Pixel 9 Pro using Open camera for raw

[PieterB]

I noticed (and I'm not the only one) that the .dng raw files from the Pixel 9 Pro suck. They're really soft, lack all details and the colours are totally off. And before anyone comments, I have shot raw pictures with all of my cameras and smartphones (if they had that option). I know what to expect from raw files.

Strangely enough, this has to do with the Pixel photo app. I tried Open Camera and the raw files look as they should.

They also develop and export much easier and better. I add two jpgs. One exported from the Pixel app raw file and the other from the Open Camera raw file. Not the difference.

Open camera. Note: there was a very strong wind blowing.



View attachment 071190b152974ffa843f72d1ddf20875.jpg
Raw converted from Pixel camera app. There is no detail.







--
No life without a camera.

 

[Carey Brown]

What is Open Camera? Is that a Pixel Pro app?

 

[PieterB]

What is Open Camera? Is that a Pixel Pro app?

 

[André BARELIER]

I noticed (and I'm not the only one) that the .dng raw files from the Pixel 9 Pro suck. They're really soft, lack all details and the colours are totally off. And before anyone comments, I have shot raw pictures with all of my cameras and smartphones (if they had that option). I know what to expect from raw files.

Strangely enough, this has to do with the Pixel photo app. I tried Open Camera and the raw files look as they should.

They also develop and export much easier and better. I add two jpgs. One exported from the Pixel app raw file and the other from the Open Camera raw file. Not the difference.

Open camera. Note: there was a very strong wind blowing.

View attachment 071190b152974ffa843f72d1ddf20875.jpg
Raw converted from Pixel camera app. There is no detail.

Depends on the raw converter you use. Which one do you use? Opening files in Camera raw (using Adobe adaptative profile) or On1photo raw gives good results for me.

For jpegs, I started to use a modded Gcam app (AGC 9.2.14_V14.0 apk) which gives better results than the native Google app. A bit more noise, but more natural results.

Allows to save raw files, but 12 MP only.

The AGC 9.6.19_V5.0 apk allows to shoot 50 MP. Didn't try this mode yet. At 12 MP, jpegs are worse than the 9.2 version.

A sample with AGC 9.2:

and a comparison between the 3 apps (in very bad light)

left AGC 9.6

center AGC 9.2

right native Pixel app

--
André