yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Just an update everyone

ive deleted some of the photos here partly because i need to clear out my google cloud space but also because i had a good close look at all the photo comparisons on a pc moniter screen as opposed to just on my phone - and its pretty obvious that the cstark gcam mod on the V30 takes better pics than the other 3 on the V40

Also because there is a lot of photos and its just too much time consuming work to go posting them all - i dont want to put over 250 comparisons (1000 photos) on here

There were times though that any one of the other 3 cameras preformed better, and others where its impossible (for me) to tell any difference between sometimes all 4 of them in certain pics, but the cstark gcam on v30 was consistently better in about 75% of the pics

Also the stock V40 was consistently the worst in most pics

What im going to do though is start another thread, i will only post comparisons where i could not pick the superior picture - some will have 2, 3 or 4 pics

I will also post the best single ones
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Junkyxl01:
And wich version of the V30 cstark app are you using with the V40?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Hi

I wasnt using any cstark mods with the V40

Only the ones I listed at the start of this thread
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Jogg3r:
Hey. Got a V40 today. Using this apk. Even night sight is working. But some problems with Hdr+ enhanced it tooks to long for capturing a picture. And somehow the gallery is not working in GCam.. Immediately goes back to viewfinder. Any ideas or better versions? Thx in advance.

Okay could fixed the issue with the inapp gallery within advanced settings. But idk sometimes stock hdr is better and sometimes GCam hdr. :D thank good I can choose haha. But night sight is working! Without any lags.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] banesi:
Using same version, the best one I found and tested so far: Gcam_6.2.030_Advanced_BF_V2.2.1.190822.1145.apk

After installing and giving permissions, go to More > Settings > About > Enable advanced mode > Back > HDR+ control > Switch off AWBGains Mod > RAW Format use RAW10 > Use Restart > Back > Enable AUX button > ... Advanced > JPEG Quality set to 100% > Back to Viewfinder and turn ON HDR+ enhanced

Working:

Front main cam

Back main cam

Back Wide angle cam

Night Site

Dark mode theme

Not working:

Front wide angle cam

Back zoom cam

Photo Sphere

Please share any settings you may find to improve usage and quality.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] flp11748:
Camera quality

Thanks for the comparison - very helpful!

I have a V30 and was thinking of upgrading to a V40 but the camera quality doesn't seem better....

Do any of Cstark's versions install on v40? I think he has best Gcam for LG's.

Thanks
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Actually ive only recently started experimenting with manual mode and it takes better pictures than auto, and i suspect better than cstarks gcam on the V30, im not sure yet becasue i havent done enough comparisons

Are you interested in video too? i ask because the video is a whole different story. LGV40 stock camera takes much better video than cstark gcam even though photos are the reverse and thats just auto mode

Ive been comparing videos in manual mode and they are clearly better than all of them - cstark gcam, and the gcams for the v40. I cannot go back to auto mode now

In manual mode you can use a higher bitrate and it results in better defintion, also high fi audio options with better audio in the video
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] flp11748:
Yes, manual mode is very good and can be better than any GCAM except maybe in tricky lightning situations. In manual at least you have more control of the final product.

I started using manual mode on the LG V20 because it was around that time that LG began to process too much the jpeg for my taste. I use Photoshop and Lightroom, they're great apps to edit the raw files. Snapseed is also good and faster but I prefer the previous two.

I was thinking of getting a V40, but after seeing your comparison with the V30 using gcam I think I will keep the V30 because it looks way sharper.

Ah, manual video is always better than gcam in my experience too.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] 433Mhz:
I've spent a couple hours trying several Gcam ports and none can match LG's camera app. Gcam is even worse in low light where Gcam normally puts original camera software to shame.

There are currently 3 ports that kind of work (more or less and you need the right xml file):

- Arnova8G2: Gcam_6.2.030_Advanced_BF_V2.2.1.190822.1145.apk

- fu24: Gcam_6.1.021_Advanced_V1.6-Fu24_5Lens-01r3.1.apk

- Urnyx05: GCam_7.3.018_Urnyx05-v1.5.apk

Urnyx05 has the typical laggy viewfinder which really sucks but it works and it's a more recent Gcam 7 version.

