Camera. Sony Xperia S, Xperia S LT26i, S

Camera

About the camera

The camera in your device is equipped with the highly sensitive Exmor R sensor, which helps you capture sharp photos and videos even in low lighting conditions.

From the camera, you can, for example, send your photos and videos to friends as messages, or upload them to a web service. Your device also has a front camera, which is useful for self-portraits.

Camera controls overview

1 Zoom in or out

2 Main camera screen

3 Camera key – Activate the camera/Take photos/Record videos

4 View photos and videos

5 Take photos or record video clips

6 Go back a step or exit the camera

7 Switch between front and main camera

8 Camera setting icons

9 Front camera

To open the camera

• When the screen is active, press and hold down the camera key.

To close the camera

• Press from the main camera screen.

Using the still camera

There are three ways to take photos with the still camera. You can press the camera key, tap the on-screen camera button, or touch a spot on the screen.

To take a photo using the camera key

1 Activate the camera.

2 Press the camera key fully down.

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To take a photo by tapping the on-screen camera button

1 Activate the camera.

2 Point the camera towards the subject.

3 Tap the on-screen camera button . The photo is taken as soon as you release your finger.

To take a self-portrait using the front camera

1 Activate the camera.

2 Tap the icon on the top left of the screen, then find and select Front camera.

3 To take the photo, press the camera key. The photo is taken as soon as you release your finger.

To use the zoom function

• When the camera is open, press the volume key up or down to zoom in or out.

To use the still camera flash

1 When the camera is open, press .

2 Tap Flash, and select your desired flash setting.

3 Take the photo.

To view your photos and videos

1 Open the camera, then tap a thumbnail at the top right of the screen to open a photo or video.

2 Flick left or right to view your photos and videos. Videos are identified by .

To delete a photo

1 Open the photo that you want to delete.

2 Tap an empty area of the screen to make appear.

3 Tap .

4 Tap OK to confirm.

Face detection

You can use face detection to bring an off-centre face into focus. The camera automatically detects up to five faces, indicated by white frames. A yellow frame shows which face has been selected for focus. Focus is set to the face closest to the camera. You can also tap one of the frames to select which face should be in focus.

To turn on face detection

1 Activate the camera.

2 Tap the icon on the top left of the screen, then select Normal.

3 To display all settings, tap .

4 Tap Focus mode > Face detection.

To take a photo using face detection

1 When the camera is open and Face detection turned on, point the camera at your subject. Up to five faces can be detected, and each detected face is framed.

2 Press the camera key halfway down. A yellow frame shows which face is in focus.

3 To take the photo, press the camera key fully down.

Using Smile Shutter™ to capture smiling faces

Use Smile Shutter™ technology to photograph a face just as it smiles. The camera detects up to five faces and selects one face for smile detection and auto focus.

When the selected face smiles, the camera automatically takes a photo.

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To turn on Smile Shutter™

1 Activate the camera.

2 To display all settings, tap .

3 Tap Smile Shutter and select a smile level.

To take a photo using Smile Shutter™

1 When the camera is open and Smile Shutter is turned on, point the camera at your subject. The camera selects which face to focus on.

2 The face selected appears inside a green frame and the photo is taken automatically.

3 If no smile is detected, press the camera key to take the photo manually.

Adding the geographical position to your photos

Turn on geotagging to add the approximate geographical location (a geotag) to photos when you take them. The geographical location is determined either by wireless networks (mobile or Wi-Fi® networks) or GPS technology.

When appears on the camera screen, geotagging is turned on but the geographical position has not been found. When appears, geotagging is turned on and the geographical location is available, so your photo can get geotagged. When neither of these two symbols appears, geotagging is turned off.

To turn on geotagging

1 Activate the camera.

2 Tap , then tap Geotagging > On.

3 Tap OK to agree to enable GPS and/or wireless networks.

4 Check the options that you want to select under Location services.

5 After you confirm your settings, press to return to the camera screen.

6 If appears on the camera screen, your location is available and your photo can get geotagged. If not, check your GPS and/or wireless network connection.

Using still camera settings

To select still camera settings

1 From your Home screen, tap , then find and tap .

2 To display all settings, press .

3 Tap the setting you want to select.

To customise the still camera settings panel

1 When the camera is open, tap to display all settings.

2 Touch and hold the setting you want to move and drag it to the desired position.

If you drag the setting outside of the settings panel, the change is cancelled.

Still camera settings overview

Scene recognition

Normal

Picture effect

Apply effects to photos.

Scene selection

Use a pre-programmed scene type to quickly set the camera for common situations.

Sweep Panorama

Use this setting to take wide-angle, panoramic photos. Just press the camera key and move the camera steadily from one side to the other.

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Front camera

Select the front camera if you want to take self-portrait photos.

Resolution

Choose between several picture sizes and aspect ratios before taking a photo. A photo with a higher resolution requires more memory.

Flash

Use the flash to take photos when lighting conditions are poor or when there is a backlight.

