Camera feature removed from Pixel phones in 2020 returns on the Pixel 8 Pro

In 2020, Google removed from the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 the ability to take astrophotography photos using the phones' ultra-wide camera. Google has not explained the reasons for this decision, but Pixel users have complained about the quality of these photos. For those unfamiliar with astrophotography, compatible Pixel users point their phone's rear camera array at the sky and hold it completely steady using a tripod or some other method. This enables the feature allowing users to take stunning photos of the night sky.

When done correctly, the resulting photographs can be quite exquisite. And now the ability to take ultra-wide astrophotography photos has returned to the Pixel 8 Pro. Now, if you're curious as to why Google would bring this feature back to the Pixel 8 Pro and not the Pixel 8, this might have something to do with the 48 MP ultra-wide pixel binning image sensor on the former and the 12 MP ultra-image sensor used on the Pixel 8.

With 4:1 pixel binning on the Pixel 8 ProWith the ultra-wide camera, information from four adjacent pixels is combined into a single larger pixel, improving the quality of an image taken in low-light conditions while reducing noise. That's not to say that Google may not have had money in mind when it decided to bring back this feature, as it could appeal to those sitting on the fence between the two. Pixel 8 And Pixel 8 Pro on the side of the more expensive Pro model.

When aimed at the night sky and held steady, the Pixel 8 Pro will have the ability to shoot at 1x (standard), 2x, and .5x (ultra-wideband). With this in mind, Google has updated its Google Camera Support Page to say: “Important: On Pixel 4a (5G) and later, astrophotography only works at zoom settings of 1x or greater.” And since ultra-wide shoots at 0.5x, which is less than 1x, it would seem that ultra-wide astrophotography is limited to Pixel 8 Pro.

Since the ultra-wide sensor of the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro ultra-wide cameras weighs 12 MP, you shouldn't expect ultra-wide astrophotography to become backwards compatible. Consider this a feature we could now see available on the new Pro model every year.