Creating better photos with Nokia Lenses

Published by Jason Harris on November 5, 2012

Not all smartphone cameras are created equal. Being able to capture an image is now commonplace but results vary in many respects. Nokia is optimizing quality by using industry leading Carl Zeiss optics and bringing innovation to market, like the amazing optical image stabilization for low light and less blurry pictures. But there is more to it than that. 

Download the Cinemagraph appCinemagraph QR

  1. Press the Search button on your Nokia Lumia and then tap Vision
  2. Scan the QR code
  3. Tap on the link when it appears on the screen
  4. Install the application from the Windows Phone Marketplace

We can also change the way in which you capture memories. We’re talking about ‘re-capturing’ moments. Your photos can contain so much information that you can go back and re-capture the moment exactly as it happened. There are amazing software based capabilities we can build into Nokia phones as well. We started by releasing Camera Extras for Nokia Lumia 900. With the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920, we have taken the concept of Camera Extras to a whole new level.

Digital camera lenses unlock new functionality

Digital camera lenses, coming to the Nokia Lumia 820 and Lumia 920, are a new way of snapping and building outstanding images, right on your phone. By selecting a different camera lens from camera viewfinder, you can unleash your creativity.  Choosing from a range of camera lenses in the so-called lens picker, you can create panoramic photos as well as cinemagraphs and smart shots. 

Smart Shoot

Using innovations from our own photography wizards, Smart Shoot lens allows you to do two key functions – change faces and remove unwanted objects.

There’s nothing worse than taking a group photo with friends and realizing that out of the three people in the frame, one had her eyes shut when the camera snapped the photo or that one person was looking slightly off to the left.

When you take a photo using Smart Shoot, you’re actually taking a sequence of photos. You can then flick through the photos, choose the best faces and then combine them to create the perfect group shot.

Select Face Eyes Closed

After you’re done, you end up with a photo that shows everyone’s best face forward:

Select Face Final

“Smart Shoot allows you to capture the moment as you would like to remember it”, says Erkko Anttila, the product owner.

Secondly, Smart Shoot allows you to take away moving, un-wanted objects in your photos such as a passerby or person on the perimeter of the shot that spoils the photo. 

Remove objects best result

With this object removal feature, you can select the best shot and precise moment from a range of alternatives. Smart Shoot automatically suggests objects to be removed from the image and all you need to do is confirm the removal to create the perfect shot.

Live in the moment with Cinemagraph

You’ve likely seen animated photos on the Internet – a single photo that has motion and can show a sequence of photos in succession. Cinemagraph will allow Lumia owners to create a magical blend of photo and movie-like animation, creating photos that are alive with feeling through imagery.

Lumia 820 cinemagraph Pond

Moving examples (the picture above depends on what browser you use) here and here. They are 3-4MB each, so give them time to properly load.

“We want to enable Lumia owners to create images as they exist in your memories and also add a bit of humor to images.  We can’t wait to see how users get creative with Cinemagraph”, Erkko said.

Once selected from the camera menu, Cinemagraph lets you snap a photo and generate 15 frame-per-second file. The Cinemagraph gives on-screen step-by-step instructions to get you started and even allows you to fine tune and optimize your photo – such as choosing which parts of the photo you want to be animated.

Once you are happy with your Cinemagraph, you can upload it to SkyDrive and share it with your friends. Nokia is also working on an update that will soon allow you to share your Cinemagraph animations easily on Facebook and other social networking sites.

Nokia is building these apps to further enhance the photo capabilities of the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920. Coupled with the hardware capabilities of the new Nokia Lumia phones, it’s amazing to see these software solutions that set the Lumia apart from the competition out there. 

It’s one more thing that makes your Nokia Lumia unique. 

What’s your dream lens  – how do you plan on using it?

[Disclaimer: the pictures above were created with pre-release software and hardware. Results on the production versions should be even better. :-) ]

image credit (home page slider): wwarby

Comments

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003635518214 Gustav Christensson

    I attempted to download Cinematograph to my Nokia Lumia 900, but it “wasn’t available on this device”. What does this mean?
    Do I need WP7.8?
    Or… Am I left in the dust?

