Cameras for Android devices have come a long way. Some remain hit-or-miss while others perform exceptionally well. With Android 5.0 Lollipop, expect all devices to receive improvements. Changes have been made by Google for Android to support raw image files.
Paul Monckton, a contributor to Forbes, described the benefits of raw image files after taking a look at Lollipop's new approach:
Raw image files are essentially a dump of all of the image data captured by the camera’s sensor, most of which is lost when converting into the, much smaller, JPEG files we most commonly use. This means the potential for much better image quality from existing camera hardware simply by installing the upcoming Android 5.0 update.
Everyone from serious photographs to casual Instagram users will see improved camera quality. The professionals will use complex software that knows how to interact with raw image files while everyone else can rely upon apps to do the work for them. Developers can update their apps to process the raw image files so users can have better editing tools.
This is all on the software side of Android 5.0 Lollipop, so any device running that version will instantly see improvements. Of course, the components used by the device's manufacturer will still matter. It is just good to see that Google is doing its part.
Source: Forbes
if you don’t or cannot upgrade to lollipop will there be a lollipop camera app to install?
No, the new API are required for DNG and new other features. New API are in the system, so… no update no party.