- Google doesn’t allow ultrawide lens Astrophotography.
- Update to Google Camera 8.1 dropped the feature.
- Google removed the feature due to poor image quality.
An ultrawide focal lens is the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G’s distinctive camera equipment expansion. Google discreetly took down the feature from Google camera 8.1 in November.
Astrophotography Google’s Implementation
Astrophotography allows you to take photos of the night sky.
It can be actuated by visiting the Night Sight tab in Google Camera and placing your Pixel phone. Astrophotography is only available on Pixel 3 and later.
This should be possible with the amount, leaning against a stone, or propping on some other consistent surface.
Once it is stable enough, a message at the highest point of the screen will note “Astrophotography on”. Simultaneously, as the shade button changes from a moon symbol to stars.
There is also the option to zoom in in advance. The Pixel 4a 5G and 5 also allow you to switch to the ultra-wide lens by tapping “.6x” or pinching out.
Thanks to the 107-degree field of view for a grander picture. It helps you to see even more of the night sky.
Google Pulling the Plug on Grander View
Rolling out in mid-November, Google Camera 8.1 disabled the ability to turn to ultra-wide for astrophotography.
In standard Night Sight shots, the wider lens is accessible, but not for capturing in absolute darkness.
A message tells you to switch Astrophotography Zoom to 1x before the mode can be used. While the option for .6x disappears and can’t be reselected once you’re in.
A Google support document was revised in early November to include the following note:
Marked as Important the note stated that Astrophotography works on Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 only with zoom settings equal to or greater than 1x.
When it was available, there were individuals who used this feature, but it was definitely not a well-known one. It is hard to install older/different versions of Google’s Pixel apps without using the Play Store update method due to improvements to sideloading.
You can uninstall changes to Google Camera and restore from the App details screen to version 7.6 to see ultrawide astrophotography in motion.
Google has never stated why the functionality has been withdrawn, but it is possibly due to overall poor performance.
