Camera setup on android. How to take great photos with Android

Smartphone cameras have come a long way in the past few years. Now, for a good shot, it is enough to get your favorite gadget and make a couple of taps on the screen. Although, if you look at some of the photos on Instagram, you can understand that not everyone succeeds even in this.

In fact, there are many ways to improve the quality of your photography, and if you think that you have already achieved maximum professionalism in this, then I have bad news for you. The camera of each smartphone is different from the rest, so sometimes even small changes can dramatically change the picture.

Our colleagues at Lifehacker.com polled many expert photographers for basic tips on how to improve the quality of smartphone photography. Take a look at them, perhaps tomorrow you will become a popular instamographer.

Use light correctly

This advice applies to all phone models: the subject should be facing the light source, not the camera. The main problem with smartphone cameras is that they work with little light. Therefore, our main task is to give the camera the maximum amount of light. You may need to think a little about how to place the object, but you will like the result.

Wipe the lens

Stupid? But no. By wiping the lens before shooting, you will save yourself from photographs with subtle but unpleasant spots and dots. If you like to touch your phone with greasy hands, then this advice will come in handy.

Avoid the zoom

Use physical zoom. How? It's very simple: if you need to zoom in on an object, walk up to it. That's all. As a last resort, if you cannot get close to the object, you can simply crop (crop) the photo in the editor. Thus, you will achieve the same result without losing anything. And a photo taken with a digital zoom will be ruined forever.

Flash

Most photographers recommend turning off the flash on your smartphone altogether and using it only as a flashlight. However, in a situation where you need to take a photo in the dark, a flash can still come in handy. Just put it in “Auto” mode and the smartphone will decide for itself when to turn it on.

If a situation arises in which you doubt whether you need a flash, then the best choice would be to take two photos: one with the flash, the other without, and after that figure out which one turned out better.

Understand the settings

Of course, if you are lucky enough to own an iPhone, then the only setting available to you is the grid on / off. However, if you are using an Android device or a third-party application, then the number of settings can cause a nervous tic. But they will have to be figured out, especially if you want to improve the quality of your photos.

Check Resolution

Most smartphones allow you to choose the resolution of your photos. Needless to say, for the best quality it should be maximum?

Turn on image stabilization

When you press the button to take a photo, you move the phone slightly. This also applies to breathing and various involuntary gestures, which can also blur and ruin the photo. Therefore, if you are not a sniper who knows how to control your breathing, then you should look in the settings for image stabilization and turn it on.

Adjust white balance

In most cases, modern cameras themselves determine the white balance. Moreover, quite good. But in a situation with a small amount of light, even they can confuse and turn your picture into something terrible and suitable only for friends on Instagram. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for the camera to determine the amount of light. For example, if you suddenly entered the premises from the street or vice versa. By giving her those few seconds, you will reduce the chance of taking a bad photo.

Adjust the exposure

Exposure determines the amount of light that hits the lens. It's worth playing around with this setting on your own, as it is highly case-dependent. The higher the exposure, the more light hits the lens, and the photo becomes brighter and brighter.

Adjust color rendering

If adjusting the white balance and exposure does not give the desired results, you can try adjusting the color reproduction. For example, in or in a smartphone app.

Make a photo in black and white

If all else fails, then you have to be like hipsters and make your photo in black and white. In most cases, this filter hides major imperfections in a photo and makes it more interesting.

Some smartphones support real-time filters, and you can immediately photograph the subject in black and white. We do not advise you to do this, as there will be no turning back.

Make your photo look less mediocre with filters

We've left this tip for last so you can use the other methods first and only use this one when absolutely necessary. Some filters really make the photo extraordinary and beautiful. But you don't chew on bad breath in the morning, do you?

Don't apply all of these tips to every shot. A little experimentation and you will find your style and tips that work best with your photos. If you have any tips of your own that we forgot about, share them in the comments!

Improved camera for Android. It is with this formulation of the problem that dozens of topics can be found on specialized forums and specialized sites. For some users, focusing does not work, for others - the self-timer, for others - the flash.

Mobile device manufacturers often spend very little time improving their built-in cameras. In their opinion, a smartphone is a phone with many modern functions and Internet access. And the camera ... Yes, there is it. But that's just a bonus.

