NOTE: currently, as of KitKat 4.4.4 and firmware version NK4 (Snap805) / NK5 (Exynos) and all versions before, this article only applies to Snapdragon 805 users. Exynos users in no way can improve the image quality of their shots and are, consequently, advised to use the stock Camera app. Consequently, they won't learn much from this article either.
Introduction
This article only concentrates on getting the best possible image quality while shooting in GOOD light, that is, when the phone can use as low sensitivities (ISO's) as possible, resulting in typically low noise levels. The Lightroom etc. settings I present are, consequently, typical for low-ISO shots taken in good light. Should you be interested in low-light shooting, head for THIS article instead. I don't discuss any kind of HDR, including that of the Note4 camera app, here. Please read THIS article for HDR tips and tricks.
If you've read my previous posts / articles on the camera of the Note4, you know very well the stock Camera app is not capable of very good results because it applies unnecessary noise reduction and sharpening, practically destroying the image quality. Up to now, I've recommended Snap camera HDR (“Snap” for short; PlayStore link; please see my original low-light article for more info on obtaining the latest beta) as an all-in-one app for shooting both video (including 4K) and stills. It may not have the best GUI (in this regard, the FV-5 apps (Camera/Cinema) are far superior) and lack essential features like exposure bracketing (see my HDR article linked to above) but it's the only app that can produce images making full use of the hardware capabilities. For example, it's the only app to be able to go under the shutter speed of 1/15s I know of (please see my above-linked low-light article for more info on this very subject).
If you really want to achieve the best image quality, you'll, as you'll see below, do a little bit of additional work. This is what this entire article is all about: a very detailed one on color noise reduction (CNR for short) and sharpness increasing during post processing in
- Lightroom on the desktop
- Neat Image on the desktop
- Topaz DeNoise on the desktop
- Lightroom Mobile on Android (the iOS works in exactly the same way)
- Photo Mate R2 on Android
compared this to shooting with Snap camera HDR using its built-in CNR and sharpening support.
1.1 Recommended reading before reading on
If you don't know much of the theory of photography please read THIS and THIS for more info on image noise and sharpening, respectively.
Note that the former link takes you to Part I of the article series; the second one is HERE and is a hugely recommended read because, among other things, it clearly explains the differences between luminance and color noise. It's the latter of these that I'm specifically discussing in this article, the former being not as unnatural.
The article on sharpening provides several examples of oversharpening artifacts. It's these artifacts that - along with color noise - we'll try to minimize while keeping our shots sufficiently sharp.
1.2 The goal - why do you want to read this article at all?
To produce as good images as possible. Regretfully, the stock Camera app coming with the Note4 applies far too much CNR and oversharpening even when shooting in broad daylight, at base ISO. In the comparative examples below, I show you several crops that do show this in practice.
1.3 Three ways of shooting
There are three ways of shooting. Below, I introduce them in decreasing complexity (need for additional work) and, regretfully, strictly in this order decreasing achievable image quality too.
1.3.1 Using a camera app producing as little-processed images as possible and (possibly) using desktop apps to make these images more natural-looking
First and foremost, if you don't want to lose any bit of (later) achievable image quality, you must save your images with as little processing as possible. This is exactly what is done when using Snap camera HDR with the non-default settings ("Samsung camera mode" on, sharpening set to zero and JPEG output quality set to "Best") I recommend.
However, the output won't really be eye-friendly then, even if you shoot in the most optimal conditions, that is, in as much light as possible. If you do have the time for desktop (x86) post processing, you can achieve significantly better image quality than with Android-only image processing, let it be done straight in the camera app doing the actual shooting or another Android app you use for post processing.
In the following two subsections, I show you several examples of the typical noise reduction and sharpening you can achieve with high-quality desktop tools working on as little-processed input as possible. As you'll see, the results they produce are not only significantly more eye-pleasing than the original, somewhat noisy and definitely soft (RAW-like) output of Snap camera HDR, but also orders of magnitude better than the absolutely messy output of the stock Camera app.
1.3.1.1 Noise in the near-RAW output images
The sensor of the Note4 has relatively small pixels. This, as you are already aware of, results in a low(ish) signal-to-noise ratio, meaning visible color noise even in the best conditions if absolutely no noise reduction is used. (Actually, you'd need significantly larger pixels (full frame, assuming a Bayer filter) and/or special filter (APS-C sensor size paired with Fuji's X-Trans filter array) arrangements to achieve the total lack of visible noise.)
Let me show an example of this. The following crop (cropped from the original image) shows visible color image noise in the near-black window area:
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And yes, this shot was taken in broad daylight at base ISO.
Note that, in section 1.3.1.2.1 below (obviously, in the first, unaltered, almost-RAW crop), you can also spot some color noise in the tree trunk. However, on dark, homogenous surfaces like, in this case, a black window it's far easier to spot color noise – and to fine-tune CNR while trying to (almost) completely get rid of the noise.
For comparison, here are the already CNR'ed (and sharpened, see next section) output crops of the three desktop tools (Lightroom, Neat Image and, finally, the Lightroom + Topaz DeNoise combo) I'll introduce in section 1.3.1.2.1 below:
Lightroom:
Neat Image:
Lightroom + Topaz DeNoise:
1.3.1.2 Lack of sharpness in the near-RAW output images
The output of the sensor, generally, is pretty soft with most cameras (not only with the Note4). This is caused by the not very good lens (or one operating far from its "sweet spot"), the Bayer / X-Trans filter sensor as opposed to Foveon sensors paired with tack-sharp lens. This (relative) softness can, purely in software, somewhat fixed. This is called 'sharpening'. Unfortunately, you can't use arbitrarily high amounts of sharpening, as it'll lead to the appearance of both very ugly oversharpening halos around the contrasty edges and much more pronounced luminance noise.
