Fhotoroom for Windows Phone 8 updated, now handles larger image files

Fhotoroom is a feature rich photography app for your Windows Phone. It is part photo editor, part camera app, and part photo sharing network. Which includes sharing to Fhotoroom's network, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and Instagram (via Instagraph).

The Windows Phone 8 version of Fhotoroom was recently updated to version 9.1.3 which adds a few tweaks to the user interface, but most notably allows Fhotoroom to handle the larger images files generated by DSLR cameras and the Nokia Lumia 1020.  Registered users (free) can now work with larger high resolution image files that range from 8MP to 25MP. We've even had success handling the 38MP high resolution image files from the Lumia 1020.

A couple of caveats though.  Processing is a little slower with the larger files (obviously due to... well... the larger files size) but not painfully so.  

Then there still isn't a way to directly access the high-res copy of the image.  As with any other photography app running on your Lumia 1020 you can see the 5MP image but the larger, high-res image remains hidden.  As a work around, you can off-load the high-res file then return it to your Windows Phone's Saved Picture folder and then edit the image.  

Currently, the developer is looking at Nokia's imaging SDK to see if that will shed some light on things and maybe get access to the high res image.  Regardless, even without tapping into the imaging SDK, while it's not perfect, Fhotoroom is one of the few photography apps that can handle the larger, high-res image files.

Fhotoroom does reduce the image file when the edited version is saved but nothing critical. A 38MP image file with minor edits (filters but no cropping) is saved at 22.1MP resolution. Add cropping and the file size reduces in the neighborhood of 17MP. As we understand things, the edited image resolution is device dependent based on the RAM available. The 38MP file with minor edits on the Lumia 920 is reduced to 11.8MP. Regardless, the image quality and resolution is nicely preserved by Fhotoroom.

Along with being able to handle the larger files, the updated version of Fhotoroom updates the TiltShift tool to support pinch, tap, rotate, and warp edits, adds new crop ratios, and adjustable frame filters. You also have a zoom feature (little magnifying glass in the upper left corner of the image) that will let you zoom in to view the finest of details. It's not a "zoom later" of the Nokia Pro Cam but for viewing the image detail is rather nifty.

Other changes with the version 9.1.2 update covers the sharing networks that includes:

  • Updating Photo Messages on the Fhotoroom network
  • Delete your own posts from anywhere
  • Delete any comment on your photo
  • Profile Links work to custom locations
  • Unlike photos from the My Likes.

Fhotoroom has been a popular photography app for our Windows Phone. This update adds to the app's capabilities and gives us an option to use with our larger image files.

Fhotoroom is a free app for Windows Phone 8 and 7.x that you can find here in the Windows Phone Store.  Again, this update is only for the Windows Phone 8 version of Fhotoroom.  It is our understanding that the update will roll out for the Windows Phone 7.x version is a few weeks.  Oh, you can also find Fhotoroom for Windows 8 here in the Windows Store.  It's a free app as well.

George Ponder

George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.