Here’s what is possible with RAW image capture on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge
Support for shooting in RAW is one of the important features introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop, but despite the presence of a Pro camera mode in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, the option for saving images in RAW wasn’t included. As we had exclusively revealed, the feature was to be introduced in Android 5.1.1, which turned out to be true, just not in the way we had imagined.
The Android 5.1.1 update for the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge does support RAW image capture, but you will need to use a third-party camera app – Manual Camera is a good example – to actually be able to do it. But what exactly does saving images in RAW format offer the end user? Well, if you have knowledge of Photoshop and other image editing tools, there’s quite a lot you can do. RAW images are unprocessed images that don’t suffer from the artifacts and quality reduction introduced when an image is saved in the standard JPG format, and as you can see in the image below, you can change a lot of parameters to make the end result look much better/different than normal.
Again, editing RAW images and getting something useful requires you to know your way around Photoshop. If you have the requisite skills, it’s easy to see the advantages RAW image capture can provide; it’s too bad Samsung hasn’t yet updated its camera app to offer the option to the end user, but we’re hoping the company will get around to that in a software update for the S6 devices in the future.
Original (JPG)
Photoshop (RAW)
Thanks, Naomi!
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I tried taking photos as RAW in three apps: Snap Camera, Camera FV-5 & Manual Camera. But all three apps saves the file as jpeg even after selecting RAW as a output format. I don’t understand, is Samsung saving RAW files in jpeg format??(Of course, the file size was enormously huge, but still..)
I thought it will save files as DNG or CR2 format. (Not even Camera FV-5 saves files in DNG format, even after enabling DNG RAW Capture)
Am i doing something wrong? Or its the way it is going to be???
I am using S6 Edge SM-G925F on XXU2BOFJ 5.1.1
If the stock camera gets shutter speed and better ISO in manual mode this will be by far the best camera on a smart fone….fv5 has its problems that’s why I was thinking bout buying the other app but I see the reviews are not all that good….don’t really need raw just the other options to freeze motion or put blurr on…
RAW sounds awesome. The issue is this: 1) RAW files are a pain to edit and REALLY BIG. I used to shoot in RAW on my DSLR, but it was just a pain to deal with those huge files, and have multiple files on my PC for one image. 2) The S6 takes FANTASTIC photos already. I have already ever taken a shot with it that I thought, “Man, I wish I had a RAW image of this so I could make it better!”. It is simply THAT GOOD! Makes RAW a non-issue for me, I don’t care if Apple… Read more »
Snap camera trail looks great thinking bout buying the upgrade what yall think..??????GALAXY S6
Try Snap Camera It puts out DNG files…
i manage to take two pictures, one with the original camera app and the other with Open Camera , the original app make a 5.1 Mb pictures and the open Camera a 10.7 mb pictures, .. looking both , they look the same but oviously the raw picture will be beter to work with photoshop, hope i am allowe to show you the pictures
Camera FV5 works with RAW pictures, but only when it feels like it. I managed to get a RAW file. It’s aprox 28MB.
Raw is not there on FV5 but it still takes some great photo even tho it has several bugs…I have the paid app!!!! Anyone find an camera app that does support all features plz post it
You can select RAW/DNG in the settings but I’ve not managed to get one from it. Manual Camera has the option greyed out.
any article about note 4 tragedy????????? or it is only s6 that sammobile is whining about like a crying little baby??????????????
I thought it is already rumours that it will roll out on July? It is still June…
It outputs RAW files (Camera FV5), but not always. Trust me.
RAW not showing as supported in Manual Camera, does say available in FV-5 but no RAW files comes out.
This is on XEU 5.1.1
On the camera USSD code screen the Cam FW is lower than Load FW and Phone FW. Is that relevant?
Anyone know how much more space it will take up? I shoot in 16M (16:9) and the pics seem to hover between 4MB and 6MB. Is it going to double, or even triple the size?
more than 3 times.. The sample I got is 30.5 mb
Uncompressed RAW filesize for 16Mp shots are approximately 24Mb for 12-bit and 28Mb for 14-bit. Still depends on camera model.
No, it is not. But I think Samsung can add raw downloadable mode.
I’m wondering if the “pro mode” is a module like the other downloadable modes in the camera application. If so they could probably update it without having to do another firmware rollout.