    • http://conversations.nokia.com Ian Delaney

      It’s a Windows Phone 8 feature, at present.

    • GreatLakesdan

      It looks like you and I need to upgrade to the 920 or 820 if I read the last paragraph right. I pick yellow. Really like that Cinematograph,looks like a great app for sports, nature and people watching.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003635518214 Gustav Christensson

        Upgrade? I spent $640 on this device in Italy (€500, and it was no fraud of any sort) and the phone is barely 5 months old!

        If Nokia wants me to upgrade, I’ll wait at least 5 years.

        • xcvdf fgg

          Its coming soon in Windows Phone 7.8 update, within just a month :)
          Hang on tight my dear..

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003635518214 Gustav Christensson

            Seems like there’s no Cinemagraph for me even if I updated!

    • utkarsh

      yo u have to upgrade 7.8 frnd

  • http://www.facebook.com/surya.fernandes Dexter Fernandes

    Cmon send the WP7.8 already!! :/

  • http://www.facebook.com/gmiguel83 Jorge Miguel

    Really nice features :)

  • http://twitter.com/twittsivan Ivan

    Looks like BB10 feature was introduced in Lumia. Nice…

    • UndCOVer

      Scalado the company that makes all of this software magic , made a deal with BB10 , but then Nokia bought Scalado , BB10 isn’t out yet so BB10 will be borrowing Lumia tech :)

    • xcvdf fgg

      BB stole Nokia’s tech. Scalado is one of Nokia’s company, and those are features which BB licensed from.

  • UndCOVer

    Dear Nokia, please reach out to Microsoft into delivering this message about the Camera UI ,

    Instead of having a Lenses little button that is hard to hit or understand for everyday users.

    Please consider this UI adjustment (which doesn’t have to replace the button btw).

    Create a circular gesture with two fingers that mimics the actual processes of changing a lens on a big camera;

    a transparent lens should appear when the user starts the gesture accompanied by real time sound of the process (Starts with the gesture stops and continues if the user stopped and continued the gesture)
    Once the user completes half a turn. lenses should appear and upon choosing one of the lenses, the sound of it getting put on will be appreciated.

    This kind of settle and detailed attention to details is the kind that make a software a little bit humanware too.
    Please consider this with love

    @nabkawe5

  • Stef

    Great stuff…Having just managed to finally connect up our new Nokia Asha 300, on the 3.5 G T-Mobile/Virgin network to my Facebook page and having finally seen my own face when I was 18 mature years of age, and our Rainforest upon Thames Orchid that I have planted out recently, and the Windows 8 screenshot of our Sony Vaio-VGN CS21S/Red, let’s go for a walk….and see this Sakura tree in bloom in the middle of the London autumn colours.

  • Ziad Mohamed

    Hi Jason
    would you please tell me if these lenses will hit wp 7.5 devices ?
    Thanks…Lumia 800 owner and Lover :)

    • xcvdf fgg

      Its coming to Windows Phone 7.8 in an update to all Nokia devices

      • Ziad Mohamed

        then we need to wait :)

  • xnay

    Is there any chance the Lens feature might bring the HDR mode in? Because I can’t understand the lack if it in a PureView device, while regular phones have this.

  • Mightybuyer

    almost every nokia touchscreen smartphone doesn’t have any button, why don’t you guys think of another xpressmusic family with music control buttons on the empty side of the phone, it’s very useful…

  • Mightybuyer

    btw, this phone looks the best to me…

  • Francois Magny

    I won’t lie, my favourite thing to do with my shots is the HDR feature. Bring it on Nokia, an HDR lens would rock.

  • http://www.facebook.com/rEVEndricz2716 Michael Angelo Religioso

    why my LUMIA 800 7.8 OS not compatible in this app the cinemagraph app!!!

  • hoil

    mi nokia lumia no usa nada de nada de esas aplicaciones

    510