LGCamera Pro is a secret ninja of WIN.

[becksalottery]

How did I live without this app? Seriously, it turns my sluggish-but-nice 1088p Spectrum video camera into a snazzy, nearly instant autofocus machine of win. WIN.

Basically, the stock app SUCKS times infinity when you want to change focus within one video; it generally likes to find it's "sweet spot" somewhere totally not where you'd like and doesn't really want to relocate autofocus, especially going far-to-near. Actually, the stock camcorder app won't focus on anything remotely considered macro (lettering on the laptop a good 15 inches away, for example).

LGCamera Pro completely destroys, destroys, the stock app. It makes the stock app look like a Ford Pinto in the middle of a monster truck rally. I can now focus almost instantaneously at whatever I like within the same video recording. I can even focus on things easily as near at 2 inches from my phone. It's GOOD.

If anyone is interested, I can post video comparisons, but seriously, trust me. If A+ autofocusing alone doesn't lure you in, the copious amount of camcorder settings will.

*Please note, LGCamera will make your videos look like SHITTTTTTTT if you do not have the correct settings setup; you're going to need to change most of the video defaults; If anyone wants to know the settings to use, just ask me.

 

[juny20]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try on my Spectrum. I actually used it for a little while on my Droid X with really good results. I am now using Camera ICS, but I am not too happy with the limited video settings. I will do some comparisons this weekend and will post my results...thanks again!

 

[hollywoods14]

What about still pics? I dont think i have used video once since i got the phone in feb.

 

[IMUcarmen]

im going to give it a go. I recently started using pro capture and I really like it. But I will try this out and see how good it is. thanks for the tip

 

[becksalottery]

What about still pics? I dont think i have used video once since i got the phone in feb.

I do prefer the stock camera; I use it mainly for on the fly snapshots (funny signs, cool sunset, etc) because my dslr does all the heavy lifting anytime I'm planning on taking photos. So while a nice cell phone camera is 100% essential for those times I see a kodak moment on the fly, it's not really my main camera by far.

It IS, however, my only camcorder, which is why I completely adore this app. Generally, I take a LOT of videos with my phone; when my nephew was born in 2011, I started a life in motion project, and will basically record him arbitrarily when I see him up until he goes to college, as a sort of... montage of life and how we change as we grow, both physically and mentally

<-- nerd.

Anyway, point being, I need a highly functional camcorder in my phone a lot more than I need a camera, because I have professional photography equipment that can do that job a lot better, period.

(although, the Spectrum camera performs quite admirably and is great for on the fly moments that are suitable for print).

 

[becksalottery]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try on my Spectrum. I actually used it for a little while on my Droid X with really good results. I am now using Camera ICS, but I am not too happy with the limited video settings. I will do some comparisons this weekend and will post my results...thanks again!

Yeah, I downloaded Camera ICS and was very unimpressed, it was really kind of dinky! A step backwards, actually, from the stock, at least for me.

Definitely post results!

 

[becksalottery]

im going to give it a go. I recently started using pro capture and I really like it. But I will try this out and see how good it is. thanks for the tip

Glad to be of service.

 

[IMUcarmen]

please post your settings beck. I just want to be using the same settings you are.

 

[becksalottery]

please post your settings beck. I just want to be using the same settings you are.

White Balance: Auto
Effect: None
Flash Mode: Off
Exposure Mode: Spot-Metering
Exposure Compensation: 0
Anti Banding: Off
Focus mode: continuous-video
Contrast: 5
Saturation: 5

Video Settings
Video Resolution: 1920 x 1088
Video Encoder: MPEG4
Video File Format: MPEG4
Video Bitrate: 20mbit
Video Framerate: 30

There are also photo settings, but those should be fine on default. I've bolded the important settings; you can play around, but that's what I've found to produce the best looking recordings on my Spec.

I am on the Pro version though, idk if the free one is as expansive.

 

[IMUcarmen]

White Balance: Auto
Effect: None
Flash Mode: Off
Exposure Mode: Spot-Metering
Exposure Compensation: 0
Anti Banding: Off
Focus mode: continuous-video
Contrast: 5
Saturation: 5

Video Settings
Video Resolution: 1920 x 1088
Video Encoder: MPEG4
Video File Format: MPEG4
Video Bitrate: 20mbit
Video Framerate: 30

There are also photo settings, but those should be fine on default. I've bolded the important settings; you can play around, but that's what I've found to produce the best looking recordings on my Spec.