Auto

The camera automatically determines if the lighting conditions require the use of a flash.

Fill flash

Use this setting when the background is brighter than the subject. This removes unwanted dark shadows.

Off

The flash is turned off. Sometimes photo quality can be better without the flash, even if lighting conditions are poor. Taking a good photo without using the flash requires a steady hand. Use the self-timer to avoid blurred photos.

Red-eye reduction

Reduces the red colour of eyes when taking a photo.

Self-timer

With the self-timer you can take a photo without holding the device. Use this function to take self-portraits, or group photos where everyone can be in the photo. You can also use the self-timer to avoid shaking the camera when taking photos.

On (10 sec.)

Set a 10-second delay from when you tap the camera screen until the photo is taken.

On (2 sec.)

Set a 2-second delay from when you tap the camera screen until the photo is taken.

Off

The photo is taken as soon as you tap the camera screen.

Smile Shutter™

Use the smile shutter function to determine what kind of smile the camera reacts to before taking a photo.

Quick launch

Use Quick launch settings to launch the camera from the lock screen. If the device is in sleep mode of camera, press the camera key.

Launch and capture

After you drag inwards, the still camera is launched from sleep mode and a photo is captured.

Launch only (still camera)

After you drag inwards, the still camera is launched from sleep mode.

Launch and record video

After you drag inwards, the video camera is launched from sleep mode and starts recording.

Launch only (video camera)

After you drag inwards, the video camera is launched from sleep mode.

Off

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Exposure value

Determine the amount of light in the photo you want to take. A higher value indicates an increased amount of light.

This setting is only available in Normal capturing mode.

White balance

The white balance setting adjusts the colour balance according to the lighting conditions.

Auto

Adjusts the colour balance automatically to suit the lighting conditions.

Incandescent

Adjusts the colour balance for warm lighting conditions, such as under light bulbs.

Fluorescent

Adjusts the colour balance for fluorescent lighting.

Daylight

Adjusts the colour balance for sunny outdoor conditions.

Cloudy

Adjusts the colour balance for a cloudy sky.

This setting is only available in Normal capturing mode.

ISO

You can reduce image blurring caused by dark conditions or moving subjects by increasing the ISO sensitivity.

Auto

Sets the ISO sensitivity automatically.

100

Sets the ISO sensitivity to 100.

200

Sets the ISO sensitivity to 200.

400

Sets the ISO sensitivity to 400.

800

Sets the ISO sensitivity to 800.

This setting is only available in Normal capturing mode.

Metering

This function automatically determines a well-balanced exposure by measuring the amount of light striking the image you want to capture.

Center

Adjusts the exposure to the centre of the image.

Average

Calculates the exposure based on the amount of light striking the whole image.

Spot

Adjusts the exposure in a very small part of the image that you want to capture.

This setting is only available in Normal capturing mode.

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Geotagging

Tag photos with details of where you took them.

On

When geotagging is turned on, the approximate geographical location is added to photos when you take them. To use geotagging, you must enable location features from the Settings menu. For geotags to be added to a photo, the location must be determined before you take the photo. Your location is determined when appears on the camera screen. When your device is searching for your position, appears.

Off

When geotagging is turned off, you cannot view the location where you took a photo.

Preview

You can choose to preview the photo just after you have taken or the video you have recorded.

Unlimited

The preview of the photo or video appears after you have taken.

5 seconds

The preview of the photo or video apears for 5 seconds after you have taken.

3 seconds

The preview of the photo or video appears for 3 seconds after you have taken.

Off

The photo or video has been saved after you have taken, no preview appears.

This setting is only available in Normal capturing mode.

Auto upload

Automatically upload updates to photos to a pre-selected social networking service

(SNS).

Touch capture

Identify a particular focus area by touching the camera screen with your finger. The photo is taken as soon as you release your finger. This setting is only available when focus mode is set to touch focus.

On

Off

Shutter sound

Choose to turn on or turn off the shutter sound when you record a video.

Using the video camera

To record a video using the camera key

1 Activate the camera.

2 To start recording a video, press the camera key.

3 To stop recording, press the camera key again.

Shoot your videos in landscape orientation to get the best results.

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To record a video by tapping the screen

1 Activate the camera.

2 Point the camera towards the subject.

3 Tap to start recording.

4 Tap to stop recording.

Shoot your videos in landscape orientation to get the best results.

To play recorded videos

1 Activate the camera.

2 Tap the thumbnails at the top right of the screen.

3 Flick left or right to browse all photo and video files. Videos are identified by .

4 Tap to play a video.

5 To stop playing the video, tap or .

To delete a recorded video

1 Browse to the video that you want to delete.

2 Tap an empty area of the screen to make appear.

3 Tap .

4 Tap OK to confirm.

Using the video camera settings

To adjust the video camera settings

1 Activate the camera.

2 Tap one of the settings icons on the screen.

3 To display all settings, tap .

4 Select the setting that you want to adjust, then make your changes.

To customise the video camera settings panel

1 When the video camera is open, press to display all settings.

2 Touch and hold the setting you want to move and drag it to the desired position.

If you drag the setting outside of the settings panel, the change is cancelled.

