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Modern smartphones depend heavily on computational photography to take high quality pictures. The reason you're not getting high quality pictures is because you aren't using HDR+. GrapheneOS does support HDR+ via the Pixel Visual Core in compatible apps set up in a supported way.
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Try building and using github.com/google/pixelvi. It should provide working HDR+ on the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL with GrapheneOS. I haven't tested it for a while though. You can check if it's working by watching the `adb logcat` output for relevant information.
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Pixel Visual Core is referred to as 'easel' in the logs, although it will also mention HDR+ (hdrplus) and gcam depending on the component. This is supported for all third party apps, but they need to use a clean / modern approach to using the camera API and compatible settings.
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GrapheneOS won't have high quality pictures on the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL despite them sharing the image sensor with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL due to the lack of the Pixel Visual Core. Google Camera has a Qualcomm DSP based implementation of HDR+, among other fancy features.
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If you aren't using HDR+, you're only using a single captured image. HDR+ combines the results across a bunch of captured images. ZSL results in the camera continuously capturing images so it's always ready to have a picture taken, and HDR+ uses several of the images to get data.
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This is especially important for low light pictures or hand-held pictures rather than a totally stable device since long exposures. It's similar to taking an extremely long exposure but it handles motion in the image, a non-stable camera and is more true to the reality of it.
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