Fu24 also has a laggy viewfinger for night sight but it takes better picture than Arnova8G2 with the regular HDR modes in low light.

Fu24's version is the most recommended one afaik. You can easily switch between the cameras with the right .xml files. But even that app has lags and it takes too long to take a picture.

None of the gcam versions are good enough for simple point and shot.

Overall Gcam is in a very sad state and barely worth it. But fortunately LG already provides a very powerful camera app. Unfortunately it needs a tripod for very low light, there is no black magic night sight like in Gcam that can take sharp low light pictures with shaky hands.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Idid find the gcams better than lg auto, but this was specifically in landscape pictures, it might be different in other scenarios. The lg auto seems to have a white hazy look about it

I think lg manual is better though but ive only started using it

im going to do some comparisons in a new thread
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] nibedankaran:
I've tried hard but found

I've tired & at least best working Gcam & config file:laugh:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=15_adwuY_4rqmqBBOi4rgcPsPS1cC8-Oc
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Ram666ram:
Hi,

i've spent a couple of days trying several Gcam ports, finally the best for me is the "Gcam_6.1.021_Advanced_V1.6-Fu24_5Lens-02b" .

I've created the following .xml file, all 5 cameras working, no laggy viewfinder , Nightsight works well, good image quality .

Please try and tell me your opinions.

Thank you !
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] banesi:
I don't see any noticeable difference between Gcam_6.1.021_Advanced_V1.6-Fu24_5Lens-02b AND Gcam_6.2.030_Advanced_BF_V2.2.1.190822.1145 in terms of picture quality.

I see that v6.1 applies noise reduction. I think this may be turned on in v6.2 as well, if someone need it. Also, v6.2 looks more like finished product and it is snappier than v6.1.

Overall, they are pretty much the same and the best we can have and hope for now, until functional v7.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] 433Mhz:
Has anyone tried the buffer fixes for Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite or Mi 9 SE?

https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/p/xiaomi-mi-9-lite-buffer-fix/

You need TWRP unfortunately which I cannot install without losing my warranty.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] banesi:
It's copying com.qti.chi.override.so to vendor partition

/vendor/lib/hw/com.qti.chi.override.so

I have no clue what this file is doing
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Wyroczen:
I've made buffer fix for lg v40 android 9. If it will work good I will share it :)
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] HansWong:
Nice! Share the Gcam and xml file as well
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Hi all

Check out this thread, i decided to post links to my albums instead of pasting individuual links, it was just too much time and work and sometimes it didnt always work

This is where its at!

https://xdaforums.com/lg-v40/themes/4-app-comparison-lgv40-lgv30-t4077787

I also posted links to 5 youtube videos of my trek to Machu picchu

https://xdaforums.com/lg-v40/themes/lgv40-videos-5-day-trek-to-machu-picchu-t4074609
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] cavcagamgee:
Have you found a way to make it save photos to the SD card? I've tried a bunch of different things/tutorials, and can't make it save off the device. Thanks!
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Hi

I've just installed this app but it doesn't work on my V40. It just freezes?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] basmeuter:
Did you load the XML?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
No how do I do that? don't even know what that is
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] basmeuter:
https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/settings09/

Creatie a folder on internal memory: Gcam/Configs and place the .xml over there. Then tap twice between the shutter button and gallery button (on the black space) then restore the XML file you stored and it works. I just this XML, have me the most natural colours:

You can download the file and place it in that directory you created.

In the link is with some screenshots as well
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Tried it and to be honest I'm completely lost I have no idea what I'm doing.

How do I create a folder and where is this XML?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] basmeuter:
In a file Explorer like Solid Explorer.. When you downloaded the XML file it's in your downloads folder ?

If you don't have a clue on how to make it I guess Google and YouTube are your friends for the basics
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] neocyke:
Sorry, been away for a while. Too busy with work.