In today's review, we will consider a program that I rightfully consider one of the best among the software, in the name of which there is “Camera”.

Installing HD Camera app for Android

You can find a great variety of applications in this category on Google Play virtual shelves. Just enter the word “Camera” in the search bar and the store will display several dozen of the same type of programs.

But the best camera for Android according to thousands of users of modern gadgets is HD Camera for Android. Let's check together if this is so.

Follow the link and install the application into the memory of the mobile device.

Camera Enhancement for Android: Video

Setting up the HD Camera app for Android

At the first start, the program will unobtrusively ask the user whether to save information about the shooting location with future images.

How to answer this question is up to you. We go to the main application window and see a completely standard interface design. Simple and concise.

Opening the main parameters of the program is carried out by clicking on the area of ​​the screen marked with a circle.

In the same step, you can call the HD Camera settings menu. Just click on the center icon.

As you can see, the most significant elements of the photography process are collected here: geolocation, self-timer, presets and much more. By combining these options, you can not only speed up the photography of a particular object, but also significantly improve the quality of the resulting images.

For example, the size of the final image does not always mean its excellent quality. Set exactly the parameters that you really need at the moment.

Or automatic shutter release. With this feature, you can always get ready for the upcoming shoot.

By the way, switching cameras in the application is not entirely successful: for this you will constantly have to go to the main menu of HD Camera for Android.

How to use the front camera on Android

In principle, there are no special differences between cameras in the program. The same menu, the same settings, the same functionality. Just set the front camera as your main camera and take pictures of yourself.

In conclusion of our review, let us dwell on one more advantage of the described application. The developers have included in the HD Camera for Android, distributed completely free of charge, also a video mode.

It is worth noting that the program shoots video in pretty good quality. If we talk about the video mode settings, then they are much poorer, but, in principle, even they are enough for normal operation.

In any case, whether you adjust the camera for yourself or not, even with the standard options, HD Camera for Android will surprise you with the quality of the images you take.

For several years now, smartphones have replaced soapboxes in amateur photography! This outcome is predictable, the mobile device is always with you, and also has a more compact body that fits easily into a pocket. On this basis, the quality of mobile photomodules is constantly growing, and some functions of the "big brothers" receive mobile adaptation! One such feature is the advanced mode with manual settings.

Manual mode on smartphones allows you to control the main parameters: exposure time, ISO sensitivity of the matrix, white balance and focal length. The adjustment range depends on the specific model. Used as an example with Oxygen 4.1.6 (Android 7.1.1) on board.

A full-fledged manual mode in smartphones first appeared in models from late 2014 - early 2015. Among the first were: Sony Xperia Z3, Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4. There is no need to talk about more recent smartphones. The manual mode in a modern flagship is not a unique feature, but part of the standard equipment.

Smartphones of the middle price segment also do not stand still. The ASUS Zenfone 3 presented last year belongs to the mid-range segment, but it received a good Sony Exmor IMX298 module in combination with advanced software. Over time, an increasing number of models in different price categories will receive similar features.

Exposition

The story about manual mode should start with this concept. What is exposure? - This is the amount of illumination of the matrix, which is determined by three parameters: aperture, shutter speed and light sensitivity. The latter does not in any way affect the amount of light entering the matrix, but it is an excellent lever for adjusting the illumination of the frame. In addition, due to the design features of the smartphone, the aperture value does not change - two levers remain in the hands of the mobile photographer.

It should be borne in mind that in order to achieve the same correct exposure, no combination of the given parameters can be selected. The choice of a particular set is largely dependent on external conditions. How exactly, further in the article.

Excerpt

Technically speaking, shutter speed determines how long the shutter of the light sensor is opened to capture light. The longer the shutter speed, the more light has time to hit the sensor, which results in a brighter frame.

Exposure times are measured in seconds; for modern digital cameras, the typical minimum value is 1/8000 of a second. The upper limit is determined by the creators of the software, in my case it is 30 seconds. It would seem that the shorter the shutter speed, the less time is spent on creating a frame, which means that shorter values ​​are more profitable. However, the exposure time is directly proportional to the amount of light that hits the sensor, therefore, at a short shutter speed there is a risk of getting too dark, underexposed frames. The opposite situation is also possible, the result of the shutter speed may be an overexposed frame, with similar aperture and photosensitivity values.