Let me show you a pair of crops from the same original image and, then, compare it to both a decently-sharpened one (still without major oversharpening artifacts) and, finally, that of the stock Camera app, showing absolutely awful oversharpening halos.
1.3.1.2.1 Trees (oversharpening halos):
The original, non-sharpened image (shot with absolutely zero software sharpening):
(original, full image)
After processing with one of the most widely used desktop apps for image post processing (with the parameters CNR=10, Sharpening=40, everything else being default, incl. LNR=0), Lightroom 5.7:
(original, full image)
and another one from the, for private, non-commercial use (with some not very severe restrictions), free(!!) and multiplatform (Windows, Mac and even Linux) Neat Image, with LNR 0, CNR set to maximum and Sharpness also set to maximum:
(original, full image)
Finally, the output of another excellent desktop noise handler, Topaz DeNoise (5.1.0) with Clean Color set to 50 and all other settings at default after Reset and additional Lightroom Sharpening of 40 (that is, the same as with the Lightroom-only image above):
(original, full image)
And this is how the stock Camera app renders the same:
(original, full image)
In the last image, notice the absolutely hideous "edges" around the tree trunk over the bright wall. (I'll also discuss with the visible disappearing of fine detail on the trunk of the tree.) Also, in all previous images but the very first (the one originally saved by Snap camera HDR), notice the lack of color noise (which is somewhat present in the original Snap output in the dark windows and on the dark brown tree trunk) and the significantly higher sharpness (but still without annoying oversharpening halos).
1.3.1.2.2 Bush (sharpening, smearing):
The original, non-sharpened image as saved by Snap:
(Note that the original, full images are at exactly the same URL as in the previous section. Also, for the next three shots, the processing parameters are also equal to the ones I've already listed above.):
Again, notice how soft this shot is compared to the next images – that's because of the complete lack of any software post-sharpening.
Lightroom (CNR=10, Sharpening=40):
Neat Image:
Topaz DeNoise:
Finally, for comparison, here's the output of the stock Camera app:
The last image is, as with all the other stock Camera app crops, absolutely awful. There is some major detail smearing, the color saturation is heavily reduced and the edges oversharpened. Yes, another example of why in no way recommend the stock Camera app unless you absolutely need to make use of its features.
1.3.2 Post-processing on Android & most known problems of lower-quality CNR algorithms
In the previous section, I've shown you examples of the achievable quality when, with strictly desktop (x86, true Windows / OS X and, in some cases, even Linux) tools, processing near-RAW images shot on the Note4. In this section, I elaborate on doing the post processing right on your Android phone. As you'll see, the results will be substandard compared to the desktop-based results. Nevertheless, they'll still deliver better-quality results than using the in-app CNR and sharpening features of Snap camera HDR.
1.3.2.1 Photo Mate R2
The following are the same crops as above from the well-known, quite expensive, (for Android) professional Android app “Photo Mate R2” (current, tested version: 2.6). The parameters I used (and found the most optimal): CNR=30, Luminance=High quality, Sharpening=75. (Original, full image; screenshot of the settings)
Black window:
Tree:
Bush:
As you can see, while these crops are still orders of magnitude better than those of the stock Camera app and still deliver more eye-pleasing (that is, significantly sharper and definitely less noisy) images than the near-RAW output of Snap, it can't match the output of the desktop tools.
If you do compare these results to those of the three desktop tools introduced in Section 1.3.1, you'll immediately see that CNR, while not being as effective as with them (just compare the color noise in the black window shot!) has resulted in a significant drop in color saturation. Just compare the saturation of the color brown in the bush shot to those of the desktop tools.
1.3.2.1.1 Why can't you just increase Photo Mate R2's CNR to reach the level of cleanness of desktop tools?
Unfortunately, it's not only color saturation that suffers when increasing the CNR level in Photo Mate R2 – as opposed to the three desktop tools.
Simple(r) and/or faster CNR algorithms just smear colors. This was the major reason (and not the further decrease of color saturation) that I simply couldn't further increase the CNR level in Photo Mate R2. Let's take a look at the following crop at CRN=30 (that is, the above (section 1.3.2) one):
and compare it to the CNR=40 case, that is, with slightly increased CNR strength:
Do you notice the difference? Surely you do. The bench's thin, vertical boards look completely unnatural (as if they were discoloured) in the second case, while they don't exhibit similar problems in the first one. In order to avoid this, you absolutely must stay with lower noise reduction levels.
Now, let's compare how the bench is rendered by the top desktop PP tools (incl. the three introduced in Section 1.3.1) at their significantly higher (again, they got rid of the color noise much(!) more effectively) CNR level:
Lightroom:
Neat Image:
(Sharpening = 75)
(Sharpening = max)
Topaz:
1.3.2.2 Lightroom Mobile
Regretfully, the otherwise (for Adobe's Creative Cloud subscribers) free Lightroom Mobile (LRM for short) is absolutely a no-go if you want to do Android-only post-processing.
1.3.2.2.1 Need for a “true” desktop
First and foremost: LRM doesn't do any kind of mobile-side processing, unless you do share your images right from the client (then, however, you can only share a low-res, pretty much useless one). It just communicates back the processing parameters you set and you'll need to use the desktop LR to post process your images based on the parameters you set in the GUI.
For example, the three levels of Detail > Noise Reduction sets the following parameters for further (again, desktop-based) processing:
Low: Luminance: 25/ CNR: 25
Med: 50/25
High: 75/25
(The original setting, that is, the one if you don't set any NR level, is 0/25).
