Google Camera with HDR+ comparison and thoughts

[Infinity02]

All credits goes to B-S-G
His original thread
and Thanks to XDA Headlines!
Link for GC

U11 Camera for still photos is (probably?) the best in class right now, but not without flaw that is overexposure.
As soon as the Modded HDR+ GC has become available I have decided to compare some shots with Stock camera w/HDR and Google Camera w/HDR+ enabled.

Here are some comparisons and my opinions.

Lowlight

http://imgur.com/2ziArQB

With Google Cam overexposure and blown out highlights are no longer an issue. However, the details in the shadow area of the low light image will get smudged out thanks to the noise reduction and/or become too dark.
on Stock HTC Sharpening is harsher than GC when 100% zoomed in but not as much as Sammy. The color on stock app is much more vibrant as well, but that comes with noisy image.
As a photographer I'd prefer lower noise image, but for smartphone camera that is not a very important thing comparing to, say, details in the dark area.

Overall Exposure and Details

http://imgur.com/Rqjk2hL

GC did a great job keeping all the details in highlight areas while stock app blown them to bits.
Colors, yet again HTC stock is punchy and vibrant on shadow areas while GC is a tad bit duller.

Close up

http://imgur.com/D7HEkbR

HTC, as usual, produce much more vibrant colors and more sharpened image while highlight areas are blown out.
It all comes down to your taste, people who like "Natural" tone will prefer GC while snap and go type better stick to HTCs'.
for me I prefer GC by the day and HTC stock by night as GC will give more room in image editing.
Basically, short squeeze for stock app, long squeez for Google Cam for me!

----
Current working Gcam with Portrait mode
https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/GoogleCamera-Pixel2Mod-Arnova8G2-V5.apk

Preferred Setting
Config for HDR+: Pixel 2017 ZSL HDR+
HDR+ Parameters: Default or higher (not much difference but longer process time)
Final jpg quality HDR+: default(95) or higher, little differences

 

[kyda75]

For me, Google does a better job in low-light, my bathroom.
Clearer and more details, look at the spay can on the right at the back.
But I do like the greens produced by HTC Cam, Google pink/reds are better, all comes down to personal preference.

http://imgur.com/a/l3oTm

 

[sallam5010]

Google's HDR+ does great job in extreme HDR situations , but for my eyes HTC's HDR boost does greater job keeping everything sharp , Google just destroyes every detail with noise reduction

Check the link for comparison

https://goo.gl/photos/NYTaPRsEMVoxjoEc8

 

[TheEndHK]

I know Pixel camera better but I've read all reviews on net and youtube and found that it always got over saturation during at low light or indoor environment like the sample provided from #2 if you view it carefully, you see a yellow cast in the whole photo with Pixel.

Indeed, U11 offers a natural tone overall, not Pixel in my opinions though HTC color might be a bit vibrant. If Pixel white balance isn't going wrong, yes it always perform better result. Good to know there is a modded google HDR+ now, donno if the yellow tone problem fixed or not.

U11 still got some advantages like OIS and dual pixel focus which is important to me too. Wish we'll have modded U11 camera in the future.

EDIT:
https://www.xda-developers.com/google-camera-hdr-ported/
It's glad that we can use Pixel HDR+ now on all SD820/821/835 devices without root. It's Google camera 4.4 apk and I've installed it on my U11(no root atm) and it works both HDR+ photo and 4K recording, no crash no FC. So if you prefer the style on Google HDR+ this is your way to go together with the benefit of OIS and dual pixel focus over Pixel phone.

 

[zeke125]

Will OIS and pixel focus work on the google camera?

 

[Boskoel03]

Google's HDR+ does great job in extreme HDR situations , but for my eyes HTC's HDR boost does greater job keeping everything sharp , Google just destroyes every detail with noise reduction

Check the link for comparison

https://goo.gl/photos/NYTaPRsEMVoxjoEc8

In some way i agree with u,but i am also using g cam on htc 10 ane phone must be still while taking photo,i see on ur picture some blurriness like when phone is movng wjen taking photo.

 

[Boskoel03]

In some way i agree with u,but i am also using g cam on htc 10 ane phone must be still while taking photo,i see on ur picture some blurriness like when phone is movng wjen taking photo.

