Nexus 5 Camera App Replacement?

I tried almost everyone of the third party apps and they either had the darkness issue or the slow shutter issue. Finally, 2 days ago, I downloaded the pay version of ProCapture (tested free first) and it works great. I am finally able to take quality pictures of a constantly moving 4 month old.
 
I don't mind the stock camera, actually. But I also have Camera ZOOM FX installed, which focuses much more quickly than the stock. But basically, here is how I would rank picture quality, from best to worst:

1. Stock, HDR+ mode. These images are sharp, beautiful, gorgeous. This camera would eat iPhone's lunch if it focused faster.
2. FX, night mode. Pictures are great, but grainier than stock's HDR+ mode.
3. FX, default mode. Picture quality is usually the same or slightly better than stock's default mode, but focus is faster.
4. Stock, default mode. Picture quality is great, but the autofocus lags.

I'm sticking with the stock camera for now, usually leaving it in HDR+ mode. In good lighting condition, I don't even need that. But I don't have the need to capture moving objects quickly, such as children, and I can see how the autofocus lag would frustrate a new parent.
 
Other than feature differences, is there any downside to using a camera app rather than the stock app - ie integration?
 
Seems there is an issues with a lot of the 3rd party camera apps while taken pictures at night under lights. A lot of times it will darken the picture after you snap it. I have seen this same problem in a lot of the different apps. Stock does not have this issue so hopefully these companies can figure it out and fix it.

The developers of camerazoom seem to be playing dumb regarding this issue.

A few days ago a user posted this in their review of the app: "All shots come out darker than they should on Nexus 5. Emailed developers but no response. Please advise"

androidslide replied with "Thanks for your mail - we are unable to recreate the problem on nexus 5 but we will continue to investigate."
 
My opinions based on using these camera apps over the last few days.

Can't recommend Camera Awesome. After reading all the bad user experiences for this app in the Play Store for the N5, I decided to give it a shot anyway. Mistake!! More often than not, indoor pictures were horribly underexposed, all features are not available, and sometimes the flash didn't work (even in flash ON mode). Pretty much what the poor reviews said. The stock camera app is WAY better than this one, IMO.

The Pro Capture app works well and has a lot controls and functionality, but has no HDR mode (that I can find, anyway).

After taking many photos and comparing Pro Capture to the stock app side-by-side, I prefer the stock app with HDR. It does a better job at exposure compensation and white balance (more accurate lighting and color representation). If you take your time, and use the volume rocker for the shutter release, the N5 takes very good pictures. It's just not good for the 'quick shots', yet.

I haven't noticed much speed difference between the two. The Pro Capture app does have a burst mode which takes quick successive shots, but the first picture is still laggy. Since kaseyk75 has had good results with action shots, I need to spend more time with Pro Capture and compare action shots with the two apps, using the Action mode with the stock N5 camera app.

Based upon experiences with past phones (GS3, iPhone 5), I think the low light pictures with the N5 are quite good. Wife and I went to a concert, and the exposures of her pics were so bad (also an iPhone 5) that we ended up taking pics with the N5. Pictures were good, with low graininess. It takes better low light pics than my GS3 did.

So for now, I'll stick with the stock camera app. Black Friday weekend, Pro Capture is 75% off. Worth the money for the functionality, IMO.
 
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As an FYI, Focal has been updated and works with N5 now. Very fast, simple design and has some nice options.

I think I'm going to give it a try until an update from Google come out for stock.
 
Apparently none of the camera apps can do HDR. For me that makes them totally unacceptable.

Nexus 7 (2013)
 
ProCapture does have an HDR mode, it is called Noise Reduction under scenes. It seems comparable with stock HDR+.
 
Just a few days with the phone so far and I really do hate the camera app. The settings menus are incredibly difficult to use. My biggest problem is that the photos it takes is NOT the same as what it shows on the screen. I find that totally unacceptable. Plus, I also hate 4:3 photos. 16:9 is better, but 3:2 is ideal and matches "real" cameras.... and yet there is no option for 3:2, and 16:9 drops the res to just 2MP! Who is designing this stuff??!!!

I might try some third party apps, but I have no interest in "effects" and such, and I don't want to lose any stock features (like speed, accuracy, HDR). Will read on up it eventually.
 
I would use camera zoom but last time I used it there was no option to switch from photo to video. Is that still the case? I really like being able to go from taking pictures to video with just the swipe of a finger.

Posted via Android Central App
 
Never mind I see the is an option to switch to video but no option to switch back to photo (other than the application switcher).

Posted via Android Central App
 
As an FYI, Focal has been updated and works with N5 now. Very fast, simple design and has some nice options.

I think I'm going to give it a try until an update from Google come out for stock.
It is a MESS on the Nexus 5. It works in the sense that it will open and save pictures now...but landscape mode is hopeless, many of the features won't turn on (HDR), and others will still not work (Picsphere).

I really want to like it. But it is not even a beta product IMO.
 

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