Database Users

getting the most from the camera?

Hello
anyone have any tips for getting the most from the camera? just using the stock cam, but unless the photo is taken with the lighting from the sun, it looks abit poo
anyone have any tips for making it that tiny bit better?

Get vignette.It is a paid app but totally worth it.

CLEAN THE LENS.
There's so many threads on here with pictures from people's phones, and they're all fuzzy because the lens has something on it. Even if you can't see anything, wipe the lens before taking a photo.

isthisreallife said:
Get vignette.It is a paid app but totally worth it.
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Click to collapse
i hve vignette, but in my opinion it looks alot crapper then the stock so i uninstalled, though i didnt refund it

aussiesausage said:
i hve vignette, but in my opinion it looks alot crapper then the stock so i uninstalled, though i didnt refund it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

aussiesausage said:
i hve vignette, but in my opinion it looks alot crapper then the stock so i uninstalled, though i didnt refund it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tbh vigette is actually, i just take the pictures using the stock camera app and from there i just edit the pictures using vigette
Sent from my X10a using XDA App

well generally x10 camera suffers from over exposing, and pictures lack of contrast and they are bit washed out. Stock camera app has greatest usabillity, because yu can choose macro and sport modes (with others aswell) nad you can change exposure, but in terms of image processing it is worst, because it uses highest JPEG compression(think they improved it in 2.1) and colours al always pale (except reds).
Vignete is good cause it uses flash, and uses minimum JPEG compression but they are both behind Camera 360 app, which has best image processing.
EDIT: I added a reply from Tuxstyle on one simillar topic I started:
"Well, more important than those modes is:
- use the EV compensation.
go with it minus one or two steps and keep the sun behind you.
also, lowering the EV helps in low light too because will reduce the ISO.
ofcourse, in low light you will need better hands
- another very very important thing is: metering modes.
for macro images use spot (also use spot if you have most of the image around your object with one color: ex. a kid in the snow. in this case camera will do the metering where your focus point is ... the kid ... so the kid will be "better exposed").
use average for landscapes and other "wide" images ....
center ... well, for close stuff.
- do not enable image stabilization.
trust your hands
the camera on X10 is compressing the images way too much so, they become soft.
image stabilization will make them even more soft than that.
What i don't like about the X10 camera is the focus.
I have no idea how is choosing the focus point(s) so, i decided the camera app is crap.
I started to use vignette but is slow as a pig riding a donkey so, i moved on.
Camera360 is working fine.
You have time to wait for the pic to be saved and you know you won't loose a good shot?
Vignette is better. Better quality and best focus from this 3 apps.
Camera 360?
Focus almost as good as vignette.
Quality almost as good as vignette but if you zoom a little you can see the difference.
Speed? A Ferrari vs. Ford Focus (not RS ) if you compare it with Vignette
Hope this helps."

Bad pictures from camera

Hi.
I just received my Arc and I'm shocked by something : the camera does bad pictures, cause the codec is lame. A 8Mp photo take less than 1Mo.
Can someone fix that in a rom or a kernel or is this to hard to do ?
Thanks.

the photos from almost every other Arc are incredible.. I suspect you have a problem... maybe you're settings are wrong .. or there's a fault.
Look here for examples of how good it is.. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1035589

Look at one of mine (all are the sames).
http://sberfini.developpez.com/DSC_0005.jpg
http://sberfini.developpez.com/DSC_0010.jpg
By the way I'm using an LT15i (3.0.2.A.181) not rooted nor unlocked.

I've just rooted by arc. Is there a way to fix the jpeg compression ratio? It's way too high by default and images are losing details as a result.
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App

you can try vignette that barely compresses at all - but everyone is pretty much saying that the photo's from stock cam are still better!

im_iceman said:
you can try vignette that barely compresses at all - but everyone is pretty much saying that the photo's from stock cam are still better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate. Yeah I noticed almost everyone's saying that...but if one was to put the facts together, picture size alone for a 8MP resolution image can't be less than 1MB...
Will try Vignette and see if it's better. I just hope there's some kind of tweak (like in the HTC HD2) where you could set the compression ratio to further improve the quality.
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App

You should try checking your camera setting OP.
Vignette is good, except it takes longer to preview the image in real size, and the unnecessarily 5~6x larger files with slightly worse quality than stock camera app.

ArcOnFire said:
You should try checking your camera setting OP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's settings are you talking about ?
What's the difference between the one's who have a good quality photos and the others ? The firmware ? They have a LT15a instead of a LT15i ?
Please help me to understand.

Did you use auto scene recognition? The picture has some heavy noise in it, so I suspect you play with exposure value or select night scene mode.
2nd picture is blurry; Did you hold your arc firmly when taking the picture ?

Yes I'm using the auto scene detection. Should I disable it ?
For the fisrt picture, the flash was activated.
And yes, I was holding it firmly.

I use auto scene detection for most of my photos and they seem much better quality than yours there. Try some outdoor shots and post them, indoor ones can have a lot of noise if the light is low anyway.
I once had similar problems with a nokia n95. Everyone was posting great shots and mine were horrible. Turns out the handset was faulty.

Poor Macro (Z vs LG viewty)

I don't expect amazing photos from a tiny sensor on a phone but I do expect progression and better image quality than ancient devices, considering that sony are the king of camera sensors.
But to my surprise the macros are ridiculously shocking on the xperia Z. Needs at least a foot of distance. Check the comparison below at equal distance.
What gives?
(left is Z, right is 4 year old viewty smart)

Turn off superior mode..
Sent from my C6603 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Yes,i'm with you.For short range photos(like macro) xperia z can't focus on item, and giving us blurry scenes.You need get back from that.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk now Free

Destroyedbeauty said:
Turn off superior mode..
Sent from my C6603 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On/off makes no difference. Only having flash off and holding it still long enough to semi focus automatically will take a legible photo.
The software is just so messed up. During the photo sequence, you can see it focusing reasonably well then it instead gives up and vomits out a blurry mess.

andyukking said:
On/off makes no difference. Only having flash off and holding it still long enough to semi focus automatically will take a legible photo.
The software is just so messed up. During the photo sequence, you can see it focusing reasonably well then it instead gives up and vomits out a blurry mess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the camera software is messed up, then tell me how I and so many others can get awesome macro shots?
Sent from my C6603 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Destroyedbeauty said:
If the camera software is messed up, then tell me how I and so many others can get awesome macro shots?
Sent from my C6603 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
proof is in the pudding. Lets see some macro shots from around 1.5" (which the viewty does easy).

The more I mess about with this camera, the more it annoys me. My screenshot of the camera app gives me better results than the photo itself.
Left is screenshot of the macro pre focused and ready to shot. Right is the end result.

andyukking said:
The more I mess about with this camera, the more it annoys me. My screenshot of the camera app gives me better results than the photo itself.
Left is screenshot of the macro pre focused and ready to shot. Right is the end result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
set to manual mode, EV to -2.00. and slowly adjust the EV value to your preference.

You know EV is exposure, right?

andyukking said:
proof is in the pudding. Lets see some macro shots from around 1.5" (which the viewty does easy).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check my photos (last post)..
Macro

Destroyedbeauty said:
Check my photos (last post)..
Macro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I hear you. After further experimenting, it seems to be an issue with the flash. In good lighting with flash off, decent macros are possible. With the flash on its totally hopeless. Its strange because almost all other devices produce better macros with the flash/light. I remember how my old 2mp w810 could take great macros with the flash. It definitely seems like a software issue to me.
There are also occasions when the lighting is poor and it is therefore impossible to get a decent macro result.
Left (flash off), Right (flash on)

Just play around with manual settings
Don't know why some people complain about camera of Xperia Z. It is a PHONE, first of all, not a Digital Camera.
And the other hand's, if you adjust settings properly in MANUAL MODE you can get these results:
(I shoot pictures on different zoom, iso and metering levels as you see here; i had to resize them to upload here but the macro is its stock camera's job):
I find it satisfying from a phone. If somone wants better than these, BUY A CAMERA
If you take a close look on the last one, you can see even the number graved inside of the usb port of the charger. I just saw now, never before

laceex said:
Don't know why some people complain about camera of Xperia Z. It is a PHONE, first of all, not a Digital Camera.
And the other hand's, if you adjust settings properly in MANUAL MODE you can get these results:
(I shoot pictures on different zoom, iso and metering levels as you see here; i had to resize them to upload here but the macro is its stock camera's job):
I find it satisfying from a phone. If somone wants better than these, BUY A CAMERA
If you take a close look on the last one, you can see even the number graved inside of the usb port of the charger. I just saw now, never before
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am guessing that you are using digital zoom to get the last close up shot? I only want what my other devices can do. But the focussing is incredibly temperamental.

andyukking said:
I am guessing that you are using digital zoom to get the last close up shot? I only want what my other devices can do. But the focussing is incredibly temperamental.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last 3 pictures are yes, with digital zoom. The first had no zoom at all. I changed only settings.
I used like this:
- ISO 100 or 200 (depends of your light conditions) or 400 (this also good in twilight conditions I think) if you don't use flash at all
- metering mode SPOT (or Centre if you have less light)
- focus SINGLE or TOUCH FOCUS
- White Balance; it is according to your light enviroment (I use always Cloudy or Incandescent)
- No HDR, No Image Stabiliser, and hold it steady
The distance between the lens and the charger was about 8-10 cm (maybe less).
(But you really can do good macros if you use 1-2x digital zoom)
Try it and let us know how it is. Post examples.
And do not forget, LG had XENON-flash. We don't know what could we get from XPERIA Z with a Xenon instead of LED...

Here's my results :laugh:
Left : Flash on
Right : Flash off

andyukking said:
I am guessing that you are using digital zoom to get the last close up shot? I only want what my other devices can do. But the focussing is incredibly temperamental.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ravdo said:
Here's my results :laugh:
Left : Flash on
Right : Flash off
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So now, are you satisfied with your XPERIA Z?

laceex said:
So now, are you satisfied with your XPERIA Z?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm satisfied from the moment I got it since March :victory:

ravdo said:
I'm satisfied from the moment I got it since March :victory:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am glad if it is so. Enjoy it so!!

I don't use digital zoom as its pointless and Lg just uses a normal LED flash.
You guys seem to be taking your pictures from further away than the macros that I am attempting to capture.
This demonstrates it:
The LG (Left) can capture at less than half the distance of the xperia Z

andyukking said:
I don't use digital zoom as its pointless and Lg just uses a normal LED flash.
You guys seem to be taking your pictures from further away than the macros that I am attempting to capture.
This demonstrates it:
The LG (Left) can capture at less than half the distance of the xperia Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not understand why are you trying to take macros. But if you feel so, use the LG instead of Sony. I made what I could with it, it is macro enough for me. If I need more than this, I use my WX80 Cyber-shot. But you could sell LG and get a camera. Or get a K800 Sony but XPERIA Play has very good macro too Or you sell the XPERIA Z and buy all the above mentioned devices.
I am sorry but I don't think you should suffer with it this much.
(I still think this is software isue of Z's camera, because clearly can see sometimes it catching when focusing even from 3cm, therefor hope Sony will solve this problem soon)

Third party camera app vs sony's camera app

i think many of you z1c users have experienced the problem of bluring in a image especially taking photos of landscapes and sceneries .. in which details matter the most.. A 20.7 MP camera is expected to fulfil the need of clarity and detail to some extent when it comes to these photos.. The problem with Sony's official camera app is that it blurs some parts of the photo and give us a somewhat blurred image.. This however can be solved using a third party camera app... I have used two of them (camera fx and procapture) both giving better result than sony's official camera app.. I dont know whether z2 camera app has solved this or not but for now a third party app is my best bet to get the most out of the the camera!! Will post more camparitive photos in the coming days..

I have also noticed this blurring. I tried camera zoom fx, but for whatever reason I can't stand the UI. So I have been using Camera Fv-5, it is an improvement, however I will be trying more.
Sent from my D5503 using Tapatalk

Did somebody try the new Z2 Cam App? Its available for all xperia devices.
Probably there are some improvements.

Didnt tried it because of the libraries were not available for timeshift and 4k video.. Many people are working on it on Z1 forum.. Hopefully will see it soon.. And more importantly.. I hope this blurring effect is solved..
Sent from my D5503 using xda app-developers app

Milltach said:
Did somebody try the new Z2 Cam App? Its available for all xperia devices.
Probably there are some improvements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did try, but the camera module looks exactly the same. Could be something with the libs, but it doesn't really matter. The pics are still blurred.

Can someone post examples with stock and third party app? I don't see the bluring in my pics.

I went to a retail store, and z1's photo have more details than the compact.
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

hash054 said:
i think many of you z1c users have experienced the problem of bluring in a image especially taking photos of landscapes and sceneries .. in which details matter the most.. A 20.7 MP camera is expected to fulfil the need of clarity and detail to some extent when it comes to these photos.. The problem with Sony's official camera app is that it blurs some parts of the photo and give us a somewhat blurred image.. This however can be solved using a third party camera app... I have used two of them (camera fx and procapture) both giving better result than sony's official camera app.. I dont know whether z2 camera app has solved this or not but for now a third party app is my best bet to get the most out of the the camera!! Will post more camparitive photos in the coming days..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In different app, but equal setting:
ZX1C focus/defocus
In my opinion the stock kamera app doesn't right focus setting.

Camera FV 5
After the recommendation of many Camera FV 5 users.. I gave it a shot.. and I was not disappointed.. The customization and the result stand out from all the other apps.. focus is pretty damn good and no more blury pictures.. and no details ignored.. only day time test left.. night samples are better than I expected!

Is there anyway to change which camera app opens from the lockscreen. I want FV5 to launch from the lockscreen not sony's app. I'm running stock KK.

VSCO Camera is pretty good. I am also wondering from the post above if there is a way to change the default camera on the lock screen.

Snap camera is one of my favourite.
REKOGNÍZED KONYHABÚTOR

you should post more various pics (8MP/20MP) from other apps, gives a better idea. the first post pic isn't exactly clear in either shot

stringy2010 said:
I have also noticed this blurring. I tried camera zoom fx, but for whatever reason I can't stand the UI. So I have been using Camera Fv-5, it is an improvement, however I will be trying more.
Sent from my D5503 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to play with iso settings tray iso 50 or 100 for 20.7 image

Hi all,
besides some blur on certain conditions(low light) what I most regret of this 20mpx camera on the Z1Compact is that all pictures looks like washed out, like without proper contrast or white balance is incorrect.
I have tried in Manual Mode with ISO 50, 100, 200, also moving the exposure control on the screen, white balance in automatic and also 'sun' or 'light bulb', most of the shots don't have vivid colors.
I come from Samsung Galaxy SII, then I had S4, then a Note 3 ... (then I realized that big phones are not comfortable to carry in the pocket all day and switched to Z1Compact), all Samsung phones had different colors on taken pictures, more vivid.
Any advise on how to take better pictures with Z1Compact?
Thanks.

sinple said:
I went to a retail store, and z1's photo have more details than the compact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having owned both, the Z1 *looks* like the photos are better because the screen has higher resolution (1080p), but in reality when you load photos onto a computer, the Z1C is distinctly better.
Also when I changed my back case from plastic to glass (which also replaces the glass over the camera lens) I noticed a small improvement in sharpness, particularly in the corners.

awojtas said:
Also when I changed my back case from plastic to glass (which also replaces the glass over the camera lens) I noticed a small improvement in sharpness, particularly in the corners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
where did buy the back cover replacement? Can you share a link or PM me the link if you're not allowed to post it in the forum?
Thanks.

I have 'Snap' running on CM12 and I'm initially very impressed.........opens up the 20 meg Cyber-shot camera ability nicely.
RAW file access would be nice so we could then import to a hardcore editor on a PC....and I'm sure that wouldn't be too difficult to sort out with an update.....but for a few pennies it's way way better than the google camera app that comes with CM12.

Have you tried using the Camera2 API in snap? I cant tell if it makes a difference or not...

In .242 fw doesn't work the Camera2 API...

Camera applications A vs. B: compared

The other day I wrote an article about camera applications, questioning if one is really better than another (full article here). Since my blog doesn't get many viewers I figured it might be helpful to post my results here as well for more coverage. I try to prove that various camera apps aren't necessarily better than others. I did one test using six different camera apps or settings, shooting from exactly the same spot pointing at my Arduino. I'm not yet telling you which photo belongs to which camera app as I want to find out from you if there is any noticeable difference between the following, in no particular order:
Superior Auto mode from Sony devices @ 8MP
Manual mode from Sony devices @ 20MP, ISO-50
Google Camera @ 20 MP
Camera FV-5 @ 20MP
Camera FV-5 @ 20MP, Night mode (exposure "long")
Open Camera @ 20MP
<.PNG COMPARISON>
Please do NOT vote on the poll if there is no one photo that looks significantly better
Let me know what you think!

@Hermantje
Did you try Vignette ?
It's one of my favorite camera app :3
For me,
1. Camera FV-5> very good at long exposure + tripod, because Sony stock camera can't do this. . .
Exposure Bracket very useful too, and Sony can't do this too. . .
2. Google camera> only for photosphere, because we can't modify ISO value and EV.
I wish Sony stock camera have this feature xD
3. Vignette> actually it's like Creative Effect but with more useful focus, effect, filter etc.
Please correct me if I'm wrong :3

Yenkazu said:
@Hermantje
Did you try Vignette ?
It's one of my favorite camera app :3
For me,
1. Camera FV-5> very good at long exposure + tripod, because Sony stock camera can't do this. . .
Exposure Bracket very useful too, and Sony can't do this too. . .
2. Google camera> only for photosphere, because we can't modify ISO value and EV.
I wish Sony stock camera have this feature xD
3. Vignette> actually it's like Creative Effect but with more useful focus, effect, filter etc.
Please correct me if I'm wrong :3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more on points 1 and 2
I haven't tried Vignette yet. But that's because I want my photos to look natural, and if I want effects then I always add them after the fact with Snapseed or Photoshop on PC.

Hermantje said:
I couldn't agree more on points 1 and 2
I haven't tried Vignette yet. But that's because I want my photos to look natural, and if I want effects then I always add them after the fact with Snapseed or Photoshop on PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please try it xD
I'm using Vignette not because filter or any effect it's offer, but because focus, detail and colours.
And I dont like edit/filter photos, I like natural photo, just like you xD
Sometimes, Vignette give more details and accurate colours vs Sony Stock Camera.
Noise still there, but still acceptable.
Btw, I'm used Superfine Quality + 8 MP on Vignette so the photo size 10++ MB xD
Still jpeg, cannot beat png offered by FV-5 :3
I didn't think 20 MP it's "usable" xD
What your opinion about 20 MP ?

Yenkazu said:
Please try it xD
I'm using Vignette not because filter or any effect it's offer, but because focus, detail and colours.
And I dont like edit/filter photos, I like natural photo, just like you xD
Sometimes, Vignette give more details and accurate colours vs Sony Stock Camera.
Noise still there, but still acceptable.
Btw, I'm used Superfine Quality + 8 MP on Vignette so the photo size 10++ MB xD
Still jpeg, cannot beat png offered by FV-5 :3
I didn't think 20 MP it's "usable" xD
What your opinion about 20 MP ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm always using 20MP just because of the idea of otherwise throwing away data and... just because I can. But I don't always find it useful. I only really find it useful when using Camera FV-5's night mode or when shooting at ISO-50 in daylight in the stock app. For quick snaps I do use Superior Auto just because of its simplicity, and then of course it's at 8MP. I should give Vignette a try, then :good:

Hermantje said:
I'm always using 20MP just because of the idea of otherwise throwing away data and... just because I can. But I don't always find it useful. I only really find it useful when using Camera FV-5's night mode or when shooting at ISO-50 in daylight in the stock app. For quick snaps I do use Superior Auto just because of its simplicity, and then of course it's at 8MP. I should give Vignette a try, then :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wew. . .
I'm prefered 8 MP because the details :3
20MP "awesome", but the ISO limit only 800 (if I remember correctly), of course it's useful for daylight then xD
But sometimes, using 20 MP make me think, the details it's enough or not. . .
So I decided used 8 MP, 20 MP for "rare" situation then :3
Thanks for your feedback
Btw, what your current OS right now ?
I'm on L .270, the HDR on the stock camera awful vs in KK
Yesterday, I'm trying used HDR and the photo look very bad, I dunno why xD
Maybe I'm wrong, but if you on L .270, you should try the HDR
And did you know, only Sony Stock Camera can control the ISO ?
I'm trying set the ISO on Camera FV-5 but it's still automatic. . .
-______-

Yenkazu said:
Wew. . .
I'm prefered 8 MP because the details :3
20MP "awesome", but the ISO limit only 800 (if I remember correctly), of course it's useful for daylight then xD
But sometimes, using 20 MP make me think, the details it's enough or not. . .
So I decided used 8 MP, 20 MP for "rare" situation then :3
Thanks for your feedback
Btw, what your current OS right now ?
I'm on L .270, the HDR on the stock camera awful vs in KK
Yesterday, I'm trying used HDR and the photo look very bad, I dunno why xD
Maybe I'm wrong, but if you on L .270, you should try the HDR
And did you know, only Sony Stock Camera can control the ISO ?
I'm trying set the ISO on Camera FV-5 but it's still automatic. . .
-______-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm currently on .242, rooted. I never use HDR though, generally not a fan of the effect it creates. I would recommend most people to just shoot at 8MP. You save a lot of memory that way

Hermantje said:
I'm currently on .242, rooted. I never use HDR though, generally not a fan of the effect it creates. I would recommend most people to just shoot at 8MP. You save a lot of memory that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not updated to .270 ?
HDR on Kitkat works very well :3
Maybe something wrong with my settings :/
I agree, save a lot of memory + fast rendering photo :3

Yenkazu said:
Why not updated to .270 ?
HDR on Kitkat works very well :3
Maybe something wrong with my settings :/
I agree, save a lot of memory + fast rendering photo :3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because I'm waiting for a 5.1 update. If I update, I'm losing root (well I don't know if there's a way to install the update while keeping root) so I'll have to root again, reinstall every app... it's just too much work for me with a minor update :silly:

Hermantje said:
Because I'm waiting for a 5.1 update. If I update, I'm losing root (well I don't know if there's a way to install the update while keeping root) so I'll have to root again, reinstall every app... it's just too much work for me with a minor update :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, you can used pre-rooted zip :3
But you need recovery for flash that zip.
Back to topic, it's seem HDR on L kinda weird, the ISO is the culprit. . .
If I set the ISO 50, the effect good, but not really good compared in KK, so I will left HDR in L. . .
In KK, if I set ISO auto, the effect really nice, but not in L.
And many photo editor app can do that (HDR), I guess it's not really matter then xD

Just a reminder: the poll closes within a week. I will have interpreted the results by then, but in the meantime: the more votes the better! :laugh: