There is a new update to the Google Camera app rolling out in the Play Store that brings a new double-tap to zoom feature. The update is version 4.4 for those keeping score at home and it works on the Google Pixel lineup as well as the Nexus and Android One devices. The update brings features that were actually in the app during the Android O beta cycle (Developer Preview 3) but it has now been ported out to all devices running Marshmallow or higher.
The primary new feature is the ability to double-tap the screen while you are in viewfinder mode to zoom. If you double-tap, it will zoom in 50% and will return to the normal wide angle when you double-tap once more. The new tapping works in both photo as well as video mode.
This new tapping to zoom feature in the Google Camera app is much more user friendly that the previous pinch-and-pull to zoom and makes getting that zoomed in shot a lot quicker in my testing of the app.
There are also some UI tweaks to the app in this update. The most noticeable change is the icon that you tap to switch from the rear to the front camera. You will also notice a new animation when moving from video to photo shooting modes.
Front facing flash support is in this update too. This will light up your screen a bright white then snap the photo. It works reasonably well in low light situations but it is dependent upon how bright your screen can get.
If you have a Pixel, Nexus or Android One device, you should see the update hit your phone over the course of the next few days.
