When Google launched the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G earlier this year, you could use the company’s astrophotography mode with any of its main cameras. But that is no longer the case. After Google updated its camera app in November, the Pixel community recently discovered that it is not possible to use the feature in combination with the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G ultra-wide cameras. Google did not comment on the removal, but a recently updated support page confirms the change, noting, “on Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, astrophotography only works at zoom settings equal to or greater than 1x”.
It’s not clear why Google decided to adjust the astrophotography feature, but how Gizmodo points out, a possible explanation is that he did not produce great photos with the wide angle cameras of these phones. A support thread that they found shows several sets of comparison images and, in all cases, those captured by the wide-angle cameras on the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G have a sickly green tone and unpleasant digital noise. It appears that many Pixel owners are not regretting the change, but either way, we contacted Google for more information. We will update this article when we have a response from the company.