That is, there's absolutely no way to get desktop-level output on mobile, without involving any kind of desktop post processing. This also means that, if you directly access the, on mobile, (seemingly) edited images synchronized back to the cloud in
- either the desktop file system (in its temporary directory, via "Show in Finder/Explorer")
- or via explicitly exporting it using the "Export" button in the bottom left corner of the Library view and setting "Image format" from "JPEG" to "Original" in the "File Setting" group in the export dialog,
all you get is an unprocessed (original) image.
1.3.2.2.2 The built-in “Share” feature
And if you do share on-mobile processed images right from the client, it'll be downsized, no matter what you do. HERE is the output of the LRM-postprocessed and, then, in-app shared image. A crop of the same bench:
See the VAST difference in resolution?
1.3.2.2.3 LRM Summary
All in all, you can forget about LRM right away if you want to stay away from desktop PP. Even the (otherwise, if you can do desktop PP, not recommended)
- denoise / sharpening in Snap and
- CNR in Photo Mate R2
produces waaaay better results because they don't downsize their output, unlike "Share" in LRM.
Also note that, as has been explained above, the CNR setting LRM uses will always be 25, which is definitely an overkill for Note4 base ISO shots. This is why I recommend against using the presets of LRM – you'll, most probably, want to decrease the CNR on the desktop so you'll need to touch the sliders there, making setting NR on the mobile unnecessary. Just manually decrease CNR to (if you shoot at base ISO) around 10 in the desktop LR, it'll produce the best possible compromise. And, again, then, the output will significantly be better than with either Snap or Photo Mate R2's built-in CNR options. (The latter remark also applies to sharpening quality of Snap.)
All in all, you can't expect much from post processing on Android. Desktop tools will always produce significantly better results. Only use these (along with shooter apps already supporting in-app denoising / sharpening) if you really can't use a full computer for image post-processing.
1.3.3 Using a camera app with built-in CNR and sharpening
Assuming you want the fastest possible way of sharing your images with, for the Average Joe, more pleasing “looks” (read: no color noise, sharp), you may want to give a try to the built-in CNR and sharpening support of the camera app you use. Ideally, support for sharpening / CNR should be achievable right in the app you shoot with. This is the classic case of social shooting in, say, pubs, when you want to share your shots right away (as soon as possible) and, consequently, can't wait for editing your images in another Android app on the same phone after shooting, let alone transferring your images to an x86 computer for post processing (and, consequently, later sharing).
I have bad news for you: Snap has definitely bad sharpening and not very good CNR support. (Nevertheless, even these, when used, produce better images than the stock Camera app's complete mess.) Let's start with the latter.
1.3.3.1 CNR in Snap
1.3.3.1.1 Enabling CNR
In Snap, CNR isn't enabled by default. Enabling it needs to be done via ticking in the “Photo > Denoise” checkbox annotated with a rectangle below:
Note that I also annotated the “Sharpness” menu (with an arrow), in which you can configure post-sharpening. (Generally, as you already know, you'll want to completely zero it out, unless you really need to do the sharpening right during your shooting.)
Also note that, in order for the Denoise checkbox to be displayed, you must enable “Others > Show Advanced Settings”, also annotated below:
1.3.3.1.2 And what about the quality?
As I've already hinted on, you can't expect much from Snap's CNR algorithm. The good news, however, is that isn't worse than that of the standalone Photo Mate R2. That is, if sharpening isn't important (and, again, you absolutely must do everything on Android), you can just use Snap's built-in CNR and won't end up having to load the same image to Photo Mate R2 afterwards.
1.3.3.1.2.1 Snap, “Denoise” disabled
A pair of Snap crops of the original image shot without “Denoise” enabled:
Bench:
Black window:
1.3.3.1.2.2 Snap, “Denoise” enabled
And with “Denoise” enabled (original, full image):
Bench:
Black window:
1.3.3.1.2.3 Photo Mate R2, CNR=30, Sharpening=0
Finally, compare the above crops to those of Photo Mate R2 with CNR=30 and without(!) any kind of sharpening in order to provide level playing field for the two apps. Original image; the settings I used.
Again, as has been explained in Section 1.3.2.1.1, you won't want to go over CNR=30 with Photo Mate R2 because of the major smearing effects. In that section, I've shown you sharpened crops. Note that the sharpened black window crop is HERE (screenshot of the settings used)
Bench:
Black window:
1.3.3.1.2.4 Summary
As you can see, unlike Photo Mate R2 with its separate color and luminance NR sliders, Snap applies a sizable amount of luminance NR as well. Consequently, the resulting image is, as you may have already noticed, significantly softer.
After all, luminance NR equals to blurring the image itself, and not “only” the colors on it. Also, luminance noise is far more natural, film-like and, consequently, acceptable. This is why I, generally, don't apply luminance NR to my low-ISO shots. Too bad Snap doesn't allow for separate noise reduction – currently, luminance NR is just too heavy-handed and results in pretty soft results. (Nevertheless, needless to say, these results are still way superior to those of the stock Camera app!)
1.3.3.1.2.5 Color saturation decrease
Note that, as with Photo Mate R2 (and unlike with the three desktop apps when properly configured), the color saturation definitely decreases in Snap's shots. Just compare the intensity (saturation) of the brown of the branches in the following shots, starting with the non-denoised Snap original:
Snap, denoised:
Photo Mate R2, CNR=30, no sharpening:
(note that you can find the output of desktop apps, along with the absolutely awful stock Camera app, in section “1.3.1.2.2 Bush”. Technically, the non-denoised Snap original can also be found in that section; however, for easy comparison without having to scroll much, I've repeated it here.)
1.3.3.2 Sharpening in Snap
As has been mentioned several times, in order to get the best possible results via post processing, you REALLY want to set Photo > Sharpening to zero (screenshot of the whereabouts of the menu item is in section “1.3.3.1.1 Enabling CNR” above). In this section, I scrutinize the sharpening quality of the app. Regretfully, it's pretty bad; no wonder I recommend getting rid of it entirely.
