Typically, the holidays are a time of giving, but after a camera update earlier this fall, users recently discovered that Google has removed the ability to use astrophotography mode with the ultra-wide cameras on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G.
When the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G were first released, Google’s astrophotography mode (introduced last year alongside the Pixel 4) was available for use on both the phone’s primary and ultra-wide camera. Unfortunately, it appears that after the release of version 8.1 of the Google Camera app adding a handful of features to older Pixel phones, the newer Pixel 5 and 4a 5G also lost the ability to use astrophotography mode with their ultra-wide angle lenses.
While Google has not provided an official explanation for this change, Google has since been support page to note that “On Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5, astrophotography only works with zoom settings equal to or greater than 1x.”
At the moment, it is unclear why Google turned off astrophotography mode with ultra-wide lugs. IIf you take a look at some sample photos posted to the Pixel support community, there is a possible explanation May to become some lackluster results.
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In a thread on the Pixel support page, a number of users posted side-by-side comparisons made prior to the update with astrophotography photos taken with a Pixel ultrawide lens that appear noticeably grainier or of lower quality (often with a heavy green tint) than photos taken with the primary cam.
Since it was possible to take astrophotography shots with a Pixel’s ultra-wide angle lens prior to the update, after reports showing less than great results, Google may have decided to temporarily disable the feature while investigating the issue and possibly working on a fix works. Gizmodo has reached out to Google for more information and we’ll provide an update if we hear back.
Given the time it took for this change to be noticed, the loss of astrophotography mode support on the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G ultra-wide cams probably isn’t a big deal for most people, but it’s a slightly disappointing change nonetheless, so I hope google can provide solution soon.