I am on the Pro version though, idk if the free one is as expansive.

I'll try it out tomorrow, I'm off to bed now. Beena long day for me. And going to be another long one tomorrow. Running your own business isn't all its cracked up to be. =/

 

[becksalottery]

I'll try it out tomorrow, I'm off to bed now. Beena long day for me. And going to be another long one tomorrow. Running your own business isn't all its called up to be. =/

No kidding! I have 3 agency shoots next week, all on the same day. :| And people think that my work is done when the shoot ends. HA. The shoots are the easiest part, its the hours upon hours of retouching afterward that kills.

On the plus side, at least my own business lets me work at 3am and sleep in until five in the afternoon if I do so wish. I would fail so completely hardcore at a 9-5 job. ^_^

 

[ImAndroidNinja]

White Balance: Auto
Effect: None
Flash Mode: Off
Exposure Mode: Spot-Metering
Exposure Compensation: 0
Anti Banding: Off
Focus mode: continuous-video
Contrast: 5
Saturation: 5

Video Settings
Video Resolution: 1920 x 1088
Video Encoder: MPEG4
Video File Format: MPEG4
Video Bitrate: 20mbit
Video Framerate: 30

There are also photo settings, but those should be fine on default. I've bolded the important settings; you can play around, but that's what I've found to produce the best looking recordings on my Spec.

I am on the Pro version though, idk if the free one is as expansive.

Tried these settings and the quality is excellent! Much better than the stock app. I purchased the pro version! Thanks

 

[IMUcarmen]

I tried those settings and it just doesn't focus that fast for me. And it's always having to adjust itself. I was sitting at my table and when I would go from a long shot to a short shot it would take a few second to adjust to the short shot again. I'm not impressed at this point. I'll play around with it some more later but I won't be buying the pro version unless it's going to work better than what I've seen thus far.

Not that it matters though because in the year that I've owned a smartphone I've only recorded a couple videos.

 

[TheBigKahuna]

Sounds like this might be worth the $1.99 entry fee!

 

[becksalottery]

I tried those settings and it just doesn't focus that fast for me. And it's always having to adjust itself. I was sitting at my table and when I would go from a long shot to a short shot it would take a few second to adjust to the short shot again. I'm not impressed at this point. I'll play around with it some more later but I won't be buying the pro version unless it's going to work better than what I've seen thus far.

Not that it matters though because in the year that I've owned a smartphone I've only recorded a couple videos.

Try different focus settings- "normal" locks on to your touch to focus point and stays there no matter what.

 

[IMUcarmen]

No kidding! I have 3 agency shoots next week, all on the same day. :| And people think that my work is done when the shoot ends. HA. The shoots are the easiest part, its the hours upon hours of retouching afterward that kills.

On the plus side, at least my own business lets me work at 3am and sleep in until five in the afternoon if I do so wish. I would fail so completely hardcore at a 9-5 job. ^_^

yea I make my own hours as well, but daylight is best for me because I build furniture and it just doesn't go well with all the bugs flying around because of my lights at night

But during these long spring and summer days I work from like 10am-6-8pm

and it's nice being able to stay home and come inside and hop on the pc to check the forums

now back to work!

 

[IMUcarmen]

Try different focus settings- "normal" locks on to your touch to focus point and stays there no matter what.

I will mess with it more tonight. But my thing with the camcorder is I want the focus to work instantly when changing from long to short distances. I don't know if the phone camera is even capable of that but if I were going to buy a camcorder app I would want it to auto focus fast. I hate anything that has a delay. I like instant results!

 

[finndo77]

Finally bought pro capture, absolutely amazing, push the button and it takes a picture, of what you see on screen when you press the button. Bad part is you cannot pre focus, will be contacting the Dev to find out why.

 

[IMUcarmen]

I changed exposure mode to "frame-average" and now it focuses much better. I'm going to buy the pro now. thanks beck!

 

[IMUcarmen]

nvm. I just got a refund. Pro version wasn't anywhere near as good as the free. Used the same settings and focus was slow and didn't focus as clearly as the free version did. I just did away with the app altogether, I don't record videos anyway, and pro capture works great for pictures

 

[steve392]

i've tried several times to install this and when I hit open it says "unable to locate on this device, couldn't be launched"

 

[becksalottery]

i've tried several times to install this and when I hit open it says "unable to locate on this device, couldn't be launched"

You need to open it from your app drawer. It's confused me too at first.