Now, let's take a look at the default (3) settings:
Tree:
Compare this screenshot to those of in section “1.3.1.2.1 Trees (halos)” above. See why I don't recommend using sharpening in Snap at all?
Naturally, the maximum sharpness level, 6, results in even worse output, with even more prominent sharpening halos:
Nevertheless, should you really need on-Android sharpening and want to refrain from using Photo Mate R2, you can still use a sharpness value “1”. It'll correspond to 50% (or even more) sharpening in Photo Mate R2.
2. Tips and tricks for desktop post-processing
Above, we'll seen the relative quality of the three approaches:
1. desktop (section “1.3.1 Using a camera app producing as little-processed images as possible (and possibly using desktop apps to make these images more natural-looking)”)
2. Android with an additional app (section “1.3.2 Post-processing on Android & most known problems of lower-quality CNR algorithms”)
3. not using any kind of post processing but using the built-in NR and/or sharpening of the camera app itself (section “1.3.3 Using a camera app with built-in CNR and sharpening”)
We have seen the achievable quality gradually decreased in the above order.
In this chapter, I provide you with other tips on post processing Note4 images on the desktop; that is, the best way to achieve the best image quality.
Basically, I've found the, for private (non-commercial) use, if you accept the (not very restrictive) limitations, free “Neat Image” and “Topaz DeNoise” somewhat better than Lightroom. Nevertheless, even Lightroom can produce significantly better results than anything on Android, even the expensive Photo Mate R2.
(to be continued!)
(reserved for future updates)
(reserved for future updates 2)
(reserved for future updates 3)
excellent analysis as usual. much appreciated!
Great work. You are legend Menneisyys.
Sweet
As you may have noticed, Microsoft have released version 2 of their absolutely excellent panorama stitcher app, Image Composite Editor (ICE for short) with several new features, including being able to create panoramas out of videos. As I'm a big fan of panoramas and always loved ICE for its speed, accuracy and being free, I've very thoroughly tested the new feature, particularly in order to find out whether it can significantly increase the quality of panoramas one can create with the Samsung Note 4, the, otherwise, best and most versatile high-end phone today.
During my tests, I shot 4K videos in 32-33 seconds for a 360-degree turn (to maximize resolution, in portrait orientation) and, then, processed it with ICE. First, five stitches (three of them with inline crops): four by ICE and one created by the dedicated “Panorama” mode of the stock Camera app:
ISO Auto, stock Camera app:
Flickr
ISO 800 (max.), stock Camera app:
Flickr
ISO Auto, Snap camera HDR, 48 Mbps, 0 Sharpening:
Flickr
ISO 1600 (this has no effect on the end result), Snap camera HDR, 48 Mbps, 0 Sharpening:
Flickr
OOC image:
Flickr
Please check out my writeup HERE for more info on the intricacies of the above shots – what one wants to pay attention to, how to properly assess noise reduction etc.
Note: as with non-sharpened Snap camera HDR shots, the untrained eye may find the results of Snap camera HDR too soft. After all, as I always recommend, I've shot the video with fully disabled sharpening. After, in the built-in “Preview” app of OS X, some sharpening applied (in Preview, maximal) to the above shot, it becomes far more eye-candy:
My remarks:
1. the 4K + ICE combo produces significantly more detailed panos than the OOC panos shot in the dedicated “Panorama” mode of the stock app, particularly if you're on a Snapdragon 805 CPU-based Note4 and use “Snap camera HDR” at its 48 Mbps, 0-sharpening mode for recording.
2, it extracts far (about an order of magnitude) fewer input images for stitching than the number of separate image slices used by the dedicated “Panorama” mode of the stock app. Basically, in general, it uses some 32-34 images for a 360-degree turn (meaning one image each 12 degrees).
This means that, if there are stitching errors because of the parallax error, they will be more far more severe than with the stock app. Some example of them is annotated in the following crop of the above Snap 1600 shot (original):
With the stock app, thanks to the much higher frequency of sensor sampling, such huge errors aren't at all common.
Nevertheless, Samsung's implementation of isn't as fast as, say, that of Apple. Apple's panorama mode uses an even higher sampling frequency, resulting in parallax errors not being present in the target pano almost at all, assuming shooting the panorama just turning around and not paying attention to trying to rotate the phone around its vertical axis to minimize the parallax errors.
(Note that by restricting the panorama area to 2 some 0.3 seconds in the input video (see THIS screenshot), ICE only used two input frames. As these frames were different from the ones extracted from the video for the 360-degree panorama, the resulting stitched images has different parallax error-induced stitching images – in this case, none. See THIS for the resulting (of course, not very wide) pano.)
3, as with still images, videos created by the stock Note4 Camera app are heavily oversharpened after applying some very serious and, in good light, absolutely unnecessary noise reduction. This means that, if you do have a Snapdragon 805 CPU-based Note4, you'll, as with still shots, want to use Snap camera HDR for shooting 4K video instead. (Note that you must use the configuration settings HERE to make it shoot usable 4K footage.)
All in all,
if you cannot use an iPhone (or, if the smaller sensor and subsequent worse noise performance and lower dynamic range isn't a problem, iPad) for shooting sweep panos, you'll want to prefer shooting 4K video with Snap camera HDR and processing the end results using ICE. It may deliver significantly better-quality results than the Panorama mode of the stock Camera app. Nevertheless, as it doesn't sample the sensor very often, you'll really want to minimize parallax error while shooting. The above panos were shot without trying to do so – I just turned around my axis so that, introducing a lot of parallax errors, I could find out how ICE handles them.
