Huawei P30 Pro (full Android) – alternative camera app?

Hello, could you recommend an alternative camera app for the Huawei P30 Pro (phone has full Android access, full Play Store access). I mostly shoot JPGs, and on two Samsungs i once was quite pleased witht the JPGs (also better than my system cameras). On this Huawei, the tones are often absurdly dull or deadly blueish/greenish and way too contrasty (depending on colour presets "Leica Standard", "Leica Silky", "Leica Vibrant" (translated)). Also i badly miss a live histogramm.

What i like though about Huawei's camera app is the full manual control in "Pro" mode and occasionally HDR and "Aperture" mode (digital background blur). I don't need video at all and use flash rarely.

An alternative camera app for the Huawai P30 Pro must offer

• pleasing JPG colours (two presets like "natural" and "lively" are enough)
• full access to all three general lenses (i don't need the interpolating zooming, just the actual focal lengths)
• system-camera-like manual controls preferably in a system-camera-like look
• unobtrusive look, no social media buttons, no "filters", no nerve-wrecking messages, no privacy infringement etc.
• full support of P30P's macro capabilities

The following would be welcome too:

• small live histogram, digital horizon
• creates DNG raw files if needed
• supports ToF lens and digital background blur
• offers permanent light as a flash-alternative (as P30P does)
• self-timer
• HDR mode with unobtrusive results

It*s ok to pay a one-time price for a decent app, but i would not pay a subscription.

Thanks for all your experiences!

It's a mug's game trying to predict how third-party apps will perform on a phone model, given the assortments of lens / sensor configurations. Increasingly on the more sophisticated phones users are stuck with the OEM's camera app, for better or worse.

Since you didn't get quick responses from other P30 Pro users, I'll suggest you try some of these "manual" style which also (unlike many) have decent documentation for their settings:

Open Camera or friendly spin-off HedgeCam2 (better on my Moto phone) - both free, different GUIs and HedgeCam has interesting extras.

Snap Camera HDR - very configurable GUI and under-the-hood settings, especially re multi-shot HDR. I think requires payment to upgrade to the current "beta" version 8.10.4, which is dramatically more powerful.

Camera FV-5 version 5.x - best to test the free "Lite" version but output resolution and other features require payment. Very professional GUI, less HDR than the others, and no video.

I've never owned Huawei, but these have worked well on my series of LG, ZTE and Moto devices. All are pretty capable, but differ a lot in look, interface and buried settings - maybe best to pick by look and feel, and then spend time on the learning curve rather than jump to quick conclusions.

Thanks I2K4. I will have a look-see soon and probably report back - even though I'm wary with letting strangers (apps) into my phone, that's why I had hoped for pre-existing experiences.

PS Pro, thanks, haven't tried that yet, will take a look.

GCams are quite nice if you can find a good compatible one, though the heavy automation misses a lot of those manual settings bullet points in the original post. It's hard to beat for quick point and click and many of the mods have a lot of under-the-hood settings (or config files) to optimize output for particular models.

I2K4 wrote:

GCams are quite nice if you can find a good compatible one, though the heavy automation misses a lot of those manual settings bullet points in the original post. It's hard to beat for quick point and click and many of the mods have a lot of under-the-hood settings (or config files) to optimize output for particular models.

canonot use gcam on Hauwei phone because of its chip

Jefftan wrote:

I2K4 wrote:

GCams are quite nice if you can find a good compatible one, though the heavy automation misses a lot of those manual settings bullet points in the original post. It's hard to beat for quick point and click and many of the mods have a lot of under-the-hood settings (or config files) to optimize output for particular models.

canonot use gcam on Hauwei phone because of its chip

I can't vouch for any specific recommendations but a quick web search indicates recent GCams will work. (Should add, I always suggest using a third party malware scanner on any APKs or installers for software outside the Play Store.)

I2K4 wrote:

Jefftan wrote:

I2K4 wrote:

GCams are quite nice if you can find a good compatible one, though the heavy automation misses a lot of those manual settings bullet points in the original post. It's hard to beat for quick point and click and many of the mods have a lot of under-the-hood settings (or config files) to optimize output for particular models.

canonot use gcam on Hauwei phone because of its chip

I can't vouch for any specific recommendations but a quick web search indicates recent GCams will work. (Should add, I always suggest using a third party malware scanner on any APKs or installers for software outside the Play Store.)

i wonder can windows software like Malwarebytes detect malware APK of android?

yes, easy to find like below, but hard to say legit or not

Download Google Camera for Huawei P30 Pro (getdroidtips.com)

Jefftan wrote:

I2K4 wrote:

Jefftan wrote:

I2K4 wrote:

GCams are quite nice if you can find a good compatible one, though the heavy automation misses a lot of those manual settings bullet points in the original post. It's hard to beat for quick point and click and many of the mods have a lot of under-the-hood settings (or config files) to optimize output for particular models.

canonot use gcam on Hauwei phone because of its chip

I can't vouch for any specific recommendations but a quick web search indicates recent GCams will work. (Should add, I always suggest using a third party malware scanner on any APKs or installers for software outside the Play Store.)

i wonder can windows software like Malwarebytes detect malware APK of android?

yes, easy to find like below, but hard to say legit or not

Download Google Camera for Huawei P30 Pro (getdroidtips.com)

I don't know why the page links to that strange download location. I have a different "MGC..." GCam by the known modder "BSG" working on my Moto phone, from the generally reliable XDA GCam Port Hub site. There's some discussion of the Huawei phone there.  I'm not aware of any APK scans on windows, but would probably be easier just to install a good scanner on the Android phone and remove again it if only used once - I keep the free BitDefender as being very low resource demand and highly rated in annual independent lab reviews, but others have their faves.

These are the Best Camera Apps for Android: Google Camera, Open Camera, ProCam X, and more!

if i know there is no reliable gcam port, i would never buy p30 pro.

now i am stuck with stock camera app which i often find HDR effect too much to my taste

Manual Cam, I like it cause it never gives me issues with external microphones