Version 1.33 - HDR

Version 1.33 is released!

The main new feature is a HDR mode - this requires you to be in Camera2 mode (Settings/Use Camera2 API). You can switch between "Standard" and "HDR" photo modes from the popup (three dots) menu.

[N.B., images updated to show behaviour with later version of Open Camera.]

The left set of three images show the individual exposures, the right the final HDR image. Note that in the middle and top pictures on the left, the foreground is very dark, whilst on the bottom image the foreground can be seen, but the sky is now completely over-exposed. The HDR image combines the various exposures to show the full range of brightness.

Note that taking photos with HDR is significantly slower.

If you want to save the three base multiple exposure photos too, enable Settings/Photo settings/Save all images for HDR mode. This is useful if you want to use external HDR applications to create the final HDR image. Note this will make saving slower, especially if options like "Stamp photos" or Auto-stabilise are also used.

Other improvements:

• Fixes for Android N and Camera2 API.

• Fixes for the popup menu for some languages and screen sizes.

• Improvements for Camera2 and flash on some devices.

• Various other fixes, improvements and translations...

[T0ASTERvan]

Bravo

[Anonymous]

I'm using v1.34 from Fdroid on a Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (the most ridiculous name for a phone if ever I heard one), and don't see any option to use the camera2 API or HDR anywhere in the ui. I've looked in every option menu I can find including the settings, the 3 dot menu, more camera options etc. Is this feature only available on specific hardware, or has the ui option moved elsewhere? Thanks also for adding the option to use an external mic. HDR and external mic were the 2 main things I needed to be able to move from using a proprietary camera app for my work to a FOSS one, so thanks for all your work on both of these! <3

Any chance we could see the Camera/Video "mode" replaced in the future with a separate "record video" button like in many other camera apps (see image attached)? This way users don't need to fiddle around with continually switching camera modes when recording both videos and photos.

[Mark]

"Use Camera2 API" is on the Settings, below the donation option. If it's not there, your device isn't supported (the device most have at least "limited" support for Camera2). The HDR mode requires the Camera2 API I'm afraid.

There's still an advantage to have separate photo/video modes, as things like the preview aspect ratio and focus mode may be different. But it's on my todo to offer the option to take photos while in video mode (or even recording video).

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mark,
Being able to take photos while in video mode would do the job nicely. Then I could just leave it in video mode all the time and take photos from there. I'd be curious to see how you implemented that (separate photo button? Double tap the screen to take a photo?) Either way, I really appreciate all of the work that you have put into Open Camera. I know it takes real stamina and commitment to keep working on something like this as consistently as you have for as long as you have, and I just wanted to say thank you for all your efforts, and to let you know that it makes a huge difference in the lives of people like me. It's appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Hi I am Himanshu. love this camera app. But there are acouple of things that I really would like:
Firstly, please could you provide an option to adjust the bracketing in the HDR mode, as I often find the final image to be too over bracketed and washed out.

Secondly, could you add a basic auto ISO mode too

Thanks loads!
06/10/2024 ❄️

[Mark]

It's on my todo for the future. For now I'm working on trying to improve the algorithm so work better without the user having to change settings (v1.35 has improvements to the algorithm). Also note that v1.34 onwards has Exposure Bracketing mode, if you want more control in order to use an external HDR application.

I'm not sure what you mean by auto ISO mode? Auto ISO is the default behaviour?

[Anonymous]

Just retired from Fire/EMS service for 41yrs.. trying to learn the fun side of new technology....
Q: Can Open Camera take 2 pictures and combine into 1 photo.. e.g. Coin collection, take a pic of front & back of coins and combine into 1 frame/photo & add text, like date, mint, grade.... :??? firehawk1377@gmail.com

[Mark]

I'm afraid this isn't supported.

[Anonymous]

not video steblaizer

[Anonymous]

front camera problem