The Sony Xperia C saw a limited release in 2013, although despite this it has a couple of camera features not seen in other models. The MediaTek-powered 5-inch qHD handset has a very handy mode called “Self-portrait voice guide”, which will automatically take a pretty good selfie of you. It will make sure you are correctly framed and focused before taking a snap of you.
Another mode is “Portrait retouch”, which gives your portrait a nice complexion by smoothing the picture. We expect this mode to be revisited with the soon-to-be-released Xperia T2 Ultra, which will allow you to apply different styles to your portrait. Further detail on both of these camera modes can be found below.
Xperia C camera settings
The Sony Xperia C has a couple of extra camera features that we have not seen in other Xperia models. This includes “Portrait retouch” and “Self-portrait voice guide”.
Xperia C: Self-portrait voice guide
This camera mode allows you to take self-portrait photos using the rear camera with the help of a voice guide. First of all you need to select which kind of ‘selfie’ you want to take i.e. alone, with a friend or a third more intimate option.
The guide will then ask you to turn your phone over so that the lens is pointing at you. The female voice is quite charming, saying “let me see you, don’t be shy” while it waits for you to come into focus. The guide will then instruct you on where to position the camera. Once you are aligned with the silhouettes seen above, and perfectly focused inside the frame, it will take the picture automatically.
The video below shows this mode in action. It works quite well and we’re surprised this mode hasn’t turned up in other Xperia devices.
Xperia C: Portrait retouch
Xperia C’s “Portrait retouch” is also referred to as “Beauty mode” by Sony. When using this setting, it adds skin whitening or skin smoothening effects to your portrait pictures. When enabled, you are limited to pictures up to 2MP in resolution.
Portrait retouch will be revamped in 2014 as a camera app for Sony’s smart social camera ecosystem. The camera app has been announced for the Xperia T2 Ultra so far, but we would expect it to hit other handsets in due course.
The app will allow you to apply different styles to your portrait. You will also be able to see the changes in real time, before capturing the shot.
