yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Xperia Z3 General] sefelizrc:
I tried, but I see no difference between PNG and JPG.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vskd6ll8xqstbs0/AAARQaifr9V7b1AnWQYpCxZSa?dl=0
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Yes, in terms of image quality they are identical as far as I can tell. That's because the jpeg compression is not responsible for the loss of fine detail. In fact, I just re-saved the first of your png photos with 50% jpeg quality, and the difference was almost not discernable in full 1:1 pixel view.

I think the stock app saves with 85% jpeg quality (it's the default camera setting as read out from the API), so that should be plenty enough for the purpose of Z3 photos.
[Xperia Z3 General] Artood2s:
Yeah, I think the major issue is the overblown noise reduction. Now the question is, does Sont think it is necessary because they believe consumers prefer "noise-free" shots over detail, or does the imaging sensor/lens combo just plain sucks and they have to mask it.
[Xperia Z3 General] sefelizrc:
I think the same, I see them identical. I also tried with other apps, google camera, FV5 and the stock one...and I saw some differences, but nothing really important.

In the FV5 app theve just included this option: "Activate RAW format (Android 5.0 needed)
[Xperia Z3 General] postaboy:
Some pics at the aquarium
[Xperia Z3 General] undercover:
SA
[Xperia Z3 General] sefelizrc:
The more I look at this picture, the more I think I'm understanding this camera.

Direct link: http://i.imgur.com/rbcAk0I.jpg

Its not a great one, but I used all the manual configuration I think is best for the camera and when I zoom in, I can see all details
[Xperia Z3 General] serv380:
Loving this shooter
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
I just came back from abroad where i took a few pics. I've uploaded a few below. See the dropbox link for full res images and exif data. (See the other folders in dropbox for the previously shared comparison shots between the iP6+ and the Z3). Images 5,6,7, and 8 were shot while moving in a VERY 'bumpy' moped car, all using Sony SA AFAICR. And for good measure, I've thrown in a Pano shot of trees and leaves using the Google Camera, since these two areas are where the Z3 is criticised the most. Let me know what you think!

Dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qms79wyaabxuj6x/AADnGNWKDjv4vesc3JcKVAkpa?dl=0

1.a. Sony SA

1.b. Sony Manual 20mp

1.c. Better Camera HDR

2.a. Sony SA

2.b. Better Camera HDR

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.
[Xperia Z3 General] pcgamingisted:
With time to edit for optimal settings on manual mode, the results can be great. I hope Sony provide any software in Lollipop for the RAW camera such n such to see what developers can do with the post-processing.
[Xperia Z3 General] juanmaasecas:
Sadly, I think we're not going to get the raw option in lollipop. HTC one m8 Google Play edition or galaxy s4 Google Play edition doesn't shoot in raw even in lollipop update, probably it's only an actual nexus feature...
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Sorry, I'm quite new to Android, what is Google Play edition?

If it refers to the stock camera apps, then I think most of them won't support RAW photo, since it's pretty niche and most people likely won't use it. But the really important question is, will RAW support be implemented in the API or not? If it is, then there is only a matter of time before competent RAW camera apps will appear (there is already L camera). But if it isn't, well then there is nothing we can do to get RAW, apart from switching phone brand.

Edit:

I think, for the RAW option to work on *any* lollipop phone, this functionality must be publicly exposed to the API, and this can only be done by the OEM modifying its camera driver. So if this is indeed the case, then ANY update which is not from the OEM, will not have RAW functionality (unless it was already supported from before).
[Xperia Z3 General] juanmaasecas:
The 'Google Play Edition' phones are those which are like a pure nexus device, special editions running vanilla android as their stock firmware, and are updated before the standard version of the phone.

For example, there is a galaxy s4 play edition, a htc one m7 and m8 play edition, or a xperia z ultra play edition. You also could get one of these devices via play store (like a nexus).... and in this special pure nexus versions, we're not able to shoot in raw in their official 5.0 lollipop, so I've lost any hope in Sony to add raw support to their whole xperia family when updating to Sony-custom lollipop...

