pixel binning/supersampling in manual mode?

[stevo125]

EDIT:

This should be a quick, easy reply from a staff member.... why has this not been answered yet?

Does manual mode use pixel binning or is this feature reserved for superior auto ?

Will third party camera apps make use of pixel binning ? (Is it done at driver level or software level?)

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Original post

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Hi, so we have a 20mp sensor here, and clearly the "superior auto" is using some sort of pixel binning to produce its 8mp images. Is this true when selecting image sizes smaller than 20mp in manual mode? e.g do both the 16:9 and 4:3 8mp modes use the binning or it this exclusive to the "superior auto" mode

And on a related note, is there a good reason why the superior auto drives the ISO so high compared to the manual mode at auto settings? It seems that any indoor or night photography in superior mode is an absolute disaster! Blurry, grainy mess most of the time; no such issues in manual where dimmer conditions are less of an issue.

On a related note, any chance of Sony changing the behavior of the camera launch button, and lock screen shortcut? This always launches the horrible superior mode, whereas the app shortcut has the prefered behaviour of booting into the last used mode. I was hoping not to have to root my phone to fix software issues as I have with almost every other phone I've owned, but this issue will be a deal breaker for me.

[Richdog]

Steve, there is already a big thread on the camera and Superior Auto mode... maybe a good idea to add to that one and keep it all in one place? http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z1-Compact/Sony-Z1-Compact-why-is-the-camera-so-poor-Comparison...

[z1compactuser]

I mostly use manual mode in 8MP 16:9. Would be nice if it could be set default as it seems to produce lower noise images compared to other 8MP smartphones I've had so far. With non moving objects and steady hand you can get even better results dialing low ISO and HDR mode. Other times the auto ISO seems to work better to trade off noise for shake free image.

Great addition is I can also use a bit zoom (there is an indicator in the zoome slider which shows where you start to lose detail) in this mode which is great.

I never really used the superior mode since I feel it compromises too much and like to play with the settings a bit depending on situation.

[stevo125]

Hi Richdog, 

I've been through the camera thread and it basically seems to be a string of people complaining. I was hoping to get an official line from Sony regarding the pixel binning in manual mode. (ie is it used in manual or not?)

And my other point was not so much on the camera quality per-say, more so will Sony consider changing the shortcut behaviour, again, an official line would be good on this. I'm sure most Z1C owners would prefer the camera key and lockscreen shortcut openned the camera in their prefered shooting mode.

I think the existing thread is more aimed at camera qualtiy in general.

[stevo125]

BUMP.

This should be a quick, easy reply from a staff member.... why has this not been answered yet?

Does manual mode use pixel binning or is this feature reserved for superior auto ?

Will third party camera apps make use of pixel binning ? (Is it done at driver level or software level?)