Ok the last couple of posts have been:
– Camera apps for blind users
and
– Camera apps for low vision users
To come up with my recommendations for those two posts, I looked at 36 camera apps.
Today I thought I’d present the list of apps I compared, along with some brief notes on each, to help you investigate the options you might be interested in.
I’ve also included two screenshots of each option – one at normal DPI and the other at double that. That follows on from my recent post about Adjusting android resolution, pixel density and font size and my series on Rooting Android (You need to have a rooted device in order to adjust font size beyond the “Huge” size which is actually only 1.3 times the size of the regular font size, or to adjust the DPI). So this page should be of interest both to those looking at different camera apps, and those looking at how adjusting the DPI affects a range of apps.
So here is a list of all the apps I tested, some points on each (in a table) and some images of each in both standard DPI (320 DPI on my Galaxy Note 2) and after I manually doubled the DPI to 640.
A Better Camera
![[Image of A Better Camera]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/a-better-camera-screenshot_2015-05-19-14-09-56.png)
[Image of A Better Camera]
A Better Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Back Camera Selfie
![[Image of Back Camera Selfie]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/back-camera-selfie-screenshot_2015-06-01-08-48-20.jpg)
[Image of Back Camera Selfie]
Back Camera Selfie in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Binoculars
Binoculars in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera (Google)
![[Image of Google's default camera]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/camera-google-screenshot_2015-05-21-15-26-56.png)
[Image of Google’s default camera]
Camera (Google) in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera 2
Camera 2 looked exactly the same in normal and high DPI.
Camera 51
Camera 51 in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera Awesome
![[Image of Camera Awesome]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/camera-awesone-screenshot_2015-05-20-08-50-58.png)
[Image of Camera Awesome]
Camera Awesome in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera Fun Free
Camera Fun Free in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera Fv-5
![[Image of Camera FV-5]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/camera-fv-5-screenshot_2015-05-21-15-30-24.png)
[Image of Camera FV-5]
Camera FV-5 in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera HDR Studio
Camera HDR Studio did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
Camera ICS
Camera ICS in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camera Zoom
Camera Zoom in normal (left) and double DPI (right). The app looked identical to Binoculars by the same author.
Camera Zoom FX
Camera Zoom FX in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Cameringo+
![[Image of Cameringo+]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/cameringo-screenshot_2015-05-21-16-22-07.png)
[Image of Cameringo+]
Cameringo+ in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Camu
![[Image of Camu - with one of the easiest to see shutter buttons]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/camu-screenshot_2015-05-21-15-42-40.png)
[Image of Camu – with one of the easiest to see shutter buttons]
Camu in normal (left) and double DPI (middle and settings at double DPI right)
Cymera
Cymera did not change appearance between normal and double DPI.
DSLR Camera
![[Image of DSLR Camera]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/dslr-camera-screenshot_2015-05-21-15-43-49.png)
[Image of DSLR Camera]
DSLR in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Fast Burst Camera
Fast Burst Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
FX Camera
FX Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
HDR Camera
HDR Camera did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
High Speed Camera
High Speed Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
InstaCamera Pro
![[Imstacamera - no controls to see here (there is another icon added to your apps to edit app settings!]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/instacamera-screenshot_2015-05-21-15-46-39.png)
[Imstacamera – no controls to see here (there is another icon added to your apps to edit app settings!]
InstaCamera Pro did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
Lapse It
Lapse It in normal (left) and double DPI (right). Interestingly some of the controls got smaller at higher DPI rather than bigger.