Pictures always look better on the screen of the device that their from. Unless you're using a DSLR, mirrorless or any other actual camera, that will always be the case. Reason is simple, device optimization & calibration. That's why apply fanboys exclaim their devices take the ultimate gorgeous picture compared to everyone else standing side by side. Everything has been optimized to show the best possible image on that device's screen. Take the file out and view it somewhere else, it's now a different story. I proved this to my friend who recently got an ip11. He was surprised at how not so good the picture was on a pc screen compared to viewing on the phone. The same can be said for almost every single phone out there.

And for that same reason, I no longer really bother with gCams. LG camera + LG software, it already makes sense. Though there can always be improvements made; for instance the V30 cam algorithm does seem slightly better in comparison. The stock app shots do just fine without having to fiddle with multiple app versions, xmls and what have yous. That being said, google's nightsight black magic is yet to be beaten by anyone IMHO.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] PPL2020:
Working GCam on V40

Sorry to disagree about the JPEG results from GCam versus stock LG Camera. The HDR, Night Sight & Lens Blur are superior to the stock Cam; even in manual. The stock Cam auto mode destroys too much detail from JPEG processing. Manual is best, but then the HDR suffers. Stock Cam is best used in Manual RAW & post processed. For quick automatic JPEG mode, GCam results are far superior.

There is a working Gcam for LG V40 running Android 10. There are some caveats like all GCam but usable enough for me. The apk is from fu24 under:

https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/changelog1225/

Make sure you select the -A10 version if you are on Android 10.

Also install the V40 specific XML file found in:

https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/configs-fu24-01/

The "gcam-lg-v40-amazing-v1.xml" is a good starting point, then tweak to your desire.

Do not setup that Tele lens (Aux3) since it crashes. GCam zoom is as good up to 2-3x.

Not sure what LG did on V4 from the V30. There are no Gcam 7.x that will work on V40 without screen lag. My old V30 still works great with Urnyx05 "GCam_7.3.018_Urnyx05-v2.0.apk" which is probably the best Gcam apk out there. Too bad it does not work on V40.

Good luck to all.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Still won't work, tried everything

Do I need a rooted device?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Formless:
Hi

Your right, gcam is better than even manual

I've done loads of testing now and I'm a little disappointed with manual photos

At the moment my V30 takes better photos than my V40 and it shouldn't be that way

I'm using cstarks on the V30. However manual video on the V40 is way better, I find it strange that video is better but photos are worse

Also ATM I can't get android 10 for my V40

Is the photos in gcam in android 10 on the V40 better than the gcam on V30?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] basmeuter:
Nope no root,

with a file explorer, in the first folder where you also find the folders with downloads and music and stuff - in solid explorer click on the plus right bottom corner - new folder - call it 'GCam' - in the GCam folder again on plus to create a new folder in here - call it ' Configs' - paste the XML file from your downloads to the Configs folder.

Then start GCam app, double tap on space between shutter button and photo viewer, then you should see the XML file, select it and click restore.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] PPL2020:
With Android 10 on V40, you are down to having ONLY one choice for GCam. IMHO, Fu24 version's IQ is about the same as my V30 under cstark but there are many other benefits such as Len Blur. Being 6.1 based, the Portrait mode still requires a face; so Lens Blur is useful. The FU24 apk also allows much, much more user customization which is great. Shutter response is just OK.

My V30 under Andriod 9 running Urnyx05 7.3 does seem to have better IQ due to mainly improved HDR. Shutter response is great. The actual sensor/lens hardware in V40 is better than V30, but LG OEM photo software is poor. Yes, the OEM video on V40 is superior than GCam on V40. So much that I never use GCam for video. Too bad better hardware is limited by weak software.

LG keep changing their HW, unlike Pixel. Look at the V60, yet another change. If I can verify that the V50 (which has same HW as V40) can run Urnyx05 apk, I'd be tempted to switch. Right now, if you want a great GCam on LG Vxx phones, stay with the V30/V35. That combo gives you the best photos for a phone with ultra wide-angle (a must for me).
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
Quick update, the buffer fix does work for the 7.x gcam ports. I believe it was originally created by Wyroczen. But, after trying numerous times to 'install' it, using both magisk modules and twrp zips, ended up just using a root file explorer and put it in /vendor/lib/hw myself (replaced the original file).

