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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
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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?
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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.
Hi, all
I'll be switching over to AOKP (probably once build 40 comes out) from Juggernaut, but my only hesitation is losing the stock camera app, which I've come to love.
Any recommendations for a replacement with the same feature set? That is, one that takes advantage of all the tweaks available for our camera (exposure, metering, ISO, white balance). I don't care so much about filters (I prefer taking "regular" photos) or upload/sharing capabilities. I just want to take high quality shots with a stable app, preferably one that's not particularly resource heavy.
From what research I've read, these are the apps on my watch list:
Camera360
CameraZoom FX
Vignette
IgCamera
Any recommendations? Thanks, all
I use Camera FV-5. I am a semi-pro photographer and this app makes me miss my 5DMKII a little less.
Bro I use procapture and it works great. Way better pics.
+1 camerazoom fx
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
I use procapture, but it won't do video recording though
Sent from Flip's SGS2
I was wondering which alternative camera app you guys/girls are using. I find the original camera app too nervous when it comes to finding a focus. Especially in dark environments.
Personally I tried Camera Zoom FX. Quite a good camera, with a pre focus option which keeps the focus and isn't 'nervous' at all. But there are 2 disadvantages..
1) The macro options makes the app jam, and must be closed and restarted. Actually, it's not even possible to make a picture with the macro mode selected.
2) The app doesn't have it's own video modus. When you want to record a movie, the app switches to the original 'nervous' camera app.
So if you are using an alternative camera app, which one are you using and why?
For *camera only* try using Camera FV-5. If you need video mode get LG Camera. Prefer the Pro version of these 2 as the free versions are pretty much limited.
Hey guys,
So who's given the G3's camera a run using Google's Camera app? I've tried it several times alongside the native camera app, and I realize that Google's Camera app doesn't seem to work as great as the native app.
It seems the laser assist autofocus does not work on Google Camera, since it takes a second or so for the camera to focus, instead of a few milliseconds with the native app.
HDR on Google Camera does not work as intended, either resulting in an image looking like normally shot or even at times darker.
Video recording using Google Camera app is limited to 1080p instead of 4K.
There is one thing positive with the Google Camera app though, and that it has a larger field of view compared to the native camera app. The Google Camera app almost makes it seem that the native camera app is zoomed a few times closer than it should be. I'll try to take a comparison shot to show you guys what I mean, but you can simply download the app and try it yourself
Next, I will try how the camera works with CameraZoom FX app.
Well that was expecting since I believe lg made things to work with stock...but let us know which third party works best!
I use the Google app for photosphere and lens blur.
aquariuz23 said:
Hey guys,
So who's given the G3's camera a run using Google's Camera app? I've tried it several times alongside the native camera app, and I realize that Google's Camera app doesn't seem to work as great as the native app.
It seems the laser assist autofocus does not work on Google Camera, since it takes a second or so for the camera to focus, instead of a few milliseconds with the native app.
HDR on Google Camera does not work as intended, either resulting in an image looking like normally shot or even at times darker.
Video recording using Google Camera app is limited to 1080p instead of 4K.
There is one thing positive with the Google Camera app though, and that it has a larger field of view compared to the native camera app. The Google Camera app almost makes it seem that the native camera app is zoomed a few times closer than it should be. I'll try to take a comparison shot to show you guys what I mean, but you can simply download the app and try it yourself
Next, I will try how the camera works with CameraZoom FX app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from an N5, I quickly got the Google Camera after getting my G3, but then realized the only reason I liked the Google Camera was because I shot everything with HDR+. I do miss that feature from the N5, since the G3 does not a good job at white balance in some lights, and HDR+ would always get me great looking photos, but could only shoot static targets and would take a while to shoot.
I also tried VSCO Cam and it doesn't offer much when it comes to camera settings, so things end up looking almost the same as stock, but with the slower focus like you mentioned.
Did someone come up with a way to change the way the stock camera oversharpens low light photos? It's pretty bad.
Has anyone tried LG Camera on the G3?
IXChicharitoXI said:
I use the Google app for photosphere and lens blur.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only installed the Google Camera for photosphere. There really isn't any other reason to.
Also, I think the stock LG camera does have a lens blur effect.
Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk
Is there any way to disable the audio zoom when recording video?
I've noticed and seen it reported that the audio becomes almost muffled when zooming in while recording a video. It would be nice to experiment with that feature toggled on/off.
refresh
speedzioch said:
refresh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Refresh? What kind of answer is that? Refresh what?
I have the same question about the audio zoom btw.
danielscissorhands said:
Refresh? What kind of answer is that? Refresh what?