Night Camera
Night Camera did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
Open Camera
![[Image of Open Camera]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/open-camera-screenshot_2015-05-21-15-48-25.png)
[Image of Open Camera]
Open Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Paper Camera
Paper Camera did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
Pro HDR Camera
Pro HDR Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (middle and right)
ProCam
ProCam in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
ProCapture
![[Image of Pro Capture]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/pro-capture-screenshot_2015-05-21-16-05-48.png)
[Image of Pro Capture]
ProCapture in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Selfish
![[Image of Selfish]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/selfish-screenshot_2015-05-21-16-07-26.png)
[Image of Selfish]
Selfish in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Silent Camera
Silent Camera in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Simple Camera Silence
Simple Camera Silence in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Smart Selfie
![[Smart Selfie - works really well, not sure why preview is so small though]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/smart-selfie-screenshot_2015-05-21-16-09-00.png)
[Smart Selfie – works really well, not sure why preview is so small though]
Smart Selfie in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Snap Gallery
Snap Gallery in normal (left) and double DPI (right)
Vignette
![[Image of Vignette]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/vignette-screenshot_2015-05-21-16-09-55.png)
[Image of Vignette]
![[Image of Vignette waiting for movement to stop after pressing the shutter to take the picture]](https://22point.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/vignette-screenshot_2015-05-23-20-40-161.png)
[Image of Vignette waiting for movement to stop after pressing the shutter to take the picture]
Vignette did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
Zoom Camera
Zoom Camera did not change appearance between normal and high DPI.
Following is a table I compiled of information about each camera as I was making my notes. I contemplated different ways of presenting the information and in the end decided “as is” was probably the easiest as different elements of the table will appeal to different users.
| Name | URL | Talkback accessible | Blind useable | Face recognition | tap anywhere does | hardware volume keys | Size of shutter button | size of other buttons | focus type | zoom | Image effects available | DSLR type options | Preview of last photo | Works with high DPI | Wait for device to be steady | Items on screen | Notes |
| Camera FV-5 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flavionet.android.camera.lite | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | focus | pretty much any setting | 1.5cm | 5mm | Auto / options | regular | none | most (exposure / iso / focus / shutter time) | icon | some options overlap | yes | 12 – 16 | Lots of options, medium size icons, thicker black rule of thirds lines |
| Silent cameraw | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joeware.android.camera | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | focus | shutter | 1.5cm | 1cm | tap | regular | none | exposure, flash | icon | ok | no | 9 | shutter button gets washed out in large white panel at bottom of screen, some small icons. |
| FX camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ymst.android.fxcamera | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | focus | 1cm | 5mm | tap | no | post processing | flash, timer | icon | some options overlap | no | 7 | Need to sign in with facebook / twitter / email and starts in its own social page rather than camera. | |
| dslr camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.vipek.camera | Buttons unlabelled | no | visual indicator | focus | shutter | 7mm | 5mm | Auto / options | regular | 10 | many | icon | some options overlap | no | 12 | Lots of DSLR features but small buttons. |
| fast burst camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spritefish.fastburstcameralite | Buttons unlabelled | small controls and touch anywhere to shoot make it possible | no | Focus / shutter | shutter, zoom | 1.2cm | 7mm | tap | regular | none | flash, exposure, scene modes | icon | some options overlap | no | 4 | Slide to zoom, tap to focus and shutter in corner work ok with talkback even though buttons unlabelled |
| Camera fun free | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spiceloop.camerafunfree | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | hide controls | 5mm | 5mm | auto | regular | 30 in full version | flash | icon | ok | no | 6 | Only does effects (no regular) buttons small | |
| Simple Camera Silence | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kaname.surya.android.simplecamera&hl=en | Buttons unlabelled | yes, tap to take photo, clear screen | no | shoot | 1.5cm | 5mm | auto | regular | none | flash | icon | yes | no | 6 | Works well as a very simple camera, can touch screen to take, some small icons. | |
