[GCam] Camera PX for Google Pixel 1 / 2 / 3 / 3a / 4

[cstark27]

Project Status

2021-12-20: This project is no longer being worked on. Please look towards MWP mods https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/dev-MWP/

As you may have noticed or seen in my sporadic posts here, Camera PX development has been non-existent for quite some months now. This is mainly due to a lack of substantial updates within Google Camera, but also due to lack of interest in the project as other things in our lives have become more important. As each new Google Camera version is released, the modifications have to be re-done from scratch so this would take quite some time as we only get to do this in our "free" time after work and spending time with our families. We do hope the Pixel 5 release brings some new/interesting things to the table but that is yet to be seen, and the passion to restart the project is also yet to be seen. For now, we are releasing a minor update to "support" Pixel 4a's but since Google Camera 7.2 was not built with Pixel 4a's in mind, you may notice a quality difference than your stock camera.

Disclaimer

This has turned into a collaboration between @back.rider555, @johngalt1 and myself. We do this in our free time, when able, to bring newer Pixel features and mods to your older device.

Introduction

This is a Google Camera mod for the Pixel phones. The main goal is to bring newer features to older Pixels, where possible.

What is Google Camera (AKA GCam)?

Google Camera is the camera app for the Google Nexus and Google Pixel phones. It is not designed or intended to be run on other phones.

What is HDR+?

Basic: HDR+ is Google's proprietary image processing routine, and is more than just traditional "HDR' modes. HDR+ employs image stacking to control exposure, and also to preserve details, reduce noise, increase sharpness, etc. It is an all-in-one package.

Advanced: https://ai.googleblog.com/2014/10/hdr-low-light-and-high-dynamic-range.html

Google Camera Features

Pixel 1

• Zero Shutter Lag (ZSL) HDR+ - The Pixel 1 introduced ZSL HDR+ which means when you open the camera, the system utilizes the Hexagon DSP to constantly buffer frames and marks the time slot of when you pressed the shutter button.
  * -- Quote from Marc Levoy via The Verge:
  "The moment you press the shutter it's not actually taking a shot — it already took the shot," says Levoy. "It took lots of shots! What happens when you press the shutter button is it just marks the time when you pressed it, uses the images it's already captured, and combines them together."
  It's a major usability improvement on the HDR+ mode in last year's Nexus 6P and 5X. "What used to happen last year is you'd press the shutter button and you'd get this little circle going around while it captured the images you need for the burst; now it's already captured those," says Levoy. "And that's big, because that means that you can capture the moment you want."
  * -- https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/18/13315168/google-pixel-camera-software-marc-levoy

Pixel 2

• Portrait Mode - Simulates bokeh for improved subject separation from the background. The front camera of the Pixel 2 only provides Portrait Mode when a human face is detected, and the rear camera can work on an object, an animal, a human, etc because it uses information from the Dual Pixel PDAF sensor to detect depth. Google Camera ports for non-Pixel phones can NOT do this so all ports for non-Pixel phones utilize the front camera technique for both front & rear (which means all ports for non-Pixel phones can only properly apply bokeh when a human face is detected).
  * -- Advanced read: https://ai.googleblog.com/2017/10/portrait-mode-on-pixel-2-and-pixel-2-xl.html
• Motion Photos - Provides short clips of moments before and after you take the photo.
  * -- Advanced read: https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/03/behind-motion-photos-technology-in.html

Pixel 3

• Top Shot - When Motion is set to Auto or On, Pixel will recommend a better photo to you if it detects one. Like if you captured a photo when someone blinked.
  * -- Demo:
• Photobooth - Automatically capture a photo when Pixel detects a silly face or a smile.
• Super Res Zoom - Enhances zoomed picture quality by purposely shifting the camera module using OIS (Pixel 3 only) to gather more data.
  * -- Advanced read: https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/10/see-better-and-further-with-super-res.html
• Motion Metering - On the Pixel 3 Motion Metering is used in the "default photo mode" to detect subject motion and if it detects enough motion, Pixel will shoot with a faster shutter speed to reduce subject blur. The Pixel 1 and 2 get to use this in Night Sight only.
  * -- Further reading (about 1/3 down the article): https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/11/night-sight-seeing-in-dark-on-pixel.html
• Synthetic Fill Flash - Pixel 3 will brighten faces in selfies.
• Tracking Autofocus - Tap on a subject or area to keep focus when the subject or phone moves.
• Learning Based White Balance - Google's attempt to fix white balance for low light photos. Used in Night Sight and HDR Enhanced on the Pixel 3.
  * -- Further read (about 1/2 down the article): https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/11/night-sight-seeing-in-dark-on-pixel.html
• Portrait Mode Learned Depth - Pixel 3 improves the rear camera Portrait Mode depth detection for more consistent and more pleasing bokeh.
  * -- Advanced read: https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/11/learning-to-predict-depth-on-pixel-3.html

Installation instructions

Root is NOT needed.
* -- Download APK to your Phone (or PC then transfer to your phone)
* -- Locate APK with File Manager and Install
* -- You will be prompted to Allow Unknown Sources. This is normal for APK's not downloaded from the Play Store.

