# Pixel 6a(6/7) camera question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 5, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345 "2023-02-05T18:04:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345/1 "2023-02-05T18:04:26Z")

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For those who have the latest Pixels–have you noticed a lack of sharpness with pictures taken with the wide angle (.6) lens? Here’s a side by side of normal lens vs wide angle:

[![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zUwab3zZ-AF2umkOvnVSZUOaWNCUvrv_xLc5DuyTMfoCUz9h8VEQchua4jqAQy0JuKWh_DgkSCZ6NfwID0Pf2ldwi0Wuj6A-50pOv_qvf9Rx4okqqT-4IGmDH1jfLwaUbK35d9jXWgw=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Dave Carter") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hy3mmHhuzNYvkuCY6)

I’ve contacted Google support and gone through the troubleshooting steps. They’ve offered to replace my phone but I’ve read discussions saying it’s a hardware/design problem, so it wouldn’t be worth getting a new phone.

I don’t know anyone else with a new Pixel to take comparison shots so I thought I’d check here.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345/2 "2023-02-05T20:45:30Z")

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In short, yes. I have a Pixel 6 Pro, and the ultrawide camera (0.7 on mine) is not as sharp as the normal one.

I believe this comes down to a few reasons:

- Lower resolution on the ultrawide (12 MP instead of 48 MP)
- Fixed focus instead of autofocus (this is most significant at short range)
- No optical image stabilization
- Optically, it’s just more difficult in general to get sharp images from a wide angle

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345/3 "2023-02-05T21:12:20Z")

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@Dr.Strangelove–thanks for the reply. I “upgraded” to the 6a from a Pixel 2 for software upgrade reasons but apparently the camera hardware is basically the same. I have a Moment case for the Pixel 2 and a fisheye lens which is much sharper than the wide angle on the 6a. Moment doesn’t make lens adapter cases for the new Pixels (due to the dual lens configuration I guess) so if I want sharp close-up images I’ll guess I’ll have to use my old phone.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345/4 "2023-02-05T21:46:28Z")

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I expect that for anything closeup, you’ll be better off with the main camera. You can move in closer than the ultrawide allows.

I likewise upgraded from a Pixel 2 XL, and although the 6’s cameras are a big step up overall, one negative has been for macro stuff. The 2 could focus on things much closer than even the 6’s main camera. Though resolution-wise, it’s probably a wash (I don’t have to hold it as close to see fine details).

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**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pixel-6a-6-7-camera-question/979345/5 "2023-02-05T22:20:46Z")

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Just for comparison’s sake, I took this with my Pixel 2 from about 2 inches away with the Moment fisheye. I “de-fished” it using Photoshop–it’s definitely fuzzy around the edges but fairly sharp otherwise:

[![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NNGcx7gWlR67Nu18GTzh-DDTGfGIO8wLnE1nOejwWiFTtciLKPz3MDQSz2WlQtyl-UkG9Y9QlGoa0zVd9Frj89ZDwrpZ7IZ8p5oeBtAGLYDXZpswD0lMm5OwS1L-V6aadwbTySydlHk=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Dave Carter") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/1FRX61J1E7pMdK4Z9)