To do this, you need Magisk for root. Also, there are a few fastboot commands to disable verity etc, and then replace the vbmeta images with (I believe are) blank ones. The exact commands can be found in the v40 telegram group.

The key thing is that it does work. Works perfectly, no lag whatsoever.

cheers
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] PPL2020:
Great to know. However, I read that T-Mobile V40 versions which is what I have, cannot be rooted. I would like to try it but don't want to brick the phone. Thanks!
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
Out of the many many Gcam ports I've tried, the best and most configurable is by Pit. This is the version I have: 7.3.020.PitbulL.v.1.8_signed_signed.apk, I believe I got it on telegram. It's highly configurable. One benefit you immediately see is that in nightsight, all the other version 7.x the viewfinder wouldn't switch to horizontal (the only way to make it work for the others would be to turn off rotation).

In addition, the Pit version in nightsight the viewfinder works no matters how low the light, other 7.x versions the viewfinder would freeze when the light was too low..

Another thing I'd add, kind of newly discovered, when you want to evaluate the quality of the pics you get, I'd highly recommend to also view the pics on a pc monitor. Trying to compare on a phone screen has it's value, but it's not as good as on a full monitor, and the phone screen can be misleading. I thought with my phone the Pit pics had visible noise in the deep blacks in the nightsight mode compared to another Gcam port.

But viewing them on a pc monitor showed the other GCam port wasn't showing the lighter areas as well, which made the blacks look good and dark and no noise, on a phone. But on a pc monitor it was clear the Pit port didn't have any noise it was just all around slightly lighter and thus showed more detail in the dark areas.

Lesson learned, be sure to verify assumptions about pic quality on a phone using a pc monitor, the assumption may be unfounded.

cheers

Oh yeah! I'd also add, when using a 7.x version of Gcam, and it's astrophotography abilities, get a tripod with a phone attachment. That type of pic sometimes takes 20 or 30 secs! Trying to hold a phone steady is just impossible. But the benefit of using a tripod is you'll get a nightsight pic and it will have used an ISO of 50! Hard to believe but it's true.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] basmeuter:
But for this one root is necessary right?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
Yeah, unfortunately for this one you have to apply the buffer fix, which needs root. That applies to all the 7. X ones.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
I take this picture often, it's just outside my condo, and it's kind of a 'baseline' I use to test any new version of Gcam I might get. This is, I think, one of the best so far. No modifications to it other than the 'google photos - fix lighting'. I especially like the greens, the various shadings they have. And of course I'd say very good detail also, notice the tiny twigs of the branches. Over all, for a night shot using astrophtography, think it came out very well. It's a Gcam Pitbull 7.3.x version, configured to use one of the 'libs' that comes with it.

Oh and yeah, you definitely need a tri-pod or mono-pod for shots like these!

[IMG="v40 with Pit"]https://azitlies.com/temp-pics/withV40-Pit2.jpg[/IMG]
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Ram666ram:
Hi, thanks for your picture !

Please could you try to test this Gcam version + xml settings file ( https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=82202209&postcount=55 ), taking the same picture ?

I'm on Android 9, and i'd like to understand how are good the Fu24 Gcam pictures on A10 .

Many thanks !
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
I'm on 9, not 10, so can't help there.

I've used that version of gcam though, it was the first one I was using, with your xml also. The big difference between the 6.x versions and the 7.x versions of gcam are astrophotography. Once you've tried that, you won't want to go back, it makes a big difference for any night shot. Maybe the best way to indicate the difference is that with the 7.x versions, the image takes 15 or 20 secs to get taken. But that results in an ISO of around 50! Instead of the much more grainy 300 to 1000 they might use without it.

When the stock us open 10 becomes avail things should get even better, from what I hear.

cheers
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Ram666ram:
Oh, wow, so it' s better !!

If you could take the same shot with the Fu24 Gcam and my xml file, Night Shot mode, you would make me so happy !

