Jerry Peek

Since I got my 3a two or three years ago, using the Camera2 API, I've never had problems with HDR. I could do more tests if you'd like.

In Settings, under "Photo settings...", I set "RAW" to No and turned off both "Allow RAW for expo bracketing" and "Allow RAW for focus bracketing". The photo I got was far out of focus. Thanks! By the way, if it would help, I can also run tests on my old Pixel 3a.

Sorry it took me a few days to answer. I'm traveling. In STD mode, but with a manual exposure set (go to "-/+" icon, and press "M") the focus looks good until I take the picture, but the picture is out of focus. Yes, Expo() makes six out-of-focus images: three DNG, three JPG. I think I've never used flash on my Pixel 5a. On the right edge of my screen is a lightning bolt with a diagonal line across it. Thanks!

I emailed Mark with an overview and a link to this post.

Thanks, Arthur. Apparently Camera2 API is what lets me get RAW (DNG) images, and I want that all the time. But no RAW image is saved when HDR is on, so turning off Camera2 could work when I want to use HDR. But... Thoughts about turning Camera2 on and off during shooting: 1. Changing the Camera2 setting causes a restart. But the restart was so fast that it wasn't a problem. (I didn't check to see if Open Camera restored all of my settings after the restart.) 2. If I forget to turn Camera2 back on...

I just realized that I could set manual focus, then focus lock. The HDR shot I got was in much better focus than the photo in my previous post. The focus wasn't perfect... but I didn't try to focus perfectly before I locked focus. Maybe this is a workaround? I tried using auto focus, then focus lock. But the focus lock didn't work: As soon as I tapped the shutter button, the image went way out of focus. If I can do some tests, please let me know what. (I've used only a few Open Camera features, so...

I just realized that I could set manual focus, then focus lock. The HDR shot I got was in much better focus than the photo in my previous post. The focus wasn't perfect... but I didn't try to focus perfectly before I locked focus. Maybe this is a workaround? If I can do some tests, please let me know what. (I've used only a few Open Camera features, so details would help -- like "tap the whatever icon, then do this, then do that".)

I just got a 5a; it uses the Camera2 API. It's running Android 13 with the September 5 security update. I have the same problem. The screen is in focus until just after I tap the shutter button; then it immediately goes out of focus. My old 3a doesn't have the problem, and it does use the Camera2 API. I'll attach photos of the same scene with and without HDR. I'd be glad to do tests if it would help (though I've never used an app that isn't in the Play Store, so I'd need help doing that -- and making...