Resolution, Zoom, Night Mode Issues

[fesowowako]

On a Samsung A16 4G running stock One UI 6, I've encountered several issues with the GrapheneOS camera application:

• Resolution: The camera captures images at a fixed 2 megapixels, significantly lower than the stock Samsung camera's 12-megapixel default and optional 50-megapixel mode.
• Zoom: The maximum zoom level is limited to 4x, compared to the stock camera's 10x capability.
• Night Mode: The night mode feature, as advertised in Play Store screenshots, is absent, despite the device's hardware support.

These limitations impact the camera's usability. I'd appreciate it if these issues could be investigated.

[MHShetty]

Hi @fesowowako,

On a Samsung A16 4G running stock One UI 6, I've encountered several issues with the GrapheneOS camera application:

Resolution: The camera captures images at a fixed 2 megapixels, significantly lower than the stock Samsung camera's 12-megapixel default and optional 50-megapixel mode.
Zoom: The maximum zoom level is limited to 4x, compared to the stock camera's 10x capability.

We aren't dealing with the resolution and the zoom capabilities directly in our camera app but rather via CameraX to keep our code much simpler and maintainable in the long run than having device specific quirks in the app code. I'll file an issue on CameraX's issue tracker regarding the resolution and zoom limitation and share the link for the same here on this thread.

Night Mode: The night mode feature, as advertised in Play Store screenshots, is absent, despite the device's hardware support.

The hardware supporting night mode isn't the same as us being able to access the vendor-specific extension and support it in our app. The reason why the app isn't showing up the extension mode is because the APIs report it that way.

Thanks a lot for trying out our camera app and reporting this issue!

[MHShetty]

The hardware supporting night mode isn't the same as us being able to access the vendor-specific extension and support it in our app. The reason why the app isn't showing up the extension mode is because the APIs report it that way.

[MHShetty]

Have reported the issue regarding resolution and zoom here on CameraX's issue tracker: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/408598684

[fesowowako]

@MHShetty Thank you for the explanation about CameraX and API limitations. I'll track the CameraX issue filed for resolution/zoom. Regarding night mode, any future workarounds possible? Appreciate the info.

[MHShetty]

We are currently working on adding new modes to the camera app that should be consistently available for all devices in the process of migrating our camera app code to Jetpack Compose. Speaking specifically about re-implementing existing vendor-specific extension modes (such as night mode), we currently don't have anything planned for the same yet, but will surely let you know if we plan to work on it in the future

[fesowowako]

I noticed the gyroscope level is located below the center. It would be more user-friendly if it were placed in the middle of the screen.

My apologies for the number of reports. I just wanted to provide as much detail as possible to help with debugging.

[fesowowako]

@MHShetty, I've reviewed the response to the tracker issue, as per the provided link. Regarding the required information:

• I'm still a bit unclear on how to get the remaining values they've asked for. Any pointers on where to find that data would be appreciated.
• Yes, to answer their second point, the 2MP resolution problem with ImageCapture is happening on both the back and front cameras.
• Still need some guidance on obtaining the rest of the required values.

[MHShetty]

I noticed the gyroscope level is located below the center. It would be more user-friendly if it were placed in the middle of the screen.

We have kept it that way to ensure the user instinctively looks at the same place whether its 16:9 or 4:3 mode. The gyroscope has for those reasons has been centered with respect to 16:9 mode.

My apologies for the number of reports. I just wanted to provide as much detail as possible to help with debugging.

No worries at all mate, we appreciate all your contributions towards our repositories. Please make sure you're making a separate issue for every feature request/bug that you're referring to. It makes it easier for everyone involved to keep track of the current status of an issue for and lets others know that the issue they could have been facing has been discussed somewhere. Thank you for your time and support!

[MHShetty]

I'm still a bit unclear on how to get the remaining values they've asked for. Any pointers on where to find that data would be appreciated.
Still need some guidance on obtaining the rest of the required values.

Since those values are device-specific and most likely undocumented elsewhere and since you're getting lower than what should have been supported, I would need to share an apk with the code that logs and displays those details in some way.

Yes, to answer their second point, the 2MP resolution problem with ImageCapture is happening on both the back and front cameras.

Gotcha, would share this with them when we have all of what they've requested for. I'll share an apk for the same in a while

[fesowowako]

Since those values are device-specific and most likely undocumented elsewhere and since you're getting lower than what should have been supported, I would need to share an apk with the code that logs and displays those details in some way.

Very well, then. I'll await the APK's installation; it'll simplify retrieving those details.

[MHShetty]

Hi @fesowowako,

Really sorry for the delay. Here's the link to the apk file: https://drive.proton.me/urls/15V7JEPSP8#7OqwcAXEMp1H

Each time the camera restarts (for e.g. when you switch modes or from front camera to back camera or restart the app) a dialog should appear.

When the app starts by default in the camera mode and the dialog appears click on "Copy to Clipboard" and paste the information somewhere. Type "=== Rear camera ===" above the pasted info. This would be the required information for rear camera.

Press the flip camera icon and again a dialog should appear. Click on "Copy to Clipboard" and paste the information below the previously pasted information. Type "=== Front camera ===" above the recently pasted information and below the previously pasted information. This would be the information required for the front camera.

Together this would be main information needed for the 3rd and 4th question.

Share the retrieved information here and we'll forward it to the CameraX team accordingly with the other necessary information requested. Thank you for your time and help!

[fesowowako]

@MHShetty No need for apologies. I acknowledge the effort you're putting into resolving this.
Here are the requested diagnostics:

=== Rear Camera Diagnostics ===
Zoom Range: 1.0 - 4.0

JPEG output sizes (width x height) -
2336x2336
1920x1920
1920x1920
1440x1440
1440x1440
1280x1280
1088x1088
960x960
720x720
720x720
640x640
352x352
320x320
176x176

=== Front Camera Diagnostics ===
Zoom Range: 1.0 - 4.0

JPEG output sizes (width x height) -
2336x2336
1920x1920
1920x1920
1440x1440
1440x1440
1280x1280
1088x1088
960x960
720x720
720x720
640x640
352x352
320x320
176x176

[MHShetty]

Hi @fesowowako,

We've forwarded this information along with replying to the other questions they have raised on the same thread. (https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/408598684#comment8).

Thanks a lot for your time and efforts!

[MHShetty]

Hi @fesowowako,

Do you get a better image quality in 4:3 aspect ratio?

The extended zoom ratio seems to not be made available for third-party apps on your device by your vendor which could be causing this issue, Are other apps able to zoom in more than 4x on your device?

[fesowowako]

@MHShetty Right, apologies for the delayed response. I was engaged.

Now, regarding the 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, they both yield the same output quality, specifically a mere 2MB, which, frankly, is substandard. I've since tested 'Open Camera', and it appears to capture images at the correct resolution, the default 12MB.

Furthermore, my testing was limited to 'Open Camera', and it's clear it cannot exceed a 4x digital zoom. Therefore, only the stock samsung camera currently possesses the capability to achieve a 10x zoom.