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Camera Flaws Mostly Software? [Pro Capture]

nstallion

nstallion

Android Expert
So it's well known that Motorola doesn't make the best cameras in their phones and the Bionic's seems to be pretty underwhelming as well. I've tried quite a few different camera applications with varying results. The one included in leaked motorola builds is definitely the fastest but the quality is still lacking.

Recently I tried a camera app called Pro Capture (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.neaststudios.procapture.free) and the difference in picture quality compared to other camera applications is very noticeable.

It is fairly limited in its features - you aren't going to get lots of fancy composite effects like with Camera Zoom FX but as far as just taking an actual photograph the quality is pretty fantastic.

This thread isn't just an advertisement for this app but more to prompt a discussion about how much software has to do with the picture quality in cameras. Why can this app take pictures that are so much better than the application made by the same people who put the hardware together?

Some samples I took:

Photo Album - Imgur

I use the paid version ($2.49) which is only different in that the images are not limited to 3MP. imgur shrunk them from the original 8MP but they haven't been altered otherwise. You'll have to take my word for it but even at full resolution the images are very clear with much less noise and blurring and much better contrast and color compared to the stock camera.

Also this app manages to get perfect focus on the first shot - something which the stock app seems to struggle with for some reason.
 
I've always been intrigued with the whole thing of some 3rd party apps causing better functionality in device hardware and software. I first noticed it with ringtones and media player apps/widgets.

The one you bring up is of particular interest to me because I don't like the idea of a camera being one of the listed selling points on a newly released Android device, only to have it take second or third rate pictures, megapixels be damned.

Perhaps a coder will chime in as to why the stock camera apps can't perform as well, in many cases, as 3rd party Android Market apps do. I'll be cynical and guess that the phone manufacturers employ cheap labor, and/or they don't upgrade some sections of the software and just grandfather in those things to the new pretty devices.
 
Frisco said:
... why the stock camera apps can't perform as well, in many cases, as 3rd party Android Market apps do. I'll be cynical and guess that the phone manufacturers employ cheap labor, and/or they don't upgrade some sections of the software and just grandfather in those things to the new pretty devices.
Click to expand...

All generalizationsd are false, including this one.

All genralizations are true, including this one.

I venture to guess that all the Apps are developed outside Motorola and Motorla purchased them for inclusion. The quesiton is why are they sometimes not as good as what you can find in the Market? The answer may be that the App in the Market is six months newer than the App that got tied into the Motorola release.

I currently have Camera, CameraZoomFX, and ProCapture installed. My first test I said WOW Pro Capture is significantly sharper. Then I saw that I had mixed them up and I was actually looking at Camera images.

It seems that all three of them are good in some instances and not others. I don't think Hassalblad or Carl Zeiss have anything to worry about for a while.

... Thom
 
nstallion said:
..this app manages to get perfect focus on the first shot - something which the stock app seems to struggle with for some reason.
Click to expand...

That's a point I have a pet peeve about stock camera apps, not to mention the variable focusing from the same distance at the same object(s). Indoors or outdoors. If I get two in a row good, I feel like something finally "settled," but then the third shot is again not quite up to snuff.
 
I came from an HTC incredible and that camera was miles ahead of this one, even using camerzoomFx. I Hope either ics or motorola fix this thing.
 
beefyy said:
I came from an HTC incredible and that camera was miles ahead of this one, even using camerzoomFx. I Hope either ics or motorola fix this thing.
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed much better picture quality on the Bionic with Camera Zoom FX either. Lots of fancy ways to edit the picture though. This thread was specifically about Pro Capture.
 
It wouldnt suprise me though if 99% of the issues are just software...heck theres not much else to these cameras. With that said its shocking how bad the stock apps have been and ive kinda gotten used to using third party apps. In fact if it wasnt for third party apps i would have returned the phone via shoving it up...well you get the point.
 
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