Google Camera 8 offers a new way to quickly zoom in on the Pixel

The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G launched with a redesigned Camera app that then made its way to other phones. One of Pixel’s UI tweaks to Google Camera 8.0 is a new way to access full zoom controls outside of preset increments.

Above the trigger is a pill with .6x (4a 5G / 5 only), 1x, and 2x increments for quick zoom in / out. It’s more convenient than the pinch-to-zoom, which requires holding the phone in one hand while using the other to gesture. An alternative is to use the volume rocker for zoom controls, but most prefer to use it as a physical trigger.

Google Camera 8.0 and 8.1 (current version) quietly introduced another way to zoom in on the Pixel. Holding down .6 / 1 / 2x will open the full cursor and allow you to drag to the precise increment. Users do not have to keep their finger on the screen because the bar stays on the screen for a few seconds. In fact, the initial drag is much slower than any subsequent adjustments. Once you’re done tuning, the “2x” preset changes depending on the increment you landed on, while you can quickly zoom out.

The new method comes when Google removed the ability to double tap to zoom in / out with version 8.0. This used to be the way to quickly display the cursor.

This zoom feature in Google Camera is somewhat hidden because most Pixel owners won’t think about pressing the pill. Meanwhile, there is some quirk given that the slider is absolute. For example, by tapping the center of the screen 1x, the circular cursor selector will move to the left of your finger. It’s not one-on-one with your finger.

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