Telephoto camera bug - Phone always uses normal camera at 3x zoom - Huawei Mate 20 Pro Questions & Answers

I first noticed that my optical x3 photos had a fair bit of digital noise to them.
I then tried pinching to change the zoom and I couldn't see any transition between the lenses when going from 2.9x to 3x. You should be able to clearly see the transition between 0.9x and 1x
After covering up all the lenses one by one with my finger and changing the zoom level, I can see that the x3 view (which should be using the bottom left lens, as you are looking at the back of the phone) is only blocked when I cover up the standard lens (top right)
Can anybody else verify this? Is this some strange intentional behaviour or a bug?

Confirmed on my device too as a bug when viewing the screen.
However, if I try taking a photo the camera switches to the 3rd sensor to actually take a photo.
Must be a new 'improved feature'.
Sent from my LYA-L09 using Tapatalk

Rodpad said:
I then tried pinching to change the zoom and I couldn't see any transition between the lenses when going from 2.9x to 3x. You should be able to clearly see the transition between 0.9x and 1x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMHO I suppose it's so by design, to allow the user for a smooth zooming experience, and it can be considered a bug only as far as the correct lenses are not used to take the final picture.

I think it's to do with the minimum focus distance to be honest. If you're trying to focus on something far away it will switch but something close it will switch back.

I think, the camera changes at zoom 3x if there is enough light, otherwise it will use the main sensor. I tested this by holding the camera on TV and on my low board, the room was dark.