Download

PXv8.1_GCam-v1.2.apk

See optional Magisk modules in Post 2 below.

Alternative download location (thanks to @s4turno):
https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/dev-cstark27/

Previous Versions:

PXv4.5_GoogleCamera_7.2.014.apk

PXv4.3_GoogleCamera_7.2.014.apk

PXv4.2_GoogleCamera_7.2.014.apk

PXv4.1_GoogleCamera_7.2.014.apk

PXv4.0_GoogleCamera_7.2.014.apk

PXv3.3.1_GoogleCamera_7.2.010.apk

PXv3.3_GoogleCamera_7.2.010.apk

PXv3.2_GoogleCamera_7.2.010.apk

PXv3.1_GoogleCamera_7.2.010.apk

PXv3.0_GoogleCamera_7.2.010.apk

PXv1.1_GoogleCamera_6.3.020.apk

PXv1.0_GoogleCamera_6.3.020.apk

P3v12.6_GoogleCamera_6.2.030.apk

P3v12.4_GoogleCamera_6.2.030.apk

P3v12.3_GoogleCamera_6.2.030.apk

P3v12.2_GoogleCamera_6.2.030.apk

P3v12.1_GoogleCamera_6.2.030.apk

P3v12_GoogleCamera_6.2.030.apk

P3v11.4.31_GoogleCamera_6.2.024.apk

P3v11.4.2_GoogleCamera_6.2.024.apk

P3v11_GoogleCamera_6.2.024.apk

P3v10.1_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk
-Add Xlib2 (another reduced contrast option) and modify to support Pixel 3 Portrait bokeh on Pixel 2
-Add Portrait and Night Sight App Shortcuts from back.rider555

Known Issues on Android 8.1:
-Tapping to focus breaks autofocus. Exiting camera or switching modes/cameras fixes this.
-Night Sight will crash the very first time you use it after installation. It appears to run just fine after that until you Clear Data of the app.

P3v9.1_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk
-Disable HDR+ mode resetting for Pixel 1 when opening Camera
-Add "reduce contrast" option which loads a custom lib by Savitar to reduce black crush a little bit. I have not tested in all conditions. Feel free to test at your own discretion and provide your thoughts with comparison pics.

Known Issues on Android 8.1:
-Tapping to focus breaks autofocus. Exiting camera or switching modes/cameras fixes this.
-Night Sight will crash the very first time you use it after installation. It appears to run just fine after that until you Clear Data of the app.

P3v9_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk
-Revert default color accent to Google Blue by popular request
-Fix HDR+ mode resetting for Pixel 1
-Exif fix (big thanks to @Arnova8G2 for helping)
-Fix Night Sight for Android 8.1 (big thanks to BSG)

Known Issues on Android 8.1:
-Tapping to focus breaks autofocus. Exiting camera or switching modes/cameras fixes this.
-Night Sight will crash the very first time you use it after installation. It appears to run just fine after that until you Clear Data of the app.

P3v8.6_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk
-Change default color accent to Google Green
-Add P3 Mod Settings>Permanent Night Sight Suggestion
--Provides an always on button to enter Night Sight
-If P3 Mod Settings toggles are changed, the camera will restart automatically to apply the changes (be careful if HDR+ is Processing) (thanks @fu24 / namok)
Known Issues on Android 8.1:
-Tapping to focus breaks autofocus. Exiting camera or switching modes/cameras fixes this.
-Night Sight will crash the very first time you use it after installation. It appears to run just fine after that until you Clear Data of the app.
-Night Sight viewer is black. There is a fix for this but then it requires Flash to be set to Auto/On for it to work properly. I don't use Flash ever so this is not a good option to me at the moment. I opted for the black screen until a fix can be found. Thanks for understanding. Wait until the focus ring is gone, or choose your focus in the Focus Option on the top right, then click the photo.