I apologise for my English, I know it's not good enough, but I hope you catch the point...
[Xperia Z3 General] doministry:
I like those, I prefer Sony camera over this BetterCamera.
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Ok, it's somewhat clearer now, thanks! But I still don't understand who puts together the Google Play edition firmwares? Is it Google or the OEMs (Samsung, HTC, Sony, etc.)?

If it is Google, then you can only expect that Google devices will have RAW support from the GPe, as they can only change their own camera driver. Actually, even if it is the OEMs that release the firmware, I'm not surprised there is no RAW support, yet. The Android 5.0 has a completely new camera system "under the hood", it is not just some new features added on top. So the whole camera app needs to be reprogrammed from scratch, more or less. This takes some time of course, so maybe with the standard release they will have had time to make it fully functional?

As a side note, when I speak of driver and API etc, here is how the different "layers" communicate with each other: (in case you didn't know already)

[hardware] <---> [hardware driver] <---> [Android API] <---> [App] <---> [User]

So from the apps point of view, you can only ask the API for things (like a RAW image), but not the camera itself, nor the driver. The API can then request a RAW image from the driver, but the driver must allow it, or know about the request. AFAIK, it is only the OEM that can add this connection between the hardware driver and the API. So if Google releases Android 5.0 in a "Nexus edition" for a non-google phone, they have no way of adding the necessary connections.
[Xperia Z3 General] juanmaasecas:
Yes, I know your point. In this case, I think actually it's the OEM (not Google) who manages the updates, although they skip their own android customized layer and apps (for example, all the Samsung stuff and touchwiz in the galaxy s4 play edition). But it's not like cyanogenmod. If you flash an s4 with CM11 (for example), you get an awful camera quality because you lose the Samsung API, postprocessing, etc. If you flash the play edition rom, although it's pure Google, you preserve the 'custom APIs ' from Samsung. The only great thing in the new camera API in 5.0 for this S4 I've seen is that a new 'night mode' is enabled and you can use it in 'snap camera' app for example. This new scene make the shutter speed low until half a second, which is an awesome improvement over previews versions where the lowest speed was 1/16s (now you have a slower speed and also a lower ISO, and in consequence, better IQ and less noise...).

Probably with the 'free camera APIs' by CM12 and others we'll get raw and manual exposure? In xperia phones, camera is not working nowadays in CM12 builds, and I don't know about other brands, i'll investigate it xD.
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Ok, I see. Hopefully they are just waiting to roll out a lot of the new stuff until the "official" release. Have you tried the L camera app or FV-5 with any of the Google Play editions? They should expose the RAW functionality, if it exists.
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
In this post http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=57509556 I found that the camera did exceptionally well in images 5, 6, 7 and 8, considering that they were taken in a moving vehicle on a very bumpy surface. Image stabilisation here is better than on the iPhone 6+, which has OIS.

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] sefelizrc:
For RAW we just need Android 5.0 and FV5 camera app
[Xperia Z3 General] CentaXx:
The camera seems to be the real letdown for me on this phone. What strikes me is that in dark setting, taking pictures towards light sources ALWAYS ends in a total outshined picture, i've not seen it before on my older Smartphones. I've seen about the LED flash bleeding on the Z1 compact, but my backside screen protectore can't possible be the source of the problem? Especially as i don't use the flash..

Here are some example shots, but i'm honestly afraid that there's rarely a picture i really like. My HTC One M7 shot better pictures at daytime setting, especially when new and without the purple tint it had. Also, forgive me all the car shots but that's what i do photos of most of the time :)

So, macro shots - not a problem. Works fine. Also when i have time to manually adjust the camera at home and so on. But outside - like the building, i just can't get the picture i want to out of the Z3. Photoshop will fix a bit but it's, as i said, worse than i expected. As "snapshots" the photos are good enough, but i think that i will buy a better camera with the money i'll get for my old One M7. It's just not good enough for what i want from a camera. But anyway, i don't know if any smartphone camera meets my demands..