Related

Nexus 6P Night Camera Samples

Thought this relevant since the nexus 5x has the same camera.
This is a comparison to the iphone 6...looks pretty impressive
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/3ogvrg/nexus_6p_vs_iphone_6_low_light_photos/
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk 2
It looks AMAZING!
Woah - impressive. In fact, I dont think I have ever seen such a definitive improvement with anyone doing a camera side by side comparison as this. Sheesh! I wqonder how much of that is HDR trickery?
I doubt the Nexus 5x will do as well without image stabilization. Unless these were taken on a tripod. Apparently the 810 can handle electronic image stabilization but the 808 processor can't.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/0...-because-the-snapdragon-808-isnt-fast-enough/
Both have some pretty ugly digital noise in the shadows, but you can see the effect of the larger pixels in the clarity of the detail. In the last pair of photos I see some chromatic aberration in the Nexus that's not there in the Apple, but the shadow detail is still better.
Anyone regret getting the 5x over the 6p now?
SysAdmNj said:
Anyone regret getting the 5x over the 6p now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, the 6p is too big, I can deal without EIS
danthepan124 said:
no, the 6p is too big, I can deal without EIS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me either. 6P is too big for me too
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G850A using Tapatalk
SysAdmNj said:
Anyone regret getting the 5x over the 6p now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Show me the 5x night camera samples and I will tell you.
Seriously speaking, the camera for these types of shots should be very close to the same for 5x and 6p
Hi
Evo_Shift said:
I doubt the Nexus 5x will do as well without image stabilization. Unless these were taken on a tripod. Apparently the 810 can handle electronic image stabilization but the 808 processor can't.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/0...-because-the-snapdragon-808-isnt-fast-enough/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't do EIS when taking a photograph, it only works on video where each frame can be zoomed in and cropped to match up the position of points in the previous frame. EIS on video doesn't remove blur on each individual frame either due to motion, that will still be there resulting in a lowering of overall captured detail, but each frame lines up better with the ones either side resulting in less visible shake making it easier to watch.
What the 6P is likely doing with pictures is taking several in quick succession, then picking the best one based on contrast detection which is easily done in software, and the picture with the most contrast is the best out of the bunch. This helps, it isn't OIS of course, but you get the picture with the least blurring due to motion or shaky hands, this assumes you do manage to capture a shake free photo in the bunch taken of course.
To be fair, OIS in tiny smart phone camera modules struggles to be effective, as there is a limit to how much movement those tiny optics can make and how many axis of movement they can compensate for.
Regards
Phil
PhilipL said:
Hi
You can't do EIS when taking a photograph, it only works on video where each frame can be zoomed in and cropped to match up the position of points in the previous frame. EIS on video doesn't remove blur on each individual frame either due to motion, that will still be there resulting in a lowering of overall captured detail, but each frame lines up better with the ones either side resulting in less visible shake making it easier to watch.
What the 6P is likely doing with pictures is taking several in quick succession, then picking the best one based on contrast detection which is easily done in software, and the picture with the most contrast is the best out of the bunch. This helps, it isn't OIS of course, but you get the picture with the least blurring due to motion or shaky hands, this assumes you do manage to capture a shake free photo in the bunch taken of course.
To be fair, OIS in tiny smart phone camera modules struggles to be effective, as there is a limit to how much movement those tiny optics can make and how many axis of movement they can compensate for.
Regards
Phil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info on EIS. I've been wondering how it works. The camera/software picking the best pick is called "lucky shot" internally and I think both phones have it, if I read the AMA correctly. I understand that the phone camera module is tiny, but since it has enlarged pixels, and a camera hump which makes it seem that the module is bigger than normal, perhaps OIS isn't needed as much?
SysAdmNj said:
Anyone regret getting the 5x over the 6p now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, but not because of the camera! I had to cancel my 6P order because monies. 5X a compromise in getting a Nexus but I would have enjoyed the more premium phone a lot more. **** happens. Smaller size is a bonus, though.
Hi
0.0 said:
Thanks for the info on EIS. I've been wondering how it works. The camera/software picking the best pick is called "lucky shot" internally and I think both phones have it, if I read the AMA correctly. I understand that the phone camera module is tiny, but since it has enlarged pixels, and a camera hump which makes it seem that the module is bigger than normal, perhaps OIS isn't needed as much?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all down to shutter speed really, the faster the shutter speed the less likely any camera shake is noticeable. Generally a shutter speed of 1/30th to 1/60th sec is considered the slowest speed a camera can be handheld reliably without camera shake ruining too many pictures with typical lenses. A wider angle lens can go slower in shutter speed than a zoom lens where avoiding camera shake is concerned. This is because when you are zoomed in, a small tremor from our hands is amplified to be a much bigger movement, something you will notice if using binoculars. So smart phone cameras have an advantage already as they are pretty wide angle lenses.
Outdoors in the daytime shutter speeds are pretty high, high enough that OIS is probably pointless and having no benefit for photography on smartphone cameras. It's still important for video in daylight, that is because video is recording over time, and not a split second instance that freezes the action like a photo with a fast shutter speed.
In dark situations, the larger pixels of the new Nexus are more sensitive, this means the gain can be turned up higher without destroying the picture with noise, resulting in the ability to speed up the shutter speed. This can mean an indoor scene that might need 1/30th second shutter on another camera, on the new Nexus it can be faster and might be set at 1/60th of second, so resisting camera shake. Of course go a bit darker, the new Nexus needs 1/30th of a second now, another camera might need 1/15th second but that has OIS, so shake becomes evident on the Nexus, but is corrected on the other camera. So the advantages of larger pixels only help in a very specific situation, i.e. they aren't making that big a difference.
The above ignores the effect of the flash of course, add in the flash and that helps freeze action anyway plus allows faster shutter speeds.
I think the main difference not having OIS will make is when you are in poor light, perhaps indoors, and want to take a picture close up of something, for example a document to "scan to Google drive" or a 2D barcode, the close up nature is like being zoomed in so blur becomes more evident.
Regards
Phil
PhilipL said:
In dark situations, the larger pixels of the new Nexus are more sensitive, this means the gain can be turned up higher without destroying the picture with noise, resulting in the ability to speed up the shutter speed. This can mean an indoor scene that might need 1/30th second shutter on another camera, on the new Nexus it can be faster and might be set at 1/60th of second, so resisting camera shake. Of course go a bit darker, the new Nexus needs 1/30th of a second now, another camera might need 1/15th second but that has OIS, so shake becomes evident on the Nexus, but is corrected on the other camera. So the advantages of larger pixels only help in a very specific situation, i.e. they aren't making that big a difference.
I think the main difference not having OIS will make is when you are in poor light, perhaps indoors, and want to take a picture close up of something, for example a document to "scan to Google drive" or a 2D barcode, the close up nature is like being zoomed in so blur becomes more evident.
Regards
Phil
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the informative post! I enjoyed reading it.
I was informed that tucking in your elbows to your body when taking a photo or video can help a bit in stabilization. How effective is that? Any other stabilization tips since OIS is gone?
Sent from my Nexus 5
There's already a picture posting thread here....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/general/post-pictures-nexus-6p-t3213937
One is all we need. :good:
Thread closed.
Darth
Forum Moderator

Front camera exposure control

The cameras on the Mate 10 are great, but would definitely benefit with some more tweaking. The primary camera performs really well and offers fine tuned control over almost all the variables. I've found that the auto-exposure in low light raises the ISO quite a bit and the picture ends up looking fake, plastic and grainy. This can easily be fixed by under-exposing or by lowering the ISO in manual mode, but only with the primary camera. The front camera always seems to expose for the face. There are no controls to set exposure or focus, and there is no manual mode. Although it performs well in good light, the results are poor in low light and the lack of any control restricts any creative photography. For instance, if I move the camera off my face, it exposes for the background but it doesn't lock. The exposure switches back the instant I reframe the shot. Is there any workaround for controlling the front camera besides using another camera app?
Front facing camera manual focus
I have the same problem, the front facing camera is almost unusable where there is a lot of light.
Workaround
isvellopez said:
I have the same problem, the front facing camera is almost unusable where there is a lot of light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have installed open camera, and this app let me lock the exposure of the front facing camera.
any solution found of this? i can hardly use the front camera because of this issue
The front facing camera on the Mate 10 Pro is great for taking outdoor selfies, as long as you want a solid white background behind you. I can't believe more people aren't complaining about this and that there isn't an official fix.

Automatic Beauty Applied on Selfie Camera????????

Basically, I've bought the Mate 20 Pro and I Collected it today from carphone warehouse.
The selfie camera is horrible, there's an automatic beauty filter that's applied to your face to smoothen it out. Even my hair is smoothened out.
Right now, because of this, my S8 Plus' front facing camera looks better in terms of colour accuracy and image quality.
Once you take the portrait shot, it says "Sharpening image" and then when you view the image in your gallery, yes, it's a lot sharper, however why does the live preview have this beauty effect on even when Master AI turned off??
It's making my face extremely white and pale for no reason at all.
The "colourful" filter modes too that remove the backgrounds to add cool colour effects also doesn't work in the live preview. It's only when you take the picture shot will the image itself in your gallery appear with the colour filters which is extremely annoying.
TLDR:
Automatic beauty mode that smooths your skin and hair
Cannot turn it off
Background colour filters not working properly.
Selfie quality
How is the selfie quality compared with s8 or other smartphones? Its really terrible? I tested yesterday the front facing camera. My opinion is, its mutch better than p20 pro
YakuzaNeko said:
Automatic beauty mode that smooths your skin and hair
Cannot turn it off
Background colour filters not working properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you switch to selfie cam, switch the mode to photo and there wont be any beauty mod apply.
I have the exact same gripe. I'm always taking selfies with my son in the morning and both our faces look washed out. I can't stand it when something basic such as this cannot be right. Although I like every other aspect of this phone. If there is no software fix for this I might have to go back to my iPhone.
The Selfie Cam Lacks Auto-Focus - So the distance from face to phone will make a difference in a crap image or a highly detailed image.
Obviously take steps to turn off beauty mode as well.
There's face brightening going on with the front facing cam. Is it anything like this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUmoTujgXlM&t=52s
Did @Leechoonhwee suggestion above help you fix the issue?
RoOSTA
HellraiserNZ said:
Obviously take steps to turn off beauty mode as well.
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Click to collapse
By this, do you just mean setting the slider all the way to 0 ?
Go to selfie cam then turn it to photo instead of the default mode. This improves it. Also hold the phone steady after shot as I believe it's taking multiple shots and stitching them so it is better quality if you hold still. ie: "Sharpening photo hold the phone steady" etc.