One of the best thread on Note4 board I've ever seen. :good:
There is no option for denoise even if I have got the 6.3.0. The advanced parameters do no change in photo mode. I'm running 4.4.4
Help appreciated
akshaypatil869 said:
There is no option for denoise even if I have got the 6.3.0. The advanced parameters do no change in photo mode. I'm running 4.4.4
Help appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Denoise is definitely here on my KitKat Snap805 as of 6.3.0. Is yours also a Snap805 phone, or an Exynos one?
2. Nevertheless, as I've explained above, I don't really recommend it as its denoising algorithm isn't very good. So, you don't lose much.
Menneisyys said:
1. Denoise is definitely here on my KitKat Snap805 as of 6.3.0. Is yours also a Snap805 phone, or an Exynos one?
2. Nevertheless, as I've explained above, I don't really recommend it as its denoising algorithm isn't very good. So, you don't lose much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn, I thought it was Snapdragon. I was under the impression that 910c pointed out to snapdragon. I am disappointed.
akshaypatil869 said:
Damn, I thought it was Snapdragon. I was under the impression that 910c pointed out to snapdragon. I am disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have bad news - Snap camera HDR will not deliver better IQ for you, then.
Yes, I read about it. My parents had got the phone under my advice from this link.
http://www.xcite.com/phones/mobile-...mp-4g-lte-wi-fi-smartphone-5-7-inch-gold.html
See for yourself how misleading the specs are.
Should I sue them? ;D
akshaypatil869 said:
Yes, I read about it. My parents had got the phone under my advice from this link.
http://www.xcite.com/phones/mobile-...mp-4g-lte-wi-fi-smartphone-5-7-inch-gold.html
See for yourself how misleading the specs are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, they've completely messed it up - "Snapdragon 805" as the CPU and "Octa Core " as "No of Cores".
Should I sue them? ;D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if image quality is of enormous importance for you and you've purchased the phone from them, believing it's Snap805-based, because you wanted to make use of the additional image quality offered by near-RAW saving, you could ask them for an exchange into a real 805-based model.
Don't forget to mention Samsung's Lolli update doesn't support RAW export so the only way to have natural photos on the handset is going the Snap HDR way on Snap805-based devices.
Menneisyys said:
Yup, they've completely messed it up - "Snapdragon 805" as the CPU and "Octa Core " as "No of Cores".
Well, if image quality is of enormous importance for you and you've purchased the phone from them, believing it's Snap805-based, because you wanted to make use of the additional image quality offered by near-RAW saving, you could ask them for an exchange into a real 805-based model.
Don't forget to mention Samsung's Lolli update doesn't support RAW export so the only way to have natural photos on the handset is going the Snap HDR way on Snap805-based devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no need to do such things on Exynos variables because it does offer much better image/video quality but if you like to flash kernel stuffs then Qualcomm based is prefered.
Personally, I will pick the Exynos one as Android is mature now I can live with stock kernel and I real won't have time to process every image and video. The only real reason now to get Qualcomm is Exynos still no offer dual band.
You can watch it started from 7:32 ... N9100(S805) vs N910U(Exynos)
TheEndHK said:
There is no need to do such things on Exynos variables because it does offer much better image/video quality
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid you're wrong. While I haven't had the chance of directly comparing the two models' image quality under exactly the same circumstances, in well-controlled comparative tests, all Exynos photos I've seen exhibited exactly the same problems as Snapdragon 805-based ones and were equally as bad.
The only difference between the two models is the ability of Snap camera HDR to access the image before the latter's undergoing noise reduction and sharpening (but after WB). This is why it's capable of exporting almost-RAW images with the right settings (basically, Sharpness at zero).
@Menneisyys again a amazing post, thx for your time, 2 thumbs-up
Menneisyys said:
I'm afraid you're wrong. While I haven't had the chance of directly comparing the two models' image quality under exactly the same circumstances, in well-controlled comparative tests, all Exynos photos I've seen exhibited exactly the same problems as Snapdragon 805-based ones and were equally as bad.
The only difference between the two models is the ability of Snap camera HDR to access the image before the latter's undergoing noise reduction and sharpening (but after WB). This is why it's capable of exporting almost-RAW images with the right settings (basically, Sharpness at zero).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think I'm wrong because there are a couple of sites to compare image quality between Exynos & Qualcomm(not must be Note4, but also on Note3 or S5). All the results are same just like in the video link above, Qualcomm got huge noise reduction and hence loss many details and your solution is to avoid the stock camera to do this because Snap Camera HDR can stop the noise reduction and sharpening. Furthermore, I have to point out Exynos usually got better focus speed and accurate rate because the ISP is better than Qualcomm one so it is not only just about the image quality.
I forgot all the links so I can't share the information here but I'll try to find them out later. There is also a thread talk about Note4 image quality in a HK forum and because we can buy Exynos and Qualcomm easily in HK(Samsung does launch all of them here) and a couple of them who tried both model reported Exynos got better quality and focus.
I've to admit your method is even better(nice trying :good in terms of quality because not only hijack the denoise but also included the sharpen processing but it gonna spend some time on each image to do after-processing. Personally, I will pick Exynos for convenience because I always record videos and impossible for me to process all of them(especially 4K), I will need an i7 PC to do that overnight.
I'm already planning to get S6 on April, let's see how capable of the new camera.
Hi!
After a HUGE amount of work, it's finally here!
Raw Dumper is a simple camera app for taking RAW pictures on the Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML)
(Intel-based smartphones rocks!)
Q: What's a RAW picture?
A: Jpeg pictures are processed, meaning that multiple image processing algorithms (debayer, white balance, tonemap, sharpening, saturation, noise reduction, jpeg lossy compressing, etc) were applied; they usually retain about 1/10 of their original data.