Video camera settings overview

Scenes

The Scenes feature helps you to quickly set up the camera for common situations using pre-programmed scenes. The camera determines a number of settings for you to fit the selected scene, ensuring the best possible video.

Off

The Scenes feature is off and you can shoot videos manually.

Soft snap

Use for shooting videos against soft backgrounds.

Landscape

Use for videos of landscapes. The camera focuses on distant objects.

Night

When turned on, light sensitivity is increased. Use in poorly lit environments. Videos of fast-moving objects may get blurred. Hold your hand steady, or use a support. Turn off night mode when lighting conditions are good, to improve the video quality.

Beach and snow

Use in bright environments to avoid underexposed videos.

Sports

Use for videos of fast-moving objects. Short exposure time minimises motion blurring.

Party

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Use for indoor videos in poorly lit environments. This scene picks up indoor background lighting or candlelight. Videos of fast-moving objects may get blurred. Hold your hand steady, or use a support.

Video resolution

Adjust the video resolution for different formats.

1920×1080(16:9)

Full HD (Full High Definition) format with 16:9 aspect ratio. 1920×1080 pixels.

1280×720(16:9)

HD (High Definition) format with 16:9 aspect ratio. 1280×720 pixels.

640×480(4:3)

VGA format with 4:3 aspect ratio. 640x480 pixels.

176×144(11:9)

Record videos suitable for sending in multimedia messages. The recording time of this video format is limited to fit in a multimedia message.

Photo light

Use the light to record videos when lighting conditions are poor or when there is a backlight.

On

Off

Sometimes the video quality can be better without a light, even if lighting conditions are poor.

Self-timer

With the self-timer you can record a video without holding the device. Use it to record group videos where everyone can be in the video. You can also use the self-timer to avoid shaking the camera when recording videos.

On (10 sec.)

Set a 10-second delay from when you tap the camera screen until the video begins to record.

On (2 sec.)

Set a 2-second delay from when you tap the camera screen until the video begins to record.

Off

The video begins to record as soon as you tap the camera screen.

Quick launch

Use Quick launch settings to launch the camera from the lock screen. If the device is in sleep mode of camera, press the camera key.

Launch and capture

After you drag inwards, the still camera is launched from sleep mode and a photo is captured.

Launch only (still camera)

After you drag inwards, the still camera is launched from sleep mode.

Launch and record video

After you drag inwards, the video camera is launched from sleep mode and starts recording.

Launch only (video camera)

After you drag inwards, the video camera is launched from sleep mode.

Off

Focus mode

The focus setting controls which part of a video should be sharp. When continuous autofocus is on, the camera keeps adjusting focus so that the area within the white focus frame stays sharp.

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Single autofocus

The camera automatically focuses on the selected subject. Continuous autofocus is on.

Face detection

The camera automatically detects up to five human faces, indicated by frames on the screen. The camera automatically focuses on the nearest face. You can also select which face to focus on by tapping it on the screen. When you tap the camera screen, a green frame shows which face is selected and in focus. Face detection cannot be used for all scene types. Continuous autofocus is on.

Infinity

Use when recording videos from a distance. Focus is set on subjects far away. Subjects close to the camera may be blurred.

Exposure value

This setting allows you to determine the amount of light in the image you capture. A higher value indicates an increased amount of light.

White balance

The white balance setting adjusts the colour balance according to the lighting conditions.

Auto

Adjust the colour balance automatically to the lighting conditions.

Incandescent

Adjusts the colour balance for warm lighting conditions, such as under light bulbs.

Fluorescent

Adjust the colour balance for fluorescent lighting.

Daylight

Adjust the colour balance for sunny outdoor conditions.

Cloudy

Adjust the colour balance for a cloudy sky.

Metering

This function automatically determines a well-balanced exposure by measuring the amount of light striking the image that you want to capture.

Center

Adjust the exposure to the centre of the image.

Average

Calculate the exposure based on the amount of light striking the whole image.

Spot

Adjust the exposure in a very small part of the image that you want to capture.

Geotagging

Tag videoss with details of where you took them.

On

When geotagging is turned on, the approximate geographical location is added to videos when you take them. To use geotagging, you must enable location features from the Settings menu. For geotags to be added to a video, the location must be determined before you take the video. Your location is determined when appears on the camera screen. When your device is searching for your position, appears.

Off

When geotagging is turned off, you cannot view the location where you took a video.

Microphone

Select whether to pick up the surrounding sound when recording videos.

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Touch capture

Identify a particular focus area by touching the camera screen with your finger. The photo is taken as soon as you release your finger. This setting is only available when focus mode is set to touch focus.

On

Off

Shutter sound

Choose to turn on or turn off the shutter sound when you record a video.

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