Fire Tablets For Dummies
Book image
Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Your Android tablet will come equipped with a Camera app. All variations of the Camera app feature two shooting modes: Camera and Video. Additional shooting modes are available, including the popular Panorama and Photo Sphere. These modes let you capture the world around you in a unique way.

  • The panorama is a wide shot — it works by panning the tablet across a scene. The Camera app then stitches together several images to build the panorama.

  • The photo sphere is a wrap-around panorama, covering left, right, up, down, and all around. The result is an interactive image that you can pan and tilt to see everything around you.

To shoot a panoramic shot, follow these steps in the Camera app:

  1. Choose the Camera app’s Panorama mode.

    For the stock Android Camera app, swipe your finger inward from the left side of the screen. The modes appear. Touch the Panorama icon to switch the app into Panorama mode.

  2. Hold the tablet steady, and then touch the Shutter icon.

  3. Pivot in one direction as shown on the screen, following along with the animation.

    Watch as the image is rendered and saved to the Gallery.

To create a photo sphere, obey these steps in the Camera app:

  1. From the Camera app’s Photo Sphere mode.

  2. Position the tablet so that the dot on the screen lines up with the circle.

    Use the artificial horizon that appears on the touchscreen to help you orient the camera.

  3. Systematically turn in every direction, lining up the camera with the dots that appear on the screen.

    You’re not done until you’ve lined up the camera with every dot.

When the photo sphere image is complete, the Camera app renders the final result. You can peruse it in the Gallery, or immediately by swiping the screen to the left. Touch the Photo Sphere icon to interact (pan and tilt) with the image preview.

Photo sphere shots work best with static surroundings, such as landscapes and still-life images. Trying to take a photo sphere image of people or other lively objects, such as a zombie stampede, yields disappointing results.

  • To exit any special camera shooting mode, choose Camera, Video, or another shooting mode.

  • The Android tablet camera automatically captures the panoramic shot. You touch the Shutter icon only when you’re done.

About This Article

This article can be found in the category: