Help Camera zooming automatically when filming

[RhysLlewellyn]

Hi.

When I open up the camera app, it appears as it should but when I press the video button, it automatically zooms to 1x and records that way. It allows me to zoom in but not out to normal, only back to 1x.

I've tried pinching to zoom out further and looked through all my settings but for the life of me can't figure out what's going on.

Any ideas please?

Thank you.

 

[RhysLlewellyn]

To elaborate, if you point your s4 at a frame of reference, like the edge of your TV lined up against the top right hand side of the phone's view finder in camera mode and then hit record, has the edge of the TV screen disappeared as it now appears closer on the phone screen?

I'm pretty sure it's not normal otherwise I would have noticed this before because I thought it looked wrong as soon as I filmed which admittedly isn't very often.

I'm recording at 1080p if that helps.

 

[lotus49]

It allows me to zoom in but not out to normal, only back to 1x.

I have to say I'm somewhat confused by what you mean here because 1x is normal. The zoom range is 4.0-1.0 with 1.0 being standard not zoomed in at all magnification.

To elaborate, if you point your s4 at a frame of reference, like the edge of your TV lined up against the top right hand side of the phone's view finder in camera mode and then hit record, has the edge of the TV screen disappeared as it now appears closer on the phone screen?

No. If I start at 1.0 x it stays like that and if I start zoomed in at say 4.0x it stays zoomed in.

 

[SebaKL]

Same problem here. Using 32 LTE Unlocked.

Tho it doesn't really bother me, because I seldom use the video. Mostly photos.

It seems that when it tries to maintain focus, it constantly does very small but noticeable zoom in and out. Quite clear when watching on larger screen or desktop.

I might try the native google camera app from Nexus or S4/HTC1 to see if this behavior is consistent.

Will report back later.

Cheers

 

[lotus49]

It seems that when it tries to maintain focus, it constantly does very small but noticeable zoom in and out.

Isn't this a different issue?

It does slightly zoom in and out but all autofocus systems do this. My DSLR does exactly the same thing. What the OP means (if I understood correctly) is that it changes so much that objects that were previously visible disappear from view because the phone zooms in substantially.

 

[RhysLlewellyn]

Yes lotus49, I do mean that. When switching from camera to video, it is considerably zoomed in. I'll try and get some screen shots later.

This auto focus thing that was also mentioned is annoying too to be fair.
The only thing I've come up with some far is perhaps to do with aspect ratio? I take pictures at 13mp which on the phone, leaves black borders either side of the preview screen in landscape mode.

Possibly related?

 

[RhysLlewellyn]

And sorry, yes it is set at 1x, but this 1x is definitely different to the camera's 1x.