I was tired of every phone's native camera app constantly processing photos behind the scenes. AI enhancements, aggressive noise reduction, over-sharpening - I wondered: could I build a camera app with zero processing?
My goal was simple: capture what the lens and sensor actually see, with minimal interference. I especially didn't want AI "improving" my photos. To achieve true control and zero processing, I created HeyCam.
HeyCam is a minimalist camera app with manual controls that lets you capture photos in both JPEG and RAW (DNG) formats. You have full control over your hardware, putting the power back in your hands.
Since JPEG files still undergo some processing by Android's algorithms, I added RAW support for true zero-processing photography.
Want true zero processing? Switch to Manual mode and shoot in RAW format. The photos might look flat or low-quality at first - but that's the point! You're getting the unprocessed image data straight from the sensor.
- Burst & Interval Control: Dedicated menu to set countdown intervals (1-10s) and photo count (1-10 shots) for time-lapse or group shots.
- Auditory Feedback: Integrated Sound Manager for countdown beeps, shutter feedback, and completion chimes.
- Floating HUD: High-visibility countdown overlay distinct from the viewfinder.
- Real-Time Countdown: Integrated
com.nothing.ketchumSDK to display the timer directly on the rear LED Matrix. - Smart Orientation: Glyph numbers rotate automatically based on device orientation.
- Custom Completion Pattern: Unique visual animation upon finishing a sequence.
- Custom LUT Support: Import standard
.cubefiles for cinematic color grading. - Frame Engine: Support for
.pngoverlays with smart rotation that adapts to image orientation. - RAW Safety: LUTs, Frames, and EV controls are automatically disabled in RAW mode to preserve data integrity.
- Active Auto Mode: Replaced passive auto with an Exposure Compensation (EV) panel for precise brightness control.
- Floating Layout Engine: Controls now float perfectly centered regardless of screen aspect ratio.
- WYSIWYG Preview: Fixed viewfinder scaling to match the sensor output 1:1, removing distortion correction cropping.
- Active Exposure Compensation (EV) with hardware-specific step sizes.
- Replaces ISO/Shutter wheels with intuitive (+) and (-) buttons.
- Full control over shutter speed and ISO via interactive slider.
- Tap to focus only - exposure stays locked to your settings.
- Rear camera only - no front camera access.
- Main camera sensor only - Access to ultra-wide or telephoto lenses is limited due to API restrictions.
- Zero processing in RAW mode - All automatic corrections disabled (Noise reduction, Edge enhancement, Hot pixel correction, Lens distortion correction).
RAW files capture pure sensor data. They may look flatter or noisier, but they provide unprocessed reality. Edit these in Lightroom or Snapseed for maximum flexibility.
- Download the latest APK from Releases.
- Enable "Install from unknown sources" in your Android settings.
- Install and grant camera permissions.
- Language: Java
- Camera API: Camera2 API
- Key Libraries:
com.nothing.ketchum(Glyph SDK)
Note: This app is designed for photographers who want full manual control. If you prefer point-and-shoot convenience with AI enhancements, your phone's native camera app might be a better choice.