A raw picture, however, is taken directly from the camera sensor and all captured data is preserved, leaving to the user the decision of how the image is going to look.
Since they retain all data, raw pictures occupy more storage space (A single raw 13-megapixel photo use 23 MB, on the Zenfone 2 ZE551ML).
Q: How is this possible?
A: There is a hidden camera parameter on Intel-based phones that does the trick. It's mentioned in a system library called Intel Camera Extensions (that library also enables other camera features). However, the raw feature doesn't need the library to work.
Q: The pictures captured with this app are really RAW?
A: Yes, because the captured data has the Bayer pattern, the right size and has a lot of lens shading around the image's borders (the app tries to remove the lens shading, so you probably won't appear in your photos).
Some important notes:
I'm not responsible for bricked phones, broken phones/cameras/images or thermonuclear war
It is REALLY experimental
It's currently being tested on Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) - but it should work on ZE550ML too
This app WILL NOT work on phones with non-Intel processors (Qualcomm, Samsung...)
It should work on Marshmallow stock rom
For working on custom roms that uses LL camera blobs (like Lineage OS), is required to patch the camera lib
It REQUIRES root (otherwise the camera subsystem will drain your internal storage by making another copy of every raw picture taken it in a root-only system directory; currently, there's no workaround to fix this )
The DNG pictures will be saved in /sdcard/DCIM/RawDumper (they can be opened using Snapseed, Darktable, RawTherapee and Adobe Lightroom)
It should work on the Razr I and Zenfone 5 too, but I haven't tested them properly because I don't own these devices
It only works with the Zenfone Zoom's front camera (the back camera requires the development of a specific custom kernel)
Screenshot:
Click HERE
Download APK:
Click HERE
Latest version: 3.5.0
Github repo:
Click HERE
Patched camera blobs for Lineage OS users:
(replace the /system/lib/hw/camera.vendor.mofd_v1.so file)
Click HERE
Have fun!
Created: 31/05/2017
Last update: 03/01/2019
To do list:
Low light mode
Picture format selection
Slow Sync Flash
And maaaaany other things...
Changelog:
Version 3.5.0:
Optimized APK size: from 6MB to only 2.2MB!
Better configurations switches's colors
Ultra fast picture saving thanks to asynchronous IO
Display camera aperture below shutter speed value
Added a new free-lens-camera-like effect
Fixed Original Size DNG tags
Fixed a minor interface bug
Version 3.4.0:
Optimized memory usage when saving raw pictures
Faster DNG compression using multiple processor cores
Less processor usage and garbage-collection-related FPS drops due to logcat background processing
Optimized update interval of the exposure metering features
Migrate our project to AndroidX
Added a switch to disable raw digest generation
Flash focus (beta)
Fixed the dates-related tags in Exif's data
Version 3.3.0:
Started using Adobe's DNG SDK to save the pictures
The raw files now can be losslessly compressed
The raw files are now are compatible with almost every RAW editor
Picture size selection enabled
The alternative color profiles are now saved on every raw file
Increased front camera screen flash brightness a bit
Version 3.2.1:
Several bug fixes (su shells, UI sliders, camera opening...)
Advanced Black Level Calibration
Simple tone curve
Camera lens vignetting toggle
Invert front camera pics toggle
New alternative color profile
Version 3.0.0:
Different white balance modes + manual white balance
The app's UI now auto-rotates
Fixed touch focus touch position
Added touch exposure metering
Reduced GPU overdraw
New logo! Made by Nazmul Hasan
Screen flash for the front camera
Advanced Lens Shading Correction implemented
Take pictures with volume down button/headset button/camera button (if present)
Focus with half-way pressed camera button (if present)
Fixed small graphics glitch when starting the camera
Fixed the shutter speed selector
Re-done the front picture mirroring due to incompatibilities with raw converters
Recalibrated the Zenfone 2 cameras under the Standard A illuminant
Version 2.3.1: (Quickfix version)
Fixed a not-so-rare race condition bug that crashes the app during its initialization
Fixed the shadows of certain buttons of the main UI
Removed some unused layouts from the main UI
Version 2.3.0:
Fixed a small glitch in the lower portion of the screen when the app is starting
The raw pictures now have the right rotation applied
Pictures taken with the front camera are also properly mirrored
ISO and shutter speed metering for the Zen2/Zoom front camera!
Fixed a weird bug in the lens shading correction algo
New gain based auto white balance algorithm that *should* always work
Version 2.2.1:
Focus peaking when using manual focus for a Mirrorless-like experience
A little bit faster picture taking on the Zenfone Zoom front camera
Version 2.2.0:
Added proper focus mode selection
Added manual focus (for compatible devices)
New animation when taking pictures
Added Zenfone Zoom to the compatibility list (front camera only)
A more detailed description HERE
Version 2.0.0:
A revamped inner architecture and user interface (with animations)
Added manual EV feature
Added ISO and shutter speed metering
Added a warning when the user is using Lineage OS with buggy camera blobs
Added Zenfone 5 and Razr I to the compatibility list (even though they need more testing)
The app (tries to) auto rotate the pictures (but it still quite buggy)
Added visual feedback when using touch focus
The size of the native tiff library was vastly decreased
Better white balance strategy for zenfone 2's front camera
A more detailed description HERE
Version 1.3.0: (may contain bugs)
Taking and saving pictures are executed in the background! YAY! (this may lead to hard-to-find bugs, however)
Taking pictures with the front camera is FINALLY HERE! (the front camera should work with custom roms using Lollipop's camera blobs! )
Some progress on taking raw pictures with the Razr I was done (but it won't work for now)
Version 1.2.3: (Quickfix version)
Better handling of alert dialogs
Force disabling of device list
Version 1.2.2: (Quickfix version)
Better log with some useful debug information
List of supported devices is temporarily disabled
Version 1.2.0:
(beta) Manual ISO: from 50 all the way up to 1600!
