The mobile arm of consumer electronics giant Sony has released the feature-rich 'Background Defocus' camera app on Google Play store.
The Background Defocus application was previously available only for Sony's flagship phone Xperia Z2 but now the app has been handed to all Xperia smartphones running v4.2 Jelly Bean OS or higher, bringing cheers to users owning older devices. The new app has 'Bokeh' effect, bringing out the aesthetic quality of the blur in an out-of-focus area of an image.
The application simulates a shallow depth of field, by creating a blurred out background by capturing two photos with different focus settings, which the user can later stitch together to create a picture with one object in sharp focus, against a beautifully blurred background.
To get the best results, users are recommended to focus on an object 15cm to 45cm (0.5-1.5 feet) away and make sure the background object is 5 meter away from focus target and hold the camera steady [Interested readers can head to Google Play Store to download the Background Defocus app].
Earlier this month, Google had launched the stock Google Camera app for non-Nexus phones, bringing the Lens Blur, Photo Sphere and other value-added photo taking options. The only downside is that the devices must have v4.4 KitKat OS.
In March, rival Nokia had also launched a similar premier camera app - Refocus - for free download at Windows Phone app store. Refocus, which was only available in top-end PureView camera-based Lumia phones, has now been made available to all mid-range and lower-end Windows Phone 8-OS based devices.
(Ed: VP)
Sony Background Defocus details:
| App name | size | App version | compatibility |
| Background Defocus | 7.0MB | v1.2.6 | Android v4.2 Jelly Bean and up |
