Latest Google Camera mod adds Tracking Autofocus & Motion Metering in Night Sight on the Pixel/Pixel 2

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While nearly everything about the Google Pixel 3 leaked ahead of its release, we didn’t know everything about the camera prior to the announcement. One of the biggest selling points of the Pixel line of devices has always been their cameras, and the Pixel 3 is no different. Done largely through software, what makes the Pixel 3 great for the Android scene as a whole is the Google Camera app – which has all of Google’s photography enhancing tricks – can be ported to other devices that support the Camera2 API. However, even the OG Google Pixel and the Pixel 2 can’t use some of the newer features in the Google Camera app, and that includes tracking autofocus and motion metering. Thanks to XDA Senior Member cstark27, that’s set to change with the latest version of his Google Camera mod.

Tracking autofocus is one of the cool new features introduced with the Google Pixel 3 and allows you to select a subject and it will keep it in focus. Your camera will lock onto that object and track it through the scene. You can focus on a box and walk around a room with the camera still focused, for example. Another great usage is to lock the camera onto your kid or a pet – you can then take a photo exactly when the moment is right, without relying on your camera trying to focus again. Enabling it with video, for the time being, breaks EIS.

And that’s not all, either. Motion Metering is enabled in Night Sight as well. While the original Google Pixel and the Google Pixel 2 both received an update to support Night Sight, it’s not the exact same implementation as on the Pixel 3. Motion Metering is what prevents the photo turning blurred if something moves in the viewfinder as the camera collects light and means your photo won’t be ruined by an accidental shake either. Night Sight is already a crazy-good feature, yet somehow it’s going to be even better.

If you want to give the latest version of the Google Camera application a try, you can download it from cstark27’s thread below. Owners of the original Google Pixel should be mindful to download the version marked specifically for their device.