| Camera HDR Studio | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ht.cameraapps.LayoutActivity | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | shutter | 1.5cm | 1cm | Auto / options | regular | many | hdr focus flash | icon | no different | Yes – waits for good shot | 8 | graphical menus, HDR can improve pictures, complex icons | |
| High speed camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hantor.CozyCamera | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | shutter | 1.5cm | 1cm | auto | regular | 10 | flash, torch, timer, | icon | some options overlap | no | 12 | lots of small icons | |
| A Better Camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.almalence.opencam | Buttons unlabelled | tap to shoot | no | shutter | shutter, zoom, exposure | 1.5cm | 12mm – 2cm | Auto / options | regular | Ad-in post processing | Exposure / focus / flash | icon | some options overlap | Yes – waits for good shot | 8 | Works well, large buttons and DRO mode lights well. Grid and horizon lines very faint and zoom tucked off to the side. |
| Snap Gallery trial | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marginz.snaptrial | Buttons unlabelled | no | visual indicator | shutter, focus | shutter, focus,zoom,exposure | 1cm | 1cm | tap | regular | 12 | iso, white balance, exposure, flash, scene | none | some options overlap | no | 5 | Sinple layout and menu options though small icons |
| HDR Camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.almalence.hdr&hl=en | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | 2cm | 1cm | auto | regular | HDR options | flash, exposure | icon | no different | no | 3 | Works well, large buttons, but replaced by a better camera. | ||
| Night camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.almalence.night&hl=en | Buttons unlabelled | no | no | 2cm | 1.5cm | Auto / options | regular | night mode | no | icon | no different | no | 4 | Not brilliant photos in most light, may get extra detail in low light for some? Replaced by A better camera in any case which has similar options included. | ||
| Camera Zoom FX | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=slide.camZoomFree | Can’t access all controls | yes (voice activated) | no | pretty much any | pretty much any setting | 1.5cm | 5mm | touch | regular | many | horizon, rule of thirds, flash, white balance, iso | icon | some options overlap | Yes – waits for good shot | 11 | many fx, some small icons |
| Camera 2 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dama.camera2 | no | no | no | zoom | 1.3cm | 7mm | auto | regular | many | Exposure / focus / flash, iso | icon | no different | no | 5 | Many options but mostly tucked away in graphical menus, small print, poor contrast (white on grey). | |
| Lapse It | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ui.LapseIt | Some buttons labelled | yes | no | 1cm | 1cm | auto | regular | 12 | iso, white balance, exposure, flash, scene | none | good though some icons smaller | no | 7 | More designed for taking time lapse images, starts in menu rather than camera. | ||
| Selfish | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bengigi.selfishfree | Some buttons labelled | yes | Audible and visual indication | – | 1.5cm | auto | no | some | no | none | yes | no | 2 | kept crashing on my Note 2, worked on my Nexus 10. Spoke “point towards face” and “smile”, but didn’t give any indication of whether I needed to move camera. | ||
| Back camera selfie | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fueneco.backcameraselfie | no | yes, speaks directions and takes photo automatically | Audible and visual indication | – | – | – | 6mm | auto | no | none | flash | automatically | yes | waits | 8 | Buttons unlabeled, also for some reason setup in 640×480 by default even though it can use full range of resolutions. Also large instruction panel in centre of screen. |
| Camera 51 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.camera51.android | no | no | visual indicator | focus | 1.5cm | 5mm | auto | regular | none | flash, exposure | icon | some options overlap | no | 7 | beeps when in best position (though what that is I’ve no idea) | |
| Cameringo+ | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.perracolabs.cpd | no | small controls and touch anywhere to shoot make it possible | no | shoot | Zoom / focus / shoot | 8mm | 5mm | Auto / touch | regular | many | horizon, rule of thirds, flash, white balance, iso | icon | some options overlap | no | 5-12 | lots of options and fx, small buttons. |
| Zoom camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ar.com.moula.zoomcamera&hl=en | no | yes, large shutter area | no | shoot | 10x6cm | 12mm | auto | 10x | many | flash, exposure, wb, scene | icon | no different | no | 15 | buttons reasonable size, and options like torch mode, negative and extra zoom nice. | |
| vignette | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.neilandtheresa.VignetteNewDemo | no | yes, tap to take photo, clear screen | no | shoot | shutter | Whole screen | 12mm | auto | regular | many | flash, exposure | yes | no different | waits | 0 – 8 | large buttons, easy to use, more for ‘instant’ or effect than DSLR. |
| Camu | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sumoing.camu | no | no | no | 1.5cm | 8mm | auto? | regular | many | flash | icon | camera good, some options overlap | no | 5 | basic camera with large coloured button and after effects. | ||
| Pro HDR Camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eyeappsllc.prohdr | no | no | no | shutter | 1cm | 1cm | auto | regular | HDR options | flash | icon | some options overlap | no | 8 | Does HDR well enough and that’s it. Doesn’t work with talkback. | |
| paper camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dama.papercamera | no | no | no | zoom | 2cm | 1cm | auto | no | many | no | icon | no different | no | 12 | Camera viewfinder only takes up half the screen, designed for effects photos | |
| InstaCamera Pro | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=longwell.instant.camera | yes | Yes – instantly takes photo when started | no | shutter | Whole screen | – | auto | no | none | no | none | yes | no | 0 | Camera takes a picture instantly then exits, or double tap anywhere, no buttons | |
| binoculars | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.IdanS.binocularsfree | Some buttons labelled | yes (shutter labelled) | no | – | – | 1cm | 5mm | Auto / options | 30x (full version) | none | torch | icon | yes | no | 9 | 30x zoom with full version, zoom / torch etc small (can pinch zoom). |
| Camera ICS | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moblynx.cameraics | Some buttons labelled | yes (shutter labelled) | visual indicator | focus | shoot,af,zoom | 1.2cm | 5mm | touch | regular | four | iso, exposure,flash,whitebalance | icon | some options overlap | no | 7 | large shutter button section though only button itself active. Small other options. |
| Procapture | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neaststudios.procapture.free | Some buttons labelled | Yes – physical buttons | no | shutter, focus | shutter, zoom | 1cm | 5mm | Auto / options | regular | 12 | iso, white balance, exposure, flash, scene | icon | good, some options cut off | no | 12 | lots of options, small buttons, reasonable sized shutter. |
| Camera Zoom | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.IdanS.camerazoomfree | Some buttons labelled | Shutter labelled | no | 1cm | 5mm | Auto / options | 30x (full version) | none | torch | icon | yes | no | 9 | 30x zoom with full version, zoom / torch etc small (can pinch zoom). | ||
| ProCam | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wisesharksoftware.procam | Some buttons labelled | no | visual indicator | focus | shutter | 1cm | 1cm | tap | regular | none | iso, white balance, exposure, flash, scene | none | some options overlap | no | 3 | Camera buttons themselves labelled but not labelled to get into camera, also gets stuck in camera mode and starts in menu |
| Cymera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cyworld.camera&hl=en | no | no | no | Focus / shutter | zoom | 1.5cm | 5mm | Auto / options | regular | many | flash, exposure | icon | no different | no | 12 | large shutter button, others smaller icons. |
| Camera (Google) | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.GoogleCamera | yes | yes | no | – | shutter | 2cmx6.5cm | 8mm | auto | regular | lens blur / photosphere modes | grid, timer, flash | none | some options overlap | no | 2 | very large shutter button, but other buttons small . |
| Open Camera | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sourceforge.opencamera | yes | yes | visual indicator | focus | most controls | 1.5cm | 8mm | Auto / options | regular | 12 | iso, white balance, exposure, flash, scene | icon | some options overlap | no | 0 – 11 | nice big shutter button, other buttons smaller. |
| Camera Awesome | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smugmug.android.cameraawesome | yes | yes | visual indicator | shutter | 2cm | 5mm | auto | regular | many | horizon, flash, white balance, exposure, iso | icon | some options overlap | no | 10 | Works well, gives post processing effect options. Not a fan of flurry, good talkback access. I never quite figured out what awesomise was though. | |
| Smart Selfie | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aidedesk.smartselfie | yes | yes | Audible and visual indication | shutter (double tap) | – | 5mm | auto | none | none | none | left on screen | yes | waits | 4 | Automatically gets faces focussed and takes hpoto, advises direction to move, preview not full screen? | |
Certainly from the images, you can tell that with higher DPI opens up a lot more options for camera apps for low vision users, but sometimes at a price.
Has this week’s info changed your mind from what you decided after the last two posts? Has it given you some more to think about and try? Let us know in the comments below!
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