(beta) Manual Shutter Speed: short exposures like 1/10000s and long exposures like 32s!
Version 1.1.0:
DNG creation process updated with a WAY BETTER code! (Including better exif data!)
Now the app contains a list of supported devices and supported features (currently only ZE551ML and ZE550ML are supported)
Touch focus!
Changed some white balance calculations (need your feedback on this!)
Version 1.0.1:
The apk now contains only x86 and x86_64 compiled libraries.
Fixed a small bug when the flash button didin't update.
Now it should work on non-stock roms. Edit: it installs but crashes.
Minor updates on the DNG generating process.
Version 1.0.0:
First app release
Wasn't Asus Zenfone 2 unable to capture RAW images due to the restriction from sensor of the camera itself?
Testing, let's see how it works!
Also I've downloaded your project from github, I'm so curious about the structure.
SleepingAran said:
Wasn't Asus Zenfone 2 unable to capture RAW images due to the restriction from sensor of the camera itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every picture you take using a digital camera was raw in some point of its processing. Of course, some camera sensors do all the processing inside and only dump the ready-made JPEG (this is not the case of the Zenfone 2). But, in theory all sensors (dumb VGA webcams, point-and-shoot cameras, DSLR professional cameras, smartphone cameras) could be capable shooting in RAW. In smartphones, most of the time, the limitation is on the camera software, not in the hardware. The Zenfone's (and other Intel) raw shooting ability is just a little bit hidden
pedperpat said:
Testing, let's see how it works!
Also I've downloaded your project from github, I'm so curious about the structure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's quite simple, is just a simple camera app with lots of hardcoded stuff (I'm going to fix it, don't worry hahaha). I just wanted to publish something to show is possible to shoot in RAW on the Zenf2. I'm planning to clean up the code and add some nice manual/auto ISO and shutter speed in the next versions (I've tested and these features work perfectly with RAW )
dreckneck said:
It's quite simple, is just a simple camera app with lots of hardcoded stuff (I'm going to fix it, don't worry hahaha). I just wanted to publish something to show is possible to shoot in RAW on the Zenf2. I'm planning to clean up the code and add some nice manual/auto ISO and shutter speed in the next versions (I've tested and these features work perfectly with RAW )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had some problems to use the C++ libraries on Android Studio. I can't install the NDK, it's weird...
Btw, great job enabling the raw shoot mode at this phone.
pedperpat said:
I had some problems to use the C++ libraries on Android Studio. I can't install the NDK, it's weird...
Btw, great job enabling the raw shoot mode at this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I've updated the project to use the latest gradle plugin now, try updating Android Studio. NDK building is WAAAAAAY easier on the latest versions. If you need help, you can PM me
PS: I hate Android Studio hahaha
not working it's not compatible on my z00d mokee rom nightly 7.1.2, why?
dreckneck said:
Thanks! I've updated the project to use the latest gradle plugin now, try updating Android Studio. NDK building is WAAAAAAY easier on the latest versions. If you need help, you can PM me
PS: I hate Android Studio hahaha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate Android Studio at the update of NDK Libraries only. Android Studio is a great IDE despite of its slowly load times.
I'm at work, will try again your app when I came home
Let's check the github repo a little
dreckneck said:
Every picture you take using a digital camera was raw in some point of its processing. Of course, some camera sensors do all the processing inside and only dump the ready-made JPEG (this is not the case of the Zenfone 2). But, in theory all sensors (dumb VGA webcams, point-and-shoot cameras, DSLR professional cameras, smartphone cameras) could be capable shooting in RAW. In smartphones, most of the time, the limitation is on the camera software, not in the hardware. The Zenfone's (and other Intel) raw shooting ability is just a little bit hidden
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TIL! I've been searching for application that could take RAW format since Camera2 API was released, but all of them are not compatible with Zenfone 2. Looked up to the internet and most of them claimed that the hardware does not support taking photos in RAW format, then I eventually accepted it as a fact.
Thanks for the awesome application.
I try your app on my Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) with resurrection remix 5.8.3, but it won't install, is your app only for stock rooted firmware??
Sorry,but i can't find any photo i've taken and there is no menu at all
themonyo666 said:
not working it's not compatible on my z00d mokee rom nightly 7.1.2, why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because the sensor used in the Zenfone 2 ZE500CL is different. Unfortunately, the app needs some specific information about the camera sensor to generate the DNG files. However I'm planning to make the app smarter to get all this specific sensor info automagically so it could work on a wider range of phones
amerli73 said:
I try your app on my Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) with resurrection remix 5.8.3, but it won't install, is your app only for stock rooted firmware??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... That's weird. What was the error message during the installation?
dimitrakhs1 said:
Sorry,but i can't find any photo i've taken and there is no menu at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Inside the "DCIM" directory there is another directory called "RawDumper"; the DNG pictures should be there
dreckneck said:
Hmmm... That's weird. What was the error message during the installation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just this
amerli73 said:
Just this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got the same result.
Using: Lineage OS 14.1 - Latest Build
dreckneck said:
Inside the "DCIM" directory there is another directory called "RawDumper"; the DNG pictures should be there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know.Still nothing...
This is a bomb! Good quality and a lot of headroom to play with ir RAW developing program (i use raw therapy)
I'm considering buying the Nokia 8 but would first prefer to know whether or not the phone allows third party camera apps like Camera FV-5 or Snap Camera HDR to tune sharpening and noise reduction, or altogether switch these off.
Any Nokia 8 owners who have tried this and can tell if this works or not?
You can use any camera app you like
Thanks. I am sure that is true.
My question is specific. If I install a camera app that allows tuning post processing (sharpening and noise reduction), will this work on the Nokia 8?
