B4A Library [Class] CameraEx - Extends the camera library functionality

Erel · Nov 28, 2012

Example based on B4XPages: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/b4x-b4xpages-barcode-reader.120417/#content

CameraEx class wraps the Camera object and using reflection and other code it extends its functionality.

CameraEx class requires Android 2.3+ and depends on Camera library v2.20+
CameraEx features:

Easily open the back or front camera
Preview images and saved images orientation will match the device orientation (all orientations are supported)
Gives access to Camera.Parameters native class (flashmode, picture size, effects and other settings)
Includes methods to convert preview images to JPEG and to save the taken pictures.
It should be simple to add more methods to this class

See this page for the constant values and other possible methods:
https://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.Parameters.html

Note that you should call CommitParameters after changing one or more parameters.

CameraExClass module is included in the attached example.

V1.30 is attached - Includes various new methods.

v1.20 - Includes all the various posts in this thread as well as AutoFocusAndTakePicture method which first calls AutoFocus and then takes a picture (if AutoFocus was successful).

Edit (06/2018): A new version was uploaded with targetSdkVersion set to 26.

Erel · Mar 26, 2013

Have you tried the code in post #79: http://www.b4x.com/forum/additional...amera-library-functionality-8.html#post151355 ?

Mahares · Mar 26, 2013

I tried the code, but it did not help, unless my placement of the code is suspect:

B4X:

Sub Camera1_PictureTaken (Data() As Byte)
camEx.SavePictureToFile(Data, Main.DBFilePath, PicName)
LoadbitmapSample2(Main.DBFilepath,PicName,100%x,100%y,True)  'CHECK THIS
camEx.StartPreview .
.
End Sub

And in this sub:

B4X:

Sub LoadbitmapSample2(Dir As String,Filename As String,MaxWidth As Int,MaxHeight As Int,AutoRotate As Boolean) As Bitmap

I replaced this line:

B4X:

bm=LoadBitmapSample(Dir,Filename,100%x,100%y)

by:

B4X:

bm=LoadBitmapSample(Main.DBFilepath,PicName,100%x,100%y)

I replaced this line:

B4X:

exifdata1.Initialize(Dir,Filename)

by this:

B4X:

exifdata1.Initialize(Main.DBFilepath,PicName)

Erel · Mar 27, 2013

You do not need to replace the variable names. You just need to pass the correct values.

The question is whether the image is actually saved with the correct orientation value in the EXIF data. You should copy the image to your PC and open it with an image viewer that shows you the properties.

Mahares · Mar 27, 2013

You do not need to replace the variable names. You just need to pass the correct values.

If what you mean by the above just do the below in the call to the sub inside the Sub Camera1_PictureTaken (Data() As Byte) , I did that.

B4X:

LoadbitmapSample2(Main.DBFilepath,PicName,100%x,100%y,True)

Nothing works. On the device viewer it is in the correct view (upright). Using any viewer when copied to PC, the picture is rotated 90 degrees to the left, whether I use the added sub or not. Other devices do not show this peculiar behavior. It does not look like there is a solution for the Samsung Galaxy Tab2. I am surprised nobody else who uses Galaxy Tab2 have not reported something similar to this.

Erel · Mar 28, 2013

Some devices save the orientation information in the EXIF metadata instead of actually rotating the image. This method will not change the way the bitmap is saved. It only allows you to load images correctly based on the orientation information.

Mahares · Mar 28, 2013

Some devices save the orientation information in the EXIF metadata instead of actually rotating the image. This method will not change the way the bitmap is saved. It only allows you to load images correctly based on the orientation information.

If I understand you correctly, I have to live with that for the Galaxy. If it is not doable, I just have to accept it. This is taking too long to resolve for something that should not be so complex.

kkolle · Mar 28, 2013

Hi,
can someone tell me why i get Exception, when i try the CameraEx Class example?

cameraexclass_setdisplayorientation (java line: 391)

java.lang.NoSuchFieldError: anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.activityBA

at anywheresoftware.b4a.agraham.reflection.Reflection.GetActivity(Reflection.java:610)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.samples.camera.cameraexclass._setdisplayorientation(cameraexclass.java:391)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.samples.camera.cameraexclass._camera_ready(cameraexclass.java:87)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.raiseEvent2(BA.java:167)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.raiseEvent(BA.java:151)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.objects.CameraW$2$1.run(CameraW.java:137)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:605)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:92)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:154)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:4945)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:784)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:551)
at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

Erel · Mar 29, 2013

If I understand you correctly, I have to live with that for the Galaxy.