Someimage.com (got it in the thread) seems to be perfect for uploading, decent thumbnail size and full-resolution uploads possible!
[Xperia Z3 General] doministry:
Well, taking photos REQUIRES some knowledge.

You can't expect a good shot in every condition with all auto without any manual control.
[Xperia Z3 General] Artood2s:
Night pics with even a $500 mirrorless APC sensor camera is tough.
[Xperia Z3 General] CandyAndy:
Is it just me or is the camera better after the latest update?
[Xperia Z3 General] undercover:
I'm yet to see that update unfortunately..

Meanwhile

All SA
[Xperia Z3 General] sefelizrc:
I dont see too much problems on your pictures... Maybe with low light there is some noise...but with other cameras,you'll just get no picture.

Try using all the manual config, and the screen button instead of the hardware one for night shots.
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Only thing I noticed is the pink spot in the middle getting perhaps more pronounced.
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
Sorry guys but what update?

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Sony have rolled out a firmware update. But there is no official change-log so we just have to guess what's been updated. Just small fixes by the looks of it.

Here's a thread about it

http://xdaforums.com/z3/general/received-update-via-ota-t2969745
[Xperia Z3 General] juanmaasecas:
Just to share some information...

As you know, I now own an Xperia Z2. I've made some comparissons between picture quality in 4.4.2 and the latest 4.4.4 update, and I found the general quality has increased (I guess Sony updated Z2 camera algorythms by Z3 ones).

Here you are some 100% crops comparing both firmwares (from 2 pictures shooted at 20mpx, ISO 50).

As you can see, 4.4.4 is far better, but what I'm realizing just now is when I decompose every picture in luminance and chromatic layers in photoshop like someone did before here in this topic, it's odd to see that while liminance layer remains far better in 4.4.4 compared to 4.4.2, the other 2 chromatic layers are better in 4.4.2, while in 4.4.4 are ultra blurred.

Here you are the 2 pictures at full resolution for you to compare...

4.4.2

https://www.dropbox.com/s/alpdia7lc9krg35/2014-12-17 14.11.29.jpg?dl=0

4.4.4

https://www.dropbox.com/s/alpdia7lc9krg35/2014-12-17 14.11.29.jpg?dl=0
[Xperia Z3 General] sefelizrc:
Very interesting,I think no one had made this comparisons, and I think that this point some problems of the camera on software and not hardware...

We must do the same thing with Android 5.0
[Xperia Z3 General] juanmaasecas:
I wish I could mix the luminance layer in 4.4.4 with chromatic layers from 4.4.2...
[Xperia Z3 General] itsjustJOH:
So the problem with 4.4.2 is the luminance, while on the 4.4.4 both chroma. Interesting.
[Xperia Z3 General] radicans:
Actually, in your sample I think I prefer the 4.4.2 photo, even though it is softer. There are some strange black/white specs happening, but it looks less processed on the whole. You could probably achieve the sharpness of 4.4.4 by just filtering the 4.4.2 photo. I couldn't compare the full size ones, because the two links both pointed to the same photo.

That would have been me posting about the chroma btw. It's good to see that it is indeed the software causing the chroma blur, and not an artifact from the sensor. So there is still hope for RAW, if we do get it..
[Xperia Z3 General] juanmaasecas:
Here you are the correct link

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/d0w5hh1wuffdb6w/AABblbrGi8v8IgSOW1CmZCOqa

And it's great to know that it's not a hardware problem but a software one. Even tough I don't think Sony is supporting raw format even in lollipop update, call me pessimist.
[Xperia Z3 General] jonmorris:
It seems the camera is now producing images more like I am getting on the Z1 Compact (and was since around April this year when that got a new version of the camera). Far sharper images, more detail retained and less of the oil painting look when zoomed in.