Not all phone makers expose these controls in the camera APIs.
For example, Samsung's Galaxy phones equipped with Exynos chips does not permit tuning post processing while their SnapDragon models do this.
abubasim said:
My question is specific. If I install a camera app that allows tuning post processing (sharpening and noise reduction), will this work on the Nokia 8?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both Camera FV-5 and Manual Camera so I could check if such options are there if you tell me where to look as I don't recall seeing something like that in their preferences (I had Nexus 6P previously).
Thanks. I'll check when I reach home in a few hours.
revanmj said:
I have both Camera FV-5 and Manual Camera so I could check if such options are there if you tell me where to look as I don't recall seeing something like that in their preferences (I had Nexus 6P previously).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can check in Camera FV-5. See my screenshots where to find sharpening. If you take a photo first before adjusting and then after with sharpening set to minimum: will you see difference in quality, when zooming in to 100% ?
abubasim said:
If you take a photo first before adjusting and then after with sharpening set to minimum: will you see difference in quality, when zooming in to 100% ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it is by default set to 0 here (all sliders in this window are) so I would have to manually change it to higher value in order to do any comparison.
Okay, thanks. So probably doesn't work then. I guess I need to consider other phones. ?
On my current phone (Asus PFS) it's set to almost zero but adjusting it has no effect on picture quality.
Ok, when I tried to move that slider it turned out it is impossible. So that fully answers your question
Just find an app that takes RAW images and use that. Then adjust said parameters to your heart’s content
I'd rather buy another phone that supports this.
If you have Camera2 API enabled in your phone, try Snap Camera - you can tune everything here. Just enable Camera2 API in the settings, then the noise is preserved. Adjustable sharpness, saturation etc... The only option missing here for me is long exposure mode. On my Redmi 4X it allows only 1" shutter time max (still I can get nice night pictures on ISO 250 with this interval).
Also, you can try FreeDCam and disable Wavelet Denoise in the settings to turn off noise reduction.
Finally, Google Camera port is really great camera app for daily usage, especially for HDR pictures - it uses Camera2 API by default and produces amazing shots with all details (subtle noise) preserved. Unfortunately, you can't adjust any of parameters like sharpness or saturation.
All those apps are tested on my Xiaomi Redmi 4x but it will hopefully work for you if your phone supports Camera2 API.
So you tested on a Xiaomi Redmi 4x but haven't tested on a Nokia 8?
Those features are very much dependant on whether or not the phone supports them. And no way of knowing without buying the phone and testing and then finding out the good or bad news.
So far the hints from previous posters above is that the Nokia 8 does NOT support full control over post processing.
Why is there no burst or time-lapse photo mode?
Time-lapse workaround: The app Intervalometer hijacks the stock camera app and simulates touching the shutter buttons, so you get a programmable time-lapse in all modes, Raw, Night-mode, all the 3 cameras. Probably better than Huawei could ever make it.
As for burst mode: its there if you set the resolution to 10MP or lower, no burst mode for 40MP or with raw files.
Time lapse mode can be found on the last page of the camera options where slow motion , monochrome , moving picture is. To take pictures in burst mode you just press the camera button and it will take pictures in burst mode untill you release it.
giwta said:
Time lapse mode can be found on the last page of the camera options where.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No that's a crappy low-res time-lapse video, I'm talking about photos.
Found the burst mode though it has its limitations, that aren't mentioned (how should the user know). They only work in Photo Mode and only if you set the resolution to 10MP or less.
nurps said:
No that's a crappy low-res time-lapse video, I'm talking about photos.
Found the burst mode though it has its limitations, that aren't mentioned (how should the user know). They only work in Photo Mode and only if you set the resolution to 10MP or less.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go in play store, ans download Framelaps application. It is very good. You have so much options. It is taking photos and you can make 4K video, not 720p like in original camera application. Too bad for Huawei that's is not so hard to do.
Only bad thing with Framelaps you cant you Suoer Wide Angle.
Probably can't do a lot of things, like the correct colors for the new sensor. And yes, kind of want that for the ultra wide.
nurps said:
Probably can't do a lot of things, like the correct colors for the new sensor. And yes, kind of want that for the ultra wide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know but it helps more the p30 pro software camera (stupid 720p).
If you have DJI Osmo 2 you have good application for timelaps. But still no super wide-angle
Timelapse with the original camera app in high quality
Framelapse is not bad, but as mentioned, you can't use wide angle lens nor the quality of the original app. Solution:
Use "intervalometer"! This app is working together with any other camera app. It works as an overlay, means, it's running background and given impulse to the camera button with any desired interval while using the camera settings in the original camera app. You can not only use any interval with any resolution (40mp too) but choose a delay when shooting from day to night. The app costs here in Germany 1,89 €.
Grab a copy of Intervalometer from the Google Play store, then you can shoot your own timelapses with whatever camera application you want. That's what i do and it works great!
/ Magnus
With just one camera and no chance to select the other two, probably wrong colors and no raw files support, useless.
EDIT: Oh wait, this thing is actually useful, its no camera app instead it hijacks what ever is on the screen and simulates a touch in the timed intervall.
So it remote controls the manufactures app with whatever is set there.
Nice. Sorry I dismissed it so fast, I was just expecting another dumb comment but this is really useful.
Exactly, it is one of the best applications i have found on the Google Play store and for this purpose it's fantastic! you can shoot RAW timelapse sequences if you want to, the possibilities are infinite since it's not relying on it's own camera but let's you use any camera application you want. It's worth paying for it since it does such a great job with timelapse photography.
/ Magnus
Ok, the best timelaps is INTERVALOMETAR.
You can use every mode, normal, super wide angle, HDR, Night mode, zoom and etc...