Google Introduces ‘Camera Looks’ With Pixel 11 Phones
David Imel, The Verge: But in our current moment, the photos people are drawn to are not flawless — and that’s created a real problem for the people making smartphone cameras. “The gap between what two random people want from their camera is growing dramatically,” says Isaac Reynolds, who leads the Pixel camera team at Google. Some people want a perfectly optimized photo, Reynolds says. “But…
Google has announced a new feature called "Camera Looks" for its Pixel 11 phones. This feature is designed to give users more control over the camera's output, allowing them to choose from a variety of styles such as Black Tie, Classic, and Digi. Unlike traditional filters, Camera Looks alters how image data is processed at the sensor level, rather than applying edits after the fact.
This is similar to Apple's Photographic Styles, but with added control over grain and sharpness. The Pixel team aims to cater to both those who want perfect photos and those who prefer a more authentic or traditional look. While some users appreciate the grain and noise that digital cameras often possess, others prefer over-processed images.
Google's move away from the overly-sharpened, over-smoothed look is seen as a positive step. However, for those who prefer low-level control over processing, third-party apps like Halide, Not Boring Camera, and Analogue offer more options. These apps allow for adjustments through LUTs (or "looks"), providing a more flexible and customizable image processing experience.
The Pixel 11 announcement has reignited interest in Google's camera capabilities, which have not been a focal point since Marc Levoy left the team in 2020.
Written by urgent.news from Daring Fireball's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