The downside is that some images do indeed look unnatural, as if you ran a picture through a series of filters on 200% and didn't quite know what you were doing. But, for the main part, I think there's a definite improvement.

At night, I'm finding that just selecting the High Sensitivity (which can do ISO up to 12,800) mode seems to be a pretty good bet if you're feeling lazy, but want a high chance of getting a photo that's in focus - even with a degree of movement.

Let me stress you can get better still with the manual settings, but sometimes that's not practical - and SA is still too hit and miss in anything but good light (when I'd argue that it's probably fine for most people).
[Xperia Z3 General] greelymike:
Canada's National War Memorial

Here's a shot I took of the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa. I've changed it to B&W after but the clarity & lighting are all Xperia.
[Xperia Z3 General] adrianmrv:
Very nice pic;)
[Xperia Z3 General] tiborprogmed:
Z3 is the Best (with enough Light available)

But i am not FULLY satisfied with the MACRO capabilities. ( If the light is more than expected, OR LESS, it cannot focus on macro as good as I would like to )
[Xperia Z3 General] jhun80:
Sunrise
[Xperia Z3 General] CentaXx:
I had some time more to play around with the camera and i think that i like it after all..

Compared it with a co-workers One M8, who knew my struggles with my One M7, and busted it - my picture was much better: brighter and more detail (the tree in front of the windows)

The bushes in the foreground are pretty clear (manual mode), with the auto mode it ended up blurry;

Auto vs manual, i like manual much better in this scene.. It also has much more details, you can read the sign in the back for example

Manual mode was with "handheld at lowlight" (or something similar, translating from german..), looks like it worked pretty well on these scenes.
[Xperia Z3 General] Silverdace:
Sometimes it does take very good pictures. Particularly macro shots. Landscape, not so much.
[Xperia Z3 General] undercover:
I've just settled with SA for snaps. When I see something special to take a picture of, I'll switch to manual.
[Xperia Z3 General] hanime:
This is a very nice photo! :good:
[Xperia Z3 General] CandyAndy:
I have a "lucky" situation that I currently have both z3 and note 4 in my hands. Before I sell my note I decided to do a little comparison.

https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B0MUVjq_igOMby00UkI2alUtRlU/edit

I think that z3 can take better picture with manual 20mbpx but with auto it is quite bad. It is also worth noticing that every note picture I just snapped with auto without trying any adjustments.
[Xperia Z3 General] hanime:
I think in your case, it is partly due to 20MP on manual vs. 8MP (limit) on auto on the Z3.
[Xperia Z3 General] Memnoch30:
And the auto is what most people use ?

I really hope Sony fixes this soon.
[Xperia Z3 General] One Twelve:
yeah, manual halved the ISO that auto took. But it also doubled the shutter time this means if people can't hold the phone steady then they complain the shot is blurry.

n4 has this auto night mode that kicks in whether you want it or not. With some indoor scenes it makes the picture worse than without it. its subtle but noticeable, night mode reduces the colour depth.

The joke is both devices use sony sensors.
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
Thanks for sharing.

1. I think the night scenes are where the Z3 has an advantage and despite this the N4 is as good as the Z3 if not better in some scenarios.

2. In the shots DSC 15 and DSC 17, the Z3 is better than the Note 4. Otherwise the Note is being reviewed as MUCH better than the Z3 in daylight environments by most online comparisons.
[Xperia Z3 General] Flockrock:
Not really sure about this :confused:
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
Quick app and settings comparison

MOSAIC GLASS

Better Camera HDR

Better Camera DRO

Better Camera Manual

Sony SA

GHERKIN

Better Camera DRO

Sony Manual 16mp

PIPELINE

Better Camera DRO

Sony Manual 20mp

I'm very happy with Better Camera for dynamic range purposes. Always better than every other alternative.