I have the same question about the audio zoom btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to disable the audio zoom in the native camera app. I've even emailed LG support about it and they have no workaround from inside that app.
I have been experimenting with a bunch of third party camera apps in the meantime and it seems that most of them do not show this effect so it must be baked into the native camera app or something. I would recommend looking into apps like ProShot or Camera FV-5. I know for sure ProShot does not have the audio zoom effect. I'm singling out those two cameras because they have EV (exposure value) compensation right on the interface when taking pictures/video which is really helpful because this phone doesn't seem to auto-adjust the EV properly in many situations I'm in when trying to take pictures/video.
monrovian said:
There is no way to disable the audio zoom in the native camera app. I've even emailed LG support about it and they have no workaround from inside that app.
I have been experimenting with a bunch of third party camera apps in the meantime and it seems that most of them do not show this effect so it must be baked into the native camera app or something. I would recommend looking into apps like ProShot or Camera FV-5. I know for sure ProShot does not have the audio zoom effect. I'm singling out those two cameras because they have EV (exposure value) compensation right on the interface when taking pictures/video which is really helpful because this phone doesn't seem to auto-adjust the EV properly in many situations I'm in when trying to take pictures/video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. In another forum (here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/g4/general/lg-g4-cameras-problems-t3180240), someone mentioned that when they used a 3rd party app that, while the audio zoom was no longer a factor, the sound quality at a concert was worse than with the LG G4 camera app itself. I want to film a lot of concerts, and I have until Monday to make a decision about returning my LG G4. I don't think I'll have time to test it out at a concert before Monday. Have YOU tried it at a concert with these apps? How was the sound with these apps. Was it better or worse? Do loud sounds still get distorted easily? I have hear that the LG G4 has a bad mic. Do you think so?
Should i spend the extra $150 or $200 to get the Samsung S6? There is also the Nexus 6P, but I have heard that the frame can bend easily on that camera. And as for the Samsung, it has a really bad quality speaker when you are playing stuff back.
PS: If the audio zoom is baked into the native camera app, like you said, that sounds like a SOFTware issue, right? So could a future update fix that, possibly?
Thanks.
danielscissorhands said:
Thanks. In another forum (here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/g4/general/lg-g4-cameras-problems-t3180240), someone mentioned that when they used a 3rd party app that, while the audio zoom was no longer a factor, the sound quality at a concert was worse than with the LG G4 camera app itself. I want to film a lot of concerts, and I have until Monday to make a decision about returning my LG G4. I don't think I'll have time to test it out at a concert before Monday. Have YOU tried it at a concert with these apps? How was the sound with these apps. Was it better or worse? Do loud sounds still get distorted easily? I have hear that the LG G4 has a bad mic. Do you think so?
Should i spend the extra $150 or $200 to get the Samsung S6? There is also the Nexus 6P, but I have heard that the frame can bend easily on that camera. And as for the Samsung, it has a really bad quality speaker when you are playing stuff back.
PS: If the audio zoom is baked into the native camera app, like you said, that sounds like a SOFTware issue, right? So could a future update fix that, possibly?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I primarily use my phone to video concerts as well and it's way above most other android phones in that regard, imo. Now, I wouldn't necessarily say that equates to much since non-HTC android phones have been known to record garbage at concerts. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why my old HTC One X could record concert sound so much better than any newer phone I got and I'm finally satisfied with this phone. I tried to look over some concert videos I've been to, comparing videos recorded with the native camera app and with an app like ProShot. I can't definitively say one has better sound quality than the other but it sounds like the native app tries to soften certain louder noises (this could be a good or bad thing depending on what you want and the exact sound conditions). I don't think the phone has a bad mic either but I have experienced distortion in videos, for parts of a second - nothing too long, which I don't think can't be expected when recording in such loud environments. Otherwise, my videos have been pretty distortion free. You will want to watch where your hand is around the recording mic, at the bottom of the phone though. I've had varied results when I'm not paying attention and my hand is covering or partially covering the mic.
I don't think you'll have any better results with the Samsung phone and I've never heard particularly good things about their phones recording in concert environment. These companies don't put as much effort into their audio recording capabilities like Apple, Nokia or HTC do but LG did a pretty good job with this one. Although, the iPhones record in mono (and you can absolutely distinguish between that and how this phone records in stereo) and the feedback on HTC's camera has been pretty negative so you gotta balance the good with the bad.
This is an absolute software issue since the third party camera apps don't experience the audio zoom. Ideally, LG should have provided a way to toggle the audio zoom in the camera app like they did for the LG G2. I originally posted this hoping someone went through the camera code and found a flag to toggle to control the audio zoom as well but it doesn't look like anyone has put any effort in there or that flag is not exposed in the code?