low Light problems photos from stars distorted with S9Plus

Hello,
i take photos from the night sky since serveral years (with smartphones too).
Unfortunately with the Samsung S9plus the stars are not pinpoint like as they are on the Samsung S7. They apear very distorted with a kind of a halo.
Ofcourse the smartphone was not moved during 10 seconds of exposure time.
I did layed it down and used the self timer mode to prevent shaking.
I tried it serveral days in comparison with the Samung S7.
The S7 is always much better and show pinpoint like stars.
The distortion of the stars is visible in the RAW files(DNG) too so no jpeg problem forced by the compression.
Could you reproduce the same problems?
I am not allowed to post links.So how to show you the photo?
Could send you the link of the uploaded photos for comparison.
The dual camera variants of Samsung phones tend to overexpose shots, especially during darker environment.
That's what I noticed, and I'm waiting for the update they sent to Note 9s.
https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-galaxy-note-9-update-camera-improvements/
Are you using the telephoto camera? It has OIS driven by digital gyroscopes. Those gyroscopes aren't effective at low frequencies so the OIS will slowly drift around a small amount. 1/5 second is usually the limit for sharp photos. Even when the gyroscopes are turned off, OIS lenses are VERY sensitive to motion because of the lens being on a soft suspension. Walking next to the tripod could wobble the lens.
You also can't expect clear images if you use F/1.5.
Try using the wide angle lens.
I would send a photo to someone of you so you can post it here into the Tread.
Who like to do it?
The camera was layed down on the ground so no shaking or vibration ppossible during the exposure time.
I found no setting that the OIS gyroscope is working in photo mode. OIS is probably only working in video modes.
Even if it works in photo mode, the camera was layed down, so no shaking could happen.
Who of you could make a photo from the stars with the following settings?
Pro Mode
Camera mounted or layed on the ground with direction to the night sky.
Self timer to prevent shaking
Iso 800
10sec shutter speed
F 1.4
kevinmcmurtrie said:
Are you using the telephoto camera? It has OIS driven by digital gyroscopes. Those gyroscopes aren't effective at low frequencies so the OIS will slowly drift around a small amount. 1/5 second is usually the limit for sharp photos. Even when the gyroscopes are turned off, OIS lenses are VERY sensitive to motion because of the lens being on a soft suspension. Walking next to the tripod could wobble the lens.
You also can't expect clear images if you use F/1.5.
Try using the wide angle lens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Antwort unfortunately the tele lens only works in very good light conditions.
Even in a bright lighted room there is no way to activate the real Tele lens. The camera automatic switch to digital Zoom.
Also in pro mode its not possible to use the telephoto lens if the light condirions are not perfect.
This is very bad because if the cameras is standing still completely and the object doesn't move why not using the Tele camera lens in pro mode?
Very interesting Thanks for the link
fortesquieu said:
The dual camera variants of Samsung phones tend to overexpose shots, especially during darker environment.
That's what I noticed, and I'm waiting for the update they sent to Note 9s.
https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-galaxy-note-9-update-camera-improvements/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S9 plus Someone able to shoot a photo from the stars/nightsky?
Hello,
just like to ask if someone here are able to shoot a photo from the stars with the Samsung S9 plus by using the following settings:
Please post your photo here to compare it with my one.
Pro Mode
Iso 800
Shutter 10seconds
F 1.4
Selftimer to prevent shaking
Camera on a tripod or layed on the ground
Thanks

Soft snap won't turn off?