Dropbox link for full size download

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/322ia4kajpfi012/AADYxwp5fTU1zOzsUCw9xygna?dl=0

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
I just got that update today. Change log below

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
Apologies for spamming the thread but I promise this is the last post for now. I just did some basic filtering and adjusting in the Google Photo app on my phone and thought I'd upload for contrasting with the original files. I used the Sony Manual 16mp image for this purpose. I also forgot to add that the skyline shots are all from behind quite a dirty window. Still, not bad from a mobile device.

POST PROCESS

ORIGINAL
[Xperia Z3 General] CandyAndy:
Does anybody else have this problem that when trying to edit photos with Sony picture editor it always force closes?

I didn't have this problem with my first z3 but now it's constant, can't get the app opened and I already wiped cache and data from the app and also wiped my SD card.
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
Is it possible that you have a few Sony apps disabled? I did and I also had this problem. Try and re-enable them and go by trial and error. I can't remember what I had to bring back from disabled though sorry.

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] Artood2s:
Beautiful shots!!!
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
The two of the water are very dramatic.

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] online22naveen:
here"s mine

https://www.flickr.com/photos/online22naveen/16009718306/
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
Background defocus indoors at night.

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] psychok9:
Manual mode have any limitation? No scene modes?
[Xperia Z3 General] subhani:
If you select 8mp resolution, then manual modes have access to scene modes. The advantage of this for example is that you can force low light mode in a scenario where superior auto isn't detecting low light.

However, i'm guessing the main reason why most people use manual mode is because they want to use the 20mp camera. In this case you lose the scene modes.

So it's a 'can't have it all' scenario. Xposed development may allow for launching into manual mode instead of SA. Also somehow enabling scenes mode in manual via Xposed would be awesome. For now, I'll just carry on taking more than one shot of the same subject in different modes for the best result. For the fleeting moment shot? I just hardware launch into SA mode for quickest capture time.

Hit THANKS if I helped, cheers! Sent using a Z3 via Tapatalk.
[Xperia Z3 General] psychok9:
In the end, if I set manual mode, I can't change the shutter speed setting (manually) like night "scene" mode?

Thank you a lot!
[Xperia Z3 General] Huey85:
Taken with Superior Auto mode, detected at Macro mode and focused on the camera.

I love that camera BTW!
[Xperia Z3 General] shrubz:
Yes they are completely untouched. Shot on manual mode 20.7 MP with default settings.
[Xperia Z3 General] heorung:
I'm a Z2 user , after 6 months playing with the Z2 camera , I have some experiences with the Z2 camera :

- First of all , try to clean the lens of the camera - don't underestimate this step , it make a huge affect on the image quality.

- Don't use superior auto , it always try to increase the ISO as high as possible and its also produce more noise.

- Use 8MP in Manual Mode . 20MP is too much for a camera phone , it took more storage and time to save image , more data for the image processor to process , generate more heat and consume more power.

- In Low light photography , the Z2 camera perform very well , maybe one of the best. But in Outdoor shoot , the Sony camera algorithm always have problem with metering , the image always over exposure a litte bit. So try to change Metering Mode to Average instead of Center , in outdoor shoot , decrease the EV to -0.33 , -0.66 or -1. The result will have much better light and color.
[Xperia Z3 General] GoyoNeuff:
Thanks a lot. Do you have any pictures to compare, or can you please make a few shots to show how the image improves with those settings?

Cheers,
[Xperia Z3 General] CandyAndy:
Nice pics, next try to shoot something which moves and in not so perfect lightning conditions.
[Xperia Z3 General] heorung:
Hi [MENTION=4419236]GoyoNeuff[/MENTION] , I've just uploaded some photos to my Flickr , you can view it here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/120697633@N04/sets/72157648103391557/
[Xperia Z3 General] payaxy:
Yeah, all this advice about avoiding automatic mode is nice, but when you're trying to get a quick snap of a fast moving two year old, it rarely leaves enough time to fiddle with the settings... Anybody can share pictures like that? I don't really take photos of flowers and such
[Xperia Z3 General] tamilplaya98:
if you look closely, you can see that the trees / leaves look very blurry and pixelated.