Hello all,
I just bought a Z2 (second hand) as I wanted a phone with a high quality camera and apparently the Z2 was one of the best out there at the time of its release.
Unfortunately thus far the photos I've got from the Z2 seems pretty low quality with lots of noise and lack of detail. I've tried using manual mode and setting the ISO to 50 or 100 but the quality is still bad. Not really any different to my old cheap o Vodafone own branded phone. And the front facing camera is absolutely dreadful!
I've looked around for a solution but not found anything conclusive.
Does anyone have any advice on a way to improve the picture quality? Any particular ROMs or apps I should use. In currently on stock 6.0.1. I've read that some peoplefound that picture quality had degraded with each OS update from KK.
Many thanks
tooplanx said:
Hello all,
I just bought a Z2 (second hand) as I wanted a phone with a high quality camera and apparently the Z2 was one of the best out there at the time of its release.
Unfortunately thus far the photos I've got from the Z2 seems pretty low quality with lots of noise and lack of detail. I've tried using manual mode and setting the ISO to 50 or 100 but the quality is still bad. Not really any different to my old cheap o Vodafone own branded phone. And the front facing camera is absolutely dreadful!
I've looked around for a solution but not found anything conclusive.
Does anyone have any advice on a way to improve the picture quality? Any particular ROMs or apps I should use. In currently on stock 6.0.1. I've read that some peoplefound that picture quality had degraded with each OS update from KK.
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's actually false, it has been the same way from KK,LP & MM
I tried flashing the Cyberian Mod and I've seen some slight improvements
I also bought a second hand z2. the camera was awful at first just as you described but then I saw a thread somewhere here on xda that suggests scratching off the thin coating on the lens of the z2. I scratched mine with a card and now it works great.
MJ999 said:
It's actually false, it has been the same way from KK,LP & MM
I tried flashing the Cyberian Mod and I've seen some slight improvements
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand the Z2 has such good reviews of the camera. I have seen some pretty good photos that other people have taken on z2s though.
I've heard that unlocking the bootloader can effect the camera, though I'm not clear whether in a good or bad way.
tooplanx said:
I don't understand the Z2 has such good reviews of the camera. I have seen some pretty good photos that other people have taken on z2s though.
I've heard that unlocking the bootloader can effect the camera, though I'm not clear whether in a good or bad way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ofcourse in a bad way, because sony removes the BIONZ processing and some other features if you unlock your bootloader
stock
Some sample images...
I have just transferred some of my photos from the xperia z2 on to my PC to have a closer look, and I'm even more shocked by the awful quality. It looks like a budget phone from 2012!
I took a few sample shots using the 'Superior' Auto mode, then using the Open Camera App, then one on my old cheap-o Vodafone Smart Prime 6 so that I could compare.
Look at the attachments, they are in the order mentioned above, all at 8MP.
1. Superior Auto produces a dreadful contrasty, high-noise, low-detail image.
2. Open Camera does a better job, slightly more detail. I was unable to set the ISO in the app for some reason.
3. Old Vodafone Smart Prime 6 has perhaps slightly less sharp image, but overall is much less contrasty and produces a much nicer image, with natural looking detail.
WTF?! how is this top of the range Xperia producing images worse than a low end phone?!
Any help greatly appreciated.
tooplanx said:
I have just transferred some of my photos from the xperia z2 on to my PC to have a closer look, and I'm even more shocked by the awful quality. It looks like a budget phone from 2012!
I took a few sample shots using the 'Superior' Auto mode, then using the Open Camera App, then one on my old cheap-o Vodafone Smart Prime 6 so that I could compare.
Look at the attachments, they are in the order mentioned above, all at 8MP.
1. Superior Auto produces a dreadful contrasty, high-noise, low-detail image.
2. Open Camera does a better job, slightly more detail. I was unable to set the ISO in the app for some reason.
3. Old Vodafone Smart Prime 6 has perhaps slightly less sharp image, but overall is much less contrasty and produces a much nicer image, with natural looking detail.
WTF?! how is this top of the range Xperia producing images worse than a low end phone?!
Any help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange , i often do photos with my z2, and i have a more natural image than others. Ok in auto sometimes they are more overexposed(but very less with marshmallow). But use manual, -0.3 or -0.7 ev,esposure misuraction multiple and touch autofocus. Better than auto mode. If you mod your z2, use cyberian mod and the quality improve a lot. The version with worse camera is kitkat...orrible quality with auto mode. Then with lollipop and marshmallow,improve a lot the camera.
djgigi94 said:
Strange , i often do photos with my z2, and i have a more natural image than others. Ok in auto sometimes they are more overexposed(but very less with marshmallow). But use manual, -0.3 or -0.7 ev,esposure misuraction multiple and touch autofocus. Better than auto mode. If you mod your z2, use cyberian mod and the quality improve a lot. The version with worse camera is kitkat...orrible quality with auto mode. Then with lollipop and marshmallow,improve a lot the camera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thanks for your response, I'm going to try and install Cyberian but first need to figure out how to root the phone and install a custom recovery. There doesn't seem to be any clear and sure-fire way...
I've looked through loads of threads and websites and they all seem to be out dated, incomplete, very vague or unstable.
Anyone know the easiest / safest method for MM .291?