First of all, it is worth considering the dynamics of movement of objects in the frame. The faster the subject moves, the faster the shutter speed is required to get a sharp photo. The second factor: the smartphone must remain static to avoid blurry photos. At a shutter speed of more than 1/15 of a second, it is recommended to fix the camera, for example, using a tripod or a tripod, otherwise the sharpness of the frame will be lost. The exception is smartphones with an optical stabilization system, with their help you can get blurry shots at a longer exposure from your hands.

The second meaning of exposure is artistic. Depending on its length, you can convey the movement of objects in the frame in different ways. Or create photographs with the play of light, for example, patterns of light lines.

Light sensitivity

A parameter that determines the brightness of the photo, regardless of the amount of light that hits the matrix. Sensitivity is indicated in ISO, the higher the value, the brighter the finished result. In the world of digital photography, the same values ​​on different matrices give different results, so it is worth considering the specifics of each individual device.

Increasing the value will compensate for the fast shutter speed. You need to be careful, high values ​​lead to digital noise, up to the complete deterioration of the photo.

Focal length

Smartphone autofocus systems are constantly evolving. From basic contrast to advanced phase! There are also hybrid systems that use a rangefinder laser - it works in any conditions. As a result of evolution, the focusing time has decreased from one second to an average of 0.3 seconds in favorable conditions.

The last suggestion is key, because even modern systems are not always tough with poorly lit scenes. Autofocus works for an unacceptably long time, or is generally mistaken. In such situations, it is beneficial to use manual settings. Also, manual focusing is beneficial when shooting the same subject with a tripod, in order to avoid constant refocusing, and therefore eliminate errors and speed up the process.

White balance

White balance is a color correction option based on the temperature of the light source. Correctly selected values ​​provide the correct color reproduction in the photo. As a rule, smartphones use an advanced Kelvin scale in 100 units. However, in the same OnePlus 3T, only a few presets are available that determine the illumination of the frame: cloudy, daylight, and so on.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the automation works perfectly! Modern algorithms handle uniform light correctly. Problems arise when the frame is illuminated by multiple sources with different color temperatures. Typical examples are sunlight from a window and a fluorescent lamp in a room.

Why are manual settings useful?

Automation is an eternal compromise between shooting time and the quality of the resulting frame. The algorithms are aimed at fast handheld shooting and are unaware of what kind of frame the photographer wants to get. Also, metering is not without its drawbacks, in difficult conditions, an error is not excluded! In this situation, the manual mode comes to the rescue, which, although it takes more time to prepare for shooting, in skilled hands, helps to get the best result.

Do not neglect these advanced features of the smartphone camera. This is far from a useless function, with its help you can squeeze the maximum out of your mobile camera! The parameters described above are quite easy to figure out, take on board and immerse yourself in the world of photography. It is possible that a simple smartphone is your ticket to the world of professional photography with the appropriate equipment and knowledge!

08/28/2017 Vladislav Samoshkin

Read our article for detailed instructions on how to set up a camera on an Android phone or tablet. Simple explanations for incomprehensible settings.

Are you disappointed in your smartphone because of poor quality photos? Have you tried customizing the pre-installed Camera app? If you do not know the meaning of some points, then check out our article. We will try to help you achieve the best image quality.

Now you will not find smartphones on sale without a built-in camera. The work of this module is provided by a pre-installed application. It could be Google Camera, or something from a smartphone manufacturer. In any case, the program will be sharpened for automatic shooting. However, there are some manual settings in the "Camera" too. And you need to use them - otherwise you won't always get good shots.

How to set up a camera on your phone

But first, you need to understand that the quality of photos depends not only on the settings. No matter how trite it may sound, before pressing the shutter button, you need to do a little preparation:

• Clean the objective lens - this element is prone to fogging and all sorts of dirt. It is not for nothing that professional photographers always carry a clean cloth with them to wipe the optics.
• Try to find the right angle - do not shoot against the sun, as the tiny matrix of the smartphone will not have enough dynamic range. And try to ensure that the viewer's gaze follows from the upper right to the lower left corner of the final photo (unless you are shooting a portrait).
• Turn on the self-timer or voice control - this rule should be followed in low light conditions. The fact is that touching the shutter button will slightly shake the smartphone, and with a long exposure, this will lead to blurring of the picture.
• Try to shoot with the rear (main) camera - in most cases it has a larger sensor, higher resolution, and better sensitivity. A monopod with a mirror allows you to take a selfie on the rear camera.
• Forget digital zoom - get those thoughts out of your head! If you need to zoom in on the picture, just walk up to the object. Some modern smartphones have optical zoom (a dual camera has lenses with different focal lengths) - you can use it.

