Image credit — Google
Google's Pixel phones have always been at the forefront of smartphone photography, and their astrophotography mode was a game-changer, allowing users to capture stunning images of the night sky. Until recently, however, this mode only triggered automatically, giving users little control. But that's all changing now. With the latest version 9.5.118 of the Pixel Camera app, Google has introduced the ability to manually enable astrophotography mode. This update isn't available on the Google Play Store yet, but those familiar with sideloading apps have been able to install it ahead of the official launch. For everyone else, it's probably best to wait for the official release on the Play Store.
Pixel Camera Manual Astrophotography Mode | Image Credit – Google News Channel (Telegram)
Activating manual astrophotography mode is very simple:
- Open the camera app and switch to night vision mode.
- Tap the duration icon and move the bar from “Auto” to the new “Astro” option, which is located to the right of “Max”.
- By default, a five-second timer starts before Astrophotography mode begins taking images.
Google's decision to introduce manual controls for astrophotography mode on Pixel phones is a significant development and a welcome addition for Pixel users. While it's not yet a dedicated mode within the Camera app, it's a step in the right direction.