P3v8.5_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk
-Cleaned up P3 Mod Settings. Settings not relevant for Android 8.1 are removed, and PVC toggle is removed for non-Pixel 2/3.
-Add P3 Mod Settings>HDR+ Enhanced for Portrait toggle. This increases dynamic range, at the cost of shutter delay. Force close the app is required for the setting to change. (Credit to BSG for the method)
-Tried to adjust some stuff for Wear remote shutter support but I need a proper log if there's issues still.

P3v8_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk
Must uninstall old version due to signature change.
-Support for Android 8.1 (referenced BSG's latest versions)
-Settings>P3 Mod Settings
--Toggles to switch Photo viewers (Classic or Google Photos), Enable Pixel Visual Core for ZSL HDR+, Disable Learning Based AWB in HDR Enhanced, & Disable Tracking Autofocus. The last 2 options only work on Android 9, so the toggles don't do anything for Android 8.1
Known Issues on Android 8.1:
-Tapping to focus breaks autofocus. Exiting camera or switching modes/cameras fixes this.
-Night Sight will crash the very first time you use it after installation. It appears to run just fine after that until you Clear Data of the app.
-Night Sight viewer is black. There is a fix for this but then it requires Flash to be set to Auto/On for it to work properly. I don't use Flash ever so this is not a good option to me at the moment. I opted for the black screen until a fix can be found. Thanks for understanding. Wait until the focus ring is gone, or choose your focus in the Focus Option on the top right, then click the photo.

P3v7_GoogleCamera_6.1.021.apk

P3v6_GoogleCamera_6.1.013.apk
Uninstall old version. This has a different package name (to fix Lens). The new app is in your app drawer labeled CameraP3.
-Lens option in More
-Pixel 3 Portrait mode (which seems to only improve the rear lens Portraits, so no improvement on Pixel 1 probably)
-Removed HDR+ Options for now due to bugs/instability/confusion

Only tested on Pixel 2. I don't have a Pixel 1 to test with to offer fixes for.

P3v5_GoogleCamera_6.1.013.apk
-Add workaround for Pixel 1 rear Portrait (only works on human faces)
Previous changelog:
For all Pixel:
-Enable Night Sight
-Enable manual focus button in Night
-Add HDR+ Config selection

Tested only on Pixel 2:
-Enable focus tracking
-Enable Photobooth
-Video FPS options (Auto/30/60)
-Google Lens Suggestions in Viewfinder
-H265/HEVC toggle
-Super Zoom (maybe??)
-"New" HDR+ Enhanced (colors may differ in extreme tinted light conditions, test it out; this is how the Pixel 3 behaves see https://www.teknofilo.com/analisis-pixel-3-xl/4/)

P3v4_GoogleCamera_6.1.013.apk
For all Pixel:
-Enable Night Sight
-Enable manual focus button in Night
-Add HDR+ Config selection

Tested only on Pixel 2:
-Enable focus tracking
-Enable Photobooth
-Video FPS options (Auto/30/60)
-Google Lens Suggestions in Viewfinder
-H265/HEVC toggle
-Super Zoom (maybe??)
-"New" HDR+ Enhanced (colors may differ in extreme tinted light conditions, test it out; this is how the Pixel 3 behaves see https://www.teknofilo.com/analisis-pixel-3-xl/4/)

FAQ

Q: "I already have a Pixel, why do I need to use a GCam mod?"
A: Here are the added benefits of Camera PX:

• All Pixels:

• Ability to choose Camera, Portrait, or Night Sight as the default mode
• Custom Lib options to reduce black crush, improve details, and/or increase clarity
• Ability to choose 4K Time Lapse quality
• Ability to choose zoom level in Portrait Mode of 1.2x or 2.0x (for the rear camera)
• Ability to choose to enable HDR+ Enhanced for Portrait Mode
• Option to have quicker access to Night Sight by "permanently" adding the little message at the bottom regardless of measured light (admittedly it disappears if you capture a photo in regular mode)
• Option to increase shutter speed and frames in Night Sight for potentially "better" Night Sight photos
• Option to disable the "Learning AWB" in HDR+ Enhanced/Night Sight
• Option for manual shutter speed & ISO
• Face warping is completely disabled

In addition to the above, these are the added features for specific devices (when compared to the stock app):

• Pixel 1:

