timer and a lot of options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't need to install that ROM? Just install the APK?
The default camera app struggle way too much with the auto focus and just cant get it right in the first trial. Therefore, I use Camera FX Zoom as mentioned by people above too. Its a great app. Has timer.. Burst mode.. and focuses extremely quick and accurate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwOSwic2xpZGUuY2FtZXJhWm9vbSJd
Its a known bug in N4's camera. N4 Auto focus complaints:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=43153
There are 28,660 pages filled with user complaining about auto focus.
They should have seriously fixed the camera auto focus and WiFi screen off in the Latest update. Who knows what went wrong with Google ...........
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
camera zoom fx
Seems you can't do HDR with front facing camera and all photos that save from front camera are upside down. Anyone else have those two issues?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Hi,
I currently use this, Camera JB+: https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDEsImNvbS5tb2JseW54LmNhbWVyYWpicGx1cyJd
Simple, easy, looks like the stock camera app (with her own gallery), standard settings plus a bit more, perfect for my use...
2 reasons this thread has made my day
1. I'm not the only one with a focus bug using the stock camera pp
2. It introduced me to Camera Zoom FX, it's brilliant! (if you won't miss photosphere)
filthykid said:
The default camera app struggle way too much with the auto focus and just cant get it right in the first trial. Therefore, I use Camera FX Zoom as mentioned by people above too. Its a great app. Has timer.. Burst mode.. and focuses extremely quick and accurate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwOSwic2xpZGUuY2FtZXJhWm9vbSJd
Its a known bug in N4's camera. N4 Auto focus complaints:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=43153
There are 28,660 pages filled with user complaining about auto focus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the million dollar question though. Does it focus well with FLASH? Google really messed up with this damn camera. I swear up and down that the Nexus One had a better camera than this garbage they put in here. It's absolutely useless with flash. I can't use it at all!! Damn you Google!!?
Sent from my Nexus 4
nexicon said:
Here is the million dollar question though. Does it focus well with FLASH? Google really messed up with this damn camera. I swear up and down that the Nexus One had a better camera than this garbage they put in here. It's absolutely useless with flash. I can't use it at all!! Damn you Google!!?
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My problem, in addition to the worst focusing ever, is that the camera software totally blows out anything I take a picture of with flash. Pictures of my friends make them look like highlighters!
nexicon said:
I swear up and down that the Nexus One had a better camera than this garbage they put in here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still keeping the nexus one and I can confirm that the nexus 4 is "slightly" better than the nexus one in terms of camera performance.
filthykid said:
The default camera app struggle way too much with the auto focus and just cant get it right in the first trial. Therefore, I use Camera FX Zoom as mentioned by people above too. Its a great app. Has timer.. Burst mode.. and focuses extremely quick and accurate.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwOSwic2xpZGUuY2FtZXJhWm9vbSJd
Its a known bug in N4's camera. N4 Auto focus complaints:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=43153
There are 28,660 pages filled with user complaining about auto focus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That 28,700+ (now) number is the amount of open issues with Android in general, not the auto-focus.
ghalalb said:
2 reasons this thread has made my day
1. I'm not the only one with a focus bug using the stock camera pp
2. It introduced me to Camera Zoom FX, it's brilliant! (if you won't miss photosphere)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I love photosphere and I have got into the habit of taking them almost everywhere I go and then uploading to the google maps streetview project (which makes them easy to share in photosphere mode without google+).
But, I have to assume there isn't any camera app out there that can share to google maps other than Google's own. So, I still will be stuck with the stock app for at least that.
viking37 said:
Hi,
I currently use this, Camera JB+: https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDEsImNvbS5tb2JseW54LmNhbWVyYWpicGx1cyJd
Simple, easy, looks like the stock camera app (with her own gallery), standard settings plus a bit more, perfect for my use...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installed, tried for a few days but didn't work for me. Same stock app's auto-focus issue.
nexicon said:
Here is the million dollar question though. Does it focus well with FLASH? Google really messed up with this damn camera. I swear up and down that the Nexus One had a better camera than this garbage they put in here. It's absolutely useless with flash. I can't use it at all!! Damn you Google!!?
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Emmm I guess it does. Leme attach the pic.
So I'm coming from an S4 which i thought had probably the best camera out there. While the One's camera is pretty good, I occasionally get blurry or not so great pics. I was wondering if another camera app might produce more consistent pics, or if it is what it is.
I don't want to sound like I'm complaining about the camera, it's just I'm trying to see if there are ways to get better pics.
mpetruzz said:
So I'm coming from an S4 which i thought had probably the best camera out there. While the One's camera is pretty good, I occasionally get blurry or not so great pics. I was wondering if another camera app might produce more consistent pics, or if it is what it is.
I don't want to sound like I'm complaining about the camera, it's just I'm trying to see if there are ways to get better pics.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid to say that we're limited on the hardware perspective...
Bert336 said:
I'm afraid to say that we're limited on the hardware perspective...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's kinda what I've been reading. Don't get me wrong it's not horrible, I just wish it gave more consistently good pics.
Anyone reading this, have you adjusted any settings to get better pics?
I think it's software. For example, I sometimes get pink tint or a little blur with the stock camera app. But I also have vignette camera, and there is no pink tint or blur when I take pics with that camera. The only problem is vignette needs to update their app to work properly with the One, because it's only allowing 3mp pictures, not the full 4. :/
Sent from my HTC One.
josh995 said:
I think it's software. For example, I sometimes get pink tint or a little blur with the stock camera app. But I also have vignette camera, and there is no pink tint or blur when I take pics with that camera. The only problem is vignette needs to update their app to work properly with the One, because it's only allowing 3mp pictures, not the full 4. :/
Sent from my HTC One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also believe it to be software as not everyone has the issue.
I think it will be fixed soon with an OTA.
I 3rd party app actually may work better.
great thinking OP
josh995 said:
I think it's software. For example, I sometimes get pink tint or a little blur with the stock camera app. But I also have vignette camera, and there is no pink tint or blur when I take pics with that camera. The only problem is vignette needs to update their app to work properly with the One, because it's only allowing 3mp pictures, not the full 4. :/
Sent from my HTC One.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to that end, I took one with the stock camera and another with Vignette. The stock one is bluish/purple. Vignette is not.
Sheldor1967 said:
to that end, I took one with the stock camera and another with Vignette. The stock one is bluish/purple. Vignette is not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a HUGE difference. Wow!
Sent from my HTC One.
Both your problems can be solved by changing the camera settings.
The colour cast can be fixed by changing the white balance, and if you set the ISO higher, your shots should be less blurry (but slightly more grainy).
The "scene" settings can be handy, and if you pick the one to suit the lighting, it should give good results.
You could also practice holding the camera steady.
I really like the stock camera.
Yaqui said:
Both your problems can be solved by changing the camera settings.
The colour cast can be fixed by changing the white balance, and if you set the ISO higher, your shots should be less blurry (but slightly more grainy).
The "scene" settings can be handy, and if you pick the one to suit the lighting, it should give good results.
You could also practice holding the camera steady.
I really like the stock camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's as may be, but the auto setting should automatically give you the right settings...It is on HTC to fix this, because we don't always have time to change the settings to get the one in a million shot of my 10 year old!
I have noticed that the Night setting gives me a better result...And I love to tweak my settings, but I wish it was easier to get to them. Maybe some "hot" buttons!