Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Zerocam is a bare-bones different to digital camera apps with an emphasis on post-processing and results.
- The app helps you to shoot as much as 5 pics a day with out a subscription.
- Subscription costs begin at $1 a month, with a reduction should you go annual.
The rise of highly effective AI instruments has created a state of affairs the place there’s a variety of stress to make use of them to unravel just about each downside below the solar. And whereas that may result in some spectacular outcomes, it may additionally perversely spotlight when a less-is-more strategy could be superior. That feels very true once we’re speaking about images, and whereas software program algorithms have been enhancing our photos for years, there’s rising pushback towards AI output that’s over-processed and missing pure appeal. Now a brand new digital camera app for Android takes that sentiment and runs with it, providing what the devs name an “anti-AI” digital camera.
Zerocam embraces that minimalism proper in its title, and upon firing up the app for the primary time, it’s clear that strategy extends to its consumer interface, as effectively: “stark” could be an understatement. You get your viewfinder, a giant shutter button… and that’s about it.
Whereas there’s processing happening right here, Zerocam insists that it’s extra about making an attempt to undo the stuff your cellphone’s digital camera does by default, quite than aiming to “improve” something. In a transfer that’s a little bit unintuitive for an app that’s making an attempt “do” as little as doable, full entry is locked behind a subscription — with out one, you’ll solely be capable to snap 5 AI-free photographs a day. That counter in your remaining pics is the app’s greatest UI component after the shutter button itself, and tapping by way of reveals your pricing choices: $1 a month, or $11 a yr.
As for the output, we snapped a couple of comparisons on a Pixel 7 Professional between Google’s digital camera with default settings and Zerocam. Scroll down slowly and see should you can inform which is which.
Assume you understand which is Zerocam’s and which is Google’s? Right here’s yet one more demo, with the variations between the 2 approaches a little bit extra pronounced:
That pic on the left is straight away hotter, softer, and overexposed in comparison with the appropriate. And certain sufficient, that is Zerocam on the left, with the Pixel digital camera taking pictures the department on the appropriate. We swapped issues round for the cats additional up, with the common picture on the left, and Zerocam’s output on the appropriate. Whereas the tone’s extra constant between the 2, the Zerocam shot is as soon as once more a lot softer there — have a look at the brick texture within the background.
It’s not for everybody, but when that type of look feels nearly to proper to you, head on over to the Play Retailer, the place you’ll be able to decide up Zerocam proper now.
