Photos too big on A20e

[ca32]

I don't need photos bigger than 1MB and preferably smaller.  I don't want to contribute to global warming via unneccesary cloud storage.  The smallest my A20e camera takes is 2 or 3 MB and I don't want to have to use HEIC files.  I could get my previous phone to take photos sized around 200KB.  Without having to go through the tedious process of reducing the size after taking them, is there any way I can adjust my A20e phone settings to take smaller photos?

[CrazyTom2k2]

Hey there ca32!

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but I don't think there's a way to make your photos smaller. But, bigger photos mean better quality (especially if viewing on bigger screens). If you're worried about using up all your phone's storage, maybe consider treating yourself to a microSD card to store your photos. As for shrinking photos though, I'd just stick with the bigger file size and enjoy the increase in quality when you look at the photos on a big screen.

All the best, and stay awesome!
Tom 🙂

[ca32]

Obviously I have a microSD card but I just don't want, or need, to be sending huge unnecessary size photos to cloud storage.  It's all just contributing to pointless global warming.  Preventing us from taking smaller resolution photos is a backward step in sustainability.   We dont all need huge resolution pics every time. No-one at Samsung seems to think about this.

[AntS]

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@ca32 wrote:

Obviously I have a microSD card but I just don't want, or need, to be sending huge unnecessary size photos to cloud storage.  It's all just contributing to pointless global warming.  Preventing us from taking smaller resolution photos is a backward step in sustainability.   We dont all need huge resolution pics every time. No-one at Samsung seems to think about this.

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I dunno. I understand the point about not needing high resolution pics every time - and indeed the environmental impact of cloud storage. But for me, I think the ideal and more satisfactory solution for that impact would be more about making cloud storage more environmentally friendly and efficient overall. The option of reducing the size and quality of just one digital media type, even if implemented, doesn't seem to me to tackle the fundamental issue all that well.

[ca32]

OK.  Seems that no-one has a solution to adjusting A20 phone cameras to take smaller photos without having to use HEIC files or go through the process of reducing them afterwards.

It's just sad that Samsung's policy of creating phones that take ever bigger photos is working against the planet.  Bigger  photos >bigger storage in cloud  > more fossil fuel pumping out cooling systems for ever increasing amounts of selfies, etc.

[Je655]

Have you considered using a camera app from the play store? Im sure there is a camera app you could download that can take your lower quality pictures when you need them. 

[Qwerty7]

Install this app caller 'open camera' from play store. Launch it. Go to settings -> photo-> at the top select resolution. Make this 1080x1440 (lower if you want). Photos will now be ~ 500kb in size. If you want them to be even smaller, feel free to reduce the resultion even more, to something like 720x960.

[Je655]

I would recommend staying away from "open camera" there are issues. The main issue i found before uninstalling it was when you turn on the flashlight from the in app options it gets stuck on with no option to turn it off. 

[Qwerty7]

Odd, I've never got that issue before. In that case look at Footej camera, it's got a similar UI to the stock app and has an option to drastically reduce resolution

[Je655]

Footej camera 2 did work great for normal images and video.  No obvious issue with that one also.

[ca32]

Ok thats good to know - many thanks.

[CrazyTom2k2]

Hey there again ca32!

I mean, I can think of a few key reasons why sending photos to cloud storage is a bonus. If your phone gets broken beyond repair, or requires a reset, you've still got all your photos in the cloud. If you wanna stop contributing to Global Warming, don't own a phone, fridge, freezer or car. Cloud services are still running, regardless of whether you use them or not (and I'm pretty sure Google's running their servers off of renewable energy). Don't worry so much about global warming, enjoy your life! The biggest cause of Global Warming is probably Car or Plane pollution. Maybe buy yourself a Tesla 😜.

(If you're worried about global warming, stick your salty attitude back in the sea. Sorry, it had to be said 😅. If I'm honest, it wasn't all that obvious)

[ro26]

i am curious, how does the cloud and the size of the pics affects global warming?

[ca32]

Hi - cloud storage uses up huge amounts of fossil fuel keeping all that data cool. 

[ca32]

Now that sounds like an interesting solution!  I'll go and check them out.  Any recommendations for good apps appreciated.

[Je655 · Accepted solution]

So i just tested about 7 different ones, i found two i liked if your unable to find one let me know what you think of these options

Cymera: you can add a camera widget to your home screen, worked good.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cyworld.camera

Camera: worked will with no obvious issues

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=photo.android.hd.camera

[ca32]

Thanks for testing them.  I appreciate someone who can provide a practical, positive solution. 

And maybe Samsung and the big guns will realise we don't all need to take high resolution selfies and photos of our last meal out!