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

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.

 

[Adam888]

Hi, Erel,

If I want to mirror the front camera in preview mode (not take picture and post process),How can I do ?

Thanks

 

[Erel]

The picture should already be mirrored.

 

[Adam888]

Yes, Sure
So , I need to mirror again.
Can you tell me how to do that? Thank you very much.

 

[Erel]

You need to modify SetDisplayOrientation in CameraEx class.

 

[Adam888]

Thank you, I modify SetDisplayOrientation , and my program can rotate the preview.
Could you please tell me how to mirror in x axis (horizontal flip)?

 

[ednt]

I test the new Version 3.00 BETA 1 with the Camera Example.

The Autofocus do not work with the new Version.
The Android Appliaction is complete Stoping.

Only Picture withous Foucs is working.
Someone with the same issue ?

i try the CameraEX.zip & CameraEX_JB.zip example with a Samsung SII Device.

 

[Erel]

@Adam888, Try to add 180 or 90 to the orientation.

See these two methods:
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.Parameters.html#setRotation(int)
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.html#setDisplayOrientation(int)

@ednt I don't think that it is related to v3.00 (unless it only happens in rapid debug mode).

 

[Adam888]

Hi Erel,

Sorry, the two methods still rotation only.
Please refer to attached picture. I want to flip the picture in preview mode.

Does the panel object can flip with camera?

Thank you

 

[Erel]

You will not be able to flip the panel. These two methods are the only relevant methods available.

 

[Adam888]

How can I use these two methods to flip preview like the picture which I posted?

 

[Erel]

The setDisplayOrientation method will not help here. You can manually flip the preview image and show it on a different view.

 

[Adam888]

OK. manually flip is the last method.
Thank you.

 

[Erel]

You will probably need to skip some of the frames. See CCTV for an example.

 

[Adam888]

Oh, Yes, That's good idea. Thank you very much.

 

[aeropic]

Hi Erel,

Based on CameraEx and Jim Brown's v1.21 excellent work, I've added my modest contribution to CameraEx class

Additional subs added:

• getExposureCompensationStep
  Gets the exposure compensation Step.
  Applications can get EV by multiplying the exposure compensation index AND Step. Ex: If exposure compensation index Is -6 AND Step Is 0.333333333, EV Is -2

• getExposureCompensation
  Gets the current exposure compensation index.
  The range Is getMinExposureCompensation() To getMaxExposureCompensation(). 0 means exposure Is Not adjusted.
  
  
• getMaxExposureCompensation
  Gets the maximum exposure compensation index.
  maximum exposure compensation index (>=0). If both this method AND getMinExposureCompensation() Return 0, exposure compensation Is Not supported.
  
  
• getMinExposureCompensation
  Gets the minimum exposure compensation index.
  minimum exposure compensation index (<=0). If both this method AND getMaxExposureCompensation() Return 0, exposure compensation Is Not supported.
  
  
• setExposureCompensation (Int value)

Also the Camera_LogFeatures added by Jim is modified to include this :

Exposure compensation options________
Expo step : 0.5
Expo compensation : 0
Expo compensation min : -4
Expo compensation Max : 4

Everything has been tested and works fine on my Galaxy S3

I intend to introduce this inside my CameraUnlock application but this is another story ! http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/camera-unlock.34156/

Bye
Alain

 

[jim0406]

Hi,
can i use the camera.lib and cameraex.lib with Nikon Coolpix S800c Camera?
(from tech specs:
The S800c is a full Android 2.3 (known as Gingerbread) device, meaning it can run any apps that an equivalent smartphone could offer - so you can run Photoshop Express to spruce-up your images, rather than being dependent on the manufacturer-supplied processing options. For that matter, there's nothing to stop you passing the time with a quick game of Temple Run or Fruit Ninja. You'll control all of this on the camera's 3.5" touchscreen OLED display)

thank you

 

[Erel]

If the camera behaves like a standard Android camera then it should work.

 

[ChrShe]

I'm getting NoSuchFieldError from the SetDisplayOrientation that gets called.
I should say that this is in the emulator. Unfortunately, currently that is my only option for testing code...So I don't know if it happens on a real device.

It's failing here:

Private Sub SetDisplayOrientation
    r.Target = r.GetActivity
...
...

Here's what the log comes up with:

** Activity (actnewmed) Resume **
cameraexclass_setdisplayorientation (B4A line: 92)
r.Target = r.GetActivity
java.lang.NoSuchFieldError: anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.activityBA
    at anywheresoftware.b4a.agraham.reflection.Reflection.GetActivity(Reflection.java:638)
    at com.MyRXList.shenarsoft.cameraexclass._setdisplayorientation(cameraexclass.java:889)
    at com.MyRXList.shenarsoft.cameraexclass._camera_ready(cameraexclass.java:153)
    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$1.run(CameraW.java:139)
    at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:605)
    at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:92)
    at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
    at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:4424)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
    at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:784)
    at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:551)
    at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

Any ideas?

 

[Erel]

Which version of B4A are you using? Seems like you are using an old version of Reflection library.

 

[ChrShe]

I thought the latest...but Reflection is version 1.90.

I'll double check my versions and report back...Thank you!