Medion
Android Expert
As some of you know, Google released their separate camera app today. Users of Nexus and Google Play Edition devices will see this as an "update" to their current app when you open the Play Store. So, unlike OEM variants, you won't be running two cameras side by side if you download this. Before I go into detail with my experiences, here's a brief listing of what's changed, relative to the old camera included with the Galaxy S4 GPe. These lists are not complete and I will add to it as I notice things.
What's Changed:
What's New:
What's gone:
What's broken:
I've played with the app throughout the day, but I guarantee that I am missing things. So if you see anything not yet mentioned above, please point it out.
The first thing that I noticed was that the shutter speed seemed improved. It's not. Like how Apple uses delayed animations between transitions to give the iPhone a smoother feel, Google has gotten rid of the "camera is frozen until picture is processed" and replaced it with an animation. It makes taking photos seem smoother and quicker, but it's just an illusion. I had the same problems with blurring that I had with the prior camera, except now I can't use exposure or scenes to help mitigate those problems.
The new interface is amazing, however, and may justify this app for many users. You can now see exactly what you're photographing, and there are gridlines for those who want them. The interface makes sense, with a global "settings" option visible when you're looking at the camera modes, whereas the normally visible settings option brings up actions relevant to the camera mode that you're already in.
The new lens blur option is simple yet powerful. I haven't had the opportunity to compare it to the HTC One M8, but for having one lens, the S4 does seem to do well with it.
The larger shutter button (really, the entire bar) makes it easy to take photos without looking at the screen, when needed.
Overall: What we have here is a re-write instead of a re-working of the Google Camera application. However, despite the re-write, the same underlying libraries are used. The camera behaves pretty much the same in terms of quality of shots (or lack of). The app isn't going to make our S4 GPe into a competent smartphone camera. What it does is makes it easier to take a picture without fumbling around the settings. There's also the intent for a more advanced application, as shown by the advanced menu (which currently has one setting, the broken manual exposure option).
It's a solid first start, but aside from the UI and lens blur shooting mode, it's inferior to the current camera.
What's Changed:
- the interface is completely redone
- the viewfinder now shows what you're actually taking pictures of
- Photo sphere now has a quality setting that lets you choose between performance (how fast it processes) and quality
What's New:
- In addition to camera/video/panorama/photo sphere, there's a new mode call lens blur. This allows you to take a picture and adjust the amount of blur, as well as the focus target, AFTER the photo was taken.
- option for grid lines (finally!)
- when recording video in portrait mode, the camera presents a spinning icon to remind you to re-orient the camera (but you don't have to)
What's gone:
- time lapse
- scenes
- the ability to take photos while recording video
- many resolution modes; for example, the rear camera can only take shots at 12.8, 8, and 3.1mp.
What's broken:
- video still doesn't record at or near 30fps unless under ideal lighting circumstances (indoor video for me was 18.7fps)
- manual exposure can be enabled, but touching any value other than zero does nothing.
I've played with the app throughout the day, but I guarantee that I am missing things. So if you see anything not yet mentioned above, please point it out.
The first thing that I noticed was that the shutter speed seemed improved. It's not. Like how Apple uses delayed animations between transitions to give the iPhone a smoother feel, Google has gotten rid of the "camera is frozen until picture is processed" and replaced it with an animation. It makes taking photos seem smoother and quicker, but it's just an illusion. I had the same problems with blurring that I had with the prior camera, except now I can't use exposure or scenes to help mitigate those problems.
The new interface is amazing, however, and may justify this app for many users. You can now see exactly what you're photographing, and there are gridlines for those who want them. The interface makes sense, with a global "settings" option visible when you're looking at the camera modes, whereas the normally visible settings option brings up actions relevant to the camera mode that you're already in.
The new lens blur option is simple yet powerful. I haven't had the opportunity to compare it to the HTC One M8, but for having one lens, the S4 does seem to do well with it.
The larger shutter button (really, the entire bar) makes it easy to take photos without looking at the screen, when needed.
Overall: What we have here is a re-write instead of a re-working of the Google Camera application. However, despite the re-write, the same underlying libraries are used. The camera behaves pretty much the same in terms of quality of shots (or lack of). The app isn't going to make our S4 GPe into a competent smartphone camera. What it does is makes it easier to take a picture without fumbling around the settings. There's also the intent for a more advanced application, as shown by the advanced menu (which currently has one setting, the broken manual exposure option).
It's a solid first start, but aside from the UI and lens blur shooting mode, it's inferior to the current camera.