But stop thinking about preparation! It's time to talk about how to set up the camera on your phone.

How to set up a camera on your phone: Global settings

The existing “Camera” settings can be roughly divided into two categories. The first includes parameters that globally affect the final result. They are located in a special section, access to which is provided after clicking on the "Settings" icon (in the application itself, of course). The second category includes the parameters of the shooting itself - shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and so on. First, let's figure out what awaits you in the menu called "Settings":

• Image size - this parameter determines how many pixels the image will consist of. Also, this item can be called "photo resolution". Feel free to choose the most affordable option.
• The size of the video - or its resolution. Likewise, choose the highest setting (4K, Full HD or HD as a last resort). Note that some shooting modes may not be available at the highest resolution, such as high speed video.
• Video frequency - determines how fast it will be written. The higher the parameter, the smoother the picture will be. The optimal choice is 50 or 60 fps. But cheap smartphones do not have enough processor power for such high-speed shooting, in which case you will have to do with a smaller parameter.
• Review images - if you activate this switch, then after pressing the shutter button you will see the final image. They will be shown for a few seconds. If the switch is not active, then you can instantly take the next frame, and the photo will immediately go to the "Gallery".
• Timer - or self-timer. After pressing the shutter button, the selected number of seconds elapse, after which the frame is taken.
• Grid - its display allows you to align the horizon line. In the final photo, the grid, of course, will not be.
• Photo quality - this parameter determines how much the image will be compressed. Choose "Highest quality" - then you will get the best result. The rest of the parameters can lead to some blurring of the image.
• Geotagging - This switch determines whether the geographic coordinates of the shooting location will be tagged.
• Storage location - select "SD card" if there is one on your device.
• Flicker Suppression - Fluorescent lamps flicker at different frequencies in different countries. This setting allows you to suppress the effect of flicker, but you need to select a specific frequency - 50 or 60 Hz.
• Voice control - this item is not available in every smartphone. This function is to take pictures using a voice command.
• Volume key - determines what actions during shooting are assigned to the corresponding button. For example, it can become an additional shutter button. Or, pressing it will start video recording.
• Gesture control is another method of shooting that is implemented in some smartphones. For example, a raised hand or a smile can start the self-timer.
• Optical stabilization - enabled on some devices. It allows you to make the shutter speed slower without increasing the risk of blurring the frame. But the stabilizer's effect is best seen when filming.

These are the main parameters contained in the corresponding section of the standard Camera application. Understanding and applying these or those settings correctly will help you decide how to set up the camera on your phone. But some smartphones have additional settings - it all depends on the manufacturer's imagination and his skills.

Manual settings

how to set up a camera on a phone: manual settings

If you want to get great shots, then you must wean yourself from the constant use of automatic mode. We can spend hours describing you how to set up the camera on your phone, but if you only use presets, it will not help you much in difficult cases. Try to adjust certain settings in difficult shooting conditions, which are often available right during framing.

• Flash - can be disabled, forced on, or work in automatic mode. In the third case, the system itself will decide whether to activate the flash now. The result of its work depends on the specific implementation and shooting conditions. Once it can really save the picture, but in other cases its use only spoils the frame.
• ISO is the so-called light sensitivity. When the frame is increased, more energy is supplied to the matrix, as a result of which the data is read from it a little better. But in return, the image can receive a certain amount of digital noise - random flickering points. Noise is most noticeable when viewing a photo at 100% zoom. You should think about ISO only in low light conditions; you should definitely not increase this parameter too much, otherwise the result will unpleasantly surprise you.
• Exposure - adjustable only on some smartphones. This parameter means how long the aperture will be open. The longer, the more light the matrix will receive. But if you overdo it, overexposure will happen.
• Exposure - marked with a square icon with plus and minus. This is the easiest way to lighten or darken the frame.
• Aperture - the degree of its opening is regulated only on some devices. Again, how much light enters the frame depends on the diameter of the hole.
• Exposure metering - it depends on how exactly the system will determine how light the frame is.
• White balance - makes the image warmer or cooler. Usually, automation and without human intervention copes with its task. But if you are shooting in unusual lighting conditions, it is better to choose one or another white balance manually.
• HDR - when this function is enabled, the camera will create several frames at once with different exposures. Then all this is combined into one shot, from which too dark and overly overexposed areas are excluded. But it takes time to create multiple frames, so you don't need to photograph moving objects in HDR mode.

