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
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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
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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).
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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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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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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/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?
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Click to collapse
I described that in my OP. It's still terrible compared to camera zoom fx.
I'm running the M1 release of CM10 on my Galaxy S3.
With the stock ROM the camera was FAST. I could snap pictures of fast moving things and the phone would take a picture when I touched the shutter button.
With CM10, it is horrid. When I press the shutter button the camera spends a few seconds slooooowly focusing and THEN takes the picture. If, in advance, I do a touch to focus it will snap the next picture quick but then it goes back to dragging.
Any way to make the stock camera app not suck? I had this same issue with CM7 on my Evo, I was really hoping to not have it. Maybe I'm just doing something dumb??
Did you change the focus mode from Auto? I think it's the only one that pre-focuses before taking a picture.
I've cycled through all of the focus types to try and find one that works quickly. Continuous, Fixed, Macro, Infinity - they all spend time focusing whenever I press the button.
splashattack said:
Did you change the focus mode from Auto? I think it's the only one that pre-focuses before taking a picture.
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I think it is the flash firing. When I set the camera mode up right with the flash turned off I get crazy fast pictures (yay!). When the flash fires though, it pre-fires the flash (I'm guessing to judge light??) then does a quick focus, then flashes. So low light photos will suck, but photos that don't need a flash will be OK.
Any way to improve the flash situation?
There! Something just happened! Did you take a picture of it? Rate this thread to express how fast the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 can go from "zero to picture". A higher rating indicates that launching the camera app and taking a photo is extremely fast such that you never miss an important moment, like when your cat attacks the couch again.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Instant you double tap home button camera launches take as many photos as fast as your thumb can tap. Instant superb photos.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA Free mobile app
matsuyamakaze said:
Instant you double tap home button camera launches take as many photos as fast as your thumb can tap. Instant superb photos.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
That's what I do. Works for me.
Sent from my SM-N930T using XDA-Developers mobile app
neat thanks for the info!
Mine can be slow to show the image captured in gallery.
I just compared my Note 7 to my friends S7, both take picture almost instantly and then it takes about 1 sec to process and display for review (if you have that option turned on). Or you can keep button pressed and keep taking pictures, probably burst of 10 pics sec, maybe more. All this is on a par or better than my dedicated DSLR. The 1 sec review delay is completely irrelevant IMO to picture taking process and I may even turn it off at some point. I have no visible delay accessing pictures from gallery (but only 50 pics taken, there maybe slow down when I get thousands). If somebody complains about Note 7 camera, I think there maybe something wrong with their particular unit. Just to make sure: this is for rear mounted cam, I took 1 pic. with selfie cam, just to test it works and that just about as much usage as it will see. But just for the fact that it has fixed focus lens (I think), I wouldn't expect much from it.
As far as gallery goes, I don't like the way it sorts pics from all folders together, by date and can we finally have option to display names? Finding right video without name is sometimes impossible, but thankfully there is dedicated video gallery on Samsung website which solves that issue, but why not have just one gallery that works right.
matsuyamakaze said:
Instant you double tap home button camera launches take as many photos as fast as your thumb can tap. Instant superb photos.
Sent from my SM-N930V using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
That's right. It is an amazing phone. I have Exynos version.
hi, i do not know if you came to this dilemma before but i have Oneplus 3 and a friend offered to swap phones... i was looking for a better camera... Oneplus 3 has a "thing" when shooting at moving objects and if you try to take a photo of your baby its impossible... almost every picture is blury.... how is the HTC 10 camera when you shoot moving objects? i am looking forward for your replies!!! thanks!!
every camera will blury when you take a moving objects unless you speed up the shutter speed, so it just depends on if you know how to use the camera with shutter priority/full manual.
DummyPLUG said:
every camera will blury when you take a moving objects unless you speed up the shutter speed, so it just depends on if you know how to use the camera with shutter priority/full manual.
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Click to collapse
Correct.
Try to shop Manual mode on Oneplus3, set shutter speed minimum 1/60 minimum (if indoor), depends the baby moving,
try to shot outdoor, you can set 1/500+, shot flash to baby eyes it NOT allowed (i forgot 3/5 years old is allowed, just search on google)
try to learn about Exposure in photography (iso, aperture, shutter speed) this will useful in life of photography.
i have oneplus3 for testing, is a great device. so swap to HTC10 will not resolve this issue, if you still using Auto. :fingers-crossed:
thank you very much guys!! it might be a software issue of the app... when in auto mode it selects wrong iso/exposure??? before OP3 i had a galaxy S6 and i used it always in auto mode with fine results... i will definetely try your advise!!
That's because Samsung camera app will detect the scene, if it found something moving fast then it will switch to "sport" mode(something like that, forget the actual name). For HTC 10 I dunno will it have similar function in auto mode, but the 10 official camera app really lack of function
When you hand your phone to granny to take a photo of you, can she get the job done? Rate this thread to express how you deem the Samsung Galaxy S10+'s camera software. A higher rating indicates that the software is easy to use, fast, uncluttered, and inclusive of advanced features for when you need them.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Let’s discuss all the limitations the Galaxy s10+ camera app has.
1. While recording you are unable to flip the camera between front facing and back facing camera.
2. The app is slow to stop recording after you tap the button to stop recording.
3. When the camera settings are set to FHD 60 fps, then you lose the ability to switch between the 3 lenses while on video mode.
4. At UHD 30fps you loose tracking auto-focus and Video effects.
5. At UHD 60fps you loose tracking auto-focus, Video effects and Video stabilization.
These are some of my frustrations that makes me feel like it is not a good camera phone.
What limitations do you face with the Galaxy s10+ camera app software?
David87+ said:
Let’s discuss all the limitations the Galaxy s10+ camera app has.
1. While recording you are unable to flip the camera between front facing and back facing camera.
2. The app is slow to stop recording after you tap the button to stop recording.
3. When the camera settings are set to FHD 60 fps, then you lose the ability to switch between the 3 lenses while on video mode.
4. At UHD 30fps you loose tracking auto-focus and Video effects.
5. At UHD 60fps you loose tracking auto-focus, Video effects and Video stabilization.
These are some of my frustrations that makes me feel like it is not a good camera phone.
What limitations do you face with the Galaxy s10+ camera app software?
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Click to collapse
Also i never understood why you cant turn on flash while recording!!!!!! Its galaxy s10...and still not...the iPhone always could do this simple thing