Some samples,i am not professional photographer but u can see for ur self,more lighter photo is htc stock camera,other G cam
Edit: focus is left oriented...
No edit,no flash,pure hdr..

 

[Infinity02]

Will OIS and pixel focus work on the google camera?

OIS does work and Pixel focus I assume you mean the "lens blur" function? if so, it also works.
The only thing that is not working in GC is slow motion.

 

[sallam5010]

In some way i agree with u,but i am also using g cam on htc 10 ane phone must be still while taking photo,i see on ur picture some blurriness like when phone is movng wjen taking photo.

Hmm I was really steady , I have very steady hands and I can take 1s shutter , and I really tried it multiple times to make sure if it's really does reduce the noise and smudge the details or if it's just one bad shot , but actually all of them are the same
I really like it in extreme HDR situations though , so if HTC's upcoming camera update didn't boost the camera even more then maybe I will use gcam for really extreme HDR situations

 

[Borh77]

I have tried it in broad day light and the dynamic range is really improved.

I will try it tonight but if it fixes the overexposure, it will really be the ultimate camera phone.

stock app


Pixel app


Edit : Now tried in the night, the difference is even greater. With the HTC U11 camera app, all the details are burnt near light sources, while it is not the case with the Pixel camera app.

stock app


Pixel app


For me it is clear, the Pixel app will replace the stock app for my pictures. The HTC U11 camera module with the Google Pixel software, I think we have the best possible camera on a phone.

 

[foxy4270]

Stock camera is much better in every scenario...

 

[Borh77]

Stock camera is much better in every scenario...

I strongly disagree.
Look at this window which is aproximately 150 meters far from me. With the Pixel app, I can clearly see he is watching TV. I am impressed. With the stock app, I see... nothing.
And with the Pixel, I don't find any detail loss.

stock app



HDR+ app

 

[*justintime*]

For me stock camera is better on daylight situations.
For nightshots GC wins.

So i will use them both.

 

[Borh77]

For me stock camera is better on daylight situations.
For nightshots GC wins.

So i will use them both.

Again, I disagree, look at these crops in daylight (they are not mine but from the original poster of this thread). A lot of data are lost with the stock app due to the lower dynamic range. The difference is huge.

Stock


HDR+


For me, the HDR+ app wins in every situations.

 

[Allesa]

Indoor night time
Gcam color rendering really off..
First one gcam
2ND stock

 

[foxy4270]

Hdr + is a disaster....worst camera ever

Google hdr +
google by foxy4270, on Flickr

Stock hdr
stock by foxy4270, on Flickr

 

[Boskoel03]

Hdr + is a disaster....worst camera ever

Google hdr +
google by foxy4270, on Flickr

Stock hdr
google by foxy4270, on Flickr

Stock hdr
stock by foxy4270, on Flickr

I think u are wrong,bit i am using it on 10 and can not be sure if u are on 11,but in ur post thoose two pictures are the same,and i know difference between g cam hdr+ and stock one,but again on htc 10,that is reason i am not sure for 11 but when something is good it's good,g cam is good for good light conditions,and in low light must bee some wb manually settings...
Sorry,in a hurry ,only light is different on ur pictures,when I compare that red sigh will be more red with g cam i am sure....

 

[foxy4270]

I think u are wrong,bit i am using it on 10 and can not be sure if u are on 11,but in ur post thoose two pictures are the same,and i know difference between g cam hdr+ and stock one,but again on htc 10,that is reason i am not sure for 11 but when something is good it's good,g cam is good for good light conditions,and in low light must bee some wb manually settings...
Sorry,in a hurry ,only light is different on ur pictures,when I compare that red sigh will be more red with g cam i am sure....

this is an htc u11 forum

 

[Boskoel03]

this is an htc u11 forum

Clear case...

 

[TheEndHK]

To me both apps got pros and cons. Stock cam tend to over exposure and in the opposite way google cam like to under exposure.

It really depends the atmosphere you're shooting and maybe your matter of personal preferences. In general, I like stock a bit over exposure to make the photo brighter except in some cases the high light area got washed out. Noise reduction in google camera is better, stock cam got many noise.