In the past most smartphone buyers were interested in having touch screen or big screens and other similar features. In the last couple of years the buyers’ attention shifted towards Camera quality. Smartphone owners enjoy using their phone to take selfies or portrait pictures, rather than buying a separate camera. Google paid attention to what buyers want and has successfully released for OG Pixel and Pixel 2 top quality cameras. These cameras also come with Portrait Mode and owners of older Google smartphones were rather jealous. Thankfully, a developer released Camera NX: a portrait mode app for Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and Pixel smartphones.
Camera NX
The software of the app is mostly based on Google Camera and it includes the bokeh effect everyone wants. The app has been receiving lately more features, including Portrait Mode. Other features are Zero Shutter Lag for HDR+ more, 60 fps video recording in 2K and higher, Star Wars and Stranger Things AR stickers and Motion Photos.
Portrait Mode
The bokeh effect Portrait Mode can blur backgrounds and identifies the photos subject. It work really well on dual cameras and it can now be used with Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and Pixel.
The app has to be installed from unverified sources because it is not available on Google Play Store. The reason behind this is the conflict it will create with the Google Camera app.
Google Camera
This official Google app is the source of the Camera NX software. Some of the most important features of Google Camera are:
- HDR+ (especially for low-light and backlit scenes);
- Video stabilization (even if your hands shake);
- Smartburst (to make moving GIFs) Slow Motion: (slow motion up to 240fps on some devices).
Taking pictures with a smartphone has never been more fun.