Cheers!
tooplanx said:
Hi, thanks for your response, I'm going to try and install Cyberian but first need to figure out how to root the phone and install a custom recovery. There doesn't seem to be any clear and sure-fire way...
I've looked through loads of threads and websites and they all seem to be out dated, incomplete, very vague or unstable.
Anyone know the easiest / safest method for MM .291?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On general thread there is the method https://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/general/tool-rooting-23-5-1-291-supersu-t3437280
djgigi94 said:
On general thread there is the method https://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/general/tool-rooting-23-5-1-291-supersu-t3437280
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've looked through that but the instructions are vague, files seem to be missing, and people have said they have had problems with it.
tooplanx said:
Yeah, I've looked through that but the instructions are vague, files seem to be missing, and people have said they have had problems with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must install flashtool and use some guides to flash 575 kernel. Then the guide is simple. I use often this guide ,but when i'm on recovery to flash 291 kernel and supesu, i don't flash them but a new rom. It's the best way
djgigi94 said:
You must install flashtool and use some guides to flash 575 kernel. Then the guide is simple. I use often this guide ,but when i'm on recovery to flash 291 kernel and supesu, i don't flash them but a new rom. It's the best way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I find the correct flashtool? Are we talking about a PC based flashtool or android based?
Thanks
tooplanx said:
Where can I find the correct flashtool? Are we talking about a PC based flashtool or android based?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PC, there is a guide to install marshmallow to z5 but the first part of guide, explain how to install correctly flashtool http://www.xperiablog.net/2016/03/12/install-xperia-marshmallow-using-flashtool-and-xperifirm-guide/
Soooo.... rooted and installed Cyberian... camera is still god awful!
Is there a known issue with the z2? It seems that half of owners think the camera is brilliant and half think it's rubbish. I've seen evidence that would point towards there being a quality control issue at Sony, with a large quantity of faulty handsets being sold? (See this post, amongst others)
My back camera is definitely sub-par, performing worse than a low-end phone, and as for the front camera.... well, it looks like a blown up 0.2mp image.
Some more examples attached. They alternate rear camera, front camera.
I'm surprised Sony hasn't faced a large lawsuit around this issue.
tooplanx said:
Soooo.... rooted and installed Cyberian... camera is still god awful!
Is there a known issue with the z2? It seems that half of owners think the camera is brilliant and half think it's rubbish. I've seen evidence that would point towards there being a quality control issue at Sony, with a large quantity of faulty handsets being sold? (See this post, amongst others)
My back camera is definitely sub-par, performing worse than a low-end phone, and as for the front camera.... well, it looks like a blown up 0.2mp image.
Some more examples attached. They alternate rear camera, front camera.
I'm surprised Sony hasn't faced a large lawsuit around this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First: use 4:3 resolution instead 16:9. 4:3 is the resolution of sensor. 16:9 pictures are worse. There is a 12 mp resolution in cyberian Who improve a lot pictures. Why did you don't try it? if this persist, control that sensor have the lens antireflex corrupted. This is second hand z2. So this is possible
djgigi94 said:
First: use 4:3 resolution instead 16:9. 4:3 is the resolution of sensor. 16:9 pictures are worse. There is a 12 mp resolution in cyberian Who improve a lot pictures. Why did you don't try it? if this persist, control that sensor have the lens antireflex corrupted. This is second hand z2. So this is possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried all modes and they all produce pretty poor photos. These are actually taken using Open Camera which gives a significant improvement in pic quality over the stock app.
Hello, my one makes even worse photos than yours, i have the cam glass scratched, is it the problem?
tooplanx said:
I've tried all modes and they all produce pretty poor photos. These are actually taken using Open Camera which gives a significant improvement in pic quality over the stock app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See the lens if they are damged
Checked closely both back and front lenses for damage but they both look fine. The phone in general is in a 'like new' condition.
Related
Is there a working camera fix (mod) that will allow for changing compression settings in the camera as well as reduce the image processing which results in detail loss :?
I just bought the device and would love to be able to take better images - and I feel that this loss of details can be avoided. images at 5mpx should not be 500kb in any case and the details even on older devices with lower mpx show more details.
Maybe if there is a working fix people can also post sample shots to see how it really works. (ICS or GB)
Plus this mod could also be implemented in other roms later on so that more people can benefit.
Thanks
Take a look at this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24147607
iONEx said:
Take a look at this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24147607
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just read through the entire thread + all the linked threads to that ...
as it seems compression is not the problem here ...
the camera drivers need to be altered or drivers from a better image producing device to be ported....
anyone has a progress on that :?
wbgenetic said:
Just read through the entire thread + all the linked threads to that ...
as it seems compression is not the problem here ...
the camera drivers need to be altered or drivers from a better image producing device to be ported....
anyone has a progress on that :?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know much but I think the drivers are proprietary and cannot be edited.
