Google Camera Mod

I am using this version of the mod with good results.
https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/MGC_5.3.015_4.apk

A quick and dirty comparison with my Pixel 2 XL.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/137560037@N04/sets/72157698393539761/with/29015025037/

ptr21 said:

There is working api2 enabler zip for pie at 4pda (russian) mi max 3 camera forum.
It make it work on 8.11.29 pie.
BSG based 61013 works fine. Even night mode black(or green) screen is fixed.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Yes, correct, there is one just released. Thank you. I'm attaching it here. It's a magisk module.

Alright I figured it out. For those who are new to the Mi Max 3 and are wanting Gcam, this is what you need to do:

Make sure your bootloader is unlocked. Mine was shipped unlocked. I have the 6gb/128gb global version.

https://dl.twrp.me/nitrogen/
Download the latest TWRP (nitrogen is the codename for the mi max 3)
Get ADB 1.4.3 HERE
Get Magisk v19.3 HERE
Extract your ADB folder to an easy location (I used c:\adb)
Enable developer options on phone (settings, about phone, tap on MIUI version 5 times)
Enable USB debugging on phone (settings, additional settings, developer options)
Rename your twrp image file to twrp.img (easier for flashing) and place it in the same directory as your ADB
Also put your magisk-v19.3.zip in the same directory as your ADB
Plug your phone in via USB to your computer
open ADB directory via command prompt and run these commands:

adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
fastboot reboot

Now here's a tricky part: right when you press enter on "fastboot reboot" get ready to hold down power button and volume up once the phone starts to reboot so it enters the new twrp recovery. If you don't do this and the phone boots back into the rom, it'll over-write the recovery and you'll have to reflash the twrp.img via adb all over again. So make sure you nail getting into the new twrp recovery right after "fastboot reboot".

Once in TWRP, go to advanced, tap on ADB Sideload
Go back to your command prompt that has your ADB directory entered. If you closed it, re-open command prompt and enter your ADB directory

command:
adb sideload c:\adb\Magisk-v19.3.zip

Let it do its thing, you might get a few errors, it's fine. reboot.
Download buildprop editor via google play
Open buildprop, make sure it asks for root access, if it doesn't, you didn't sideload magisk properly
Scroll down to where it says "# ADDITIONAL_BUILD_PROPERTIES" for me it was around line 400
Under "# ADDITIONAL_BUILD_PROPERTIES" paste these lines from page 18 of this thread:

persist.camera.HAL3.enabled=1
persist.camera.eis.enable=1
persist.camera.is_mode=4
persist.camera.stats.test=5
persist.vendor.camera.HAL3.enabled=1
persist.vendor.camera.eis.enable=1
persist.vendor.camera.is_mode=4
persist.vendor.camera.stats.test=5

Tap on save. then tap on the three dots at the top right and go to properties
Then go to permissions
Set permissions to 644 by checkmarking "R" for "Group" and "Others" you'll know you did it right because the number below will change from 600 to 644
Tap on apply, then go back, tap on the disk and go to "save and exit"
Reboot your phone

Before installing Gcam, download the app "Manual Camera Compatibility Test"
Start the test. if all goes green, Gcam will work. If it goes red, something wasn't done right in the above steps.

If all goes green, choose your version of Gcam that you like and enjoy There is no option for 1080p 60fps video recording and 4k video recording does not work.

If you've softbricked your phone (black loading screen with the three dots but OS never loads), make sure to sideload magisk. if you try to install the zip the normal way through TWRP, it won't bypass the dm-verity and it'll cause softbrick.

If you did softbrick, here's what I did to my Mi Max 3 back to bone-stock:
Get MiFlash HERE I found version 2017.4.25.0 worked best.
Open MiFlash and select "Driver" at the top and make sure all the drivers are installed
Put your Mi Max 3 in fastboot mode (hold power button and volume down)
Go to THIS THREAD and select the fastboot stock rom which suits your model. I'm using MIUI 10 V10.3.3.0.PEDMIXM because I have the global 6gb/128gb version
Download and extract the tgz file to an easy location
In MiFlash, select the folder of the extracted tgz file and hit "refresh" so it finds your phone while its plugged in via USB
At the bottom right, make sure "clean all" is selected
Click on "flash" and let it do its thing. It'll take a few minutes...and blamo, you're back to stock.

I found a better version of GCAM:

MGC_5.3.015_B-S-G-based_v.1.0.7_TlnNeun.apk
https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/MGC_5.3.015_B-S-G-based_v.1.0.7_TlnNeun.apk

Magisk Camera2API should be installed.

it makes very good photos in the dark.

My settings:

Correction of auto-exposure = 1/2 sec.
Reduce noise reduction = on
Auto correction HDR+ = High Quality
Advanced --> Fix Black Level = On & Maximum ISO in the dark = on

Pictures taken in the dark with HDR+ enhanced are very good - I'm impressed.

Check yourself: stock cam vs. GCAM

Arnova8G2 made latest final build of 6.1.021 GCam mod, which is not lags and have working night mode! Kudos!
It has almost everything working: ZSL HDR+, Extended HDR+, both on back and front camera (set front camera model to Nexus 6P to reduce noise). Portrait mode works, photobooth, motion detection - everything is fine. Back and front flash are working, but not in auto flash mode. Front flash is smart and will use LED flash only when necessary (no light conditions), otherwise will use only display backlight. Slow motion works, but it's fake. ?
Here's the link: https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=78472914&postcount=705&nocache=1&z=9878541585204182
Tested on xiaomi.eu 8.12.6 (Android 9).
Magisk module for Cam2api activation on Pie is attached.

As for errors, they are common on all gcam mods for our device.
@Arnova8G2 Portrait mode with front flash crashes on my Mi Max 3 (nitrogen) running Xiaomi.eu MiUI 8.12.6 (Android 9). I'm using "MGC_6.1.021_BSG_Arnova_TlnNeun_1.2_Final.apk".
To reproduce, open the app, go to portrait mode using the front camera, turn flash on and take a picture.
Here's the crash log: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VGer4VfDLnLBxHr5BMKjQwiLolWU0suT/view?usp=drivesdk

@Arnova8G2 Auto flash on both back and front cameras crashes on my Mi Max 3 (nitrogen) running Xiaomi.eu MiUI 8.12.6 (Android 9). I'm using "MGC_6.1.021_BSG_Arnova_TlnNeun_1.2_Final.apk".
To reproduce, open the app, turn auto flash on and take a picture. Flash off and flash on (no auto) works as intended.
Here's the crash log: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iFhTwttASqL8rCdqFbV1eydCUQAfXwXk/view?usp=drivesdk

Thanks for your contributions! ?