Now my phone is not rooted, i'm very satisfied with Fu24 Gcam, but if the quality difference are big, i can proceed with root and install Gcam 7.x .

Thx !
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
Well 'the quality difference' is, of course, going to be subjective. It **always** is when talking about such things. But that said, I think most would agree the major difference is the 'astrophotography'. I have a pic that was taken early on when I first got my V40, so it had to be taken with the 5-lens Fu and your xml (it's the only one I used).

Initially, it may not seem too different. But the Astro with night sight will show the sky, and even an outline of the mountains in the background, even though you can't see them! the sky is pitch black, but the astro will bring out whats in that 'darkness'. Also, because of the exposure aspects, the details are better. It's most obvious, in these images, when looking at the line of chairs on the left middle of the pic. There are some hedges behind them and the crushed pebbles in front of the chairs, look closely at those and you can see the better details.

[IMG="original"]https://www.azitlies.com/temp-pics/withV40-original.jpg[/IMG]
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] banesi:
But, since you already use tripod, why not using LG camera manual mode?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
Because lg cam manual mode can't compete. It's a mistake to believe 'just using manual mode' will result in the same pics that google camera gives. It does not.

There's a great deal of software processing that goes on in google camera 'enhanced' and 'enhanced plus'. That's why google phones, with their average hardware optics, have been able to compete with the very very best of the various mfg's results.

Anytime you see comparisons, apple, samsung, google, etc... google wins in many of the categories. And it's not because of optics.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] Ram666ram:
Many many thanks !

So using Astro you must have a tripod to take a picture, and differences with Standard Night Sight are big.

But, for daily usage, point and click, without tripod, the differences from Fu and the new version are so big ?

Thx !
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
Without having done extensive testing in this regard, I think though, yes, under 'normal' circumstances, the

differences wouldn't be that big (if any).

You can take an astro shot without a tri / mono - pod, but you have to be able to hold the phone very steady.

My point of saying 'you need one' is really, most likely, almost certainly, you won't be able to hold it steady

enough. It will of course depend on the lighting, if there is very little, some of those shots last more than

30 seconds (of holding), the actual exposure time is much less, but it's doing a lot of shots during that time. But if

there's a lot of lighting, the shot's can be pretty quick, relatively speaking.

cheers
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] banesi:
That's a bold statement :D

Give us 100% crop of some detail made with GCam and LG Manual mode, let's say 50ISO with 5 sec exposure?
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] banesi:
Hmm, it does look like GCam produce cleaner details or just doing better job with noise reduction, first LG Manual, second GCam Astro
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] AsItLies:
and not just noise reduction, there would be lighting, color reproduction, details in shadows, etc etc.

If a picture only consisted of how well details are reproduced, then maybe manual mode might be somewhat comparable. But last I looked, there's a bit more to a picture than just details.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] cmichaelt:
I was just wondering if you are able to take pictures with HDR disabled? I have been trying to and it doesn't take or save the picture at all. I've tried a handful of gcam versions and all of them do not take or save the picture with HDR disabled.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] kiksich:
Hi!

I still didn't get the android 10 so what gcam 7+ would be the best for android 9 and if someone could with the gcam also link the xml file that would go for it?

Thank You!
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] 433Mhz:
Afaik there are no Gcam 7 versions that work out of the box. You gotta root and apply some fix, there is a thread on the topic here.

We're stuck with a few versions of Gcam 6.x. Just use either this one:

https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/f/changelog593/

These ports by fu24 also work, but not all of them:

https://www.celsoazevedo.com/files/android/google-camera/dev-fu24/
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] gajgmajna:
Hello. I have one problem with gcam. Before few day i got the update to android 10. Gcam in pie work well. But in android 10 is stuck in hdr processing in the background. I try all the gcam from fu-24 (pie and A10) and arnova but nothing is work. I just stuck in hdr processing...any solution about these. Thank you for your help.
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] kiksich:
Thanks! :)

And the xml file?

I've never done it...
[LG V40 Themes, Apps, and Mods] pwazoski:
Join lg gcam gr on telegram its would help u