I guess we should wait for Sony to release the ICS update, maybe the camera will get better
Hope something could be adapted from another device even - better adapted to make good photos. Fingers crossed
Anyone tried updating to ICS? The camera quality has been improved. Now the image size is ~2mb i guess
Forget about driver replacing: if i understand correctly you mixed old methods for phones (for example K790i on platform db2020 etc.): changing acoustic, display, camera drivers. I just tryed all of this by myself in the past ^_^ In android smartphones there is only way to improve quality - change camera's APK file Because drivers for internal absolutelly incompatible between different devices. You can find everything you need on Apps section of our subforum
RealGunjack said:
Forget about driver replacing: if i understand correctly you mixed old methods for phones (for example K790i on platform db2020 etc.): changing acoustic, display, camera drivers. I just tryed all of this by myself in the past ^_^ In android smartphones there is only way to improve quality - change camera's APK file Because drivers for internal absolutelly incompatible between different devices. You can find everything you need on Apps section of our subforum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so what are you suggesting ... : ?
how do we lose the over agressive post process sharpening etc ?
wbgenetic said:
so what are you suggesting ... : ?
how do we lose the over agressive post process sharpening etc ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we could, if best developers would focus on this, not new kernels and roms
but it seems no one is willing to focus on camera quality ;( i miss old days whan i had k750/w810
It may be possible to improve the photo quality output of the SK17, but I don't think it's going to do as well as some previous generation camera phones just due to the physics of it all.
If you take a look at the lens used on the SK17 vs. iPhone or even the X10 Mini Pro, you'll find the lens is smaller, as well as the aperture ect... This means a smaller image sensor which ultimately means lower PQ.
The only way it could match larger lenses would be if they had used more advanced image sensor technology such as EXMOR to improve sensor sensitivity or speed, as they did in the Xperia Ray. Unfortunately they didn't use this technology in the SK17 series of phones.
I'm hoping up coming newer versions of the phone will make use of both a larger lens as well as advanced sensor technology.
If you use a camera app. such as 360 camera, you can defeat the compression, but the pictures don't really look much better to me. The negligible improvement in PQ may be the reason why Sony implemented this level of compression in the first place, since the lens isn't able to deliver.
Mike
panamamike said:
It may be possible to improve the photo quality output of the SK17, but I don't think it's going to do as well as some previous generation camera phones just due to the physics of it all.
If you take a look at the lens used on the SK17 vs. iPhone or even the X10 Mini Pro, you'll find the lens is smaller, as well as the aperture ect... This means a smaller image sensor which ultimately means lower PQ.
The only way it could match larger lenses would be if they had used more advanced image sensor technology such as EXMOR to improve sensor sensitivity or speed, as they did in the Xperia Ray. Unfortunately they didn't use this technology in the SK17 series of phones.
I'm hoping up coming newer versions of the phone will make use of both a larger lens as well as advanced sensor technology.
If you use a camera app. such as 360 camera, you can defeat the compression, but the pictures don't really look much better to me. The negligible improvement in PQ may be the reason why Sony implemented this level of compression in the first place, since the lens isn't able to deliver.
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I partially agree with the sensor being small - hence output suffering quality - however I've had a nokia e50 long time ago with an even smaller lens at 1.3mpx which produced similar images (well sometimes) in terms of quality. I would be interested to see how the device performs without the crazy compression settings ... I have my feelings that output will improve vastly.
Btw on GB with camera ICS+ the images were very good actually - even though I wish they were not as compressed as they are - nothing else.
Kriomag said:
we could, if best developers would focus on this, not new kernels and roms
but it seems no one is willing to focus on camera quality ;( i miss old days whan i had k750/w810
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using your 21.93 driver for my W810 and I believe you can do with camera everything you like, so get off your butt and start an investigation
ICS camera is much better for taking photos.. but when it comes to video camera, overall OS speed and experience.. ICS SUCKS!
any one got solution for improving stills quality in xperia mini/pro?
try this, the compression is reduced a bit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1935982
najodleglejszy said:
try this, the compression is reduced a bit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1935982
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya m currently using that mod but still m not happy with the results.. i think its the camera lens and sensor sony used in xperia mini/pro
Hello.
Can anybody tell me from his own experience which xperia of these 2 makes better photos? I know that XS has more Mpx, but i read that XP makes better photos (all in all mpx is not all what makes camera great). I could give you a link here, but it is czech web site, so probably you woulnd understand. I am owner of XS and i think that it could take better photos when i paid so much money for that.
So does anybody have experience or read something about this?
mmarekk11 said:
Hello.
Can anybody tell me from his own experience which xperia of these 2 makes better photos? I know that XS has more Mpx, but i read that XP makes better photos (all in all mpx is not all what makes camera great). I could give you a link here, but it is czech web site, so probably you woulnd understand. I am owner of XS and i think that it could take better photos when i paid so much money for that.
So does anybody have experience or read something about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO, Xperia P has better image compression and hence the picture produced by it are better.
I have got Xperia S but i hate the detail what its camera gives.
Technically S > P, but in reality they're just different.