Anyway, I don't think you're gonna find a much better, or anything better, in terms of recording concerts if you want to stick with Android. If you stick with it, I would again recommend using a third party camera app like the two I previously suggested since it eliminates the audio zoom and allows for EASY EV control. Video with the phone isn't too bad when it comes to auto-EV compensation but the photos can be horrendeous, especially if you're focusing on the lead singer's face where they usually have a spotlight. I can't even count the amount of photos I've tried to take where the lead singer's face is almost completely "whited out", if that makes sense, until I found one of these apps with easy EV control. Now, whenever I recognize that happening, I turn the EV compensation down (sometimes all the way down to -2) and I get pretty good results.
Check out my instagram if you want some real examples. Keep in mind, there's a ton of compression thrown on them from IG. The ones on there from this phone will be the ones dated July of this year and later. I can guarantee the last 9 posts on there were with the ProShot app.
instagram (dot) com (slash) monrovian (I don't know how they handle URLs around here so I'll put it like this to be safe)
Completely agree with you. Wasn't aware of that problem at all, now after I came back from a football match with many videos I realized that the sound is so crap... So still they haven't fixed it because I'm on latest MM update. How do you deal with it use ProShot app?
F-L-Y-E-R said:
Completely agree with you. Wasn't aware of that problem at all, now after I came back from a football match with many videos I realized that the sound is so crap... So still they haven't fixed it because I'm on latest MM update. How do you deal with it use ProShot app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I accidentally used the native camera app to record part of a concert two weeks ago where I zoomed in slightly and the effect is still there after a few OS updates.
I have gotten around it since learning about the ProShot app by using that app since it does not experience the audio zoom effect if you're trying to zoom at all during the video. I would highly recommend using that specific app or you could probably use any third-party video recording apps. ProShot, in particular, lets you zoom while retaining the original audio sound and lets you control EV very easily, even while recording. This may be a lot more important to me than you since I attend many indoor concerts. I have also found that ProShot usually takes more accurately colored images than the native camera app if there's any large difference in lighting around where your photo will be (ie. in terms of an indoor concert, darkness surrounding a spotlight on the singer), without even accounting for the EV control. For other cases where the lighting is pretty consistent around where the photo will be, I've found ProShot and the native app comparable.
I have pretty much replaced the native camera app with ProShot unless I'm somewhere well lit or want to snap something quick (double-tap the volume down button with the screen off to turn on the camera app quickly) and don't particularly care how it comes out.
monrovian said:
Yeah, I accidentally used the native camera app to record part of a concert two weeks ago where I zoomed in slightly and the effect is still there after a few OS updates.
I have gotten around it since learning about the ProShot app by using that app since it does not experience the audio zoom effect if you're trying to zoom at all during the video. I would highly recommend using that specific app or you could probably use any third-party video recording apps. ProShot, in particular, lets you zoom while retaining the original audio sound and lets you control EV very easily, even while recording. This may be a lot more important to me than you since I attend many indoor concerts. I have also found that ProShot usually takes more accurately colored images than the native camera app if there's any large difference in lighting around where your photo will be (ie. in terms of an indoor concert, darkness surrounding a spotlight on the singer), without even accounting for the EV control. For other cases where the lighting is pretty consistent around where the photo will be, I've found ProShot and the native app comparable.
I have pretty much replaced the native camera app with ProShot unless I'm somewhere well lit or want to snap something quick (double-tap the volume down button with the screen off to turn on the camera app quickly) and don't particularly care how it comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So do you use pro version or demo one? If you know what are the difference, does it limit something or not, thanks.
I found the problem, I told you guys, the only way to fix it is when you want to record a gigs and zooming at the same time, you have no choice to record it in PORTRAIT mode, the audio zoom is not activated when you record in portrait mode... It's LG I don't know why they have stupid ideas, it's not even fix with the LG G5, they think it's a good feature lol.
Edit : but obviously, the stereo is not good as when you shooting in landscape mode.
Edit 2 : I don't think ProShot use completely the stereo mics, the pictures are better but the sound are worst than the native camera app.
I found a workaround for this issue with the "best ever feature" of LG called Audio zoom. Just use external microphone and everything will be fine with recorded sound. No distortion, no cutting, no filters - just raw sound even if you use zoom with the official Camera app. Forget about video recording with 3-rd party apps - the sound is terrible and the zoom is not full zoom as with the original Camera app, but some low res digital video picture cropping.
You can use any external microphone you want, but since you are about to record a gig / concert for example you would like to have the smallest one, this is what I bought also from aliexpress for 2$ - Cellphone Smartphone Portable Mini Omni-Directional Mic Microphone for Recorder:
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