It depends on what you need to do. One some devices the file will be saved this way. Good viewers will load the images correctly.

@kkole you should download the latest Reflection library.

gelay · Mar 30, 2013

Hi guys

I have a little problem with the whitebalance the get method is working perfectly, but I can't set it.

cameraex

B4X:

Public Sub Getwhitebalance As String
   Return GetParameter("whitebalance")
End Sub


Public Sub setWhiteBalance(white_balance As String)
   SetParameter("whitebalance", white_balance)
End Sub

main

B4X:

Dim white_balance() As String = Array As String("auto", "INCANDESCENT", "FLUORESCENT", "WARM_FLUORESCENT", "DAYLIGHT", _
      "CLOUDY_DAYLIGHT", "TWILIGHT", "SHADE")
   
   Dim white_balanc As String = white_balance(Rnd(0, white_balance.Length))
   camEx.setWhiteBalance(white_balanc)
   ToastMessageShow(white_balanc, False)
   camEx.CommitParameters

runtime exeption set parameter failed

Erel · Mar 31, 2013

You should implement getSupportedWhiteBalance (similar to the other getSupportedxxx methods) and check which values are supported.

setWhiteBalance should be:

B4X:

Public Sub SetWhiteBalance (Mode As String)
   r.target = parameters
   r.RunMethod2("setWhiteBalance", Mode, "java.lang.String")
End Sub

kkolle · Apr 2, 2013

Thank you Erel

srossi · Apr 3, 2013

Hello im new in basic android im trying to run camera ex example and i get an error
classnotfoundexception:
android.hardware.camera$camerainfo

can somebody help me thx

Erel · Apr 3, 2013

Which version of Android are you using?

srossi · Apr 3, 2013

Erel said:
Which version of Android are you using?

Hi Erel im using android ver 4.2.2

Erel · Apr 4, 2013

Have you downloaded the latest Camera library (there is a link in the first post)?

Can you post the complete error message from the logs?

srossi · Apr 4, 2013

hi Erel i made it was a problem with android on phone thx for info

hypergreatthing · Apr 25, 2013

How do i implement:
final void autoFocus(Camera.AutoFocusCallback cb)
Starts camera auto-focus and registers a callback function to run when the camera is focused.

I put in a SetFocusArea but i can't focus on it without calling autoFocus apparently.

Erel · Apr 26, 2013

It is not possible to implement it with reflection. It will require writing a small library.

MotoMusher · May 2, 2013

I wanted to note that this has hung my camera twice in 4 pictures taken. First attempt was focus + tp. Rebooted. Took 2 successfully with take picture (front and back). Next with back locked app. No error, just frozen for several minutes until I killed it with task manager. Camera was locked as expected which reboot fixes.

I cannot get normal take picture to reproduce error, but focus + tp locks every time.

Not complaining, just wanted to note it since I know this was new. I was in debug mode running the example from the first post of this page, downloaded today. Camera library is 2.20 as shown in libs tab. Reflection version is 2.40 as shown in libs tab

Samsung Galaxy S 2 (Tmobile)
Android version 4.04

I was looking to move to this from ACL since I can't get the front cam working with ACL, and don't need anything other than macro, autofocus and torch.

I am happy to do any troubleshooting you would like.

padvou · May 2, 2013

Erel said:
You are correct. The cameras are only closed after 5 seconds. This allows your app to quickly reopen the camera when the orientation changes.

Add this code to CameraEx and call it:

B4X:

Public Sub CloseNow cam.Release r.Target = cam r.RunMethod2("releaseCameras", True, "java.lang.boolean") End Sub

How do you "un-release" it after running CloseNow? I mean re-take control of the camera.
Also, there are several occasions when the app freezes when it takes a picture and I can't figure out why.. As a workaround, how do I release the camera when the app freezes, so I don't need to reload my device?
I attach the relevant unfiltered log

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