I finally found the web site, which compares these two smartphones´ cameras. I dont know if you will understand but - left photo is always XS, and right is XP - that should be enough info you need The photos themself you can compare even without language understanding
Author´s conclusion is that XP has better camera.
http://mobilenet.cz/clanky/srovnani-fotoaparatu-sony-xperia-s-a-xperia-p-ktery-foti-nejlepe-9404
mmarekk11 said:
I finally found the web site, which compares these two smartphones´ cameras. I dont know if you will understand but - left photo is always XS, and right is XP - that should be enough info you need The photos themself you can compare even without language understanding
Author´s conclusion is that XP has better camera.
http://mobilenet.cz/clanky/srovnani-fotoaparatu-sony-xperia-s-a-xperia-p-ktery-foti-nejlepe-9404
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rubbish comparison pics tbh, In most of them there is quite a bit of lighting difference.
mmarekk11 said:
I finally found the web site, which compares these two smartphones´ cameras. I dont know if you will understand but - left photo is always XS, and right is XP - that should be enough info you need The photos themself you can compare even without language understanding
Author´s conclusion is that XP has better camera.
http://mobilenet.cz/clanky/srovnani-fotoaparatu-sony-xperia-s-a-xperia-p-ktery-foti-nejlepe-9404
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no! u need to understand the explanation, simply left click -> translate to English when in Chrome. to understand bout it, even a little
here (i think) important explanation:
"The second rival Xperia P does have a lower resolution of 8 megapixels, also a little slower, but the camera has a very low compression and postprocessing less aggressive in terms of noise reduction."
again, it's bcause the compression.. i've test it with other camera app, some of them makes better photo than stock camera app, and it's bigger size (the mB) in same resolution.
and ofc u can always reduce noise with applications (such as Photoshop), but u cant add details. so XS won
m1st3r1 said:
and ofc u can always reduce noise with applications (such as Photoshop), but u cant add details. so XS won
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, according to what you write XP won, because it has more noise, but better details due to smaller compression.
mmarekk11 said:
No, according to what you write XP won, because it has more noise, but better details due to smaller compression.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, i mean detail by the megapixels. according to the web, it said: some macro photos turned out better for Xperia S, this time mostly due to higher resolution.
and i read it wrong. it's the P that has noise so sorry... i was fast read it cause the translate is bad
and for the compression, i still believe that 3rd party apps done great job in compressing (meaning: lesser compressing) than stock camera app in SXS.
and one of the reason we using android is the freedom to choose apps for certain task right? (change the dialer, change the sms apps, change home) why dont change the camera apps
Oh god the camera is bad, all I ask for is a decent camera that can snap pictures of words on maybe a whiteboard from a distance when I'm in a meeting and god does the image look horrible when I zoom is, there is no detail at all sort of like an over sharpening of a blur image. God even the nexus 4 has a much clearer image than this although that's plagued by its far I share of focusing bugs
beerope said:
Oh god the camera is bad, all I ask for is a decent camera that can snap pictures of words on maybe a whiteboard from a distance when I'm in a meeting and god does the image look horrible when I zoom is, there is no detail at all sort of like an over sharpening of a blur image. God even the nexus 4 has a much clearer image than this although that's plagued by its far I share of focusing bugs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey mate. Don't despair. Just load a 3rd party camera app. I'm going between Camera Zoom FX and Camera FV-5 at the moment. I think FV-5 is going to be my choice.
There's not much wrong with the optics on the Ultra just too much native compression from Sony's own app.
So with a better app I'm seeing much better results.
beerope said:
Oh god the camera is bad, all I ask for is a decent camera that can snap pictures of words on maybe a whiteboard from a distance when I'm in a meeting and god does the image look horrible when I zoom is, there is no detail at all sort of like an over sharpening of a blur image. God even the nexus 4 has a much clearer image than this although that's plagued by its far I share of focusing bugs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah @pfatty is on the money!
check out my thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2481316
You'll need to test others if you think there is something else better out there.
Good luck.
I am using focal and finding that quite decent
hamdogg said:
yeah @pfatty is on the money!
check out my thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2481316
You'll need to test others if you think there is something else better out there.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pfatty said:
Hey mate. Don't despair. Just load a 3rd party camera app. I'm going between Camera Zoom FX and Camera FV-5 at the moment. I think FV-5 is going to be my choice.
There's not much wrong with the optics on the Ultra just too much native compression from Sony's own app.
So with a better app I'm seeing much better results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, ive tried. They look more or less the same, ive tried it all. The paid verions for fx, fv5, focal, motox camera, ics camera+ and hdr camera. They all look more or less the same, the details seems to be like a chalk painting when zoomed in. Even in the thread, the leaves edges seems to be like chalk smudge, i just need a fix that will let me take a goddamn picture of my office notes on a projected screen ahh
after root i threw in the gallery app from aosp and it included the camera app too. works fine. lets me to those photospheres too
beerope said:
Trust me, ive tried. They look more or less the same, ive tried it all. The paid verions for fx, fv5, focal, motox camera, ics camera+ and hdr camera. They all look more or less the same, the details seems to be like a chalk painting when zoomed in. Even in the thread, the leaves edges seems to be like chalk smudge, i just need a fix that will let me take a goddamn picture of my office notes on a projected screen ahh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Beerope.
I'm with you on this.
I get the feeling that camera apps on google market still use the same sony provided codecs for compression when using a stock rom.
Sony ZU codecs and camera force a file size of under 2mb which is why the definition when zoomed in is so crap...
I have a theory that if you use a rom like CM10.x or AOSP that the picture quality will be greatly improved when using third party camera apps or even the native camera apps as those roms are using the standard android codecs.
This will also be evident in the file sizes generated by those camera apps.
Unfortunately I cant test as I need my phone for work purposes (so it remains on stock) at the moment and haven't got time to experiment with custom roms yet.
I'm currently on 510 and refuse to got to 526 or 532 due to the weird SODs I keep reading about.
My previous ZU had 526 and had so many problems with random screen clicking.
My current ZU is on 510 and I've had no problems at all - rock solid no random clicking but obviously the picture quality from the camera sucks...
---------- Post added at 01:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:03 AM ----------
Also we may be able to improve the quality by using methods similar to those described in this thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1030603
Obviously we'd need to identify the relevant files first.
qazzi76 said:
Hi Beerope.
I'm with you on this.
I get the feeling that camera apps on google market still use the same sony provided codecs for compression when using a stock rom.
Sony ZU codecs and camera force a file size of under 2mb which is why the definition when zoomed in is so crap...
I have a theory that if you use a rom like CM10.x or AOSP that the picture quality will be greatly improved when using third party camera apps or even the native camera apps as those roms are using the standard android codecs.
This will also be evident in the file sizes generated by those camera apps.
Unfortunately I cant test as I need my phone for work purposes (so it remains on stock) at the moment and haven't got time to experiment with custom roms yet.
I'm currently on 510 and refuse to got to 526 or 532 due to the weird SODs I keep reading about.
My previous ZU had 526 and had so many problems with random screen clicking.
My current ZU is on 510 and I've had no problems at all - rock solid no random clicking but obviously the picture quality from the camera sucks...
---------- Post added at 01:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:03 AM ----------
Also we may be able to improve the quality by using methods similar to those described in this thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1030603
Obviously we'd need to identify the relevant files first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CM10.2 (flavours) are a little better. The file size is an issue as image artifacts are greatly reduced. It is a problem Sony needs to sort out. 3rd part apps can only improve so much. its up to firmware.
beerope said:
Oh god the camera is bad, all I ask for is a decent camera that can snap pictures of words on maybe a whiteboard from a distance when I'm in a meeting and god does the image look horrible when I zoom is, there is no detail at all sort of like an over sharpening of a blur image. God even the nexus 4 has a much clearer image than this although that's plagued by its far I share of focusing bugs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Would you load some sample shots? I'd like to buy this device, but it seems like the camera isn't very good.
Thanks!
ntdatter said:
Hi,
Would you load some sample shots? I'd like to buy this device, but it seems like the camera isn't very good.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2481316
pfatty said:
Hey mate. Don't despair. Just load a 3rd party camera app. I'm going between Camera Zoom FX and Camera FV-5 at the moment. I think FV-5 is going to be my choice.
There's not much wrong with the optics on the Ultra just too much native compression from Sony's own app.
So with a better app I'm seeing much better results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just purchased Fv-5 but I didn't support video
Sent from my C6802 using Tapatalk 4
Hey guys, I'm returning from a recent trip to iPhoneland and I'm looking for the camera app that's closest to keeping up with the iPhone's camera.
I'm running cm11 and so far the best I've found is this one here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2540030
This one takes a lot better pictures than the stock cm or the google camera from the play store, but it still lags behind the iPhone.
it's not about the camera app, it's about the hardware...
No camera app on LG G2 can match iPhone and/or Nokia just because of the camera hardware (sensor, lens,...) which is not that good on LG
To explore full benefits of LG camera hardware, you'll have to move to one of stock based roms and then try i.e. Xdabbeb camera...
60nine said:
it's not about the camera app, it's about the hardware...
No camera app on LG G2 can match iPhone and/or Nokia just because of the camera hardware (sensor, lens,...) which is not that good on LG
To explore full benefits of LG camera hardware, you'll have to move to one of stock based roms and then try i.e. Xdabbeb camera...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright that's what I was kind of afraid of. I know that there is a limit to how good the camera is going to be but I was hoping I hadn't found it yet. There is a significant variation between the different camera apps I have tried. It's too bad we can't use the camera to its full potential on aosp based roms.
I would strongly disagree with what 60nine just said, but that's just me. The main issue is the stock "camera" app is kinda crappy and does way too much processing on the image data from the sensor. It's not the best image sensor that's ever been made, no, of course not, but it is quite a nice one especially with the OIS as part of the hardware.
Having said that, I personally use Mi2raw nowadays which allows me to capture pure raw image data from the G2 sensor and dumps it as a DNG (Adobe Digital Negative) file which I then transfer over to my laptop for editing/post processing using Photoshop.
If you want some examples of what the G2's camera is capable of, look here:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/[email protected]/pool/
You can find more info about Mi2raw (available on the Google Play Market, it's free) in the main thread for it and yes there's more pics too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g2/general/app-mi2raw-enables-capturing-real-raw-t2837089
Again, we're not dealing with the best image sensor ever made but I've been damned happy with the results I've been getting with my G2 because of Mi2raw (I just got this G2 like 3 weeks ago).
As far as other apps, I use Aviary (it was free a few days ago, with every single filter they had for free too so I grabbed it all and backed it up safely), PerfectlyClear which gave away their Android app for free last week (it's not too bad, actually), and Photoshop Express (which can load the DNG files directly on the G2 directly from Mi2raw for quick viewing).
There's also XCam LG which adds a lot of functionality to the G2 including giving it 4K video recording capability (just make sure to read the details in the thread):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2548974
XCam LG has a settings app to tweak it further located on the Play Market as well, it's worth the price if you need it.