These are the few settings that can usually be selected while shooting. But almost any Camera application also provides different modes of operation. This should also be discussed.

Camera shooting modes on phones

By default, the application activates regular photography. In it, you can switch to the front camera. Or go to video shooting. In addition, the app provides several other shooting modes:

• Panorama - This mode is ideal for capturing natural and urban landscapes. Several pictures are automatically created in it, after which they are stitched into one frame. The result is a very wide photograph, allowing you to see the area around you in detail.
• Beauty shooting - when this mode is activated, the application will try to smooth the skin and make other improvements to the picture. The mode is primarily tailored for shooting with the front camera.
• Blur the background - shooting in this mode can be done in different ways. Best of all, the background is able to blur smartphones with a dual camera. If the device has one lens, then the background is blurred either by the software method, or after a certain movement of the device from top to bottom.
• GIF-animation - in fact, in this mode, video is shot, but with a frequency of only about one frame per second. The resulting images are combined into one GIF animation, which you can then post to a social network.
• Burst shooting - in this mode, you can take several frames at once in a second (the exact number of frames is affected by the processor power). Then you can choose the best shot, or keep them all in memory. A good mode for shooting children, cars, sports and other active scenes.
• Night is a special mode for shooting in low light conditions. It automatically increases the light sensitivity, and the shutter speed is slower.
• High-speed shooting (slow-mo) - this mode is possessed by smartphones with a very powerful processor. The mode is used for video recording. The camera takes a very large number of frames per second in it. The video can then be slowed down so that the movements of the subject are visible in full detail.

These are the most popular modes found in standard Camera applications. There are also some specific modes, but it makes little sense to talk about them within the framework of a short article.

Conclusion

Now you know what certain camera settings are responsible for. Act wisely - this way you will squeeze all the possibilities out of even the simplest smartphone or tablet! And don't forget that you can always download more powerful camera apps from Google Play.

smartbobr.ru

What to do if the camera stopped working on Android

It is difficult to imagine the owner of a modern gadget who would only use it for making calls and sending messages. Smartphones and tablets have combined almost everything - a phone, an alarm clock, audio and video players, and much more. And suddenly it happens that the camera does not work on Android. How do I fix this problem?

Reasons for camera failure

One of the important modules of current gadgets can stop working for a number of reasons, among which there are several main ones:

1. Updating the system firmware. Due to an incorrect procedure or some kind of failure during the update process, the settings of various modules very often fly off.
2. Virus attack. The number and variety of malicious programs is quite large.
3. Damage to the device. Various mechanical impacts (falling, impact, falling under water, etc.) can lead to incorrect operation of the camera.
4. Garbage. The camera has a sensor that can be impaired if it gets dirty or if it gets dusty.
5. Module cache. This is a purely programmatic reason.

In any of these cases, various messages may appear on the screen (for example, it says "Camera failure"), the window may freeze, crash, or be just a black screen. So what if the camera stopped working on the phone?

How to solve the problem

Return to factory settings

This method will fix the problem with the system and module settings that arose for one reason or another. But this must be done correctly, for which:

• first, make a backup copy of the necessary files and data, as well as the system itself (this item is optional, but it is better not to neglect it);
• then go to the device settings, the General tab;
• find the item "Backup and reset" (the name may differ in different versions of Android and models);
• in the new window, select the item "Reset settings";
• get acquainted with the information about what data will be deleted;
• make sure that the battery charge level is at least 30%;
• start reset;
• when finished, you can check the operation of the camera and configure the device.

