Google has already shown that its upcoming Pixel 4 will have two rear cameras, but there was an open mystery as to whether the second lens would be a telephoto shooter or optimized for super-wide angle photos. A new version of the Google Camera app might have spilled the answer: according to XDA Developers, the build of the app contained in a leaked version of Android Q contains code references that specifically mention “telephoto,” making that the likely function of the Pixel 4’s second lens.
I know what you might be thinking: Pixel phones can already take great portrait shots. In some cases, the edge detection is better than on an iPhone or other Android phone because Google’s computational photography has just gotten that good. But since Apple’s flagship iPhones use actual depth data obtained from two cameras, they produce a more realistic transition between the subject and the blurry background. Google, on the other hand, basically goes from foreground to very blurred background right away. A telephoto lens will help Google catch up there.
Still, this is disappointing to me. You can take a portrait with a standard camera, but you can’t take an ultra-wide angle shot with one unless you’re stitching shots together. It would’ve been great for Google to match LG, Samsung, and other companies here. Even the iPhone is expected to gain a wider camera in its three-camera system this year.
I guess it would make sense for Google to only now be getting around to a telephoto / portrait lens after years of sticking with a single rear camera. And to be fair, there are a ton of people out there who really love taking portraits.
The other interesting tidbit from this Camera app code is that it refers to a front IR camera. We already know there won’t be a fingerprint sensor on the back of the Pixel 4, so this supports the idea that Google is preparing its own answer to Apple’s Face ID authentication, likely incorporating the company’s Project Soli technology. That’s all good news since Google should be throwing everything it can into the Pixel 4 to make it a stellar flagship.
Comments
was hoping for ultra wide… i go out into the mountains a lot and you’ll see an amazing landscape that you just can’t do justice to with a regular camera. 2x zoom isn’t all that useful to me.
By murso74 on 07.05.19 2:46pm
For static subjects like mountains, wouldn’t panoramas work pretty well?
By Suchir on 07.05.19 3:02pm
Exactly. It’s a known trick, even in the DSLR world, that if you want a really nice, wide, crispy landscape, taking a panorama and stitching them together often nets you better or interesting results than using a standard wide. For example, if you have a zoom lens, you can zoom into the landscape but stitch many of them together to make for a really interesting perspective.
Now obviously in the phone camera world, convenience is key so having a quick and handy wide angle is still really useful.
By MarcintheCloud on 07.05.19 7:01pm
True. for REAL photographers, we take pictures separately and stitch them together (or using panorama) but the wide-angle lens is just so useful if you gotta snap that shot quick.
By Gabz218 on 07.05.19 10:51pm
Honestly, on phone panos are already pretty decent and quick. Not saying a dedicated wide wouldn’t be useful in a lot more scenarios; just saying there is a decent option available. Software zoom on the other hand is not a really decent alternative.
By kashtrey on 07.06.19 4:39pm
Good choice. Even for regular cameras, if I had a 28 mm lens already, I would want a 50 mm lens more than a 20 mm lens. Ultrawides have few uses.
By 2003aaa on 07.05.19 7:09pm
I wish they would fix the low-light problem before worrying about lenses. I’m using the Night sight feature, even in regular light.
I still have a Pixel 1 I carry around for photos. I don’t know what they changed, it all seems to be in the algorithm, I think, but other than the missing stabilization, it takes better photos than my Pixel 3a XL. Moment still sells cases for the original Pixel, so I can use their tele and wide lenses on either phone. Personally, I’ve gotten more use out of the 18mm wide angle lense.
By Toivo_ on 07.06.19 4:42am
My Pixel 3 XL is fine in low light, i hardly use night sight. Only when things are really dark.
Maybe a bug with the "a" series?
By theratchetnclank on 07.06.19 6:07am
They’re making a huge mistake.
By karl.482 on 07.06.19 8:25am
Interesting argument you posed. I see your points which led up to that conclusion, and on thinking about it: no they aren’t. Or even yes, they might be.
I can’t tell because you didn’t say what the mistake was, and why.
By wubanger on 07.06.19 9:12am
This is why no matter what fancy software tricks Google comes up with, the Huawei P30 Pro camera system will always be superior.
By WiseGuard on 07.06.19 10:06am
It’s actually very easy to capture wide-angle photos from the photosphere mode on Google Camera. You can take 9 photos in 3×3 grid and the camera app stitches it all together.
Here’s an example I took with my Nexus 6P – https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRY6IJAsWu/
By ronakg on 07.06.19 3:26pm
9 shots is easy???
Try taking a shot of a moving 1959 Cadillac Biaritz convertible from a sidewalk
..
By Toivo_ on 07.07.19 6:28am
We often see Telephoto lenses doing better job in portrait photos compared to Wide-angle lenses. So, that might be the reason.
By Tech Nerd on 07.07.19 11:44pm
By PhatDummy on 07.08.19 9:50am
More than one camera?! No need they said….
3 years later here we are!
The google camera is great but really overhyped!
By Ramses1986 on 08.01.19 3:04pm