For me personally I just use Mi2raw for most every picture I snap these days then do editing/PP work when I get back home, it's what works best for me at this time.
Hope this helps...
Try Cymera. It's free and has good editing tools. Drawbacks are that it takes a bit to load and is not too stable. It's the only camera app that focuses correctly and has a proper white balance!!!! The resolution is small 1 Megapixel?, but the image is sharper and better than any 13megapixel shot from other camera apps or stock.
Otherwise just take the stock LG camera app as a daily driver.
br0adband said:
I would strongly disagree with what 60nine just said, but that's just me. The main issue is the stock "camera" app is kinda crappy and does way too much processing on the image data from the sensor. It's not the best image sensor that's ever been made, no, of course not, but it is quite a nice one especially with the OIS as part of the hardware.
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Click to collapse
why would you disagree if its known that iPhone and Nokia use way better sensor and lenses? (and i'm not an iphone fanboy, far from that )
i didn't say that LG hardware is crap - i'm just saying that it's no match to those two... or to say it better - "close but no cigar"
Nokia & iPhone give much better low light images than LG (partly due to better sensor, partly due to smaller f-stop lens number which lets more light onto the sensor)
for comparison
LG G2 has F/2.4 lens < iphone/nokia use F/2.2 lens (smaller the f-stop, more light comes in)
Having said that, I personally use Mi2raw nowadays which allows me to capture pure raw image data from the G2 sensor and dumps it as a DNG (Adobe Digital Negative) file which I then transfer over to my laptop for editing/post processing using Photoshop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i didn't mention mi2raw app on purpose because it's not for everyone... and since i'm a photo hobbyist and DSLR owner, it gives me a bit of real camera world in a mobile device...
and what i like about mi2raw (besides its raw capability) is that the photos taken with that app don't look "painted" or "blurred" because of too much noise reduction that other camera apps produce
mi2raw would be too complicated to use for an average user... but hey - it's free, and everyone can try it and see
everything else you wrote - i second...
+ Snapseed is an image app worth mentioning especially with its ambiance setting that gives an image a nice "bump" in every way if it's used correctly...
personally i'm currently "stuck" with mi2raw, xdabbeb's XCam (because of those extra options you mentioned) and google camera (because it's the best for panorama/sphere images)
cheers...
In my opinion the best camera so far has been the one with CloudyG3 ROM
Sent from my LG-D805 using XDA Free mobile app
br0adband said:
Hope this helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the Mi2RAW suggestion, I'll check that out. I work with raws from my dslr but I don't know how badly I really need to have all my phone pictures shot as raw. I'll see how it goes
marchina said:
In my opinion the best camera so far has been the one with CloudyG3 ROM
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Click to collapse
which is basically a stock cam app that uses xdabbeb's advanced binaries (so it's pretty much the same as XCam, but Xcam gets updated by xdabbeb every now and then)
---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------
StevenInMichigan said:
Thanks for the Mi2RAW suggestion, I'll check that out. I work with raws from my dslr but I don't know how badly I really need to have all my phone pictures shot as raw. I'll see how it goes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sometimes you just want that bit of extra image customization that raw offers
since you have dslr as well, you know what i'm on about
60nine said:
which is basically a stock cam app that uses xdabbeb's advanced binaries (so it's pretty much the same as XCam, but Xcam gets updated by xdabbeb every now and then)
---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------
sometimes you just want that bit of extra image customization that raw offers
since you have dslr as well, you know what i'm on about
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Click to collapse
I did not know that thanks
Sent from my LG-D805 using XDA Free mobile app
"a Better Camera" app is what I use on non stock Roms and it's very good. LG camera hardware is not that good? You make me laugh... Can IPhone camera record 4k?Does it have ois?
The only thing that iPhone is better at is the image processing. That's it. (period).
I use the G2's stock camera app on AICP. It's okay, but the images look washed out compared to my Optimus G.
Sent From Capsule Corp.
60nine said:
it's not about the camera app, it's about the hardware...
No camera app on LG G2 can match iPhone and/or Nokia just because of the camera hardware (sensor, lens,...) which is not that good on LG
To explore full benefits of LG camera hardware, you'll have to move to one of stock based roms and then try i.e. Xdabbeb camera...
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Click to collapse
Bulsh*t of the month/year? :fingers-crossed: Only way to reveal the potencial of any and I mean ANY camera HW is to shoot RAW only! You can say Lg stock camera is bad and I will agree but not talk about HW whenn you didnt see pure RAW data. Just look at the samples I shot with the best android camera for photo enthusiasts: Mi2raw camera which is capable of capturing pure DNG files without freaky Lg jpeg engine, which is IMHO the worst I ever seen. I took indoor photos on ISO400-800 so dont blame the small sensor of more noise, no such a small sensor will perform any better. Still great results in todays mobile photography. Even Xdabbed camera which is great contribution cannot match results from RAW data and personal approach for photography. One minute for one photo and the results are uncomparable.
Anyone tried porting the Pixelmaster camera app from the various Asus Zenfones? It takes really incredible low light photos by reducing resolution to 2 megapixels and it is awesome (the only reason I fell envious of my brother's otherwise mediocre zenfone 5). Check here too, someone had plans of porting but not sure what happened to him since... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2712403
jimakos29 said:
Anyone tried porting the Pixelmaster camera app from the various Asus Zenfones? It takes really incredible low light photos by reducing resolution to 2 megapixels and it is awesome (the only reason I fell envious of my brother's otherwise mediocre zenfone 5). Check here too, someone had plans of porting but not sure what happened to him since... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2712403
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why should I want 2Mpx photos from 13Mpx camera? From 13Mox->2Mpx I will do awesome photos too! 2Mpx=fullHD , 2160p=4K got it? Rather show us those amazing photos
kultus said:
Why should I want 2Mpx photos from 13Mpx camera? From 13Mox->2Mpx I will do awesome photos too! 2Mpx=fullHD , 2160p=4K got it? Rather show us those amazing photos
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
again. it takes normal pics at full resolution, then there is a night mode which takes very very nice pics in dark situations at full resolution (better than almost any other phone out there) and then there is a special night mode that reduces pic resolution to 2 megapixels, but boy those night pics are the best I have ever seen.... Check this for example. and no worries about zenfone 5 camera being 8 megapixels. the zenfone 6 has 13 and same software...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_TPqwDYStI
so you still live in a world where more megapixels mean better images?
i.e. see why HTC went for lower mpx in its flagship devices...
about my "bullsh*t of the year"... do some reading and know some basics of the digital photography...
i never said that LG G2 camera is bad, read my post again & read hardware tech specs of the other devices...
i like the mi2raw app very much (see my posts there in the app thread) - it's the best thing that happened to this device considering the camera/photo...
and i think LG G2 camera hardware can do much more - especially on the strange "painted like" image compression effect which i hate so much...
i'd say - LG G2 is close, but no cigar
kultus said:
Bulsh*t of the month/year? :fingers-crossed: Only way to reveal the potencial of any and I mean ANY camera HW is to shoot RAW only! You can say Lg stock camera is bad and I will agree but not talk about HW whenn you didnt see pure RAW data. Just look at the samples I shot with the best android camera for photo enthusiasts: Mi2raw camera which is capable of capturing pure DNG files without freaky Lg jpeg engine, which is IMHO the worst I ever seen. I took indoor photos on ISO400-800 so dont blame the small sensor of more noise, no such a small sensor will perform any better. Still great results in todays mobile photography. Even Xdabbed camera which is great contribution cannot match results from RAW data and personal approach for photography. One minute for one photo and the results are uncomparable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because of RAW the G2 is one of the top android cameras, that is true. However, the flagship Lumia devices also shoot RAW.
Yes I know, iphone can shoot RAW too, so android is behind somehow...
60nine: Ive read everything you've written, thats why I had to react. I know a lot about photography, HW a more, so Im OK. Thanks. And about pixels, even 8Mpx iphone camera is worse than 16Mpx SGN4 camera so give me a break...HTCs cameras are the worst from the biggest flagship manufacturers. HTCs cameras lags of detail and lost every shootout with competition. And I will tell you something, you will need at least 2160p for viewing on upcoming 4K display devices...so now the pixels matters. I know that more pixels suffers from dynamic range and more noise, but it will be hidden in more Mpx photo with good postprocess. So if you find comparison between IP6 and LG G2 in RAW at same settings and same scene and IP6 will be better, youll have my respect and appologies.
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Free mobile app
i won't bother answering to a person who thinks more mpx means better images (on a same sized sensor), so cheers...
raw is not for an average users anyway
any available Gcam for xperia1 III now?
Have you checked GCam Port Hub?
IDK why you bother looking for another camera while your phone's is already very great IMO.
FlandreKanade said:
any available Gcam for xperia1 III now?
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Click to collapse
The "MGC_8.1.101_A9_GV1r" is working, but you need to config it to do a better job. I've an initial config made by myself
Masterblop said:
The "MGC_8.1.101_A9_GV1r" is working, but you need to config it to do a better job. I've an initial config made by myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thx
Masterblop said:
The "MGC_8.1.101_A9_GV1r" is working, but you need to config it to do a better job. I've an initial config made by myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can ı use this xml file with the app?
Maazellat said:
How can ı use this xml file with the app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have made a thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/gcam-sony-xperia-1iii.4343691/
Masterblop said:
I have made a thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/gcam-sony-xperia-1iii.4343691/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much bro
Which one are you guys using?
New updated version: https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/dev-bsg/f/dl53/
Tried and working version: MGC_8.1.101_A9_GV1s_MGC.apk
Hello,
Is there any option to made the photo sphere working? Honestly I only try to have Gcam for this mode hehe.
Thank you for the apk
Thank you for the link and the config. This is the only build of gcam that I could get working at all.
I've been evaluating this phone for the last week. I may end up returning it. It's a fantastic device; the only real problem I have with it is the camera. It's just not that good, and I think it's entirely a software problem. I've been side-by-side comparing shots taken with Photography Pro, taken with this gcam build, and with my old phone (Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 with a Pixel Experience ROM). Most of the time my old phone looks best, unfortunately.
You tell me:
Left: Xiaomi, Center: Xperia with Photography Pro in Auto mode, Right: Xperia with this Gcam config.
