S20 Ultra - Camera Capabilities exposed to 3rd party apps.

[msuchom]

Hi, I have 4 questions on S20Ultra about camera capabilities and features that are exposed to 3rd party applications.

1. Which Lenses / Cameras on GalaxyS20 Ultra are exposed to 3rd party camera apps via framework?
2. What resolutions / framerates are available? Is 4K60fps available via Camera2API?
3. Which of the advertised Camera features are only available in Samsung native Camera app ?
4. Are Pro mode video features available via native camera app or in a separate Pro camera app provided by Samsung?

(for example Sony Experia 1 comes with 2 native camera apps: normal one aimed at ease of use & Cinema PRO app aimed at PRO users that knows what they're doing yet wanting to have full contorol of their device)

[Lembo]

I'm guessing that 3rd party app will only have access to the 'standard' lens unless it's coded to check for the  additional. 

Pro mode is a mode under the native camera app like other Galaxy's. I find it very useful. 

[peter-h]

Samsung pulled the plug on 3rd party camera apps some years ago. A pity, since these were much less crippled. I used to use Footej Camera... it works but is limited.

I spoke to one developer of a 3rd party app and he said all 3rd party apps are no more than "control panels" for the camera API. The app doesn't actually see the image data and cannot access it at the max resolution. This is why when e.g. the stock app offers 5 levels of saturation, all 3rd party apps can also offer just 5 levels.

So it has become important to be able to do all you actually need with the stock app.

[msuchom]

Yes I was also finding a PRO mode in native Camera app very useful (and fast) up to Android 8 (Oreo).

In case someone missed this - on Android 9 & 10 across all Flagship Galaxy Galaxy devices made during last two years many key selling points / features were removed by Samsung in Android Pie (9). Like Dual capture, Pro mode video which includes manual focus, manual shutter speed for motion blur, manual ISO for best dynamic range at basal ISO and many more......

This was communicated as  One UI Camera interface with more streamlined User Experience..... 
Apparently some users were complaining that the old Samsung camera Interface was too overwhelming so they made it match the iPhone ***** proof style. Meanwhile Apple did the right thing and demonstrated their API is open to 3rd party apps and even invited Filmic Pro guys to speak about some exclusive new features on their last unboxing event. Meanwhile Samsung did not even bothered to write an official statement to answer any of the 100+ forum threads from PRO users expressing their disappointment with Camera features missing after OneUI update with no workaround available due to restrictions set for 3rd party apps in Camera Framework.

That is why I for me it is important to understand which of the Camera features on S20Ultra are restricted to native camera app and therefore subject to be removed at any point of time by software update.  All it takes is few inexperienced users trying to push every button at the same time having poor experiences and then blaming it on the phone. Obviously high bit-rates or frame-rates drain battery fast and generate heat....  Also we are  aware that Telephoto doesn't perform well under non ideal light conditions but that does not justify that Samsung will decide for us when we can have access to the Telephoto and when not.