Virus check

If, after returning to factory settings, the gadget still displays an error message, you should check it for viruses. This can be done in two ways:

• connect a phone or tablet to a PC and scan with a computer program;
• install the utility directly on the gadget.

In any case, it is necessary to do a deep check.

External and internal cleaning

It will be useful to clean the device from various debris, both internal and external. In the first case, it is enough to wipe the lens with a special napkin or clean, but with the application of a special agent. You can also disassemble the phone and clean it, but for this it is better to seek help from a specialist.

Internal cleaning involves deleting the module cache, for which:

• go to the settings, the General tab;
• select the item "Applications";
• swipe from right to left several times to get to the All tab;
• find the camera and go into it;
• in the window that appears, we need the "Clear cache" button.

Installing special utilities

If none of the above methods solved the problem, there is another option with installing programs on the gadget that will work in the same way as a standard camera. Camera MX is an example of such applications.

The specified application has its own menu, which contains the main page with the start of shooting, a gallery of files from the device's memory, as well as a large number of different effects. With this program, you can take funny and original selfies, including GIFs that save movement.

It can be used when working with such applications as the main one, i.e. rear and front cameras, which means that functionally many of them can be even better than the standard module. If, when using such utilities, you still cannot get an image, then the problem is much more serious.

In this case, it remains only to contact the service center. It will also be advisable if the warranty period on the tablet or phone has not yet expired.

androidster.ru

Using the front camera on a Lenovo smartphone

Of course, not all Lenovo smartphones have the ability to shoot with the front (front) and rear (main) cameras, since the first may simply not be there. If you have both of these cameras in your phone, then another problem arises - how to switch the main camera (it turns on when you open the Camera application by default), to the front one, for example, for taking selfies or communicating via video chats.

Open the "Camera" application. In the upper right or left corner (depending on the orientation of the smartphone), an icon will appear in the form of a small camera, surrounded by circular arrows. Click on this icon to switch the camera. * To switch back to the main camera, you will also need to click on this icon. * In the front camera mode, depending on the smartphone model, you may not have access to some settings and functions related to the quality of shooting that are present when using the main camera. This is due to the fact that, as a rule, the additional camera in a smartphone has a physically simpler design and lower resolution.

infosmartphone.ru

On Android, the front or main camera does not turn on - what to do

If the camera does not turn on on Android, then the causes of the problem may lie in software errors or problems at the hardware level. The user can cope with errors in the operation of the system on his own, but replacing a failed component will require the intervention of a specialist.

This article is suitable for all brands that produce Android smartphones: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others.

Possible reasons why the camera does not turn on

If interested, my article is a review of what kind of Bluetooth headphones I bought for a smartphone for $ 13.

If you haven't dropped or hit your Android device, but at some point found that the camera is not working, then most likely the reason for this is a software error. This could be:

• Incorrect camera setup.
• Application conflict.
• Out of memory.
• Cache overflow.
• Infection with viruses.
• Incorrect firmware.

If everything is in order with the system, pay attention to the physical state of the module. The camera may not turn on due to mechanical damage after being hit or dropped, lens contamination.

Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine a mobile gadget devoid of the ability to take photos and record videos.

Today, any, even the most budgetary device, has a full-fledged photo and video camera with a bunch of parameters for customization. The problem is that not every smartphone owner can navigate in all the variety of these settings. In this article we will try to shed light on the main parameters of the camera of phones (Android) and reveal their purpose.

Camera resolution

Shutter speed / aperture / aperture

This setting is for aperture control. The higher the value of the parameter, the better the camera will be open to light. Do not set too long exposure, as overexposure may result.

All the details about the aperture and aperture of the camera are collected by and.

ISO

The short name of this function can be interpreted as (Image Sensor Optimization). Changing the characteristics of this parameter makes it possible to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the lens to light. It is recommended to increase the ISO value only when shooting in low light conditions, otherwise the background noise will be noticeable in the photo.

Exposition

Thanks to this function, you can adjust the brightness of the picture. By moving the slider left and right, the user changes the light level of the frame. This allows you to adjust the most suitable mode for aperture in order to improve the visibility of objects.

We have covered the most important camera parameters in Android phones and smartphones. By using all the available settings wisely, you can achieve the best shooting quality.