I wonder if with additional tweaking of the config, this could be fixed. It could open up the full potential of the hardware. I don't know the first thing about tweaking this type of camera config, though. Is there a guide that you used somewhere for figuring out the best values in this file?
Thanks again.
stiltzkin said:
Thank you for the link and the config. This is the only build of gcam that I could get working at all.
I've been evaluating this phone for the last week. I may end up returning it. It's a fantastic device; the only real problem I have with it is the camera. It's just not that good, and I think it's entirely a software problem. I've been side-by-side comparing shots taken with Photography Pro, taken with this gcam build, and with my old phone (Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 with a Pixel Experience ROM). Most of the time my old phone looks best, unfortunately.
You tell me:
Left: Xiaomi, Center: Xperia with Photography Pro in Auto mode, Right: Xperia with this Gcam config.
I wonder if with additional tweaking of the config, this could be fixed. It could open up the full potential of the hardware. I don't know the first thing about tweaking this type of camera config, though. Is there a guide that you used somewhere for figuring out the best values in this file?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Photography pro and pretty much every xperia before always use very little elaboration. Pretty much every review and testing state that photography pro could obtain high quality photos if used in manual mode. It's not easy, but auto it's not good. For casual photo shot better using basic mode, if you switch to advancet setting, avoid auto and use P, S, or M mode.
I know it's a smartphone and not a mirrorless or a Reflex but it's something like buying a 5000 euro camera body to use it with automatic settings.
Also form the photo you posted i see that the wood construction in the xperia auto mode is darker...but...the tree foliage on the top left clearly show more detail in the middle photo. The Gcam settings appear to have too much sharpness and grain.
Probably the middle photo with a little more exposure time or a little more iso will be the best one of the three.
Evil_Sephiroth said:
Photography pro and pretty much every xperia before always use very little elaboration. Pretty much every review and testing state that photography pro could obtain high quality photos if used in manual mode.
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Click to collapse
I won't argue this with you; I've seen some great results in reviews from people using the camera in Manual mode. I'm sure it's possible to obtain superior results if you have the time to compose your shot and find the perfect settings.
The thing is though, for most of the photos I would want to take with a smartphone camera, I don't have time to find optimal settings manually. When I do have that time, I think the ability to make those manual adjustments is awesome (and should be in more smartphones), but most of the time I don't. That means that the Auto/Basic modes are incredibly important, because it's how I'll end up taking most photos in real life. Maybe that means that this phone is not marketed to me, and if that's the case, that's fine. But manual settings are pretty much outside the scope of discussion for this thread - what I wanted was a comparison of essentially default settings between my current phone and this phone.
Evil_Sephiroth said:
For casual photo shot better using basic mode, if you switch to advancet setting, avoid auto and use P, S, or M mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my testing, I actually found that Basic mode usually takes worse photos than Auto mode. In particular, Basic mode seems to have a big problem with overexposure. I assume because HDR/DRO is not being used?
Left to right: Reference (Xiaomi), Sony Auto, Sony Basic, Sony Gcam
(I had to scale down this comparison for posting)
Also, all modes on this phone do not capture detail as well as my current 3 year old phone. If you blow up the details, clearly the reference photo on the left has by far the best preservation:
Left to right: Reference (Xiaomi), Sony Auto, Sony Basic, Sony Gcam
This holds for every test photo I took - the detail is worse from the Xperia. I don't think manual mode tweaks will fix this - it seems like the sensor and software just don't capture as much detail.
But then again, I am not a professional photographer, so I'm not completely sure. Maybe I am doing something wrong.
All in all, I was really disappointed with these results since I wanted to love this phone!
I think EVERYONE who is obsessed with so-called camera quality on a PHONE has lost their minds. It has become ridiculous.
stiltzkin said:
Thank you for the link and the config. This is the only build of gcam that I could get working at all.
I've been evaluating this phone for the last week. I may end up returning it. It's a fantastic device; the only real problem I have with it is the camera. It's just not that good, and I think it's entirely a software problem. I've been side-by-side comparing shots taken with Photography Pro, taken with this gcam build, and with my old phone (Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 with a Pixel Experience ROM). Most of the time my old phone looks best, unfortunately.
You tell me:
Left: Xiaomi, Center: Xperia with Photography Pro in Auto mode, Right: Xperia with this Gcam config.
I wonder if with additional tweaking of the config, this could be fixed. It could open up the full potential of the hardware. I don't know the first thing about tweaking this type of camera config, though. Is there a guide that you used somewhere for figuring out the best values in this file?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In this case for me Sony photo pro>Xiaomi>Sony GCam. Probably we have different opinions or eyes hehe
jaseman said:
I think EVERYONE who is obsessed with so-called camera quality on a PHONE has lost their minds. It has become ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the new MHz race on x86 CPU when Pentium 4 were a thing
My race started with Hz
jaseman said:
I think EVERYONE who is obsessed with so-called camera quality on a PHONE has lost their minds. It has become ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An owner of this particular phone with close to insanity price tag is supposed to be obsessed with camera quality. Just because this is the main selling point of it - Zeiss, Sony Alpha team etc. Unfortunaly I'm less than impressed too . Other flaws like average battery life, no face unlock, low screen brightness at daylight etc etc don't help to love this phone either....