As if the Pixel 8 wasn't smart enough, Google's just made it even more clever
(Image credit: Google)
Google is adding several new camera enhancements specifically for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The latest version of the Pixel Camera app (version 9.2) enables you to record longer videos using Google's Night Sight Time Lapse feature: five minutes of 1080p video or 20 minutes of 4K video will now result in a timelapse video of 10 seconds in Night Sight mode. This compares well to the previous version of Night Sight, which was limited to just one second of output footage.
Pixel Camera 9.2 also includes a dedicated switch in the advanced camera settings for enabling Ultra HDR; a more extreme version of Google's HDR algorithm, which produces extra color vibrancy over and above Google's standard HDR+ processing.
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli)
Another clever Pixel Camera feature, Palm Timer, which allows you to take a photo by simply flashing your palm at the camera, also receives an upgrade. Until now this trick was only possible by setting a timer, but now it can be set to be always active.
What's more, upon close examination of Pixel Camera 9.2's source code, it's also possible that some other features might be primed for release in future app versions. The first could concern the Pixel Fold, with the code mentioning the rear/outer display showing a subject preview while the inner button can be pressed to snap a shot. The second function hinted at by the code could be some sort of merging of the current Top Shot feature - where the user can select the best still from a motion photo - and Best Take, where you can take the best facial expression from one shot and superimpose it onto a different image.
Google is now rolling out v9.2 of the Pixel Camera app, or you can head to the Play Store to download it manually for your supported Pixel device.
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Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