Hi,
Quite a simple question, why can I not turn soft snap off on the stock camera app?
When taking a selfie, regardless of camera settings, the app keeps trying to apply "soft snap" to the pictures? Is this a bug? Why won't it turn off with the toggle in the settings (soft skin effect)?, Or is that another "filter" again? Why can't things be left as they are :laugh:
Also I'm incredibly surprised at how laggy and slow the shutter is to take pictures from the pressing of the button; I've a first gen Pixel XL which is still in use and it's MUCH faster for a nearly 4 year old phone.
Hello!
Deactivating soft skin in parameter do work for me. I just checked since I never use front cam to make portrait since you'll always be distorted by a wide angle camera from 50cm away.
Anyway, here is a crop I just did, you can easily see small hairs and skin detail : http://imgur.com/a/nrsSLUr
The crop is like +200% on a ok quality selfy, so yeah, quality is not best. But then again, that's just a selfy cam.
No lag for me from the dedicated photo button. Just the normal double step button to first focus then take the photo. Be sure to press all the way down. Sorry that you encounter so many issue with your device :/ xperia 1 has some flaws, but that's more like no possibility to go manual mode with x2 or ultra wide angle, fingerprint working only 75 to 90% of the time and white bala'ce can be off in colored low light.
Hildr said:
Hello!
Deactivating soft skin in parameter do work for me. I just checked since I never use front cam to make portrait since you'll always be distorted by a wide angle camera from 50cm away.
Anyway, here is a crop I just did, you can easily see small hairs and skin detail : http://imgur.com/a/nrsSLUr
The crop is like +200% on a ok quality selfy, so yeah, quality is not best. But then again, that's just a selfy cam.
No lag for me from the dedicated photo button. Just the normal double step button to first focus then take the photo. Be sure to press all the way down. Sorry that you encounter so many issue with your device :/ xperia 1 has some flaws, but that's more like no possibility to go manual mode with x2 or ultra wide angle, fingerprint working only 75 to 90% of the time and white bala'ce can be off in colored low light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've uploaded screenshots of the softsnap https://photos.app.goo.gl/5aanRvhRoC8tAA646
I'm not too worried about the quality, but wish it wouldn't keep trying to soften my pictures with a silly filter!
Yeah, understand the two stages of the button press, but do you get lag with the software button though, I know i do? It's such a shame, for years of "improvements" on a phone, it's hasn't advanced much from my first gen pixel
Ho! You are right, sorry, I'm so not used to selfie cam I didn't even checked this.
Yeah, the AI enhancement can't be deactivated in auto mode, and that's somewhat silly (the same kind of silly than not having manual mode onx2 and wide lens).
The workaround is to switch to manual mode (once selected, the manual mode stay as a quick one press button, so it's not that boring) and let all the parameter on auto. You'll have an auto mode with no AI enhancement. Then again, for quality selfie, I would recommend using the x2 lens (but you will get the AI enhancement) or the x1 (in manual but need a crop) with eye autofocus and smile detection to take a self portrait, it will be less distorted since taken for an arm length, but that's just my 2 cents . The eye autofocus while ensure a good focus and the smile detection while take the photo for you. But you will not see yourself during the process so it takes multiple attempt. But result is far better. That goes for every phone in fact, but eye focus is a wonder here!
I don't think the AI enhancement work with tiers party app so video call should be ok.
I thought you were talking about the physical button. I don't really know, for me it's like 0.2sec or something like that, I can't even think of a quicker camera, especially with the focus being done at the moment of the press. It gives me the same speed feel as a dedicated camera with a shutter. Are other phone quicker? It didn't shocked me when I tried P30Pro or Oppo Reno 10X, they felt all the same for me.

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