• Portrait Mode (only when a "human face" is detected, does not work on objects/animals like Pixel 2, 3, 3a)
• Removes the HDR+ mode reset on launch or when leaving settings
• Synthetic Fill Flash (brightens faces when there is a strong backlight)
• Motion Photos & Top Shot (if you have the correct Google Photos APK installed)
• HEVC option
• Photobooth
• Adds focus button in Night Sight (Auto/Near/Far)
• Tracking Autofocus in Photo mode
• Super Res Zoom sharpening algorithm

• Pixel 2:

• "Learned Depth" for Portrait Mode which provides, usually, a more accurate depth detection and more pleasing bokeh
• Synthetic Fill Flash (brightens faces when there is a strong backlight)
• Top Shot (if you have the correct Google Photos APK installed)
• HEVC option
• Photobooth
• Adds focus button in Night Sight (Auto/Near/Far)
• Tracking Autofocus in Photo mode
• Super Res Zoom sharpening algorithm

• Pixel 3:

• -Adds 60ps option to top bar in Video mode

• Pixel 3a:

• Synthetic Fill Flash (brightens faces when there is a strong backlight)

Q: Do I need to change any settings?
A: This mod is optimized for the Pixels to run without changing any settings. There are some advanced settings in P3 Mod Settings. Experiment at your own will.

How to get Top Shot working?
A: https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=78186764&postcount=726

Thanks To/Credits

B-S-G for fixes for Android 8.1
Arnova8G2 for general help and other fixes as he comes up with them

XDA:DevDB Information
[GCam] Camera PX for Google Pixel 1 / 2 / 3 / 3a / 4, App for all devices (see above for details)

Contributors
cstark27, back.rider555, johngalt1

Version Information
Status: Beta

Created 2018-12-05
Last Updated 2020-09-03

 

[cstark27]

Magisk Modules

Magisk Modules

These optional modules may provide more functionality and/or improve processing speed or efficiency. Warning: I have been informed that having Viper or JamesDSP modules installed will cause problems with the long exposure libs (GCam crashes).

• All Pixels:

• SELinux Permissive for Camera P3
  ---This reduces the processing time a small amount and may be more battery efficient. The modded apps appear to be blocked from using the DSP/PVC for Processing, by default.

• Pixel 1:

• Pixel 1 modified system libs for long(er) exposure times during Astrophotography Mode

• Pixel 2:

• Pixel 2 modified system libs for long(er) exposure times during Astrophotography Mode

• Pixel 3:

• Pixel 3 modified system libs for long(er) exposure times during Astrophotography Mode

• Pixel 3a:

• Pixel 3a modified system libs for long(er) exposure times during Astrophotography Mode

• Pixel 4:

• Prop editor to allow Telephoto Lens to be used past 8x zoom when using a modified APK that supports longer zoom levels.

Outdated modules:

Magisk Modules

These optional modules may provide more functionality and/or improve processing speed or efficiency.

• All Pixels:

• SELinux Permissive for Camera P3
  ---This reduces the processing time a small amount and may be more battery efficient. The modded apps appear to be blocked from using the DSP/PVC for Processing, by default.

• Pixel 1:

• Pixel 1 modified system libs for long(er) exposure times

• Pixel 2:

• Pixel 2 modified system libs for long(er) exposure times

• Pixel 3:

• Pixel 3 modified system libs for long(er) exposure times

• Pixel 3a:

• Nothing to see here

• Pixel 4:

• Prop editor to allow Telephoto Lens to be used past 8x zoom when using a modified APK that supports longer zoom levels.

Warning: I have been informed that having Viper or JamesDSP modules installed will cause problems with the long exposure libs (GCam crashes).

 

[cstark27]

Bug Report Template

Please copy and fill in the info when reporting issues. Failure to do so may result in no response.
Unfortunately, it's hard to fix "the app doesn't work" without any more information.

---BEGIN COPY---
Which Google Pixel?
Android version:

What is the issue?
How are you able to reproduce it?

Have you cleared the app data and left the settings alone?
Does the issue still happen?
Does the issue happen with a certain setting enabled or disabled?

What Magisk Modules are installed?
Do any of them promise to enable certain features of newer Pixels or other phones?
Have you disabled all extra Magisk Modules, temporarily, and rebooted to see if your problem is solved?
---END COPY---

Please attach a logcat (instructions below).

Not Rooted/Rooted (using phone):
If you are not rooted, download Matlog from Play Store and follow prompts to set it up, then see the instructions below.

Open Matlog, clear the log, open CameraPX, reproduce the crash. Go back to MatLog and save the log.

Not Rooted (using PC, with USB debugging enabled):
command window:

adb logcat -c

This clears all previous logs (private info and irrelevant stuff).

command window:

adb logcat > C:\file.txt

Open, CameraPX, get it to produce App Not Responding message, close out of command window, send file.

