Google Camera : Review

Google without any prior announcement released an app in the play store " Google Camera "   . This was the same step followed by Motorola earlier to update it's Camera app directly from the Play Store and without any hassle of OTA software updates . Google Camera brings on some improvements over the stock Android ( KitKat) camera app  . It's not meant for only Nexus devices , it's meant for all the devices running Android 4.4 , so Galaxy s5 , HTC M8  , Moto G etc ..

 Sow how's the Google Camera , we'll find out in this article , so here we go !

Overall UI :

The overall UI can be traced to what Motorola offers with it's devices . It's a mix bag of Swipe gestures and simplicity . Swiping from the left to right on the screen brings out different modes selection as you can see in the picture  . Also swiping right on the screen takes you to the last captured photos or what we call in common language QUICK PREVIEW .



 

Overall performance is smooth enough , and occasional lags are seen while taking pictures and gestures . Swiping left to select different shooting modes reminds us the UI of Moto X's camera UI  , though not entirely similar  similarities can be seen .  Looking at the UI , I personally feel it is more suitable for left handed guys who use their phones with left hand ( including me ) . However , this is my thought , I may even be wrong . So as far UI , if considered , Google just made a perfect choice being inspired by Motorola in some terms , right ? :)

Different Shooting Modes:

 

Google Camera brings 5 different shooting modes , which we'll discuss here in detail .

 

 

1.Camera

Yeah , you're right . Camera is mode is used for taking daily snaps  , and selfies with front camera . Snap speed is faster than Stock Camera and refocusing is also good at a certain level . However there's little bit distortion seen in the pictures taken in bright light . Just have a look at the image gallery at the end of the post , you'll get the idea :) . As far as settings go , there's no scene mode selection in camera like scenery mode , sports mode , night mode etc . It automatically adjusts itself to the shot at which we point but however , it would be good if scene mode selection feature was with the package .

Google Camera was able to take better advantage of the Flash than Stock Camera app .

 

Everything's just same with front camera , but you can't use flash with it . And for both front camera and rear camera , you can have the grid on or off . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.Video

Obviously as the name suggests , you can record videos in this mode . However there are couple of improvements over the stock camera app , that comes with the KitKat devices . Since my phone is running on CM11 based Carbon Rom built on KitKat  , I wasn't able to access settings since the app crashed ( that's because it's not official ROM ) , so I'm not sure whether you can change the resolution of the video from the default one . The video recordings look good , however it is worthy to be noted that it was able to take the better advantage of the MicroPhone by recording the noice less than the stock camera app .

So check out this video for that :

 

 

3. Panorama

Google Camera has the most interesting method of capturing panorama . Unlike traditional way of just moving the device from left to right , all you have to do is put the dots inside the circle and I think it's the most appropriate way of doing that as it makes simple things easy . Images captured in Panorama mode look good and better than the Stock Android Camera  . So Overall , Google has done a good job in developing some innovative methods of doing simple things.

Sample of Panorama :

 

 

 

4.Lens Blur

First was the Nokia with the refocus app for Pure View devices and then followed the rest and HTC even using a dedicated hardware for refocusing after the shots have been captured . Google Camera brings on Lens Blur feature which allows to refocus after images have been captured . However , you have to select the LENS BLUR mode first and then refocus , since Google Camera never uses a dedicated hardware like M8 to refocus the images after they're captured  .

After capturing the image in lens Blur mode , you can swipe from right to left on the screen and go to the image captured in the lens blur mode and then click on the lens blur icon beside the share icon and then simply tap on the area you wan't to refocus . You can adjust the blur amount via the slider at the bottom , but the best place to keep the slider is at the centre as images look good in them after rendering . And then it renders and processes the image and finally gives you the final output . However it takes little time more to render the image , but that maybe the case with Custom Roms , not with official KitKat devices

However , Lens Blur mode is often gives errors . During capturing Lens Blur images you have to raise the device slowly , a little bit faster speed in raising the device gives the error  and image is just not captured , but that's the thing we have to do . Also during raising you have to take care that subject remains in the centre  , otherwise error and image is just not captured . However , this things may feel frustrating sometimes but after a while you can get perfection with them . You can use lens blur with front camera, which is a good thing .

5.Sphere

And Finally , let's come to the sphere mode . It basically allows you to capture a sphere like image . You basically have to follow same simplistic steps of matching dots inside the circle . You can capture as many images as you can in it and create a sphere . After capturing , you can have a look at the sphere by going to the image and tapping on the sphere icon .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Android vs Google Camera :

Google changed the UI elements from the Stock Android camera like swiping up gestures for settings and ISO , flash , use front camera etc .

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Difference in Low Light Photography:

 

Google Camera image :                                                    Stock Android Camera image:



 

Conclusion :

So overall Google Camera is a good app for the Kitkat devices . However , it would be good if it was made available for at least devices running 4.2 Jelly Bean . Though it isn't perfect , but it's a perfect app to be used in daily life specially with the awesome camera hardware of the devices like Galaxy S5 , HTC M8 etc .

Pros : Good Low light image , Refocusing without dedicated hardware , Better use of              flash and Microphone 

Cons : Occasional crashes , UI lags , bright light photography , Rendering time 

Rating : 7/10

[Note : I'll upload the images captured via Google Camera soon]