 

[chewkl]

Thanks for your great work as always, greatly appreciated.

 

[raghus.id]

The best Gcam mods.. thanks @cstark27

 

[PsychOlli]

Gives me 410 gone Error when trying to Download

 

[note3exynosbd]

Amazing work ? However, there seems to be a problem if the PVC is used. After rapidly taking multiple photos in normal mode or portrait mode, there is a delay to take the next shot. In Pv7 without the PVC, this wasn't the issue.
True, PVC does help process faster though.

 

[noname729]

What's the problem with pixel 3 AWB in HDR Enhanced? Just wonder should I switch it off or not

 

[Nexus5xUser2]

@cstark27
Thanks a lot for this new mod. Works great!
One request:
If it is not too much trouble, could you allow the "Enable camera sounds" toggle to always appear in "Settings", irrespective of region?

 

[Gerard48]

This is the best app Ive ever used. Thanks a bunch for the work.

 

[wbgenetic]

This is truly the best mode thus far. Kudos for the work, man.

 

[Nichie]

Same here

Gives me 410 gone Error when trying to Download

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[surya1078]

@cstark27 topshot/recommended shots stopped working with photos shot with p3v8. also tried clearing data and cache many times with no luck. i also have the motio photo on. rest is working sooper fine. thanks for the update

 

[davidstjohn1]

Can't get to the download I don't know if there's an issue with it just letting you know thank you for your hard work

Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

 

[surya1078]

Can't get to the download I don't know if there's an issue with it just letting you know thank you for your hard work

Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

open it in a browser with open link a new tab option.

 

[Nexus5xUser2]

I am running "PieX BETA ROM"(Android Pie) on my Nexus 5x, and I tried installing the P3v8 App on it.
Every time I use "night mode", the "Quick Step" launcher crashes when I try to quit the app.
I tried this many times, each time, after using the night mode, the launcher crashes.
Then I have to (most of the time) restart the phone to get everything working again.

Is there any trick to get this to work?
Thanks.

 

[cstark27]

Amazing work ? However, there seems to be a problem if the PVC is used. After rapidly taking multiple photos in normal mode or portrait mode, there is a delay to take the next shot. In Pv7 without the PVC, this wasn't the issue.
True, PVC does help process faster though.

Yes there are still limitations to the config. I hope Google is working on improving it to match or exceed the great work they have done to utilize the Hexagon DSP, and then hopefully they make it the default method in the future. But who knows.

What's the problem with pixel 3 AWB in HDR Enhanced? Just wonder should I switch it off or not

See "Google Camera Features" under Introduction in the OP to see what it does. Then know that the Pixel 3 applies this learning based AWB to HDR+ Enhanced, as well as night mode. Some may not prefer to have this behavior on their older Pixel phones where it may not be as accurate, and/or doesn't capture the scene as your eyes see it. This setting does not disable it for Night Sight.

@cstark27 topshot/recommended shots stopped working with photos shot with p3v8. also tried clearing data and cache many times with no luck. i also have the motio photo on. rest is working sooper fine. thanks for the update

I still see the strip of photos ("Shots in this Photo") when swiping up in Google Photos. Do you have that still? Recommended and Best Shot has always been random for me, and I don't use Motion Photos by default so my experience is limited. I have a link in the FAQ in the first post on how to get Top Shot working. Basically you just need the listed Google Photos installed.

Gives me 410 gone Error when trying to Download

Same here

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Can't get to the download I don't know if there's an issue with it just letting you know thank you for your hard work

Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

I am told this happens if there are too many requests at once. Try again later or when @S4turno gets a chance to upload to his mirror website https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/

 

[wbgenetic]

@cstark27 topshot/recommended shots stopped working with photos shot with p3v8. also tried clearing data and cache many times with no luck. i also have the motio photo on. rest is working sooper fine. thanks for the update

Make sure you have the 4.6 Daydream 500+ DPI Photos app. Just google it.
It is working fine here with v8. I am really digging the new options in the cam

 

[Tasneem khan]

Hi @cstark27 thank you for update everything working great portrait working now.....
But night sight saturation too much Greenish now in P8 version....
Can we have stock saturation.,..?
And more request can you please add this Mod from BSG....View attachment 4658878

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[surya1078]

@cstark27 i too get the photo strip but not the recomended shot. have tried taking different photo poses which previously suggested recommended shot in p3v7 but not in p3v8.